We are renting an older house. Recently, I started hearing the humming noise in the basement. I noticed there was a small water dripping through a small leak on the water softner... I got the plumber out today and he fixed the corrosion. However I still hear the running when the house water is turned on. I have pin-pointed it to be the water softner. The only problem is that we don't nor have we ever used the water softner. I turned the valves off since we haven't used them and then I don't get any other house water. The plumber said I have to have both of them flowing open and that it's just the sound of the water. But... I NEVER heard this until a few days ago and the sound is so loud it's driving me crazy. He checked my water meter and said it's fine, but it's driving me crazy. I don't remember having the valves opened before. Beforehand, I could have sworn both the blue water valves were closed along with the red one in the middle... So I'm just wondering why now it's making that noise and won't stop. I still think there's water running and until I figure out the source, I'm going to be crazy!! Please help!

The only problem is that we don't nor have we ever used the water softner.T Let's make sure the softener's bypassed,
(see image) Make sure the inlet and outlet valves are COMPLETELY closed and the bypass valve is COMPLETELY open. Double check them! If 9one is just partly closed or open that could cause the noise as you made a draw.

He checked my water meter and said it's fine, In a case like this I like to do my own checking. To check to see if you have a hidden leak first shut down everything in the house, no flush, no drinks of water, and if you are on a meter go out and check the little pointer in the gage. It should not move or creep. If it does you have a leak.
Any more details to give me? N Tom

I believe all three - both inlet and outlet and the bypass were closed before all this. However now I have to have both the inlet and outlet and the bypass closed (I'm assuming the red one in the middle is the bypass valve)... We then shut the two inlet/outlet and opened the bypass and still there's water running that never did before... I did notice that there is a small leak in part of the pipe down by the softner and this leak is a continuous drip even with the inlet/outlet closed. I am wondering if it's perhaps the leak causing the issues. We are just so perplexed and frusterated.

I believe all three - both inlet and outlet and the bypass were closed before all this. However now I have to have both the inlet and outlet and the bypass closed (I'm assuming the red one in the middle is the bypass valve)... We then shut the two inlet/outlet and opened the bypass and still there's water running that never did before... I did notice that there is a small leak in part of the pipe down by the softner and this leak is a continuous drip even with the inlet/outlet closed. I am wondering if it's perhaps the leak causing the issues. Also our pipes look different than the picture. Ours has the pipes coming in from the main water source and the bypass valve is actually under and in between the two inlet/outlet valves. We are just so perplexed and frusterated.