Service-Ready Evidence Checklist
Back to Water Softener Troubleshooting Guide
Complete only safe, observable fields. Do not reset or disassemble equipment to obtain an answer.
Identity and documents
- [ ] Manufacturer and complete model
- [ ] Serial number
- [ ] Controller/valve model
- [ ] Manual title, revision, URL, and relevant pages
- [ ] Installation date, warranty, installer/service contact
Symptom
- [ ] One-sentence observable symptom
- [ ] First date/time and whether continuous or intermittent
- [ ] Exact display status/error code
- [ ] Photos/video/sound reference
- [ ] Leak, overflow, electrical exposure, constant drain in service, or structural issue explicitly marked
Water evidence
- [ ] Untreated hardness, unit, method, point, and date
- [ ] Treated hardness, unit, method, point, date, and cycle context
- [ ] Water source and any recent source/report/well change
- [ ] Taste, odor, color, sediment, or safety concern routed outside hardness troubleshooting
Operation evidence
- [ ] Current visible owner settings photographed
- [ ] Prior verified settings record
- [ ] Last two or more regeneration start/end records
- [ ] Trigger and observed stage labels
- [ ] Drain flow stopped after return to service: yes/no/unknown
- [ ] Salt-level photos, additions, and approved salt type
- [ ] Brine-level observations tied to stage/time
- [ ] Actual water-use or meter evidence
- [ ] Fixture leaks and unexpected flow observations
- [ ] Power outage, clock, cleaning, repair, bypass, or setting-change history
Questions for the provider
- What evidence supports the diagnosis?
- What measurements or tests were performed?
- Which exact part or setting is proposed, and why?
- What old/new setting values will be recorded?
- How will treated hardness and normal regeneration be validated afterward?
- What is the itemized cost, warranty, unresolved risk, and next due date?
Provider: __________________ Date: __________ Work order/quote: __________
Result: ☐ diagnosis pending ☐ repair proposed ☐ replacement comparison needed ☐ resolved and validated