Clean Water Systems 5900S Installation manual

Clean Water Made Easy
www.cleanwaterstore.com
5900S Softener Installation & Start-Up Guide
Thank you for purchasing a Clean Water System! With proper
installation and a little routine maintenance your system will be
providing softened water for many years.
Please review this start‐up guide entirely before beginning to install
your system and follow the steps outlined for best results.
Watch Helpful Short Videos!
How To Program Your New Softener Valve
Questions?
Call us toll-free: 1-888-600-5426 or 1-831-462-8500
Email us: [email protected]
See more information on our website:
www.cleanwaterstore.com/resources

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Table of Contents:
Table of Contents:.................................................................................................................................................................. 2
Packing List for Different Size Softeners................................................................................................................................. 3
Pre-Installation ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Best Practices for Piping & Drain Installation......................................................................................................................... 6
How Your Softener Works...................................................................................................................................................... 7
Installation Instructions.......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Assemble the By-pass Valve ................................................................................................................................................... 9
Assemble the Drain Line Flow Control Hose Barb................................................................................................................ 10
Attach the Brine Line Tubing to Brine Tank.......................................................................................................................... 10
Brine Tank Set Up ................................................................................................................................................................. 11
Turn On Water to Softener .................................................................................................................................................. 11
Program Your Softener Control............................................................................................................................................ 12
Enter main menu by pressing the Menu/Enter button........................................................................................................ 12
Set current time of day......................................................................................................................................................... 12
To Set the Hardness Press the Set/Change Button .............................................................................................................. 12
How to Enter Master Programming Mode........................................................................................................................... 13
Exiting the Master Programming Mode ............................................................................................................................... 15
Start the First Regeneration ................................................................................................................................................. 15
Normal Operation & Maintenance....................................................................................................................................... 16
How the Battery Back-up Works .......................................................................................................................................... 16
How to Start an Extra Regeneration Cycle ........................................................................................................................... 16
Installing on Systems with Copper Piping ............................................................................................................................ 17
Troubleshooting Guide......................................................................................................................................................... 18
Brine Solution Not Being Sucked in During Regeneration.................................................................................................... 20
Error Codes:.......................................................................................................................................................................... 21

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Packing List for Different Size Softeners
Each order includes:
5900-S control valve and Top Screen, Bypass assembly with 1” connector yoke, Power supply (dual voltage
110-230V 50/60hz), Hose Barb Adaptor (5/8” OD), Drain Line Flow Control (DLFC), Media Funnel for adding
resin to tank, Drain line tubing
Softener 16K Grain 0.5 cubic foot size
6” x 35” filter tank with distributor tube
0.5 cubic foot of Softener resin media
No filter gravel needed with this size
Softener 24K Grain 0.75 cubic foot size
8” x 44” filter tank with distributor tube
0.75 cubic foot of Softener resin media
No filter gravel needed with this size
Softener 32K Grain 1.0 cubic foot size
9” x 48” filter tank with distributor tube
1.0 cubic foot of Softener resin media
No filter gravel needed with this size
Softener 48K Grain 1.5 cubic foot size
10” x 54” filter tank with distributor tube
16 lbs. Filter gravel
1.5 cubic foot of Softener resin media
Softener 62K Grain 2.0 cubic foot size
12” x 52” filter tank with distributor tube
20 lbs. Filter gravel
2.0 cubic foot of Softener resin media
Softener 80K Grain 2.5 cubic foot size
13” x 54” filter tank with distributor tube
35 lbs. Filter gravel
2.5 cubic foot of Softener resin media
Softener 90K Grain 3.0 cubic foot size
14” x 65” filter tank with distributor tube
50 lbs. Filter gravel
3.0 cubic foot of Softener resin media

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Pre-Installation
1. Your black filter tank base is not glued to the bottom of your tank. Occasionally tank bases
will become crooked during shipment. If you find that that your tank does not sit level on the
floor, you can easily adjust it by holding the empty tank and rapping it on a concrete or solid
floor once or twice to level it.
2. Review your packing list and make sure you have received all the parts before beginning
installation. Please ensure that all parts are included before scheduling a plumber or installer
to come to the site.
3. If you are going to be turning off the water to the house and you have an electric water
heater, shut off the power to the water heater before beginning installation in case water
heater is accidentally drained.
4. Pick a suitable location for your filter system on a dry level spot where it won’t be exposed to
freezing temperatures. A minimum of 30 PSI is required. Maximum pressure recommended
is 90 PSI.
5. Get all of your plumbing parts together before beginning installation. Installation typically
takes 3 to 5 hours. However after installation the Softener must be allowed to run through a
complete backwash and rinse cycle (also called ‘regeneration’). You don’t have to be
present for this first backwash necessarily, but it does take 90 minutes.
6. After the system is installed and running, your water may be discolored, or full of
sediment/rust, particularly if this is older piping that has been exposed to iron or manganese
for some time. Typically this clears up over a day or two, but can persist for weeks if the pipe
is old galvanized iron pipe that is corroded.

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Best Practices for Piping & Drain Installation
1. See typical installation diagrams on Page 5.
2. Make sure to connect the IN pipe to the 5900S inlet and the OUT to the outlet (see Fig 3). As
you face the 5900S control from the front, the water enters on the right and exits on the left.
From the back (see Fig 3) the water enters on the left and exits on the right. The inlet and
outlet are attached to the bypass valve which is marked with arrows as well.
3. Make sure there is a hose bib and working gate or ball valve before the 5900S Softener and
also one after as shown in the diagram (Fig 2). The pressure gauges are optional but a hose
bib (a faucet that you can attach a garden hose to) is strongly recommended after the
softener and before the second ball valve. This makes it easy to rinse your new softener on
start-up and gives you a place to test the water before it enters your household plumbing.
4. If you will be using copper piping, do not sweat the copper pipe directly on to the 5900S
control valve. Avoid heating up the 5900S control valve plastic with the torch.
5. You do not need unions to install your 5900S control. If you need to remove it, the 5900S has
quick-release couplings that make it easy to put the softener on by-pass and remove the
filter system from the piping.
6. The drain line tubing is not supplied. You will need flexible 5/8” ID tubing. Note that the drain
can run up above the 5900S control and into a drain, it does not have to drain down, as the
filter backwashes under line pressure from your well pump. Most plumbing codes require an
air-gap connection, so that if your sewer or septic tank backs up, it cannot cross connect with
the drain tubing.

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How Your Softener Works
Fig. 1: In the softener, water enters the top
of the tank and flows down through the
media and up the distributor tube.
Hardness minerals are drawn to the resin
beads in the softener where the hardness
minerals are removed.
During regeneration the first cycle in the
process backwashes and cleans the softener
resin. Water flow is reversed and water
flows down the distributor tube and up through the media, lifting and expanding the softening
media, and removing any trapped particles.
After the backwash stage, salt brine is automatically drawn in
from the brine tank which then slowly rinses through the
softening resin for 1 hour, allowing the hardness minerals to be
swapped out with harmless sodium or potassium ions.
This entire automatic process, called ‘regeneration’ takes about
90 minutes. Typically the softener filter is set to regenerate
based on gallons used and time to occur during the middle of
the night when no water is being used.

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Installation Instructions
1. Wrap the top of distributor tube with black electrical tape
or blue painter’s masking tape so that no gravel or Softener
media will go down the distributor tube when adding the
media. Leave a folded tab of tape that you will be able to
grab onto to gently pull off the tape after filling the tank.
2. Next add gravel if your softener requires gravel (48K grain
size and up) and then add the softening resin using the
media funnel provided.
3. The tank will be approximately 2/3 full, however do not fill it past 3/4 full.
4. When you are ready to screw the valve head on, apply silicone lubricant to the outside of the
distribution tube, and the O-ring on the control valve where the tube goes in.
5. Remove tape from top of distributor tube. Be careful not to pull up distributor tube when
removing tape.
6. Attach plastic top screen to the
under-side of the 5900S control
valve. It may twist on clockwise or
counter-clockwise.
7. Add a small amount of silicone grease to the large O-ring on the bottom of the control valve
and screw on 5900S control valve carefully. Do not use pipe-joint compound, vegetable oil,
Teflon tape, or Vaseline or other petroleum greases to lubricate tank threads.
Insert Top Screen
Underside of 5900
Control Valve

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Assemble the By-pass Valve
1. When you remove the bypass valve from the box, the valves are in the open position. Holding
the bypass so that you are reading the In and Out (so that the words are not upside down to you
when holding the bypass), note the following:
2. The red handles are slightly arrow-shaped; the pointed
end is pointing in the direction of flow when open. The
Inlet valve (on the left) turns clockwise, from full open at
“12:00 o’clock”, to full closed at “3:00 o’clock”.
3. The Outlet valve turns clockwise from “6:00 o’clock” full
open to “9:00 o’clock” full closed. The valves are stiff
when new, so open and close them a few times.
4. Leave both bypass valves closed for now, so 5900 control
valve is by-passed.
5. Note that the yoke is already attached to the
bypass, it is not necessary to remove it.
6. Now install your water pipes to the 5900S yoke using
a small amount of Teflon tape and Teflon pipe joint
compound. Make sure inlet is installed to the 'In"
pipe connector on the bypass valve and outlet is on
the “Out” connector.

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Assemble the Drain Line Flow Control Hose Barb
Refer to the loose instruction sheet for installing your Drain Line Flow Control button. Do not apply
too much tape or paste to the barb fitting when screwing it in to the drain line fitting, or that fitting
will crack.
Connect some flexible tubing from the drain connection on the 5900S control valve to a suitable
drain such as a septic tank or drain to a sewer using an appropriate air-gap. That is, do not connect
drain tubing directly to drain, use at least 1 -2” of air, so if sewer backs up it cannot cross-connect to
the drain tubing from the softener.
It is OK to run the drain line up and over the Softener, up to 4 feet above the top of the tank. If the
drain line will be more than 20 feet, and especially if your system is a 2.0 or 2.5 cubic foot size, use
larger diameter tubing such as ¾” or 1”.
Make sure the drain tubing is firmly clamped to the barbed fitting with a hose clamp to prevent
leaks.
Attach the Brine Line Tubing to Brine Tank
Insert the 3/8” diameter tubing into the brine tank connection
(included with your order). Screw the nut with the sleeve and
Ferrell attached to prevent leaking.
On the control valve side: to connect the brine tank, begin by
sliding the plastic brine injector nut on to the brine tubing by
putting the tubing through the non-threaded side of the nut
first. Next, slide the white (or clear) compression ring on to the
tubing with the wider diameter going on first. Insert the tubing
into the brine nut and screw tight- do not over-tighten.
On the brine tank: push the brine injector nut, which now has
the compression rings inside of it, on to the threading of the
brine tank float assembly (below) and rotate the nut clockwise,
screwing it on to the brine valve. Tighten it down to finger
tight. The tubing should be firmly attached and not slide out if
pulled on.

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Brine Tank Set Up
1. Add approximately 5 gallons of water to the brine tank, and then fill the brine tank with salt,
add just one bag until after you have done the initial regeneration, then you can fill the brine
tank about 2/3 full of salt, which will generally be enough for several months.
2. It is OK to use any kind of water softening salt; however, we find that extra coarse salt works
better than pellets. You do not have to add water to the brine tank again after this first time
during the start-up.
3. See the over-flow barbed fitting on the side of the brine tank. You do not have to connect
this to a drain. If the safety float were to malfunction, there is a small chance that the brine
solution will drip out of this fitting. If this would cause a big mess where you have installed
the softener, hook some tubing to this and run to a bucket, floor pan or floor drain. Normally
no brine will leak out of this fitting.
Turn On Water to Softener
1. Now you are ready to turn on the water to the system. Turn on the water and leave on
bypass and check for leaks.
2. Leave the ball valve after the softener closed, so water is still off to the house, but connect a
garden hose and open the hose bib after the softener and allow the water to run. This will
help to clear out any foreign material that may be in the pipes from the piping installation.
3. If you do not have a valve installed after the softener and you do not have a hose bib, you
will need to turn the water on inside the house to let the water run. Use a bathtub or laundry
sink or fixture that does not have an aerator screen.
4. Leave the water running out of the garden hose and then open the Inlet Side of the bypass
valve. Now, slowly open the Outlet Side of the bypass until it is fully open.
5. Now turn on the garden hose to full force and let the water until it turns relatively clear. The
water may have some color at first.

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Program Your Softener Control
Enter main menu by pressing
the Menu/Enter button (Time of
day will flash)
Set current time of day by pressing
the Set / Change button (the first digit will
begin to flash)
To change digit value, press the Set/Change
button to accept the digit press the
Menu/Enter button (Next digit will flash)
Once the hour is entered, all digits will flash.
With all digits flashing press the Menu
Button to set A.M. or P.M. Once A.M./P.M.
is accepted the next menu item will flash
To Set the Hardness Press the Set/Change Button
To change digit value press the Set/Change button Example [ H - 10 ]
To accept the digit value press the Menu/Enter button (Next digit will flash)
Once the last digit is accepted all digits will flash
Note: you need to know what the hardness level of your water is in Grains Per Gallon. If you don’t
know, we do include a hardness test kit with each order.
5. To exit menu press the Menu/Enter button. Note: If no buttons are pressed for 60 seconds or
longer the menu will automatically be exited.
Pressing and holding the Menu/Enter button will also access some options:
Flo- this is the flow rate, if water is running, it will display the volume, in gallons per minute.
Gt r This the total # of gallons that has gone through the filter.
g tot This is the same as the previous.
rC r This is the number of regenerations done.
rC This is the total number of regenerations done as rCr.
gPdL This shows how many gallons used each day.
Gbrl This shows the gallons used between regenerations.
PfDL This shows peak, or highest flow rate that has passed through the filter in the last 24 hours.

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How to Enter Master Programming Mode
To enter Master Programming Mode press and hold both buttons for 5 seconds.
1. Regeneration Time (r)
Press the Menu/Enter Button. The next display viewed is the option setting for
Regeneration Time. It is identified by the letter ‘r’ in the left digit.
Set the desired time of day that a regeneration may occur, if required. We recommend setting the
system to backwash at 2 AM, or at any time that it is unlikely that any water will be used. The first
digit(s) indicates the Hour and the other digit indicates A.M. or P.M.
2. Regeneration Day Override (A)
Press Menu/Enter Button. This display is used to set the maximum amount of time (in days) the unit
can be in service without a regeneration. This option setting is identified by the letter ‘A’ in the left
digit. This option will be in the Master Programming Menu only in the Meter Mode. Regeneration
will begin at the set Regeneration Time. A 0 setting will cancel this feature. The Max Value for this
item is 29.
We recommend setting the system to regenerate every 14 days so the softener has a regeneration
every 14 days at a minimum, even if no water has been used.
Example: Override every 14 days - [ A - 14 ] (Factory Setting)
To Adjust this Value press the Set/Change Button.
To Accept the Digit Value, press the Menu/Enter Button.
3. Regeneration Cycle Step Programming (1)(2)(3)(4)
The next 4 displays viewed are part of a series of option settings used to program the Regeneration
Cycle.
Up to 4 steps can be programmed. Each display is used to set the duration time in minutes for that
specific step in a regeneration cycle.
A step # will turn on for the regeneration cycle step being programmed.

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Set each step according to the values below, appropriate for a softener:
18 minutes. This is the Backwash cycle. [ 1 - 8 ]
260 minutes. This is the Brine Draw cycle. [ 2 - 60 ]
36 minutes. This is the Rapid Rinse cycle. [ 3 - 6 ]
4For the Brine Refill Cycle, set the time according to the size of your system:
4. Set the Capacity
The display screen will have a lower-case c, and three numbers: [c
027].
Set this according to the size of softener you have, i.e.:
[c 024] for a 24,000 capacity, [c 032] for a 32,000 capacity, [c 048]
for 48,000 Capacity, etc.
5. Set the Safety Factor (P)
The control unit takes the input value for the capacity and divides it by the value input for the
hardness (the H setting).
So, if you have a capacity of 048 (48,000 grains) and you have 10 grains of Hardness, you will have a
“gallon run” between regenerations of 4,800 gallons. The flow meter starts at that value, and when
that many gallons have passed through the softener, it will do an automatic regeneration, at the pre-
programmed time.
Since that may happen up to 23 hours before the next regeneration can happen, a safety factor can
be input, as a percentage. In the above example, if you set Pat 10, it will subtract 480 gallons, and
will have a gallon run of 4320- this safeguards that you will have softened water throughout the day,
when the valve has already counted down to zero gallons.
6. Bluetooth Settings
After the Capacity setting, you will see bE 1, btPP and 1234 each time you hit the Menu/Enter
button. These are factory/dealer settings and not used currently on your valve.
After 1234 the display will return to the service screen, flashing between the clock time and the
number of gallons remaining until regeneration.
24K grain softeners set to 5 min
32K grain softeners set to 6 min
48K grain softeners set to 9 min
64K grain softeners set to 12 min
80K grain softeners set to 15 min
96K grain softeners set to 18min

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Exiting the Master Programming Mode
Press the Menu/Enter Button until all steps have been viewed. The Program Mode will be exited and
normal operation resumed. If no buttons are pressed for 60 seconds or longer in Master
Programming Mode it will be exited automatically.
Start the First Regeneration
1Close both the Inlet and Outlet valves, if not already closed. If days remaining is not already at 1
press and hold the Set/Change button. Now, press and hold the set change button again, until
the valve begins the backwash cycle and the display reads 1 – 08.
2Start to put the valve into the service position by turning inlet the bypass knob counter-clockwise
about a quarter inch, until you can hear water passing through the bypass into the filter. Stop
and wait until you see water coming out of the drain line. It will often be mixed with air bubbles.
When you do not see bubbles anymore, keep opening the valve, a little bit at a time, stopping for
a minute or two each time. You want to see a corresponding increase in flow out of the drain line
as you increase the flow of water into the filter. After several minutes, you should have the
valve fully open.
3Cycle Step 2, the Brine Draw, is for 60 minutes. Confirm that the water in the side tank is being
sucked down; if you start with 5 gallons, it should be empty after 15 minutes. If it is not, test
your tubing connections, and make sure the float assembly is working. Once it has sucked the
salt water into the tank, it will do a slow rinse for the rest of the cycle- a small amount of water
will be coming out of the drain line during the time.
4Allow the valve to finish running through the last two cycles (rapid Rinse, 6 minutes and Brine
Fill, minutes determined by softener size. Open the outlet on the bypass valve and then open the
nearest treated water faucet to the unit and allow the water to run until it is clear. We advise
using a bathtub, laundry sink, or other fixture that does not have an aerator screen as any
remaining residue may get caught in the screen.
Congratulations, you are done setting up your valve!

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Normal Operation & Maintenance
Normal display alternates between time of day and days until regeneration.
Days remaining until the next regeneration will count down from the regeneration day override
value to 1 day remaining. Once the count reaches 1, a regeneration cycle will be initiated at the next
designated regeneration time.
How the Battery Back-up Works
Optional. Uses a 9-volt battery, not included. 9-volt battery lead wires are found by removing the
cover. Hook the battery up, it lays loose in the tray below the circuit board.
The battery back-up maintains the time of day during power failures.
The battery back-up continues to count down gallons remaining during power failure (Metered
Version). Menus cannot be accessed during power failure
When the battery is installed, and the unit loses power, it will use the battery to advance the
piston to the next cycle where no water is being used.
During power failure to conserve battery power the display is turned off. However, to confirm that
the battery is working you can press either button and the display will turn on for five seconds.
How to Start an Extra Regeneration Cycle
If days remaining is not already at 1 press and hold the Set/Change button.
After 3 seconds the days remaining display will read 1 Example [ 1 ]
Regeneration cycle will be initiated at the next designated regeneration time
Starting Immediate Extra Cycle: First, complete above delayed cycle steps
With days remaining at 1 press and hold the Set/Change button
After 3 seconds the regeneration cycle will begin.
Fast Cycling Through Regeneration
First complete above immediate cycle steps
Press and hold the Set/Change button
After 3 seconds the valve will start to advance to the next step

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Installing on Systems with Copper Piping
If your new filter system is to be installed in a metal (conductive) plumbing system, i.e. copper or
galvanized steel pipe, the plastic components of the system will interrupt the electrical continuity of
the plumbing system.
Thus, any stray currents from improperly
grounded appliances downstream or
potential galvanic activity in the plumbing
system can no longer ground through the
contiguous metal plumbing.
Some homes may have been built in
accordance with building codes, which
encouraged the grounding of electrical
appliances through the plumbing system.
Consequently, the installation of a bypass
consisting of the same material as the
existing plumbing, or a grounded "jumper
wire" bridging the equipment and reestablishing the contiguous conductive nature of the plumbing
system must be installed prior to your systems use.
This is simple and easy step to take if you are installing your water treatment system into copper
piping. A simple ground jumper wire with a pipe clamp can be purchased at any Home Center, or
hardware store etc. for a few dollars.

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Troubleshooting Guide

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Brine Solution Not Being Sucked in During Regeneration
Make sure the injector is drawing in the brine
Remove the brine tank tubing where it enters the 5900S control valve.
Initiate a backwash and skip to the Brine Cycle by following the steps below:
Start delayed extra cycle
If days remaining is not already at 1 press and hold the Set/Change button.
After 3 seconds the days remaining display will read 1 Example [ 1 ]
Regeneration cycle will be initiated at the next designated regeneration time
Start Immediate Extra Cycle - First, complete above delayed cycle steps
With days remaining at 1 press and hold the Set/Change button
After 3 seconds the regeneration cycle will begin.
Fast Cycle Through Regeneration
First complete above immediate cycle steps
Press and hold the Set/Change button
After 3 seconds the valve will start to advance to the next step, which is the Brine Cycle, where it is
supposed to suck in the brine solution.
1. If it is sucking strongly, check the brine tank float inside the brine well and make sure there are
no rubber bands around it, and that is free of obstructions. In some cases, it may need to be
replaced or cleaned, if there is suction at the control valve, but no brine is being drawn in.
2. If there is NO suction at the control valve port where you removed the brine line tubing, then the
injector should be cleaned.
3. If the injector has been cleaned and there is still no suction check to make sure there is obstruction
in the backwash line; that the backwash line does not go up and over the softener more than
several feet (which causes pressure loss and the injector not to work correctly); finally check to
make sure there is enough pressure. If possible increase your water pressure to softener from your
well pump and see if a slightly increased pressure makes the injector work. We recommend a
minimum 30 PSI but it does work better if there is 40 to 50 minimum PSI.
System Not Backwashing Adequately
The other main problem that may occur is if you do not have enough backwash flow rate to properly
clean the water softener. You can verify the backwash flow rate by running the drain line into a
bucket and timing it when the 5900S is in Cycle 1 or backwash. A 1.0 or 1.5 cubic foot system should
have 2.0 gallons per minute and a 2.5 cubic foot system should have 4.0 gallons per minute of
backwash.