I have a 24 year old water softener. Mechanically it operates fine. Regenerates on schedule and the water is noticeably soft. The problem is that I have no water pressure in the house. After flushing the toilet the sink has minimal pressure. Washing clothes and taking a shower should not be attempted.

I called a local manufacture and asked this question. They indicated that the resin beads were shot and the water softener should be replaced. Of course they sell them and want me to buy a new one. I did turn the bypass valves bypassing the softener and the water pressure to the house increased significantly. So I know the flow through the softener is the problem.

My question is: Is there a way to fix this problem without buying a new softener. I have heard there is a way to "clean" the resin beads so that they are no longer gummed up. Or is it time to get a new softener?

Thank you in advance for any help you provide.

KBbuilder

If that unit is 24 years old you would likely be throughing more money than its worth if you try to replace the beads. Here are a few maintenance suggestions from Bob Vila's column.
"Turn the water softener control to the bypass mode (so the main water line does not run through the softener). On some units, you also may need to disconnect the unit from the electrical source.
Unscrew the softener injector cap and remove the screen and injector nozzle. You may need the owner's manual to determine where these components are located on your model.
Remove and clean the screen with warm soapy water, then rinse in clear water. If it is damaged, replace the screen.
Clean the nozzle with canned air, a small wire, or a paper clip.
Reassemble and test the unit.
Flush the brine line:

Turn the water softener control to the bypass mode. On some units, you also may need to disconnect the unit from the electrical source.
Loosen the brine line fittings at the injector housing and salt tank with a wrench, then remove the brine line.
To clear a clog, use a large syringe or a turkey baster to inject warm water into the line."

It might be worth your efforts to do each of these steps to see if you can clean up the resin beads.