Clean Water Systems Tannin 5900e Series Installation manual

Clean Water Made Easy
www.cleanwaterstore.com
5900e Birm Filter 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 Iron free 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.
BIRM MEDIA CONTAINS DUST. USE PAPER MASK AND VENTILATE TO AVOID
BREATHING DUST.
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
Packing List ................................................................................................................................................3
Birm Filter 0.75 cubic foot size...............................................................................................................3
Birm Filter 1.0 cubic foot size.................................................................................................................3
Birm Filter 1.5 cubic foot size.................................................................................................................3
Birm Filter 2.0 cubic foot size.................................................................................................................3
Pre-Installation .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Best Practices for Piping & Drain Installation .............................................................................................4
Installation of Your System Into Copper or Metal Piping Systems ..........................................................5
How Your Birm Filter Works ......................................................................................................................5
Fig 2 - Typical Birm Filter 5900e piping installation with ball valve and hose bib after the filter.........6
Fig 3: 5900e from the rear showing the inlet (left) and outlet (right) end-connector fittings 3/4” or
1” NPT in Noryl plastic. Brass end-connectors are also available for connecting to copper tubing.....7
Fig 4 5900e Bypass/Service Modes...................................................................................................7
Assembly and Installation Instructions ......................................................................................................8
Fig 5: 5900e Bypass and Service Positions.........................................................................................9
Programming Your Valve ......................................................................................................................... 10
Master Programming Mode .................................................................................................................... 11
Sample Regeneration Displays .............................................................................................................12
Initial Backwash ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Maintenance ........................................................................................................................................... 14
Normal Operation................................................................................................................................14
Battery back-up (this unit uses a standard 9 volt alkaline battery).......................................................14
How To Start An Extra Regeneration Cycle ..........................................................................................14
Troubleshooting the 5900e Birm Filter .................................................................................................... 15
Backwash Flow Rate ............................................................................................................................15
Error Codes..........................................................................................................................................15
What To Do If Your Filter Tank Does Not Sit Level On the Floor ...........................................................15

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Packing List
Birm Filter 0.75 cubic foot size
5900e Backwash Control Valve w/ Bypass Assembly and Pipe connector kit (1”or ¾”)
8” x 44” filter tank with distributor tube
Blue media funnel for adding the Birm media
8 lbs. Filter gravel
0.75 cubic foot of Birm media
Birm Filter 1.0 cubic foot size
5900e Backwash Control Valve w/ Bypass Assembly and Pipe connector kit (1”or ¾”)
9” x 48” filter tank with distributor tube
Blue media funnel for adding the Birm media
12 lbs. Filter gravel
1 cubic foot of Birm media
Birm Filter 1.5 cubic foot size
5900e Backwash Control Valve w/ Bypass Assembly and Pipe connector kit (1”or ¾”)
10” x 54” filter tank with distributor tube
Blue media funnel for adding the Birm media
16 lbs. Filter gravel
1.5 cubic foot of Birm media
Birm Filter 2.0 cubic foot size
5900e Backwash Control Valve w/ Bypass Assembly and Pipe connector kit (1”or ¾”)
12” x 52” filter tank with distributor tube
Blue media funnel for adding the Birm media
20lbs. Filter gravel
2.0 cubic foot of Birm media

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Pre-Installation
1. Review your packing list and make sure you have received all the parts before beginning
installation.
2. 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.
3. 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 20 PSI is required. Maximum pressure is 90 PSI.
4. Get all of your plumbing parts together before beginning installation. Installation typically takes
3 to 5 hours. However, after installation the Birm Filter must be allowed to run through a
complete backwash and rinse cycle.
5. After the system is installed and running, your water may be discolored, or full of sediment or
rust, particularly if this is older or corroded piping. This typically clears up over a day or two.
Best Practices for Piping & Drain Installation
1. See typical installation on page 7 (Fig 2). The Birm filter is installed after the pressure tank.
2. Make sure to connect the IN pipe to the 5900e inlet and the OUT pipe to the outlet (see Fig 2).
As you face the 5900e control from the front, the water enters on the right and exits on the left.
From the back (see Fig 2) the water enters on the left. The inlet and outlet are attached to the
bypass valve, which is marked with arrows as well.
3. Make sure there is a working gate or ball valve before the 5900e Birm Filter and also one after
as shown in Fig 2. The pressure gauges are optional and perhaps not necessary but a hose bib
(which is a faucet that you can attach a garden hose to) is strongly recommended after the Birm
Filter and before the second ball valve. This makes it easy to rinse your new Birm Filter 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 5900e control
valve. Avoid heating up the 5900e control valve plastic with the torch.
5. If you have copper pipe before the Birm Filter and it is too difficult to change out, you may still
experience some copper staining of fixtures and have a copper residual in the water because
this section of pipe will still have acidic water flowing through it. We recommend PEX or PVC
pipe up to the Birm Filter and then copper after it, if you have copper plumbing.
6. You do not need unions to install your 5900e control valve. If you need to remove it, the 5900e
has quick-release couplings that make it easy to put the Birm filter on by-pass and remove the
filter system from the piping.

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7. The drain line tubing (not supplied) is connected to a drain from the drain outlet using flexible
½” ID tubing. Note that the drain can run up above the 5900e 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.
Installation of Your System into Copper or Metal Piping Systems
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.
As a result 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.
How Your Birm Filter Works
See Fig 1 on the right. In your Birm Filter the water enters the top of
the tank (red arrows) and flows down through the media and up the
distributor tube (blue arrows). The downflow type Birm Filter
removes sediment and can be backwashed, which cleans and re-
classifies the media, preventing channeling. During backwash the
flow of water is reversed and water flows down the distributor tube
and up through the media, lifting and expanding the media. During
the backwash the media is cleaned of any iron by the action of the
water flowing through it.

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Fig 2 - Typical Birm Filter 5900e piping installation with ball valve and hose
bib after the filter

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Fig 3: 5900e from the rear showing the inlet (left) and outlet (right) end-
connector fittings 3/4” or 1” NPT in Noryl plastic. Brass end-connectors are
also available for connecting to copper tubing.
Fig 4 5900e Bypass/Service Modes

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Assembly and Installation Instructions
1. Wrap the top of distributor tube with electrical or duct tape so that no gravel or Birm media will
go down the distributor tube when adding the media.
2. Add the filter gravel that came with your order. You want the gravel to cover the bottom
distributor screen before adding the media.
3. Next add the Birm media. The tank will be about 2/3rds full of media, do not fill it past 2/3rds,
even if there is some left over.
4. Remove cap or tape from top of distributor tube. Be careful not to pull up distributor tube
when removing cap or tape.
5. If possible at this point, fill tank completely with water. This will allow the Birm Filter media to
settle and eliminate the need of “purging” the air out of the tank later.
6. Attach plastic top screen to the under-side of the 5900e control valve. It is a funnel-shaped
plastic screen that snaps on to the control valve and prevents resin from being backwashed out
to drain during the regeneration cycles. It may twist on clockwise or counter-clockwise.
7. Add a small amount of silicone grease to the tank threads and screw on 5900e control valve
carefully. Do not use pipe-joint compound, vegetable oil, Teflon tape, or Vaseline or other
petroleum greases to lubricate tank threads.
8. Insert the bypass assembly if it has not been pre-assembled. See the bypass image below. Note
the pipe connectors, while the other end is what gets attached to the control valve. The 5900e
valve is usually shipped in by-pass position. Leave in bypass position for now.

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Fig 5: 5900e Bypass and Service Positions
9. Lubricate the by-pass valve o-rings on the pipe connectors only with silicone grease and connect
the bypass assembly to the 5900e control by sliding the bypass valve firmly into the body of the
5900e. DO NOT USE VEGETABLE OIL OR PETROLEUM GREASE ON ANY PART OF THE 5900e
CONTROL VALVE. O-rings are OK to lubricate but not the main tank threads.
10. Next lubricate the end-connectors with some silicone grease and insert them into the bypass
valve.
11. Note that the 5900e is usually shipped in the bypass position. There is a bypass valve knob on
both the inlet and the outlet (Fig 3). You can easily tell if it is in bypass because the two knobs
will be in line with each other (Fig 5). If the valve is in the Service position (Fig 5) the knobs will
be parallel to each other. Make sure both sides are in the by-pass position.
12. Now install your water pipes to the 5900e bypass end connectors. Make sure inlet is installed to
the 'In" pipe connector on the bypass valve and outlet is on the “Out” connector.
13. Connect some flexible tubing from the drain connection on the 5900e control valve to a suitable
drain such as a septic tank or drain to a sewer. It is OK to run the drain line up and over the
5900e Birm Filter up to 4 feet above the top of the tank. If the drain line will be more than 20
feet, use larger diameter tubing such as ¾” or 1”. Note that it is desirable to be able to run the
drain line into a bucket in order to test the backwash flow rate in the future. This is why hard
piping the drain line is discouraged, however, if you do use hard PVC piping for the drain line,
and you are able to remove the hard PVC drain piping and attach flexible tubing should you ever
desire for testing purposes, it is OK to use rigid PVC pipe for the drain. Make sure the drain
tubing is firmly clamped to the barbed fitting with a hose clamp to prevent leaks.
14. Next, you will need to program the system to work as a Birm filter. There are a few settings that
must be changed before the system can be put into service. Plug in the control valve and
continue on to the next page to begin the programming instructions.

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Programming Your Valve
*While scrolling through numbers, it only increases the value. To decrease the value,
you will have to “go all the way around” to get back to a lower value.
1. To enter main menu press the Menu/Enter button
(Time of day will flash)
2. To set time of day press the Set/Change button
(First digit will begin to flash) Example [ 12:00 ]
- To change digit value press the Set/Change button
- To accept the digit press the Menu/Enter button
- (Next digit will flash)
- (Once hours is accepted all digits will flash)
3. 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) Example [ A ]
4. To Set Regeneration Frequency Press the Set/Change Button
- The recommended setting for a Birm filter is every 3 days
- Once the last digit is accepted all digits will flash Example [ A - 03 ]
Notes: -Maximum Value is 29
-If value is set to 0, automatic regeneration will never occur
-One cycle must be completed before new setting will be accepted.
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.
Next you will need to set the Master Programming to be used as a Birm filter, continue on to
the next page to finish the programming instructions.

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Master Programming Mode
Entering Master Programming Mode
-To enter Master Programming Mode press and hold both buttons for 5 seconds.
1. Regeneration Type (t)
This display is used to set the Regeneration Type. This option setting is identified by the
letter ‘t’ in the left digit. Your Birm filter should be set only to : [ t - - c ] for time clock.
Timeclock Filter Delayed - The control will determine that regeneration is required when
the set Regeneration Time has been reached. The Regeneration Frequency setting will
determine which days a regeneration cycle will be initiated.
Example: [ t - - c ]
2. 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..
Example: 2 A.M. regeneration time - [ r 2A ] (factory setting)
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, however, some steps may not
be necessary for your application and will be set to 0. 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. Regeneration steps are skipped
by setting the display to 0 as shown below:
Examples: Regeneration Cycle Step #1 - 10 minutes - [ 1 - 10 ] (Factory Setting)
Regeneration Cycle Step #2 - skipped - [ 2 - - 0 ]
Set each step according to the values below, appropriate for a Birm filter:
110 minutes. This is the Backwash cycle. [ 1 - 10 ]
20 minutes. This is the Brine Draw cycle, not used on your valve. [ 2 - 0 ]
310 minutes. This is the Rapid Rinse cycle. [ 3 - 10 ]
40 minutes. This is the Brine Fill cycle, not used on your valve. [ 4 - 0 ]
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.

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Sample Regeneration Displays

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Initial Backwash
1If 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 –10. Now, proceed to step two.
2Start to put the valve into the service position by turning inlet the bypass knobs 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, but we will want to get all of that air out. 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, and with no media coming out. The water may appear milky white.
3If possible verify that the backwash flow corresponds with the size of your system below.
You can easily run the drain hose to a bucket and using a watch verify the flow rate in
gallons per minute. An adequate backwash is critical to properly clean the Carbon media
and prevent it from cementing together.
0.75 CF
4 GPM
1.0 CF
5 GPM
1.5 CF
5 GPM
2.0 CF
8 GPM
4Once the water is clear, press and hold the Set/Change button, and after 3 seconds the
valve will start to advance to the “Rinse” position. Once again, allow the water to flow for
about five minutes or until the water is clear.
5Press and hold the Set/Change button advance to the “Service” position. Next, 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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Maintenance
Normal Operation
-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.
Battery back-up (this unit uses a standard 9 volt alkaline battery)
-Installing the battery
-To install the battery the back-cover must be removed by removing the two back-cover
screws.
-Next insert the battery into the battery holding clip and snap the 9 volt battery
connector onto the battery.
-Replace back-cover
-Features of battery back-up
-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)
Note: 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.
* Menus cannot be accessed during power failure
* If a power failure occurs while the valve is in regeneration the regeneration
will resume operation once the power is restored
How To Start An Extra Regeneration Cycle
1. Starting 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
2. 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.
3. 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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Troubleshooting the 5900e Birm Filter
Backwash Flow Rate
One problem that may occur is if you do not have enough backwash flow rate to properly clean
the Birm filter. You can verify the backwash flow rate by running the drain line into a bucket
and timing it when the 5900e is in Cycle 1 or backwash. A 1.0 or 1.5 cubic foot system should
have 5 gallons per minute and a 2.0 cubic foot system should have 7 gallons per minute of
backwash.
In some cases, the 5900e may not be programmed correctly. See the 5900e service manual for
instructions on how to access the master programming.
Error Codes
There are five (5) error codes that could indicate a possible problem with the control valve:
Error 2 - Homing slot expected. Valve will start looking for home.
(Normal operation continues)
Error 3 - Encoder is not sending a signal
(Valve requires service to continue)
Error 4 - Unable to find homing slot
(Valve requires service to continue)
Error 5 - Motor overload (stalled position or shorted motor)
(Valve requires service to continue)
- New 5900e programming is identified by "r2.1" in presentation upon power up.
What To Do If Your Filter Tank Does Not Sit Level On the Floor
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 in order to level it.
How To Remove Media From Control Head
Sometimes, when doing the Initial Backwash, the media gets lifted up into the control head. You can tell
this happened because you will have little or no flow, either going out to drain while in the backwash
positon, or when in the service positon.
To remove media from a control head, do the following:
1) Put the Inlet Bypass in the Closed position.
2) From the Service Mode, initiate a manual regeneration, by pressing and holding the regen button
(button on far left).

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3) The valve will advance to the BW (backwash) position, and start counting down. Press the Regen
button again, and wait for the valve to advance and stop at the Rapid Rinse (RR) position.
4) With the valve in the RR position, open and close the Inlet Bypass valve several times. After the third
or fourth time, leave it in the open position and check the drain line- do you have a good solid flow?
90% of the time, the answer is yes, but sometimes, even after opening and closing the valve many times,
you still don’t have good flow… But, in either case (good or no flow), continue…
5) With the Inlet Valve OFF, Advance the valve back to Service position again, and again press and hold
the Regen button, we are putting the valve back to the Backwash position.
6) Open the Inlet valve just enough so you can hear the water passing thru the valve- you should notice
a corresponding slow flow out of the drain line. After a minute, if there are no air bubbles present, open
the valve about another quarter inch- again, you should see a corresponding increase in the flow… And
you will continue until the valve is full open.
IMPORTANT:
Any time that you are in the Backwash or Rapid Rinse position, you may need to unplug the power- this
will hold the valve in its current position, so it doesn’t ‘time out’ and go to the next position. When you
plug the valve back in, after a minute it will return to where it was when you unplugged it (i.e. 2:32
remaining in BW). Understand, it is not possible to jam media into the head while in Rapid Rinse, or
Service, just in the Backwash, when the flow direction is reversed.
What you are trying to accomplish, after you have pushed the media back in to the tank in the Rapid
Rinse position, is to get the Inlet valve all the way open in the Backwash position, without it jamming
media back in the head, and this is the part where you have to go slow, open up the Inlet valve a little
bit at a time and let it run for a few minutes- this is why you may have to unplug it- and then, once you
have done that, finally, do one more backwash, starting with the Inlet valve open, just as it will be when
it does it automatically at night. Once it does that successfully, you are done.