Kenmore 625.348420 User manual

PRINTED IN U.S.A.
SAVE THIS MANUAL Use plastic bag and tie provided, to hang manuals nearby
the softener for future reference.
Demand Special Edition
Water Softener
◆Warranty
◆Start Up / Setting Timer
◆How It Works
◆Care Of
◆Specifications
◆Repair Parts
        
OWNER’S
MANUAL
MODEL NO.
625.348420
Caution:
Read and Follow
All Safety Rules and
Operating Instructions
Before First Use of
This Product.
If you have questions when
installing, operating or main-
taining your softener, and
when setting the timer, call
this toll–free number...
1–800–426–9345

WARRANTY
2
SEARS RESIDENTIAL WATER SOFTENER
FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON WATER SOFTENER
For one year from the date of purchase, when this water softener is installed and maintained
inaccordancewithourinstructions,Searswillrepair,freeofcharge,defectsinmaterialorwork-
manship in this water softener.
FULL TEN YEAR WARRANTY AGAINST LEAKS
Fortenyearsfromthedateofpurchase,Searswillfurnishandinstallanewcurrentmodelwater
softener tank or salt storage drum, free of charge, if either the tank or drum develop a leak.
TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE, SIMPLY CONTACT THE NEAREST SEARS SERVICE
CENTERTHROUGHOUTTHEUNITEDSTATES.Thiswarrantyappliesonlywhilethisproduct
is in use in the United States.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from
state to state.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., D/817 WA, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
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SEARS INSTALLATION POLICY
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SEARS INSTALLATION WARRANTY
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FACTS AND FIGURES TO KEEP
Fill in the blanks below and keep this book in a safe
place so you always have these facts.
Water Softener Model No.†
Serial Number
Date Installed
Water Hardness Grains Per Gallon
Iron Content Parts Per Million
*pH Taste And/Or Odor
Water Pressure Pounds/Square Inch
Water Flow Rate Gallons Per Minute
†Themodelnumberisontheratingdecal,locatedon
the rim, under the salt hole cover.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
3
PAGE
NO.
SECTION 1 SOFTENER START UP
A. SAFETY GUIDES 4
B. CHECK LIST OF STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES TO INSTALL 5
C. PROGRAM THE TIMER 6-7
D. SANITIZING THE WATER SOFTENER 8
E. FILL THE STORAGE TANK WITH SALT 9
SECTION 2 HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
A. FACE PLATE TIMER FEATURES 10
B. SOFT WATER SERVICE AND REGENERATION 11-13
SECTION 3 CARE OF YOUR SOFTENER
A. SALT: REFILLING STORAGE TANK, SALT BRIDGE 14
B. KEEPING THE WATER SOFTENER CLEAN 15
C. KEEP THE SOFTENER FROM FREEZING 16
D. HELPFUL HINTS CHECKLIST 17
SECTION 4 OTHER THINGS TO KNOW
A. DIMENSIONS/SPECIFICATIONS 18
SECTION 5 SERVICE TECH INFORMATION
A. TROUBLESHOOTING 19-22
B. ROTARY VALVE SERVICE 23
C. WATER FLOW THROUGH THE SOFTENER VALVE 24-26
SECTION 6 REPAIR PARTS 29-31

WATER SOFTENER START-UP
SECTION 1
4
1A. SAFETY GUIDES
▲Read all steps, guides and rules carefully be-
fore installing and using your new water softener.
Follow all steps exactly to correctly install. Fail-
ure to follow them could cause personal injury or
property damage. Reading this book will also
help you to get all of the benefits from your water
softener.
▲Your water softener will remove hardness min-
erals and “clear water” iron from water, up to the
limits shown on page 18. It will not remove other
types of iron, acids, tastes and odors, etc. It will
not purify polluted water or make it safe to drink.
▲Protect the softener and piping from freezing.
Damage from freezing voids the softener warran-
ty. See page 16.
CAUTIONS
PLEASEREADANDCOMPLYWITHTHEFOL-
LOWING GUIDES TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO
THE SOFTENER OR OTHER PROPERTY,
PERSONAL INJURY, OR POSSIBLE FATAL
SHOCK.
▲THIS SOFTENER WORKS ON 24 VOLTS
ONLY.BESURETOUSETHETRANSFORMER
INCLUDED, AND PLUG IT INTO A 120V OUT-
LET.
▲Unplug the transformer right away if the
power cable should become damaged or
frayed. Make repairs before plugging back
into the power outlet.
▲Always unplug the softener from electrical
power before removing outer valve covers.

WATER SOFTENER START-UP
SECTION 1
5
1B. CHECK LIST OF ALL STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES TO INSTALL
Refer to the Installation Manual, part no. 7159931, for
stepĆbyĆstep guides.
To be sure you have done all the steps to install the
softener, read the following list. Page numbers
referred to are in the  
✔Is the house    going  the
softener valve ? Tra e piping to be sure.
See pages 10 and 11.
✔Is the plumbing bypass valve (or 3 valves) set for
soft water ? See page 18.
✔Is the valve drain hose onne ted to the drain fitĆ
ting the right way? Does the drain hose run to the
drain point without sharp bends or kinks that
ould stop or redu e water flow? See page 16.
✔Is the softener power able onne ted to the
transformer, and is the transformer plugged into
  120VĆ60Hz ele tri al outlet? See page
20.
✔Be sure to restart the water heater. See page 20.
NOTE: The state of Massa husetts requires a li ensed
plumber to perform the installation.
brass 3–valve
plastic
Bypass
Valves
Water
Heater

WATER SOFTENER START-UP
SECTION 1
6
1C. PROGRAM THE TIMER
FIG. 1
DOWN
button
UP button
display
SELECT button
ON/OFF–HOLD button
(Recharge Tonight–Now)
SELECT
ON/OFF-
HOLD RECHARGE TONIGHT
RECHARGENOW DemandWaterSoftener
Sears Water Line
forCustomerAssistance
1–800–426–9345
Kenmore
hen the transformer is plugged in, the model code
SR17 shows in the face plate display for a few
seconds, followed by a test number (example: S3.0).
After the test number, 12:00 AM begins to flash.
PRESENT TIME and RECHARGE TONIGHT show at
the bottom of the display.
NOTE:
If SR --is flashing in the display, press the UP
button (FIG. 1) until SR17 shows. Then, press the
SELECT button to display the flashing 12:00 AM. If
other than SR17 shows, when the transformer is
plugged in, please see page 17 to reset.
SOUND BEEPER": A beeper" sounds while
pressing buttons for timer setĆup. One beep signals a
change in the face plate display. Repeated beeps
means the timer will not accept a change from the
button you have pressed, telling you to use another
button. For example, in setting the hardness (step 2),
the beeper sounds repeatedly when the display
reaches 1 using the DO N button, or the highest
hardness setting using the UP button.
1. SET PRESENT TIME OF DAY:
NOTE:
If the words PRESENT TIME do not show in the disĆ
play, press the SELECT button (FIG. 1) until they do.
■Press the UP/DO N buttons to set the
present time. Press UP to move the display ahead;
press DO N to move the time backward.
If the present time is between noon
and midnight, be sure PM shows.
If the present time is between
midnight and noon, be sure AM
shows.
NOTE:
Each press of the UP or DO N buttons changes the
time by 1 minute. Pressing and holding the buttons
changes the time 32 minutes each second.

WATER SOFTENER START-UP
SECTION 1
7
1C. PROGRAM THE TIMER
2. SET WATER HARDNESS NUMBER:
■Press the SELECT button once to display 15
(flashing) and HA DNESS.
The grains per gallon (gpg) hardĆ
ness of your water supply is on
your water analysis report. Be sure
to enter water test results on page
2, for future reference.
NOTE:
If your water supply contains iron, compensate for it
by adding to the water hardness number. 
        
         
          
     
15 gpg hardness
2 ppm iron x 5 = 10 +10
(times) 25 HARDNESS NUMBER
■Press the UP/DOWN buttons to set your
water hardness number in the display. The DOWN
button moves the display to 1. The UP button moves
the display to the highest setting (see maximum
setting for your model in the specifications).
NOTE:
Each press of the UP/DOWN button changes the
display by 1 between 1 and 25. Between 25 and the
highest number, the display changes 5 at a time…25,
30, 35, etc. Continuous pressure on the UP or DOWN
button changes the display twice each second.
3. SET RECHARGE (REGENERATION) TIME:
■Press the SELECT button once to display 2:00 AM
(flashing) and ECHA GE TIME.
At the 2:00 AM ECHA GE TIME
setting, the softener begins regenĆ
eration (see pages 11 and 12) at
2:00 AM, ending no later than 4:00
AM. This is a good time in most
households because water is not
being used (see AUTOMATIC BYĆ
PASS, page 13).
If a different ECHA GE TIME setting would be
better for your household, do the following.
■Press the UP/DOWN buttons to set the
desired ECHA GE starting hour. Be sure to observe
the AMĆPM as you did when setting the time of day.
NOTE:
Each press of the UP/DOWN buttons changes the
display 1 hour. Continuous pressure on the UP or
DOWN button changes the display twice each
second.
■      to return
the present time (steady) of day and ECHA GE
TONIGHT in the display.
IF YOU NEED HELP P OG AMMING THE TIME , CALL TOLL F EE, NUMBE 1-800- 426- 9345.
SEE PAGE 10 FO OTHE FACE PLATE TIME FEATU ES.

WATER SOFTENER START-UP
SECTION 1
8
1D. SANITIZING THE WATER SOFTENER
Care is taken at the factory to keep your water
softener clean and sanitary. Materials used to make
the softener will not infect or contaminate your water
supply, and will not cause acteria to form or grow.
However, during shipping, storage, installing and
operating, acteria could get into the softener. For
this reason, sanitizing as follows is suggested①when
installing.
1. The first time you sanitize your softener, e sure to
do  steps in the installation manual, and on pages
5, 6 and 7 of this manual first.
2. Lift the salt hole cover and use a pail or hose to fill
the salt storage tank with at least 3 gallons of water.
3. Remove the rinewell cover and pour a out 3/4
ounce, or 1 to 2 ta lespoons, of common 5.25%
household leach (Clorox, Linco, BoPeep, White
Sail, Eagle, etc.) in the softener rinewell.
4. Press the ON/OFFĆHOLD utton and   
 to start a recharge. This first recharge does
several things.
ĊIt draws the leach into and through the softĆ
ener to sanitize it.
ĊIt fills the salt tank to the water level
needed.
ĊIt gets all the air out of the resin tank.
ĊIt makes the resin ed (see page 11) ready for
service.
NOTES:
This recharge takes a out 2 hours.
You can sanitize the softener   
salt in the storage tank.
①Recommended y the Water Quality Association. On
some water supplies, the water softener may need periodic
disinfecting. Sanitize with or without salt in the storage
tank.
FIG. 2 ADD WATER
Water,
About 3 Gallons
Brinewell
Cover
(remove and add
about 3/4 oz. bleach)
Brinewell
hose
Salt Hole
Cover

WATER SOFTENER START-UP
SECTION 1
9
1E. FILL THE STORAGE TANK WITH SALT
Brine (salt dissolved in water) is needed for each and
every regeneration. The water for making brine is
metered into the salt storage tank by the softener.
However, you must keep the tank filled with salt.
Fill the tank with N GGET or PELLET water softener
salt. DO NOT use rock salts, as they have dirt and
sediments that will stop the softener from working.
Before filling, be sure the brinewell cover is in place
on the top of the brinewell. Salt storage capacity is
shown on page 18.
NOTE:
In humid areas, it is best to fill the storage tank
halfĆfull, and to refill it more often. Salt bridging (see
page 14) occurs more often when conditions are
humid.
Water softening salt with iron removing addiĆ
tives Ċ Some salts have an additive to help the
softener handle iron in the water supply. Although
this additive may help to keep the softener resin
clean, it may also release corrosive fumes that will
weaken and shorten the life of some softener parts.
FIG. 3 ADD SALT
Brinewell
Cover
  Water softeners using sodium
chloride for regeneration add sodium to the water.
Persons who are on sodium restricted diets should
consider the added sodium as part of their overall
sodium intake.
For example, if your water supply is 15 grains hard,
you would have to drink 3 quarts of softened water
to consume 335 milligrams of sodium. That is
equivalent to eating 2Ć1/2 slices of white bread.
Persons who are concerned about their drinking
water should consider a Sears Drinking Water
System that will remove or reduce in excess of 90% of
the sodium and other drinking water contaminants.
YO HAVE NOW FINISHED THE WATER SOFTENER STARTĆ P. AFTER THE SANITIZING RECHARGE,
ON PAGE 8, THE SOFTENER WILL BE GIVING YO SOFT WATER.

HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
SECTION 2
10
2A. FACE PLATE TIMER FEATURES
EXTRA RECHARGE
Sometimes, a manually started regeneration (reĆ
charge) may be desired, or needed. Two examples
are:
-- You have used more water than usual (guests
visiting) and you may run out of soft water before the
next timer started regeneration.
-- You did not refill the softener with salt before it
was gone.
You can start a regeneration right away, or you can
set the timer to regenerate at the next 2:00 AM (or
other preset recharge time). Do the following.
RECHARGE NOW
■Press the ON/OFFĊHOLD
button and    
ECHA GE NOW begins to
flash in the display, and the
softener enters the fill cycle of regeneration right
away. This regeneration will last for about 2
hours. Then, you will have soft water again.
RECHARGE TONIGHT
■Press and release ( 
) the ON/OFFĆHOLD butĆ
ton. ECHA GE TONIGHT
flashes in the display, and the
softener begins regeneration at the next preset
recharge time. If you decide to cancel the regenĆ
eration before it has started, press and release the
ON/OFFĆHOLD button once more to turn off the
flashing ECHA GE TONIGHT.
PROGRAM MEMORY
If electrical power to the softener goes off, the time
display is blank but the face plate timer keeps the
correct time for about 6 hours. When electrical
power comes on again, you have to reset the present
time  if the display is flashing. The HA DNESS
and ECHA GE TIME never require resetting unless
a change is desired.
Even if the timer is incorrect after a long power
outage, the softener works as it should to keep you
water soft. However, regenerations may occur at the
wrong time of day until you reset the timer to the
correct time of day.
ERROR CODE
An error code could appear in the face plate display
if a problem occurs in the softener electronics. If you
see an error code instead of the time of day, please
call you local Sears Service Department for service.
IF YOU NEED HELP ON THE USE OF THE TIME FEATU ES, CALL TOLL F EE,
NUMBE 1-800- 426-9345.