No cold water in home? Only hot water? Seems that way at least.?

Question

I have what seems like a very odd problem. I have lost water pressure to all sinks, one shower (other works fine), and the backyard hose (frontyard hose works fine). I'm very confused, but initially had a problem where some tiny gold pellets of some sort had backed up into places where we were running water (shiny, but very tiny pellets that were almost sand-like consistency).

Currently can run the washing machine on warm or hot settings, but not cold/cold setting. Confusing to me, but appears to point to some issue in getting cold water into the house???? Still confused why sinks don't work at all, but two tubs, one shower (working unit is tub/shower enclosure. Non-working unit is seperate tub/shower, where the tub works, but shower doesn't).

House has a soft water system, which we weren't told about (we're in a lease/purchase agreement on the house - we're responsible for all repairs). The water softener system is leaking.

Don't know much more than that. Any help?

Answer 1

The softener has leaked the pellets into the water system. The softener needs to be replaced. Somewhere next to the softener there should be a bypass built into the piping. A bypass diverts the water around the softener, not sending it through it. Some bypasses are plumbed into the incoming and outgoing lines to the softner, or they are built into the softner inlet itself. look for the bypass and switch it. That should give you way better pressure. Also check all aerators at every faucet and clean them. Once you get the system pressure up. open an outside hydtant and flush the entire system. That should solve the problem! Hope this helps! Any questions, just ask!

Answer 2

I agree that the softener has allowed some pellets to pass to your system.  Try removing the aerators on the end of the faucet spout and the shower head to see if they are clogged.

Answer 3

Yep...your water softener system needs servicing...and not just for the leak. It sounds like some of the pellets may have gotten into your water lines.....so you may have to have a plumber come out...take off all your water faucets and blow the lines out...or back flush them.

You can do the back flush or blowing out the lines if you have a good air compressor...just remove all the faucets ( turn off the main water valve first ) then blow them out back through the lines where it's hooked to water softener.