In article , RickH wrote:

It could be backwashing too often using up salt so fast. But even if
you set it to backwash less frequently the water will still be just as
"oily",

Incorrect. The softer the water, the more slippery it feels. If you want it
less slippery, make it less soft.

The frequency with which the softener refreshes is supposed to depend on the
amount of water used. The degree of softness is adjusted by changing the
amount of salt used each time it refreshes -- not the frequency of refreshing.

as the salt has nothing to do with the actual softening
process. The salt is used to break the ionic bond the filter has on
the extracted minerals, making the filter "clean" again for the next
cycle.

Also incorrect. Water softeners work by replacing calcium and magnesium ions
in the hard water with sodium ions; the source of the sodium is -- you guessed
it -- the salt you put in the brine tank. The purpose of the backwash is to
refresh the resin bed with sodium.

If anything it could be that your filter is a little oversized
for your hardness and it is filtering it more than you would like it
to and making it more "oily".

Most likely, it's just set to make the water too soft, and can easily be
adjusted to make it the way he wants it.

You will probably have to just get used to the level of softness, but
you may be able to use less salt by slowing down the backwash
interval.

What he really needs to do is reduce the salt consumption setting. His owners
manual will describe how to do this.