Direct answer: Rheem softener parts are ordered by part number through the manufacturer line, 1-800-754-7027, which the RHS32 and RHS42 manuals list for repair parts. The two models share some parts, including the 1-cubic-foot resin (0502272), brine valve assembly (7381180), power supply (7351054) and drain hose (7139999), but the valve, resin tank, seal kit, nozzle and venturi kit and control board differ because the RHS32 uses a 3/4-inch valve and the RHS42 a 1-inch valve. The warranty voids coverage if aftermarket, used or non-manufacturer parts are installed.
Publisher boundary: Water System Guide is an independent research publisher, not a parts seller or Rheem support. Part numbers below are copied from the parts lists of the RHS32 manual 7386465 and RHS42 manual 7386473, both Rev. P dated January 20, 2026, reviewed October 15, 2026. We do not list prices or confirm stock. The RHS18 and RHW42 have their own parts lists that we did not review.
Identify the model before ordering
The two Preferred-series softeners look alike, and several assemblies carry similar names, so the part number depends on the model. The model and serial number are on the rating decal inside the salt lid. The control also shows a model code at power-up and in the diagnostics screen: rH32 for RHS32 and rH42 for RHS42 (RHS32 manual, PDF page 13). The RHW42 Wi-Fi model also reports rH42, so check the decal for the full model.
A second check is the valve size. The RHS32 parts list names 3/4-inch kits; the RHS42 list names 1-inch kits (RHS32 PDF page 27; RHS42 PDF page 29).
Resin and the resin tank
Both manuals list the same resin: 0502272, Resin, 1 cu. ft. The softeners hold different amounts. The RHS32 specification table lists 0.88 cubic feet of high-capacity ion-exchange resin, and the RHS42 lists 1.20 cubic feet (RHS32 PDF page 4; RHS42 PDF page 4). By our arithmetic, a full RHS32 rebed fits within one 1-cubic-foot unit, while an RHS42 needs more than one.
The manuals do not give an owner procedure for replacing resin. They list a complete replacement resin tank instead:
| Part | RHS32 | RHS42 |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement resin tank | 7328904 (9 x 35 in.) | 7247996 (10 x 40 in.) |
| Resin, 1 cu. ft. | 0502272 | 0502272 |
| Top distributor | 7077870 | 7077870 |
| Replacement bottom distributor | 7329219 | 7327584 |
| Distributor O-ring kit | 7112963 | 7112963 |
| Tank neck clamp kit | 7331177 | 7331177 |
The troubleshooting table explains when the resin tank matters. “Resin in household plumbing” is traced to a crack in the distributor or riser tube, and the correction is to replace the resin tank assembly (RHS32 PDF page 20). The fiberglass resin tank carries a 10-year limited warranty against rusting, corroding, leaking or bursting.
Resin fouled by iron is treated with cleaner rather than replacement. The table’s correction for “iron in soft water” is to “clean resin bed with Resin Bed Cleaner,” and it notes that bacterial or organic-bound iron cannot be treated by a water softener.
Valve parts: nozzle, venturi, seals and rotor
The valve parts are where the two models differ most.
| Part | RHS32 (3/4-inch valve) | RHS42 (1-inch valve) |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle and venturi kit | 7398674 | 7398705 |
| Seal kit | 7129716 | 7185487 |
| Rotor and disc | 7199232 | 7185500 |
| Valve body | 7082053 | 7171145 |
| Wave washer | 7082087 | 7175199 |
| Motor, cam and gear kit | 7397864 | 7384691 |
| Position switch | 7030713 | 7305150 |
| Drain hose adaptor kit (includes 2.0 gpm flow plug) | 7331185 | 7331169 |
| Turbine and support assembly | 7113040 | 7290931 |
| Sensor wire harness | 7309803 | 7309811 |
| Valve cover | 7337466 | 7171161 |
The nozzle and venturi is the part owners handle most. The manual calls a clean nozzle and venturi “a necessity for the water softener to work properly” because it creates the suction that moves brine into the resin tank (RHS32 PDF page 19). Cleaning comes before replacement: with the bypass in bypass and the valve in service, unscrew the cap, lift out the screen support and screen, remove the disc, gasket and flow plug, wash them in warm soapy water and reassemble with the gasket’s small hole centered over the housing’s small hole and the numbers facing up. Hand-tighten the cap; overtightening can break it.
The seal kit and rotor appear in two troubleshooting rows. A leak inside the valve that sends water to the drain during service calls for new seals and rotor, and a motor that stalls or clicks because of high torque calls for a new rotor and seal. Our Rheem error code guide covers the related E1, E3 and E4 codes.
Controls, power and cabinet parts
| Part | RHS32 | RHS42 |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement electronic control board | 7386766 (with status light) | 7386774 (with tank light and status light) |
| Power supply, 24V DC | 7351054 | 7351054 |
| Faceplate | 7384625 | 7385532 |
| Faceplate decal | 7385540 | 7385558 |
| Salt lid | 7386839 | 7386839 |
| Top cover | 7386821 | 7386821 |
| Brinewell | 7214375 | 7214375 |
| Brinewell cover | 7386855 | 7386855 |
| Brine valve assembly | 7381180 | 7381180 |
| Replacement brine tank | 7384667 | 7384659 |
| Drain hose | 7139999 | 7139999 |
| Overflow hose adaptor kit | 7331258 | 7331258 |
The RHS42 list also includes a filter screen, 7265025, which the RHS32 list does not. Rheem’s product page for the Preferred Plus describes a built-in sediment filter with no filter replacements needed.
The power supply is the same 24V DC plug-in unit on both models. The manuals say to use only the included power supply, plugged into a grounded, protected 120V, 60 Hz outlet in a dry location (RHS32 PDF page 5).
Bypass and plumbing connection parts
The RHS32 uses a 3/4-inch bypass valve assembly, 7370286, including two O-rings (7337571, sold in packs of four), with 3/4-inch clips (7337563, pack of four). The RHS42 uses a 1-inch bypass blending valve assembly, 7329594, with 1-inch clips (7337589), O-rings (7337597) and 1-inch installation adaptors (7342704, a pack of two that includes two each of the clips and O-rings) (RHS42 PDF page 29).
The manual warns that improper removal of the large holding clips can damage them and that damaged clips should not be reinstalled. Order spares before taking the softener off its bypass for service.
Cleaner is part of the warranty program
Rheem RHWSC Water Softener Cleaner is the one maintenance product the manuals name. One bottle every four months extends the one-year parts-and-labor warranty to five years, and the warranty page says “use of any water softener additive other than Rheem RHWSC will not provide extended warranty coverage” (RHS32 PDF page 28). The Rheem cleaner product page describes a ready-to-use 16 fl. oz. bottle and says it is sold exclusively at The Home Depot. Keep the receipts: proof of purchase is needed to validate any warranty claim after the first year.
How to order and what voids coverage
The manuals’ instructions are short: “To order repair parts, call toll free 1-800-754-7027.” Give the model, serial number and the part number from the list. During the warranty periods, the warrantor ships the replacement part directly to the home without charge, and may refund the original purchase price if a part is unavailable.
Three conditions in the warranty apply to parts:
- Aftermarket, used or non-manufacturer parts void all warranties.
- Damage from unauthorized repair or modification is excluded.
- After the first year, labor is not covered, even when the part is.
Our Rheem running costs guide puts these terms alongside salt and water use, and who makes Rheem softeners explains why the parts line belongs to Water Channel Partners.
Brine-side parts and the overfilled tank
A salt tank full of water is one of the more common reasons owners go looking for parts. The troubleshooting table lists seven causes for “no soft water and salt storage tank full of water,” and only some are parts failures (RHS32 PDF page 20):
- a dirty, plugged or damaged nozzle and venturi (clean first, then replace kit 7398674 or 7398705);
- an inner valve fault causing a leak (seals and rotor);
- a plugged drain hose, or a valve drain and tank overflow joined by a tee (plumbing corrections, not parts);
- low or high system pressure (a pump or pressure-reducing-valve issue);
- a dirty or broken brine float (clean or replace the brine valve float assembly; the parts list’s brine valve assembly is 7381180 on both models);
- a leak between the valve and resin tank (replace the O-rings between them, in distributor O-ring kit 7112963).
Work through the non-parts causes before ordering. A kinked drain hose or a shared drain tee produces the same symptom as a failed seal, and the manual’s drain guidance says to avoid hose runs longer than 30 feet and elevating the hose more than 8 feet above the floor.
Frequently asked questions
What resin does a Rheem water softener use?
Both the RHS32 and RHS42 manuals list resin part 0502272, sold by the cubic foot. The RHS32 holds 0.88 cubic feet and the RHS42 holds 1.20 cubic feet.
What is the part number for the Rheem nozzle and venturi kit?
The RHS32 manual lists 7398674 and the RHS42 manual lists 7398705. Clean the existing nozzle and venturi first; the manual describes how to wash and reassemble it.
Where do I buy Rheem water softener parts?
The manuals say to order repair parts by calling 1-800-754-7027. During the warranty period, replacement parts are shipped to the home without charge.
Can I use generic parts in a Rheem softener?
The warranty says use of aftermarket, used or non-manufacturer parts will void all warranties. Use the manual’s part number from the manufacturer line.