Error 1 signifies a synchronization failure between the control board and the valve motor. I typically see this when the motor cannot move the cam or the switch fails to signal the home position to the computer.
So you walked down to the basement and saw ERR 01 blinking at you. Don't panic. Nine times out of ten it's either a stuck gear or a dead microswitch, and both are pretty cheap fixes. What you really want to avoid is leaving it alone, because if that valve's stuck mid-cycle it'll keep draining water down your floor drain nonstop and that adds up fast on your water bill.
Here's the deal with ERR 01: your control board sent the motor a command to move, started a timer, and the switch never fired to say it made it home. So the board gave up and threw the error. It's super common on units older than five or six years because the plastic gears get brittle and the wiring near the brine tank corrodes from salt exposure. Honestly, it's one of the more fixable softener codes out there.
Most Likely Causes
Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:
Bad Motor45%
Faulty Microswitch25%
Wiring Corrosion20%
Control Board Failure10%
Symptoms You May Notice
ERR 01 flashing on the display, sometimes alternating with the current time or salt level reading
Your water tastes or feels hard again because the unit stopped regenerating and soap stops lathering the way it used to
You can hear the motor clicking or humming briefly every few minutes as the board keeps retrying the home sequence
Water running continuously down your floor drain even when nobody's using water in the house, could be gallons per hour
Unit feels completely frozen and the display won't respond to button presses the way it normally would
Can you reset a Kenmore waterheater to clear the ERR 01 code?
Pull the power transformer straight out of the wall outlet and wait a full 60 seconds. Don't cheat and do 20 seconds. Plug it back in and watch the motor, you should hear it click and hum as it searches for the home position. If it finds home, the display goes back to normal. If ERR 01 comes right back within a minute or two, the mechanical problem's still there and no amount of resetting is going to fix it.
Tools Required for Diagnosis
Phillips #2 screwdriverFlathead screwdriverDigital multimeterNeedle nose pliersContact cleaner spraySmall wire brushTowel or rag for brine spills
Diagnostic Checklist
Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.
ComponentComponent Under Test
Expected Range0–5 ohms
ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use my water while Error 1 is flashing?
Yeah, your water still flows. It's just not getting softened right now. But here's what you should check first: go listen near your floor drain. If you hear water running and nobody's showering or doing laundry, that valve is stuck open and you're dumping water constantly, potentially 50-100 gallons until you fix it. If that's happening, put the unit in manual bypass using the handle on the back between the inlet and outlet connections. That stops the waste while you troubleshoot.
How do I reset the Error 1 code on my Kenmore softener?
Unplug the power transformer from the wall, leave it unplugged for at least 60 full seconds, then plug it back in. The board will try to home the valve motor from scratch. If the mechanical problem's already fixed, the error clears and you're good. If ERR 01 comes right back, don't bother resetting it again. It won't magically fix itself. The reset just tells you whether the underlying problem is still there.
What is the most common part to fail for an Err 01 code?
Honestly, it's almost always the motor or the cam gears, and I'd say motor failure is probably 40% of my ERR 01 calls. Microswitch is second. Motors run about $25-45 online, microswitches are under $10. I replaced four motors on these units just last month. The control board almost never fails unless there was a power surge, so don't let anyone talk you into a $100+ board replacement before you've actually checked the motor and switch first.
Why does my softener keep running or draining water with this error?
The valve has multiple ports and when the motor can't find home, the board doesn't know which port is open. So it keeps trying. Depending on where the piston stopped, water might be routing straight through the drain port nonstop. Put the unit in manual bypass if you can, there's usually a bypass handle on the back between the inlet and outlet connections. Rotate it to bypass and that stops the water routing through the softener entirely while you figure out the fix.
Is it worth fixing an Error 1 or should I buy a new softener?
If your unit's under 12 years old, fix it. A motor and some gears might run you $40-60 total and an hour of your time. New softeners are $400-800 installed. Now if you've got a 15-year-old unit throwing errors every few months and the resin's probably exhausted too, then maybe it's time. But ERR 01 by itself on a unit that was working fine last week? That's a cheap fix. I've seen people throw out perfectly good softeners over a $9 microswitch. Don't be that person.
How long does it take to fix ERR 01?
If it's the microswitch or wiring, you're looking at 20-30 minutes tops once you have the part. Motor replacement is maybe 30-45 minutes. Cam gear replacement is similar. The longest part is usually waiting for the part to arrive if you order online. If you've got a local appliance parts store, you might be back up and running same day. Control board replacement takes about the same time but obviously costs more.
Models Known to Experience ERR 01 Errors
This repair applies to most Kenmore waterheaters with this error code. Common model numbers include: