WATER SOFTENER DISINFECTION
The materials of construction of your water softener will not
support bacterial growth nor will these materials contaminate a
water supply. However, the normal conditions existing dur-
ing shipping, storage, and installation indicate the advisability of
disinfecting a softener after installation, before the softener is
used to treat potable water. In addition, during normal use a
softener may become fouled with organic matter or in some
cases, with bacteria from the water supply.
Therefore, every water softener should be disinfected after
installation, some will require periodic disinfection during their
normal life. Disinfect as follows:
SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE (household bleach)
5.25% SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE solutions are available
under such trade names such as Clorox, Linco, Bo Peep,
White Sail and Eagle Brand Bleach. If stronger solutions are
used, such as those sold for commercial laundries, adjust
the dosage accordingly.
1. Dosage:
a. Softening resin; 1.2 fluid ounce per cubic foot of
mineral (see page 18).
2. Add the required amount of hypochlorite solution to the
brine well of the brine tank.
a. Proceed with the normal regeneration. Press regen
and allow the water softener to go through a normal
regeneration.
WATER SOFTENER DRAINING PROCEDURE
In cold weather climates it is common for plumbing systems that are
not in use to be “winterized“ or drained of all water to prevent any
damage that may be caused by the excessive expansion of water
when it freezes. To prevent damage to a water softener it must be
properly drained also. A simple way to properly drain or winterize
a water softener is to use compressed air to force all of the water
out of the softener mineral tank. The following procedure will explain
the process:
1) Initiate the softener into a manual regeneration cycle. After the
refill cycle, advance control to backwash and allow it to complete
the backwash cycle (this will clean the media) and start into the
brine-draw cycle. Allowthe regeneration tocontinue in the brine
draw cycle until the brine is drawn out of the salt tank and the air
check at the bottom of the brine pick-up tube shuts off. NOTE:
Be sure you have salt in the brine tank and allow 1 hour
minimum to make a saturated brine. It is important that any
liquid left in the softener tank when you finished blowing out
system be saturated brine solution to prevent any damage
to the softener. At this time no more brine is introduced into
the softener and the slow rinse process begins.
2) Turn the water supply inlet and outlet valves off to the water
softener as soon as the air check shuts off and no more brine is
being drawn into the softener (at the beginning of the slow
rinse process).
3) Unplug the electric power leaving the softener control valve in
the brine draw cycle.
4) Remove the brine refill elbow assembly from the control valve.
Remove the refill flow control retainer assembly from the elbow.
Reinstall the elbow assembly and secure with the locking clip.
Disconnect the brine tube at the top of thesalt keeper and force
air into the brine tube toward the softener mineral tank and control
valve. The air will force the brine/water solution that was drawn
into the mineral tank out to drain through the control valve drain
line. (An air compressor blow gun attachment with a portable
air compressor works well.) Reinstall the brine line flow control
retainer in side ofthe refill elbow assembly. Reinstall the brine
refill elbow assembly and secure with locking clip.
CAUTION: You do not want to apply any more pressure than
necessary to force the brine/water out of the mineral tank.
The small amount of brine/water that may be left in the mineral
tank will not expand enough to cause any damage to the softener
when it freezes.
If your softener is equipped with an optional bottom drain on the
mineral tank, you will have to follow all of the same procedures
with the exception of the need for compressed air. With the
brine tube disconnected from the salt keeper, raise it to a level
above the softener control valve and temporarily secure it in this
position. Now open the drain valve at the bottom of the mineral
tank and allow all brine/water to drain from the mineral tank.
CAUTION: If a hose is connected to the drain valveto direct the
brine/water to a floor drain be sure it runs downward and is unob-
structed. When brine/water quits running at the drain, be sure
to
leave the drain valve open until you start the system up again.
5) At this time the salt keeper has very little water left in it. What
liquid is left in the salt keeper is saturated brine, provided that
there is still salt left in the tank. Saturated brine will not freeze
solid and cause any damage and does not have to be drained
any further from the brine tank.
If there is no salt left in the salt keeper when the system is drained
we recommend dumping all of the water out of the brine tank
at this time. See brine tank cleaning instructions. (#2 in Miscel-
laneous section, below)
6) CAUTION: It is important at this time to be assured that the inlet/
outlet water supply piping is properly drained. Depending on how
the water supply piping was routed to the water softener control
valve, a water loop or trap may have been created.
Sometimes drain valve(s) are installed at the bottom of the loop
to assure all water can be drained out. If not it may be neces-
sary to disconnect the control valve from the piping system and
open the inlet/outlet valve(s) to allow all the water to drain from
the piping. This should be done after the rest of the plumbing
system is drained.
7) Draining or winterizing of your softener is complete. Refer to the
start-up procedures on page 6 when you are ready to start your
softener.
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Salt Usage: See your water conditioning professional for arec-
ommendation on the best type of salt for your application.
2. Salt Keeper Cleaning:
a. Remove brine tank cover.
b. Scoop out as much old salt as possible.
c. Disconnect brine tubing from safety brine valve at
brine well.
d. Remove safety brine valve from brine well.
e. Place one hand in brine well to hold overflow nut and
remove 2 piece overflow.
f. Remove optional brine well and grid plate, if used,
from brine tank.
g. Remove any remaining salt and/or impurities from
9 brine tank.
h. Using clean water and a brush or rag, wipe and rinse
inside of brine tank. Also wipe and rinse the grid plate
and brine well.
i. Reassemble brine tank reversing steps c - f. Note:
If grid plate is used and it is damaged or cracked,
replace with new one.
j. Put brine tank in place making sure there is no debris
or foreign material beneath it.
k. Reconnect brine tubing to safety brine valve.
l. Manuallyadd6 inchesof water tothebrinetank(orto
approximately 1” above the grid plate, if used).
m. Add new salt. Important: Do not add the old salt
which was removed earlier unless it is clean and
not mushy. We recommend using new salt.
n. Follow the disinfection instructions found on page 9.
o. Put on brine tank cover.
