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Plumbing in the Home - Water softener resin beads in cold water supply
Expert: Dana Bostick - 11/1/2009
Question
Last night while our family was brushing teeth and getting ready for bed, we heard one of the toilets running. Jiggling the handle didn't stop it. When we took the top off the tank, the water line sprayed something other than water all over the walls. We turned off the water supply valve at the toilet, flushed and realized that our toilet was filled with resin beads from our water softener. Within a few minutes, nearly every cold water supply line clogged in the three bathrooms that were being used. We immediately pushed the bypass on the water softener and even unplugged the unit. We took the aerators off the faucets, and they all were clogged with the resin beads as well. However, even with the aerators off the faucets, the cold water has stopped flowing. This has affected our kitchen and three of the four bathrooms. The toilets all have the beads in them. What can we do to flush our cold water pipes? Have these beads destroyed our toilets and plumbing lines? We aren't running any appliances, but certainly I don't want my hot water heater filling with these, my clothes or dish washers destroyed, or anything to happen to my geothermal heat pump. Help?!
Answer
Hi Carolyn,
That's a bummer! I have seen it happen a few times. Cleaning out the beads can be a big problem.
They are not toxic but they do clog up the smaller passages in fixtures and appliances.
First, I would contact the maker of the softener unit and find out what happened to cause this.
Document any communication with them, they MAY have some responsibility to help fix the problem and flush the lines. If you get no help there, you will need to get a professional plumber in to back flush all the pipes, clear all the valves and sort this all out. It's going to be a bit expensive.
Possibly your homeowner's insurance can help.
Good Luck,
Dana
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