Kenmore 625.34854 User manual

_AIRS
OWNER
MANUAL
MODEL NOS.
625.3485400
Super Capacity Genius
625.3485500
Super Capacity Genius
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
SAVE THIS MANUAL
Water Softeners
_i, Warranty
Start Up /Setting Timer
_i, How It Works
_i, Care Of
_i, Specifications
Repair Parts
Use plastic bag and tie provided, to hang manuals nearby
the softener for future reference.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 USA
PRINTED IN U.S.A.

WARRANTY
I I
SEARS RESIDENTIAL WATER SOFTENER
FULL TEN YEAR WARRANTY AGAINST LEAKS
For ten years from the date of purchase, Sears will furnish and install a new current model water
softener tank or salt storage drum, free of charge, if either the tank or drum develop a leak.
FULL THREE YEAR ELECTRONICS WARRANTY
For a period of three years from date of purchase, Sears will replace the BRINE TANK LIGHT,
ELECTRONIC BOARD, SENSOR HOUSING, WIRING HARNESS, TRANSFORMER, MICRO
SWITCH, DRIVE MOTOR, OR POWER CABLE, should they be defective in material or work-
manship. FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON WATER SOFTENER
For one year from the date of purchase, when this water softener is installed and maintained
in accordance with our instructions, Sears will repair, free of charge, all other parts which may
be defective in material or workmanship.
TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE, SIMPLY CONTACT THE NEAREST SEARS SERVICE
CENTER THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. This warranty applies only while this product
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
If you want your water softener professionally installed, talk to your Sears Salesman. He will arrange
for a prompt, quality installation by Sears Authorized Installers.
SEARS INSTALLATION POLICY
All installation labor arranged by Sears shall be
performed in a neat, workmanlike manner in
accordance with generally accepted trade prac-
tices. Further, all installations shall comply with
all local laws, codes, regulations, and ordi-
nances. Customer shall also be protected, during
installation, by insurance relating to Property
Damage, Workman's Compensation and Public
Liability.
SEARS INSTALLATION WARRANTY
In addition to any warranty extended to you on
the Sears merchandise involved, which warran-
ty becomes effective the date the merchandise in
installed, should the workmanship of any Sears
arranged installation prove faulty within one
year, Sears will, upon notice from you, cause
such faults to be corrected at no additional cost to
yOU.
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.l-
Serial Number
Date Installed
Water Hardness
Iron Content
*pH
Water Pressure
Water Flow Rate
Grains Per Gallon
Parts Per Million
Taste And/Or Odor
Pounds/Square Inch
Gallons Per Minute
1-The model number is on the rating decal, located
on the rim, under the salt hole cover.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
L J
PAGE
NO.
SECTION 1 SOFTENER START UP
A. SAFETY GUIDES
B. CHECK LIST OF STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES TO INSTALL
C. PROGRAM THE TIMER
D. SANITIZING THE WATER SOFTENER
E. FILL THE STORAGE TANK WITH SALT
4
5
6-7
8
9
SECTION 2 HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
A. FACE PLATE TIMER FEATURES 10-11
B. SOFT WATER SERVICE AND REGENERATION 12-14
SECTION 3 CARE OF YOUR SOFTENER
A. SALT: REFILLING STORAGE TANK, SALT BRIDGE
B. KEEPING THE WATER SOFTENER CLEAN
C. KEEP THE SOFTENER FROM FREEZING
D. HELPFUL HINTS CHECKLIST
15
16
17
18
SECTION 4 OTHER THINGS TO KNOW
A. DIMENSIONS/SPECIFICATIONS 19
SECTION 5 SERVICE TECH INFORMATION
A. TROUBLESHOOTING
D. ROTARY VALVE SERVICE
E. WATER FLOW THROUGH THE SOFTENER VALVE
20-23
24
25-27
SECTION 6 REPAIR PARTS 28-31

SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START-UP
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 19. 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 17.
lCAUTIONS
PLEASE READ AND COMPLY WITH THE FOL-
LOWING GUIDES TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO
THE SOFTENER OR OTHER PROPERTY,
PERSONAL INJURY, OR POSSIBLE FATAL
SHOCK.
•THIS SOFTENER WORKS ON 24 VOLTS
ONLY. BE SURE TO USE THE TRANSFORMER
INCLUDED, AND PLUG IT INTO A 120V OUT-
LET.
•Unplug the transformer right away if the
power cable sould 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.

SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START-UP
I I
lB. CHECK LIST OF ALL STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES TO INSTALL
Refer to the Installation Manual, part no.
7141417, for step-by-step guides.
To be sure you have done all the steps to install
the softener, read the following list. Page num-
bers referred to are in the Installation Manual.
4' Is the house water flow going INTO the soft-
ener valve INLET? Trace piping to be sure.
See pages 10 and 11.
_/ Is the plumbing bypass valve (or 3 valves) set
for SERVICE? See FIG. 12, page 19 of this
manual.
INLET
4
4
4
Is the valve drain hose connected the right
way, and without sharp bends or kinks that
could stop or reduce water flow? See page 16.
Is the softener power cable connected to the
transformer? Is the transformer plugged into
an inside, 120V-60Hz electrical outlet? See
page 20.
Be sure to restart the water heater. See page
20.
J
plastic

SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START-UP
1C. PROGRAM THE TIMER
SALT LEVEL
ADJ. button
SIGNAL LIGHT _,
ADJ. buRon
low salt ON/OFF-HOLD #1 SELECT
indicator button button UP button DOWN button
/
TANK LIGHT
on/off button display #2 SELECT button
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When the transformer is plugged in, the model
code AR31, and a test number (example: A1.0)
show in the face plate display for 4 seconds.
Then, 12:00 AM and PRESENT TIME begin to
flash.
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NOTE:
If AR-- shows in the display, press the UP _)or
DOWN _utton until AR31 shows. Then, press
the #1 SELECT button to set, and change to the
flashing PRESENT TIME display.
To check the model code, unplug the transformer
at the wall outlet and plug in again, if other than
AR31 shows, see page 18 to reset.
SOUND "BEEPER": A "beeper" sounds while
pressing buttons for timer set-up. One beep
signals a change in the face plate display.
Repeated beeps mean the timer will not accept a
change from the button you have pressed, telling
you to use another button. For example, while
setting the hardness (step 2), the beeper sounds
repeatedly when the display reaches 1 using the
DOWN 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 display, press the #1 SELECT button
(FIG. 1) until they do, or see the notes above.
• Press the {_)UP/DOWN _)buttons to set the
present time. Press UP to move the display
ahead; press DOWN to move the time backward.
If the present time is between _,, m
noon and midnight, be sure PM ;
shows. ,e
J
If the present time is between ;
midnight and noon, be sure
AM shows.
NOTE:
Each press of the UP/DOWN
buttons changes the time by 1
minute. Holding the buttons in
changes the time 32 minutes
each second.
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s
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SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START-UP
1C. PROGRAM THE TIMER
2. SET WATER HARDNESS NUMBER:
• Press the #1 SELECT button once to
display 15 (flashing) and HARDNESS.
The grains per gallon (gpg) _,,,,,,
LP4_.
hardness of your water sup- ;
ply is on your water analysis ;
report. Be sure to enter water i
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.
For example, assume your water is 15 gpg hard and
contains 2ppm iron. Add 5 to the hardness number for
each I ppm of iron. In this example, you wouhl use 25
for your hardness number.
15 9P9 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. Holding the UP or DOWN
button in changes the display twice each second.
:3. SET RECHARGE (REGENERATION) TIME:
• Press the # 1SELECT button to display 2:00
AM (flashing) and RECHARGE TIME.
At the 2:00 AM RECHARGE
TIME setting, the softener be-
gins regeneration (see pages
12 and 13) 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 BY-
PASS, page 14). If a different
RECHARGE TIME setting
would be better for your
household, do the following.
.....=,.'4.-.-,,2:DI "
f
• Press the []UP/DOWN {_)buttons to set the
desired RECHARGE starting hour. Be sure to
observe the AM-PM as you did when setting the
present time of day.
NOTE:
Each press of the UP/DOWN buttons changes
the display 1 hour. Holding the buttons in
changes the display twice each second.
•Press the #1 SELECT button once again, to
return the present time, and RECHARGE TO-
NIGHT in the display.
IF YOU NEED HELP PROGRAMMING THE TIMER, CALL TOLL FREE, NUMBER
1- 800- 426- 9345.
SEE PAGES I0 AND II FOR OTHER FACE PLATE TIMER FEATURES.

SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START-UP
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 bacteria to
form or grow. However, during shipping, stor-
age, installing and operating, bacteria could get
into the softener. For this reason, sanitizing as
follows is suggested (17when installing.
1. Lift the salt hole cover and use a pail or hose
to fill the salt storage tank with at least 3
gallons of water.
oRemove the brinewell cover (FIG. 3) and
pour about 3/4 ounce of common 5.25%
household bleach (Clorox, Linco, BoPeep,
White Sail, Eagle, etc.) in the softener brine-
well.
oPress the ON/OFF-HOLD button and holdfor
3 seconds to start a recharge. This first re-
charge does several things.
- It draws the bleach into and through the
softener to sanitize it.
- It fills the salt tank to the water level need-
ed.
- It gets all the air out of the resin tank.
- It makes the resin bed (see page 11) ready
for service.
NOTES:
This recharge takes about 2 hours.
You can sanitize the softener with or with-
out salt in the storage tank.
ADD WATER
Salt Hole
Cover
hose
Water,
About 3 Gallo_.._
Brinewell
Cover
"emove and add
about 3/4 oz. bleach)
Brinewell
_'1:; Recommended by the Water Quality Association. On
some water supplies, the water softener may need pe-
riodic disinfecting.

SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START-UP
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 NUGGET 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 19. Be sure to set the
salt monitor system (see page 10).
NOTES:
The salt monitor system page 10, is calibrated to
the density of nugget or pellet water softener
salt. The monitor will not work as accurately
with other types of salt including rock and solar.
In humid areas, it is best to fill the storage tank
half-full, and to refill it more often. Salt bridging
(see page 15) occurs more often when conditions
are humid.
WATER SOFTENING SALT WITH IRON RE-
MOVING ADDITIVES -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.
ADD SALT
Salt
Storage
Tank
iCover
Sodium information: Water softeners using so-
dium 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 2-1/2 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.
You have now finished the water softener start up. After the sanitizing recharge, on
page 8, the softener will be giving you soft water.

SECTION 2 HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
2A. FACE PLATE TIMER FEATURES
EXTRA RECHARGE
Sometimes, a manually started
(recharge) may be desired, or
examples are:
regeneration
needed. Two
- -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/OFF-
HOLD button and holduntil
RECHARGE NOW, SERV
and FILL begin to flash in
the display. Upon reaching
fill, the first cycle of regen-
eration, the flashing SERV
goes off and FILL is on
steady. RECHARGE NOW
continues to flash. This re-
generation will last for
about 2 hours. After the 2
hours, you will have soft
water again.
mm
RECHARGETONIGHT
• Press and release (do not
hold) the ON/OFF-HOLD
button. RECHARGE TO-
NIGHT flashes in the dis-
play, and the softener be-
gins regeneration at the
next preset recharge time.
Press and release the ON/
OFF-HOLD button once
more if you decide to cancel
the regeneration, and RE-
CHARGE TONIGHT.
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SALT MONITOR SYSTEM
The face plate timer has a low salt monitor with
an indicator light to remind you to refill the
storage tank with salt. To set this monitor system:
1, Lift the salt hole cover and level the salt in the
storage tank.
eThe salt level decal, on the brinewell inside
the tank, has numbers from 0 to 8 (see
drawing on page 9 and below). Observe the
number the leveled salt is at or closest to.
NOTE: To light the salt storage area, press the
TANK LIGHT button on the face plate.
oNow, press the SALT LEVEL ADJUST button
until black bars display up to the salt level
number. For example, the pictures below
show the salt level at 6.
eFinally, set the level you want the low salt
indicator light to come on. Press the SIGNAL
LIGHT ADJUST button until a (÷) shows
opposite this number. In the example below,
the light will come one when the stored salt
drops to level 2. At level 2, the storage tank is
about 1/3 full. This is the lowest you should
allow the stored salt level to drop to. To turn
the salt monitor off, press the button until
OFF shows.
salt
level
/
mSALT
LEVEL
8_
I
7
6
brinewetl
decal
indicator
light
s,,, \0
MONITOR
SYSTEM
m3
m2_
/
black
boxes
NOTE:
For accurate salt monitor operation, always use
nugget or pellet water softener salt. See page 9.
10

SECTION 2 HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
2A. FACE PLATE TIMER FEATURES
TANK LIGHT
To light the inside of the salt
storage tank, press the TANK
LIGHT button on the face
plate. Press the same button
again to turn the light off, or it
will go off automatically in 4
minutes.
I-'iI _ .nn
_.__;__._ 2.UU n,
tank light ON
indicator
WATER FLOW RATE THROUGH THE SOFTENER
To view the gallon per minute water flow rate
through the softener, if not already displayed,
press the #2 SELECT button.
If soft water is being used, the
flow rate to the closest 1/10
gallon shows. If all faucets
and water using appliances
are off, the display will show 0
flow.
T
8
AVERAGE DALLY GALLONS
Press the #2 SELECT button
again to show the average
number of gallons of soft wa-
ter the household uses each
day. This water usage figure is
adjusted daily by the face
plate timer. To turn this dis-
play off, press the #2 SELECT
button once more.
""1"o;_ I,,{, ! I_
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 72 hours. When
electrical power comes on again, you have to
reset the present time only if the display is
flashing. The HARDNESS and RECHARGE
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
your 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 I_,r,_I
the face plate display if a [_;_i!
problem occurs in the softener {
electronics. If you see an error
code instead of the present .__
time of day, please call you
local Sears Service Depart-
ment for service.
_rr_
11

SECTION 2 HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
2B. SOFT WATER SERVICE AND REGENERATION
SERVICE
When the softener is giving you soft water, it is
called "Service". During service, hard water
comes from the house main water pipe into the
softener. Inside the softener resin tank is a bed
made up of thousands of tiny, plastic resin beads
(FIG. 4). As hard water passes through the bed,
each bead attracts and holds the hardness
minerals. This is called ion-exchanging. It is
much like a magnet attracting and holding
metals. Water without the hardness minerals
(soft water) flows out of the softener and into the
house soft water pipes.
After a period of time, the resin beads become
coated with hardness minerals and they have to
be cleaned. This cleaning is called regeneration
or recharge. Regeneration is started at 2:00 a.m.
by the electronic timer (see page 14). It takes
place in 5 stages or cycles. These are:
_-1 FILL [] BACKWASH
[] BRINING [] FAST RINSE
[] BRINE RINSE
WATER FLOW THROUGH THE
SOFTENER IN SERVICE
Hard Water
IN
Soft Water
OUT
REGENERATION
[] FILL: Salt, dissolved in water, is called
brine. Brine is needed to clean the hardness
minerals from the resin beads. To make the brine,
water flows into the salt storage area during the
fill stage as shown in FIG. 5. Fill cycle length
depends on how much soft water making
capacity you have used since the last regenera-
tion. As you use more water, fill time increases so
more brine is made. The greater amount of brine
cleans more hardness minerals from the resin
bed.
WATER FLOW THROUGH THE
SOFTENER IN FILL
Hard Water
IN
SoftWTater ,/.
Fill Water ._._
AJ_( Salt
Storage Tank
salt not shown)
J
Resin Tank
Salt Storage
Tank
..---- Resin Bed
i
i
i
i
i
12

SECTION 2 HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
2B. SOFT WATER SERVICE AND REGENERATION
[] BRINING: During brining, the brine is moved
from the salt storage area, into the resin tank.
Inside the resin tank, brine cleans hardness
minerals from the resin beads and they are
discharged out the drain. How much brine is
needed to clean the resin depends on:
- -the amount of resin in the softener,
- -how fast the brine goes through the bed.
The nozzle and venturi (FIG. 6) make suction to
take brine from the salt tank and put it into the
resin tank. They keep the brine flow down to a
very slow rate to get the best resin cleaning with
the least salt.
[BBRINE RINSE: After all of the brine goes into
the resin tank, the brine valve closes. Water
keeps flowing the same way it did during
brining except the brine flow has stopped.
Hardness minerals and brine flush from the
resin tank to the drain. Brining and brine rinse
together vary in the length of time they take,
relative to the fill cycle length.
WATER FLOW THROUGH THE
SOFTENER IN BRINING AND
BRINE RINSE
Hard Water
IN
Hard Water.
Nozzle Drain
Venturi
Brine Valve
Brine
[] BACKWASH: During backwash, water flows
UP through the resin tank (FIG. 7) at a fast rate to
flush iron minerals, dirt and sediments from the
bed and to the drain. The bed lifts and expands
for good cleaning.
WATER FLOW THROUGH THE
SOFTENER IN BACKWASH
Hard Water
iN
Hard Water
BYPASS
Drain
bed
and expa
•FAST RINSE: Backwash is followed by a fast
flow of water down through the resin tank. The
fast flow packs the resin bed and gets it ready for
return to service (FIG. 8).
After fast rinse, the softener returns to service.
Hard water goes into the resin tank where the
resin bed again takes out the hardness minerals.
Soft water goes to the house soft water pipes.
WATER FLOW THROUGH THE
SOFTENER IN FAST RINSE
Hard Water
IN
Soft Wafer
OUT II!E_" Drain
13

SECTION 2 HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
I I
2B. SOFT WATER SERVICE AND REGENERATION
AUTOMATIC BYPASS
During the brining, brine rinse and backwash
cycles of regeneration, HARD water goes
through the softener valve and to the house
pipes. If a faucet is opened, hard water is there
for your needs. However, you should not use
HOT watm, if possible, because the water heater
will refill with hard water. The softener regener-
ates from 2:00 AM to about 4:00 AM, (you can set
anytime), a time when not much water is used.
If you get up early in the morning and you can
hear the softener regenerating, change the time
setting. Set the recharge time to 12:00 AM or 1:00
AM (page 7). Then regeneration will start and
end that much earlier and your water heater will
not refill with hard water if a hot faucet is
opened.
Two main parts of the softener's electronics are
[] a WATER METER, and [] a COMPUTER.
[] WATER METER - The water meter is in the
softener valve outlet. As water flows through the
meter, it sends electric pulses to the computer.
The computer changes the pulses to a measure in
gallons of water.
[] COMPUTER - The computer is part of the
circuit board. It is programmed to know the
softener's capacity (how many grains of hard-
ness minerals it will take out of the water before a
regeneration is needed). When starting the
softener, page 7, you set it for the grains per
gallon (gpg) hardness of the water.
To find a regeneration pattern best for your
needs, the computer uses: (1) water usage from
the meter, (2) hardness setting, (3) softener
capacity, and (4) time since the last regeneration.
The computer always adjusts this pattern to your
water using habits. It works toward providing
you with soft water for the longest time and the
most efficient salt usage.
Softening capacity is used as hard water goes
through the softener and hardness minerals are
removed, capacity is used. When the computer
determines that only enough capacity remains to
provide soft water up to the next regeneration
starting time (2:00 AM, or as otherwise set) it will
schedule a regeneration. RECHARGE TONIGHT
displays until the regeneration begins. When the
regeneration begins, TONIGHT goes off and
RECHARGE NOW flashes during the 2 hour
regeneration.
14

SECTION 3 CARE OF YOUR SOFTENER
I I
3A. SALT. REFILLING STORAGE TANK/BREAKING A SALT BRIDGE
WHEN TO REFILL WITH SALT: The Salt
Monitor System (see page 10) will turn on the
low salt light to warn you when to refill with salt.
Check for a low salt light a few weeks after you
install the softener, and every week after that.
Always refill at about the #2 salt monitor level.
At this level, the tank is about 1/3 full. Never let
the softener use all the salt before refilling.
Without salt, you will soon have hard water.
NOTE:
You will have a loss in softening capacity and
may get partly hard water if less than 10 inches
(salt monitor level 2) of salt is in the storage tank.
PLEASE SEE PAGE 9 FOR SALT FILLING DIRECTIONS.
BE SURE TO RESET THE SALT MONITOR, PAGE 10
SALT BRIDGE
Sometimes, a hard crust or salt bridge forms in
the salt storage tank. It is usually caused by high
humidity or the wrong kind of salt. When the salt
bridges, an empty space forms between the
water and salt. Then salt will not dissolve (melt)
in the water to make brine. Without brine, the
resin bed does not regenerate and you will have
hard water.
If the storage tank is full of salt, it is hard to tell if
you have a salt bridge. Salt is loose on top, but the
bridge is under it. The following is the best way
to check for a salt bridge.
Salt should be loose all the way to the bottom of
the tank. Hold a broom handle, or like tool, up to
the softener as shown in FIG. 9. Make a pencil
mark on the handle, 1- or 2- below the top height
of the rim. Then, carefully push it straight down
into the salt. If a hard object is felt before the
pencil mark gets to the top of the tank, it's most
likely a salt bridge. Carefully push into the
bridge in a few places to break it. Do not try to
break the salt bridge by pounding on the
outside of the salt tank. You may damage it.
If the wrong kind of salt made the bridge, take it
out. Then fill the tank with nugget or pellet salt
only.
SALT BRIDGE
V bPUd_tt:l iLnt°ak alt
1,,21__1
Mark
Broom Handle I- Salt
15

SECTION 3 CARE OF YOUR SOFTENER
3B. KEEPING THE WATER SOFTENER CLEAN
COVERS
To keep your new Sears water softener looking
nice, apply a coat of paste wax and repeat once a
year. When dusty, wipe it with a damp cloth to
keep it sparkling.
NOTE:
Never use cleaners having ammonia or abra-
sives. They may scratch and dull the surface.
NOZZLE & VENTURI
A clean nozzle and venturi (FIG. 10) is a must for
the softener to work right. This small unit moves
brine from the salt storage tank to the resin tank
during regeneration. If it becomes plugged with
sand, silt, dirt, etc., the softener will not work
and you will get hard water.
To get to the nozzle and venturi, remove the
softener top cover. Be sure the softener is in
service cycle (no water pressure at nozzle and
venturi), then turn off the cap from the nozzle
and venturi housing. Do not lose the large o-ring
seal. Lift out the screen support and screen, then
the nozzle and venturi. Wash and rinse the parts
in warm water until clean. If needed, use a small
brush to remove iron or dirt. Also check and
clean the gasket.
Carefully replace all parts in the correct order.
Lubricate the o-ring seal with silicone grease or
Vaseline and place in position. Install and
tighten the cap, by hand only. Do not overtigh-
ten and break the cap or housing.
CLEANING THE NOZZLE &
VENTURI
*INSTALL WITH
NUMBERED SIDE UP
CONCAVE SIDE DOWN. BE
SURE THE FLOW PLUG WITH
THE LARGEST CENTER HOLE
IS LOCATED IN THE NOZZLE
& VENTURI HOUSING.
IRON FROM THE RESIN BED
Your water softener takes hardness minerals
(calcium and magnesium) out of the water. Also,
it can control some "clear water" iron. See
maximum allowed in the specifications on page
19. With clear water iron, water from a faucet is
clear when first put into a glass. After 15 to 30
minutes, the water begins to cloud or turn rust
colored. A water softener WILL NOT remove
any iron which makes the water cloudy or rusty
as it comes from the faucet (called red water
iron). To take red water iron out of water, or over
the maximum of clear water iron, an iron filter or
other equipment is needed. Your local Sears
store has trained people to help you with iron
water problems.
If your water supply has clear water iron, even
though less than the maximum allowed, regular
resin bed cleaning is needed. Sears has resin bed
cleaner, Stock No. 42-34426 for this. Clean the
bed at least every 6 months. If iron shows up in
the soft water before 6 months, clean more often.
Printed instructions are on the resin bed cleaner
bottle.
16

SECTION 3 CARE OF YOUR SOFTENER
3C. KEEP THE SOFTENER FROM FREEZING
11[_ ill
If the softener is installed where it could freeze
(summer cabin, lake home, etc.), you must drain
all water from it to stop possible freeze damage.
To drain the softener -
1. Close the shut-off valve on the house main
water pipe, near the water meter or pressure
tank.
2. Open a faucet in the soft water pipes to vent
pressure in the softener.
eRefer to FIG. 12 on page 19. Move the stem in
a single bypass valve to bypass. Close the
inlet and outlet valve in a 3-valve bypass
system, and open the bypass valve. If you
want water in the house pipes again, reopen
the shut-off valve on the main water pipe.
4. Unplug the transformer at the wall outlet.
Remove the salt hole cover and the main
cover. Take off both drain hoses.
eCarefully remove the large holding clips at
the softener inlet and outlet (see Key No. 61,
on page 30). Separate the softener from the
adaptors or bypass valve.
Go Remove the brinewell cover and disconnect
the brine valve tubing at the nozzle and
venturi assembly (see page 30). Lift the brine
valve out of the brinewell. Tip the brine valve
upside down to drain out water.
o
e
DRAIN WATER FROM THE
SOFTENER
Drain Wood Block
Looking at FIG. 11, lay a piece of 2 inch thick
board near the floor drain. Move the softener
close to the drain. SLOWLY and CAREFUL-
LY tip it over until the rim rests on the wood
block with the inlet and outlet over the drain.
Do not allow the softener _weight to rest on
the inlet and outlet fittings or they will
break.
Tip the bottom of the softener up a few inches
and hold until all water has drained. Leave
the softener laying like this until you are
ready to use it. Plug the inlet and outlet with
rags to keep dirt, bugs, etc. out.
17

SECTION 3 CARE OF YOUR SOFTENER
3D. HELPFUL HINTS CHECKLIST
... TO HELP YOU SAVE MONEY
If your water softener fails to work, make the following easy checks. Often, you will find what's wrong
yourself and you won't have to call and wait for service. If, after making the checks, your softener still
does not work right, call your Sears Service Department.
NOTE:
1. Also read ERROR CODE, page 11.
2. If an error code is not dispIayed, press and holdthe #1 SELECT button until (example: 000- -) shows
in the display. Then, press the #1 SELECT again and hold until a flashing AR code appears. It must
show AR31. If AR 17, 22, 39 or 60 shows, the face plate computer is working on incorrect input and
would probably be the cause of the problem. To set AR31, press either the UP [] or DOWN {_)utton.
When AR31 shows, press the # 1SELECT to return a flashing 12:00 AM display. Reset the present time,
hardness number and recharge time, pages 6 and 7.
PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION
NO SOFT WATER No salt (or salt bridged ) in the storage tank
Transfomer unplugged at the wall outlet, or
power cable leads loose, fuse blown, circuit
breaker popped, or circuit switched off.
Manual bypass valve(s) in bypass position
Dirty, plugged or damaged nozzle & venturi
Valve drain hose plugged
WATER HARD Hardness number setting too low
SOMETIMES
Using hot water when softener is
regenerating
Increase in the grains of hardness in your
water supply
Refill with salt, or break the salt bridge
(page 15). Press ON/OFF-HOLD
(RECHARGE NOW) button and hold for 3
seconds to start a regeneration (see page
10).
Check for loss of power due to any of
these and correct. With the power back
on, look at the time display and read
PROGRAM MEMORY, page 11.
Look at FIG. 12 on page 19. Move the
stem in a single valve to service. In a
3-valve bypass, open the inlet and outlet
valves, and be sure to fully close the
bypass valve.
Take apart and clean or replace damaged
parts (see page 16).
The drain hose must not have kinks, sharp
bends, or be raised too high above the
softener (see page 16 in your installation
manual).
Press and release the SELECT button
until HARDNESS shows in the display.
Read the hardness number in the display
and be sure the same grains per gallon
number is shown on your water analysis
report. See page 7 to reset. Press and
release the SELECT button until the
present time shows in the display.
Avoid using hot water during this time
because the water heater refills with hard
water (see Automatic Bypass, page 14).
Ask your Sears retail or catalog store for a
new water analysis. Then make a new
hardness number setting (page 7).
18

SECTION 4 OTHER THINGS TO KNOW
4A. DIMENSIONS/SPECIFICATIONS
BYPASS VALVES
SINGLE-PLASTIC
PULL STEM
OUTWARD
FOR
SERVICE
Push
Inward
For
j Bypass
SINGLE-BRASS
For SH
Bypass I INWARD
I FOR
ISERV_CE
3-VALVE
SERVICE
Close Bypass Valve
Open Inlet & Outlet Valves
BYPASS
Open Bypass Valve
Close Inlet & Outlet Valves
Bypass
Valve
Inlet
Valve
A
F
/\
/\
I
B_
/
C
E
INCHES CM
A Salt Tank Height 40-1/4 102.2
B Resin Tank Diameter (nominal) 9 22.7
C Resin Tank Height (nominal) 40 101.6
D Inlet-Outlet Height 41-1/2 105.4
E Overall Height 46 116.8
F1 Length 19-1/2 49.5
F2 Width 16-1/2 41.9
- Distance between inlet-outlet 3-3/8 8.6
center lines
MODEL NO. 625.3485400 AND 625.3485500 TIMER AR CODE AR31
NOTE: Please see the rating decal for water softener operating capacity, salt usage and service flow
rate/pressure loss performance specifications. Performance specifications are validated by the Water
Quality Association (WQA). The rating decal is located on the rim, under the salt hole cover (see page
28).
WATER SUPPLY TO WATER SOFTENER
MINIMUM WATER SYSTEM FLOW (gpm) 3
MINIMUM-MAXIMUM WATER PRESSU RE (psi) 20-120
MAXIMUM WATER TEMPERATURE (°F) 120
MAXIMUM WATER HARDNESS (gpg) 110
MAXMUM 'CLEAR WATER"IRON (ppm) 8
SALT FOR WATER SOFTENER
TYPE OF SALT NEEDED Nugget/Pellet
ALTERNATE TYPE OF SALT Pure, evaporated, compacted
water softener salt
STORAGE CAPACITY (pounds) 200
OTHERS
TYPE OF ION EXCHANGE MATERIAL (resin) High Capacity
AMOUNT OF RESIN (cu,ft.) 1,0
REGENERATION (RECHARGE) CYCLE TIME (min,)
FILL 2.7-10.3
BRINING/BRINE RINSE 97-106
BACKWASH 7
FAST RINSE 3
TOTAL REGENERATION TIME 109,7-126,3
gpm : gallons per minute
gpg : grains per gallon psi = pounds per square inch ppm = parts per million
19

SECTION 5 SERVICE TECH. INFORMATION
TROUBLESHOOTING
Keep this manual with your water softener. If repairs are needed, the service technician must have the
information on the following 8 pages. For telephone assistance, call toll free, 1-800-426-9345.
I!!
TRANSFORMER
24VAC
VAC
WIRING SCHEMATIC
NC
_'_POSITION SWITCH
0
NO
F
I
_-' (_
ee_,rroA
sYsfl_ tee _T Thll
Kenmore
_Teni_8
IIMMI b W_mr _
J
ALWAYS MAKE THESE INITIAL CHECKS FIRST
1. Does the time display show the correct time of day?
°
--If display is blank, check power source to the soft-
ener.
--If time is flashing, power was off for over 24 hours. The
softener resumes normal operation but regenerations
occur at the wrong time.
--If an error code (Example: Err3) shows in the face plate
display, go to AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC DIAGNOS-
TICS.
Plumbing bypass valve(s) must be in Full Service
position.
3. The inlet and outlet pipes must connect to the softener
inlet and outlet respectively,
°
5.
Is the transformer plugged into a "live ", grounded wall
outlet, and the power cable fastened securely?
The valve drain hose must be free of kinks and sharp
bends, and not elevated over 8 ft, above the floor,
REMOVE THE TOP COVER AND SALT TANK COVER
6. Is there salt in the storage tank?
7. Is the brine tubing connected? (See water flow
diagrams).
8. Is the brine valve float set right? (See page 23).
°Press the #l SELECT button 2 times to display the
hardness setting. Be sure it is the correct setting for the
household _kwater supply. (Make a hardness test of the
raw water and compare with the hardness setting. Also
test a soft water sample to verify if a problem exists.)
Press the #1 SELECT button twice more to return to
present time in the display.
If you do not find the problem after making initial checks,
do the MANUAL INITIATED ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICS,
and the MANUAL ADVANCE REGENERATION CHECK.
_N