We get many calls from customers with Waterside (or Culligan) water softeners needing repair.

Older Waterside MC250 systems (over 17 years old) were assembled using “industry standard” Fleck valves for which spare parts are widely available and we can usually help in this situation.

Unfortunately, with the more modern MC250 and MC350 with the digital control valve developed by Waterside themselves (to a budget), we are not able to help with these products. The systems tend to be problematic and experience shows that customers often have a series of problems due to poor reliability. Spare parts are also difficult to get hold of as Culligan tend to keep the spares for their own engineers to use, rather than selling them to independent experts such as us.

It is not uncommon for us to be told by customers that “we had a Waterside softener for 20 years with no problems but our new one has failed after 4 or 5 years!” We have little option in this situation than to either recommend a replacement unit or give the customer Culligan’s Service Department phone number!

Please note that since this blog was written, Culligan have been taken over by BWT who are based in High Wycombe. As per the blog, they are now the only company who appear to have the spares for the MC350/450 range of water softeners.