The MARLO 'MAT' Series is designed for commercial & industrial water softening applications demanding continuous soft water supply. All systems are twin-alternating configurations with one tank in regeneration or stand-by at all times. Individual tank capacity ranges from 15,000 grain to 450,000 grain with continuous flow rates of 1-45 GPM.

Water Softener Comparison Guide 1-384 'MAT' Series Softener Systems Overview The Marlo 'MAT' softener is a meter initiated twin-alternating softener that effectively reduces hard-water scale. This results in lower energy costs. Fleck 9100, (3/4” and 1”)G ronze - Fleck 9500, (1-1/2B '). Aplus Water LLC strives to provide you with the right quality water treatment system and great customer service. To ensure your satisfaction, we provide manuals and installation videos for different water softener units on our website. Feel free to call us if you have any questions.

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Fiberglass reinforced polyester (FRP) pressure vessels for 150 psi working pressure.
High capacity, sulfonated polystyrene cation exchange resin in sodium-form.
Brass, top mounted twin-tank control valve with integral brine injector.
Built-In control valve alternator for continuous soft water supply.
Automatic-reset water meter for volume initiated regeneration.
Self-adjusting flow control to maintain accurate backwash rates.
Internal distribution system for minimal pressure drop and optimal regeneration.
Rigid, polyethylene brine tanks with dry-salt shelf platform and water re-fill valves.

Electronic water meter upgrade for volume initiated regeneration, flow display, and totalization.
Skid mounted, pre-assembled, and pre-loaded systems.

POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about how to diagnose water softener operating problems: how long the softener runs, how much water is in the brine tank, how much salt, how salty or soft is the household water, more.

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Water softener regeneration cycle time period:

What is the normal duration or length of a water softener regeneration cycle? What determines the length of the softener regen cycle? Can the regen cycle duration be adjusted? How to diagnose & fix problems with a water softner that runs too long or not long enough. How much water does a water softener consume to regenerate its ability to remove minerals from the water supply?

Diagnose & Fix Water Softener Problems: this article series describes procedures for diagnosing and repairing water softener or water conditioner problems including water conditioner control settings and adjustment or repair, brine tank and brine tank float cleaning and repair, and the proper amount of water softening or conditioning that is needed.

We also provide a MASTER INDEX to this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.

Water Softener Regeneration Cycle Time Too Long

If your water softener is running in regen mode continuously, something is drastically wrong. You'll know this by seeing water discharging from the softener drain and by hearing water running through the softener continuously, for more than three hours.

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Watch out: A water softener that is 'stuck in regeneration mode' running continuously

is wasting water
is not providing softened water to the building, risking costly clogs in piping systems and appliances
is wasting salt - if any salt is left in the brine tank
risks flooding and ruining a septic drainfield
is noisy and annoying

In that case, turn off the water softener or put it in bypass and call for repair.

Watch out: Before you decide that your water softener is running for an abnormally long time, it's worth noting that even in a perfectly adjusted water softener the regeneration cycle can involve five steps or more and can run for 1-2 hours.

Reader Question: how long should the water softener brine flush (regeneration cycle) last?

Is it normal for brine flush to be an hour long ? - D.C.

Reply: normal water softener regeneration cycle duration

DC it could be an hour - as long as it stops you're ok. The length of the regen cycle is controlled by the timer/control on your equipment and will vary by water conditioner size and salt dose. It would not be unusual for the total regen cycle to take more than an hour, comprised of these steps:

Water Conditioner Regeneration Cycle Time Components
Older Water Softeners	Current Water Softener Cycles
1. Backwash cycle - wash out the resin tank	14 minutes	14 minutes
2. Brine Draw: Water Softener regen cycle - brine is pumped slowly out of the brine tank, through the water conditioner tank including a 'slow rinse' when the brine is exhausted	52 minutes	30-52 minutes
3. Slow Rinse (if not included in step 2)	10-20 minutes
4. Fast Rinse	6 minutes
5. Brine tank refill - water is pumped into the brine tank to dissolve salt to be available as salty water for the next regen cycle	10 minutes	5-6 minutes
Total Water Conditioner Regen Cycle Time (sum of above)	76 minutes	65 - 98 minutes

Notes to the table above

Tthe times in the 'Older Water Softener' column above above are accurate for older, simpler water softeners and water conditioners.

Newer water softeners from about 2000 to present may use more regeneration steps and take a longer time for whch we added the second column: Current Water Softeners. Thanks to reader 'Conflicting' for pointing out that inconsistency 2018-07-24.

See WATER SOFTENER OPERATING CYCLES for details of what a modern water softener is doing in normal or service cycle (providing soft water) and what the softener is doing in multiple steps of its regeneration cycle.

Question: Why does my Water Softener Keep Running Longer Than it Should?

My water softener continues to run when no water is being drawn from anywhere in the house. Why is this happening? - Joe Hernandez, Brighten MI

Reply: What's the difference between normal water softener backwash regen cycle running and 'stuck on' running?

Joe:

The table below lists common causes & cures for a water softener that cycles continuously or that keeps draining continuously.

Causes of Long Water Softener Run or Regeneration Cycles or Continuous Water Softener Draining
Water Softener 'Stuck On' Problem	Water Softener Problem Cause	Water Softener Repair Procedure
Water softener control cycles continuously	Broken or shorted water softener control switch or timer	If the water softener timer or control switch is defective it can cause the softener to remain 'stuck' in regeneration mode, causing the water sofener to cycle continuously. Replace the timer, switch, or if necessary replace the entire water sofener control head.
Water softener drains continuously	Water softener control valve not programmed correctly	Check Timer Program and Positioning of Control. Replace Power Head Assembly if not Positioning Properly.
	Water softener control valve clogged by debris	Remove the water softener power head assembly and inspect the bore. Remove foreign material and check the control in various regeneration positions.
	Water softener valve internal leak	Replace the seals and piston assembly in the softener control head.
Water softener regeneration cycle inadequate	Various causes in the article cited at right	Insufficient salt dose or brine tank problems can cause the water softener regen cycle to be too short or can cause the softener to fail to produce enough soft water. See BRINE TANK WATER TOO LOW

Marlo 9100 Water Softener Manual