Culligan water softener help

DirtySCREW

DirtySCREW

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Any water softener people or plumbers on here that can give me a hand?

I have a 1999 Culligan Water Softener that is leaking. I heard a gushing spraying sound when I was in my garage. It was spraying out of where one pipe connector goes into another. I'm sure it's an o ring of some sort that needs replacing.

I put my finger around where it was spraying and have just a drip now... Constant drip. Garage floor is soaked...Got most up with a shop vac.

Help. Really don't want to call Culligan to come and fix it and charge me $150+.

DS
 
The line that's leaking is the incoming water line--- FYI

DS
 
You should have a bypass up stream of the softner. That will cut the water off to stop the leaking for now.

Need a clearer pic of the area water is coming from. Most times the Ohring won't break, but the housing will.
 
Mirac said:
You should have a bypass up stream of the softner. That will cut the water off to stop the leaking for now.

Need a clearer pic of the area water is coming from. Most times the Ohring won't break, but the housing will.
Click to expand...
Bypass SLOWED the leaking...But didn't stop it!

If you zoom in...You can see water droplets on the black insert? I'll try and get better pics.

DS

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IMG_20170826_161315007.jpg


That black connector near that flat screw is what's leaking. I'm sure there's an o ring or some valve that's gone bad.

DS
 
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Is that red button a quick disconnect ?
Yeah, there's something in there. A gasket or ohring That screw might seperate the pieces too. Is there another screw on the other side?
 
Mirac said:
Is that red button a quick disconnect ?
Yeah, there's something in there. A gasket or ohring That screw might seperate the pieces too. Is there another screw on the other side?
Click to expand...
Yes.. There is another flat screw on the other side. The red button is the Bypass. It is pushed in, otherwise it sprays out instead of dripping.

DS

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image.jpeg image.jpeg Looks to be ohrings in there.
The screw in the picture and the one on the other side will get it slipped apart. When the water is off.
That red button is a bypass.
 
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Mirac said:
View attachment 20724 View attachment 20723 Looks to be ohrings in there.
The screw in the picture and the one on the other side will get it slipped apart. When the weather it off.
That red button is a bypass.
Click to expand...
You know what orings I need? I'll go to home depot right now if I can get them....Lol

I don't know what size. You have a part number? Do they Have to come from Culligan??
Thanks for all your help

DS

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Don't know what size,
I'd turn the water off and pull it apart. Take on with me, if you have an Ace hardware, they have ohrings too.
Don't forget some silicone plumbers grease to put it back together, you don't need much, just so the ohrings don't stick.

Good luck.
 
Thanks

DS

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IMG_20170827_110649024.jpg

I can't find FLAT o rings anywhere. Not at home depot or Ace hardware. This was my fear that it was a Culligan only part.

Any ideas?

DS
 
Macrae rubber and gasket on raleigh st there in wilmington should have them .. look into silicone for the replacements
 
There used to be an emergency number posted on the door. I think it used to be like $40 for someone to come in on weekends and after hours. Don't know if it's worth that to you. But always an option.
 
LeeMajors said:
There used to be an emergency number posted on the door. I think it used to be like $40 for someone to come in on weekends and after hours. Don't know if it's worth that to you. But always an option.
Click to expand...
I went out to the garage for another look. Went down a size in o ring and used the silicone grease I picked up at HD this morning...So far...No leaks!!

I don't know if a combination of moving the tank to a better lined up position, smaller o ring, and the grease all aligned to stop the leak or not. It's doing a Regen now. We'll see.

Thanks again everyone.

DS

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DirtySCREW said:
I went out to the garage for another look. Went down a size in o ring and used the silicone grease I picked up at HD this morning...So far...No leaks!!

I don't know if a combination of moving the tank to a better lined up position, smaller o ring, and the grease all aligned to stop the leak or not. It's doing a Regen now. We'll see.

Thanks again everyone.

DS

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Click to expand...

And she's leaking AGAIN. JUST dripping, barely...But I noticed my garage floor was wet...Went to investigate...And saw the drop every 5 seconds or so.

Guess I'll pull her apart again and try another o ring. I'm thinking of getting some bathroom silicone and covering the outside where it connects...To try and make sure it's sealed!

Any help appreciated.

DS
 
Doood, order the right parts, get the right lube, clean it up and doo it right, ebay, amazon or whatever.

Put a bucket under it, some towels down or some dirty cat litter or take the system out of the loop for a week.

Are you on a well down there, city boy?
 
DirtySCREW said:
And she's leaking AGAIN. JUST dripping, barely...But I noticed my garage floor was wet...Went to investigate...And saw the drop every 5 seconds or so.

Guess I'll pull her apart again and try another o ring. I'm thinking of getting some bathroom silicone and covering the outside where it connects...To try and make sure it's sealed!

Any help appreciated.

DS
Click to expand...


Silicone won't do nothing but make a mess putting it on the outside, it will still leak. Try new/different rings until you can get the proper ones.
 
Johnny said:
Doood, order the right parts, get the right lube, clean it up and doo it right, ebay, amazon or whatever.

Put a bucket under it, some towels down or some dirty cat litter or take the system out of the loop for a week.

Are you on a well down there, city boy?
Click to expand...
It would be nice to find the right parts!!!! O rings don't have a part number stamped on them....And trying to find Culligan part numbers...Good luck.

And no, this "city boy" , doesn't have a well. County water baby!!! Probably with Gen X for added measure.

Hey...You just gave me a thought...I can sue because the gen X ate away my orings!! Lol


DS

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Cycle that bypass valve until it either breaks and floods you out or breaks up that genx clog and starts working again.

I'm betting you have access to a pair of calipers, measure the parts and spec out a proper square o-ring.

I am willing to harass and insult you until the job is completed.

I'll also dig around after feeding to see what I can dig up.
 
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I just got back from harbor freight. I bought ever o ring kit they had I think except for a Vitron high heat one they had.

DS
 
IMG_20171007_131520674.jpg

Looks like it's .855 thou.
DS
 
....So......Would it be a 7/8 which is .875 and the extra .020 thickness won't matter...Or is it metric?

DS
 
IMG_20171007_132800014.jpg

OK.... According to the chart...I used a #210 which has an ID of 3/4 and OD of 1 and thickness of 1/8.
It's scraped around in quite a few places. A #116 looks to be perfect (id 3/4 / od 15/16) but is only 3/32 thick.....Not thick enough.
@Johnny


DS
 
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Yeah, the thickness is gonna be the kicker..

I'm gonna fire up my Duckduckgo-fooo and find you the right part.. While you might luck out, at best my experience with conventional O-rings in place of square shoulder ones is that they will leak on the low pressure side of a system.

Do you still have the OEM junk ones?
 
Johnny said:
Yeah, the thickness is gonna be the kicker..

I'm gonna fire up my Duckduckgo-fooo and find you the right part.. While you might luck out, at best my experience with conventional O-rings in place of square shoulder ones is that they will leak on the low pressure side of a system.

Do you still have the OEM junk ones?
Click to expand...
Only partials...That are ripped...Can't measure.

DS

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Johnny said:
We can no longer be friends..
Click to expand...
[emoji26]
You gotta do what you gotta do. Home depot sucks for o rings...Lowe's too!!

DS

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