Kenmore 625.388270 User manual

OWNER'S
MANUAL
MODEL NOS.
UltraSoft 275
625.388270[03]
UltraSoft 280
625.388280[03]
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
(M - F, 7 am - 8 pm, CST)
For repair or replacement
parts, call this toll-free num-
ber...
1-800-366-7278
See back cover for other
Sears service numbers.
www.Ken moreWater.com
SAVE THIS MANUAL
Water Softeners
with Deluxe Valve
4, Warranty
4, Start Up /Setting Timer
4, How It Works
4, Care Of
4, Specifications
4, Repair Parts I Systems Tested and Certified by NSF International I
against NSF/ANSl Standard 44 for softener performance.
Use the plastic bag and tie provided, to hang manuals
nearby the softener for future reference,
IRoebuck and 3333 Hoffman IL 60179 USA I
I
Sears, Co., Beverly Road, Estates, =
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 7276547 (Rev. C 8/24/05)

WARRANTY
A
A
N
T
Y
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 in accordance with our instructions, Sears will repair, free of charge,
defects in material or workmanship in this 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.
TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE, SIMPLY CONTACT THE NEAREST SEARS
SERVICE CENTER THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. This warranty ap-
plies 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 per-
formed in a neat, workmanlike manner in accor-
dance with generally accepted trade practices. Fur-
ther, all installations shall comply with all local
laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances. Custom-
ers shall also be protected, during installation, by in-
surance 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 warranty be-
comes effective the date the merchandise is
installed, should the workmanship of any Sears ar-
ranged 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.t
Serial Number
Date Installed
Water Hardness Grains Per Gallon
Iron Content Parts Per Million
pH 'Ihste And/Or Odor
Water Pressure Pounds/Square Inch
Water Flow Rate Gallons Per Minute
± The model number is on the rating decal, located on the rim, under the salt hole cover.
A
salt hole cover
rating
decal

Iii_i_iii_ii_i_iii_ii_i_iii_ii_i_iii_ii_i_iii_ii_i_iii_ii_i_iii_ii_i_iiTABLE OF CONTENTS
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B.
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B.
C.
D.
A.
a.
WATER SOFTENER START UP
Safety Guides
Check List of Step-By-Step Guides To Install
Program The Timer
Sanitizing The Water Softener
Adding Salt To The Storage Tank
HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
Faceplate Timer Features
Soft Water Service and Regeneration
CARE OF YOUR WATER SOFTENER
Salt: Adding To The Storage Tank /Salt Bridge ...........
Keeping The Water Softener Clean
Protect The Water Softener From Freezing
Checklist (Not Getting Soft Water)
ABOUT YOUR WATER SOFTENER
Dimensions /Specifications
PAGE NO.
1-1
1-2
1-3, 1-4
1-5
1-6
2-1 to 2-3
2-4 to 2-6
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
4-1,4-2
B.
C.
a.
SERVICE TECH. INFORMATION
Troubleshooting ....
Rotary Valve Service
Water Flow Through The Softener Valve-
5-1 to 5-4
5-5
5-6 to 5-8
B.
C.
REPAIR PARTS FOR WATER SOFTENER
Water Softener Complete
Brine Valve Assembly ....
Valve Assembly
6-1, 6-2
6-3, 6-4
6-5, 6-6
B

[i!i!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START UP
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A. SAFETY GUIDES
•Read all steps, guides and rules carefully before
installing and using your new water softener. Follow
all steps exactly to correctly install. Failure 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 minerals
and "clear water" iron* from water, up to the limits
shown on page 4-1. It will not remove other types of
iron, acids, tastes and odors, etc. It will not purify pol-
luted water or make it safe to drink.
•Protect the softener and piping from freezing. Dam-
age from freezing voids the softener warranty. See
page 3-3.
CAUTIONS
PLEASE READ AND COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING
GUIDES TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE SOFTENER
OR OTHER PROPERTY, PERSONAL INJURY, OR POS-
SIBLE FATAL SHOCK.
•THIS SOFTENER WORKS ON 24 VOLTS ONLY. BE
SURE TO USE ONLY THE TRANSFORMER INCLUDED,
AND PLUG IT INTO A NOMINAL 120V, 60 CYCLE
HOUSEHOLD OUTLET THAT IS GROUNDED AND
PROPERLY PROTECTED BY AN OVERCURRENT DE-
VICE SUCH AS A CIRCUIT BREAKER OR FUSE. IF
TRANSFORMER IS REPLACED, USE ONLY THE AU-
THORIZED SERVICE, CLASS II, 24 VOLT, 10 VA
TRANSFORMER.
•Unplug the transformer right away if the power
cable should become damaged or frayed. Make re-
pairs, or replace transformer, before plugging back
into the power outlet.
•Always unplug the softener from electrical power
before removing outer valve covers.
•This system is not intended to be used for treating
water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown
quality without adequate disinfection before or after
the system,
* The capacity to reduce clear water iron is substantiated
by WQA test data.
1-1
Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line

[i!i!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START UP
B. CHECK LIST OF STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES TO INSTALL
To be sure you have done all the steps to install the
softener, read the following list. Refer to the Installa-
tion Manual, part no. 7258997, for step-by-step
guides.
Page numbers referred to are in the Installation
Manual unless otherwise noted.
Is the house water flow going INTO the softener
valve INLET? Trace piping to be sure. See pages
2-4 and 2-5.
Is the plumbing bypass valve (or 3 valves) set for
SERVICE? Bypass valve(s) should always re-
main in soft water service position. Position in
"bypass" only if needed for softener repairs. See
FIG. 14, page 4-1 of this manual.
Is the valve drain hose connected the right way,
and without sharp bends or kinks that could
stop or reduce water flow? See page 3-5 in the
installation manual.
Page numbers referred to are in the Installation
Manual unless otherwise noted.
Is the transformer plugged into an inside, al-
ways live, grounded, 120V-60Hz electrical out-
let? See pages 3-8 and 3-9 in the installation
manual, and the wiring schematic on page 5-1 of
this manual.
_-" Be sure to restart the water heater. See page 3- 9.
INLET
3va,veJf, J
l__Bypass Valve(s)
California Efficiency Requirement
Your Kenmore Water Softener has a "High Effi-
ciency" feature with an "ON" or "OFF" setting.
This softener setting is shipped in the "OFF"
position, which utilizes the maximum rated ca-
pacity while most often achieving maximum salt
efficiencies. When installing this unit in the State
of California, you MUST turn this setting to the
"ON" position which may initiate more frequent
recharges, however it will operate at 4000 grains
per pound of salt or higher.
If you wish to turn the Salt Efficiency feature
"ON" (_ icon will show in display), follow the
instructions in the Faceplate Timer Features, Sec-
tion 2 of this manual.
NOTE: Codes in the state of Massachusetts require installation
by a licensed plumber. For installation, use plumbing code
248- CMR of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
1-2
Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line

[i!i!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START UP
C. PROGRAM THE TIMER
salt level adjust UP button
signal light adjust SELECT button
....diii
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t.EVEL LEVEL •
I/
P ss oR cus omerAss nce
TONIGHT 1-800-426-9345 [_
HOLD FOR www.KenmoreWatercom
IMMEDIATE
LOW
SALT
RECHARGE button DOWN button
When the transformer is plugged in, a model code,
and a test number (example: J]0) show in the face
plate display for 4 seconds. Then, J2:O0 AM and
PRESENT TIME begin to flash.
! I1-1
U fU
II"-I,1--| I--I AMI
II_-,LILI /
PRESENT TIME I
Notes:
If SR - - or .... shows in the display, press the
UP[] orDOWN[_ button until SR33 shows in the
display. Then, press the 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 this
code shows, see page 5-3 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 dis-
play reaches 1 using the DOWN button, or the high-
est hardness setting using the UP button.
_SET PRESENT TIME OF DAY
If the words PRESENT TIME do not show in the dis-
play, press the SELECT button (FIG. 2) until they do,
or see the previous notes.
• Press the UP or 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
noon and midnight, be sure PM
shows.
If the present time is between
midnight and noon, be sure AM
shows.
I_I,I-"I"1PM
'DO I
PRESENT TIME
I h-II -AM
I I,_-I1_-I I
PRESENT TIME
Each press of the UP or DOWN buttons changes
the time by 1 minute. Holding the buttons in
changes the time 32 minutes each second.
1-3
Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line

[i!i!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START UP
C. PROGRAM THE TIMER
SET WATER HARDNESS NUMBER E! SET RECHARGE (REGENERATION) TIME
• Press the SELECT button once to display 25
(flashing) and HARDNESS.
The grains per gallon (gpg) hard-
ness of your water supply is on
your water analysis report. Be
sure to enter water test results on
page A, for future reference.
123
HARDNESS
If your water supply contains iron, compensate for
it by adding to the water hardness number. For ex-
ample, assume your water is 20 gpg hard and contains 2
ppm iron. Add 5 to the hardness number for each 1 ppm
of iron. In this example, you would use 30for your hard-
hess numbel:
20 gpg hardness
2 ppmironx 5 = 10 +10
(times) 30 HARDNESS NUMBER
• Press the UP or 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 or 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 DOWNbut-
ton in changes the display twice each second.
• Press the SELECT button to display 2:00 AM
(flashing) and RECHARGE TIME.
At the 2:00 AM recharge time
setting, the softener begins re-
generation (see pages 2-4 and
2-5) at 2:00 AM. This is a good
nFI Ad
C'UU |
RECTIHA_GE I
time in most households because water is not being
used (see Automatic Bypass, page 2-6). If a differ-
ent recharge time setting would be better for your
household, do the following.
• Press the UP or 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 or DOWN buttons changes the
display one hour. Holding the buttons in changes
the display twice each second.
•Press the SELECT button once again, to com-
plete initial programming, and the current time of
day shows in the display.
m4
=° _
IF YOU NEED HELP PROGRAMMING THE TIMER, CALL TOLL FREE,
NUMBER 1- 800- 426- 9345.
SEE PAGES 2-1, 2-2 AND 2-3 FOR OTHER FACE PLATE TIMER FEATURES.
1-4
Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line

[i!i!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START UP
D. SANITIZE THE
Care is taken at the factory to keep your water soft-
ener 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, storage, installing and
operating, bacteria could get into the softener. For
this reason, sanitizing as follows is suggested (i9
when installing.
_The first time you sanitize your softener, be sure
to do all steps in the installation manual, and on
pages 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 of this manual first.
Note: Be certain the bypass valve is pulled out
to "service" position.
_Lift the salt hole cover and use a pail to fill the
salt storage tank with up to 3 gallons of water.
_1 Remove the brinewell cover (FIG. 3) and pour
about 3/4 ounce, or 1 to 2 tablespoons, of com-
mon 5.25%, unscented, household bleach (Clo-
fox, Linco, BoPeep, White Sail, Eagle, etc.) in the
softener brinewell. Replace the brinewell cover.
D Press the RECHARGE button and holdfor 3 se-
conds to start a recharge. This first recharge does
several things.
• It draws the bleach into and through the softener
to sanitize it.
• It fills the salt tank to the water level needed.
• It gets all the air out of the resin tank.
• It prepares the resin bed (see page 2-4) for ser-
vice and flushes residual chlorine from the soften-
er.
Notes:
This recharge takes about 2-1/2 or 2- 3/4 hours, de-
pending on the salt type setting (page 1-4).
You can sanitize the softener with or without salt
in the storage tank.
WATER SOFTENER
water,
about 3 gallons
brinewelI cover
(remove and add
about 3/4 oz.
bleach)
brinewell
Recommended by the Water Quality Association, On some
water supplies, the water softener may need periodic
disinfecting.
1-5
Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line

[i!i!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i:_!!:i SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START UP
El
Brine (salt dissolved in water) is needed for each and
every regeneration. The water for making brine is me-
tered into the salt storage tank by the softener.
You must keep salt in the tank, but because the wa-
ter softener is very efficient, it is not necessary to
keep it full. Especially in humid areas, it is best to
fill the storage tank one quarter to one half full, and
to refill it more often. Salt bridging (see page 3-1) oc-
curs more often when conditions are humid.
ADDING SALT TO THE STORAGE TANK
WATER SOFTENING SALT WITH IRON REMOVING
ADDITIVES -- Some salts have an additive to help the
softener handle iron in the water supply. These salts
may be used if your water supply has a high iron con-
tent. It is recommended to use Sears Resin Bed Clean-
er 42- 34426, for periodic treatments to keep your resin
bed clean. This is available at your local Sears store.
Use 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 adding salt, be sure the brinewell cover is in
place on the top of the bfinewelt. It is recommended to
set the salt monitor system, although it is not required
for proper operation (see page 2-1).
Note: The salt monitor system, page 2-1, 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.
If you choose Potassium Chloride (KC1) as a regener-
ant, following these suggestions will help give you
years of maintenance free service.
1) Place only one bag of KC1 in your softener at a time
(the salt storage tank should contain no more than 60
pounds of KC1 at any one time).
2) A softener using KC1 should not be placed in areas
with temperature fluctuations and high humidity
(KC1 will harden in these environments and may
make the softener inoperable).
3) Check the brine tank and brine well (black tube in
salt storage tank) monthly. If hardening is present,
pour small amounts of warm water on hardened areas
until they loosen.
4) If your softener does not have a KC1 salt setting you
must increase your hardness setting by 25% to ensure
continuous soft water as in example below.
Raw Water Hardenss
(grains per gallon) Softener setting when using KC1
5 gpg 7 gpg
50 gpg 13 gpg
55 gpg 19 gpg
20 gpg 25 gpg
+ 25 % =
25gpg 32gpg
30 gpg 38 gpg
35gpg 44 gpg
40 gpg 50 gpg
Sodium information: 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 so-
dium intake. For example, if your water supply is 15
grains hard, and you drank 3 quarts of softened water
you would 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 Kenmore Drinking Water System
that will remove or reduce in excess of 90% of the so-
dium and other drinking water contaminants.
1-6
Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line

[i!i!!_;_!!_;_ SECTION 2 _i:!!!_;_!!_;_i] HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
A. FACEPLATE TIMER FEATURES
S
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EXTRA RECHARGE
Sometimes, a manually started
regeneration (recharge) may be
desired, or needed. Two exam-
ples are:
- You have used more water than
usual (guests visiting) and you
may run out of soft water before
the next timer started regenera-
tion.
- You did not refill the softener
with salt before it was gone. After
you refill with salt:
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.
I1_RECHARGE NOW [i°_] _7 -_nn_'_'L0
Press the RECHARGE button _,_G_
and hold until *RECHARGE, Serv ..........
and Fill begin to flash in the display. Upon reaching
fill, the first cycle of regeneration, the flashing Serv
goes off and Fill is on steady. RECHARGE continues
to flash. This regeneration will last for about 2
hours. After the 2 hours, you will have soft water
again.
*Note:
If the CLEAN feature is set to ON, a cleaning back-
wash (CLEAN and Bkwsh or Rinse flashes in the dis-
play, along with the minutes of the clean cycle re-
maining) precedes the recharge.
I1_RECHARGE TONIGHT ;°'_ -u-nq _
HjO
Press and release (do not hold) the _o,_G_ _O_,_,T
RECHARGE button. RE- WATER FLOW
CHARGE TONIGHT flashes in the display, and the
softener begins regeneration at the next preset re-
charge time. Press and release the RECHARGE but-
ton once more if you decide to cancel the regenera-
tion, and RECHARGE TONIGHT will not flash in
the display.
I1_ SALT MONITOR SYSTEM
The face plate timer has a low salt monitor with an
indicator light to remind you to add salt to the stor-
age tank. To set this monitor system:
_1_ Lift the salt hole cover and level the salt in the
storage tank.
mThe salt level decal on the brinewell inside the
tank, has numbers from 0 to 8 (see drawing be-
low). Observe the number the leveled salt is at
or closest to.
mNow, press the SALT LEVEL ADJUST button
until black bars display up to the salt level num-
ber. For example, the pictures below show the
salt level at 6.
E!Finally, set the level you want the low salt indi-
cator light to come on. Press the SIGNAL LIGHT
ADJUST button until a (÷) shows opposite this
number. In the example below, the light will
come on 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 (see note on page 1-6).
_If you wish to turn the salt monitor off, press the
SIGNAL LIGHT ADJUST button until OFF
shows above.
Note:
Your salt monitor is an estimate of your salt level; ac-
curacy depends on the type of salt used and other
regeneration characteristics.
salt
level
bars, salt
level
8 ,
7 ,
6
brinewell
decal
_N PRESS FOR
TONIGHT
HOLD FOR
IMMEDIATE
indicator light s_°w
2-1
Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line