Is the water softener bypass valve currently in the on or off position?

Oh, isn't that just a happy little question! To determine if the water softener bypass valve is on or off, you'll want to look at the position of the handle. If it's parallel to the pipe, it's in the on position, allowing water to flow through the softener. If it's perpendicular, it's in the off position, bypassing the softener. Just remember, there are no mistakes, only happy accidents, so take your time and double-check to make sure everything is just the way you want it.