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Testing

How to Check Your Water Softener Is Working

A simple before-and-after hardness test that tells you whether a softener is doing its job, and what to do if it isn't.

By Softenry Editorial · Updated October 2026

The short answer

Test an unsoftened tap and a softened tap: softened water should read near zero.

The test

  • Test an outdoor or bypassed tap (unsoftened).
  • Test a softened indoor tap.
  • Softened water should read near zero hardness.

If it's not soft

Work through bypass, salt, settings, valve and resin in the troubleshooting guide. Kits: On The Go 481108 Hardness Test Strips, Bartovation PWQ11V100 Hardness Test Strips.

When to test

A few days after setup, after changing settings, and whenever the water feels different.

Products mentioned

Hardness test strips · On The Go

On The Go 481108 Hardness Test Strips

Hardness test strips · 50 tests

On The Go
Hardness test strips · Bartovation

Bartovation PWQ11V100 Hardness Test Strips

Hardness test strips · 100 tests

Bartovation

Questions readers ask

How do I know if my water softener is working?
Softened water should read near zero on a hardness test.
Why does my softened water feel slippery?
That's normal: soap rinses differently in soft water.