Most of our customers are in the U.S. and they’re great at DIY. If you’re comfortable taking things apart carefully, keeping track of small parts, and following steps, you’ll be right at home. You don’t need to be an engineer — just practical and patient.

• If you’re happy doing household repairs (taps, toilets, small appliances) and can work methodically, this will work.

We’ve spent 40+ years working on Kinetico valves.

• Start with our service kit: it’s the recognised full service. Kinetico use the same system themselves.
• Most faults are seal wear: replacing seals solves issues 99% of the time.
• Kinetico don’t supply parts to the public; so we manufacture compatible seal kits independently.
• You can save money: a dealer visit can run $800–$2,000.
• Your total outlay with us: a complete kit is $139.
• Replacing the seal kit brings your softener back to life most of the time.

1) Water meter disc is not turning

• Non-conforming meter drive pawl
• Meter drive spring installed incorrectly
• No-back pawl not installed
• Damaged tooth on meter disc
• Damaged gear in the gearing stack

Fix: Replace pawl; reinstall meter drive spring; fit no-back pawl; replace meter disc; re-gear Level 1 assembly and verify allowable flow rates.

2) The unit will not go into automatic regeneration

• Water meter disc not turning (see #1)
• Control disc will not automatically advance out of service (mechanical failure)
• Damaged teeth on control disc

Fix: Resolve #1; replace regeneration start pawl; replace control disc.

3) No vacuum in brine position

• Check stems missing or malfunctioning
• Plugged venturi
• Plugged backwash flow control
• Plugged brine elbow screen

Fix: Replace/add check stems; clean Level 3 venturi throat & moulded venturi nozzle (no sharp tools); clean backwash flow control; clean brine elbow screen.

4) Short salting

Cause: Brine drum not level. Fix: Level the brine drum so water sits evenly above the grid.

5) Bridged salt in the brine drum

Cause: Salt has solidified. Fix: Carefully break up the bridge and loosen the salt.

6) Bypass issues

Bypass is open: Water flows untreated. Fix: Close the bypass.

Bypass is leaking: Untreated water mixes through. Fix: Repair or replace bypass; confirm via hardness tests at different points.

7) Brine drum does not refill or overfills

• Brine valve set incorrectly or faulty
• Dirty brine drum
• Plugged venturi nozzle
• Plugged brine elbow screen

Fix: Set/replace brine valve; clean brine drum; clean Level 3 venturi throat & nozzle; clean brine elbow screen.

8) Frequent regeneration

• Unfamiliar with usage-based control → explain how the meter triggers regeneration
• High water usage → confirm with bills/usage vs average
• Incorrect meter disc → verify and install the correct disc

9) High salt consumption

• Regenerates too frequently → see #8
• High water level in brine drum → adjust/replace brine valve; clean drum

10) Salty treated water

• Restricted drain line → clear kinks/clogs
• Low water pressure → raise to ≥15 psi; replace clogged prefilter cartridges
• Plugged backwash flow control → clean
• Long/elevated drain line → shorten or increase diameter
• Plugged upper distributors (not HE) → clean; consider adding a prefilter
• High brine level → verify/replace brine valve

11) Iron bleed-through

• Existing iron in plumbing → test at brine fitting; if soft there but hard at taps, address plumbing
• Meter disc settings wrong for current raw water → reassess hardness/iron; fit correct disc
• Improper salt/brine settings → adjust brine valve
• Ferric iron present → ion exchange won’t remove; trial with demo softener; may need extra equipment
• Galvanized pressure tank causing oxidation → replace with a bladder-style pressure tank

12) Pressure loss

Reduced inlet pressure from a clogged prefilter → replace prefilter.

Plugged distributors (foreign material) → clean distributors; add a prefilter to prevent recurrence.

13) Water running to drain

• Balance piston O-ring not seated → depress actuator to seat; replace if worn
• Control disc scored/damaged → replace
• Drain/control valve seals not seating (debris) → disassemble & clean
• Low water pressure → raise to spec
• Faulty quad-rings → replace & lubricate; check seals are EPDM chlorine-resistant seals

14) Taste, colour & odour

• Metallic/iron taste → see “Iron bleed-through” (#11)
• Chlorine odour/taste → install a carbon filter
• Salty taste → high TDS/residual salt → consider a drinking water/RO system
• Yellow tint → tannins → a tannin-specific softener
• Odour in hot water only → reaction with magnesium anode rod → remove/replace with alternative

15) Leaks

• Between assembly levels → tighten screws; replace seals; replace cracked parts
• Excessive pressure (>125 psi) → install/replace a pressure regulator
• Main or remote base → tighten base; replace O-ring

16) Equipment noise

• Squealing (disc not flat → valve flutter) → replace control disc, balance piston spring & O-ring; consider drain valves/seals
• Gurgling/hissing/bubbling → run a full cycle to purge air; fix plumbing air leaks; check brine line & air checks

17) Unit sticks in cycle

Sticks in regeneration or backwash: plugged flow paths; faulty pawl/disc; worn pinion; low pressure; plugged bed → clean paths; replace pawls/discs; replace pinion; raise pressure; re-bed if needed.

Sticks in service: broken/missing regeneration start pawl or damaged control disc → replace pawl/disc.

We Send You Dip Test Strips

Quick, easy checks for water hardness before and after repair — gives instant feedback that your system is softening correctly.

We Send You our Superb Engineer’s Repair Guide

The 109-page illustrated service guide used by engineers — clear diagrams, step-by-step photos, and insider tips.

We Send You Our Full Rebuild Kit

Here is Just an example of the seal kit – four sided quad seals.

High-grade EPDM seals manufactured by us — chlorine-resistant, precision-moulded, and compatible with ALL Kinetico Water Softener Models

We Send You Over 2 Hours of Video Tutorials

We Also Include Video Screen Shots in Our Engineers Guide

Watch Our Engineer Fit Our Own Seal Kit in Real Time

We Send You Video Work Though –  Resin Change Video

We Send You Videos in Full Colour – Most High Definition – Some Shown Here

Royal Mail Tracked Shipping

Fast, fully tracked UK and international delivery — with proof of postage and updates direct to your inbox

What our buyers say

Our pledge: Ask us a question. If we think a fix needs more than seals, we’ll say so.

Order the complete seal kit — $139