Kinetico Essential Series User manual

Installation Guide
Review this guide before installing.
Check your local building and sanitation codes for installation compliance. Installation must
meet all state and local codes.
Check your water quality first! 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.

2
Contents of Carton (open carton and identify parts)
1. Essential Series Water Softener (Silver, Silver HE or Platinum)
2. Length of ½” Drain Tubing and Length of ⅝” Overflow Tubing
3. Installation Kit- including O-rings (for by-pass valve), clevis pin, silicone
packet, in/out bracket, Essential Series Owner’s Manual and Essential Series
Installation Guide.
3
2
Tubing
7’ of ½”
7’ of ⅝”
1
Essential Silver
Essential Silver HE
Essential Platinum
O-rings (4)
Part No. 1328
Clevis Pin* (1)
Part No. 10169
Owner’s Manual (1)
Part No. 15199
In/Out Bracket (1)
Part No. 7840A
2 cc Silicone Packet (1)
Part No. 1452
Installation Instructions (1)
Part No. 15200
Note: Photos shown with optional slider by-pass, not included with system.

3
Safety Information
1
Read / Review
Read all steps, guides and rules
carefully before installing and
using the Essential.
2
Chemical Care
Close or remove PVC containers
and other flammable materials to
prevent fire or explosions.
Provide proper ventilation when
using PVC cleaner or glue.
3
Eye Protection
Wear protective eyewear while
installing to prevent potential eye
injury that could be caused by
splattering soldering materials or
metal/plastic shavings.
4
Soldering
Use a scorch pad to protect any
surface that may be exposed to a
torch flame or excessive heat.
Use only LEAD FREE solder.
5
Grounding
When installing a plastic
component, install grounding
straps BEFORE the lines are
actually cut to ensure that the
ground is never broken.
6
Natural Reach
Use a ladder for all work overhead
beyond your natural reach. If
working continuously at a height
of six feet or more, employ the
appropriate safety devices.
Note: Kinetico recommends that a qualified installer or engineer perform the
installation. Failure to install the system as instructed could void the Limited
Warranty.
Important: Refer to typical installation drawing (figure 1, page 4) before beginning
installation.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Essential
Installation
Instructions

4
Typical Installation Overview
Kinetico recommends that you install your system in the following order:
A. System Set-up
B. Connect Plumbing
C. System Start-up
Note: This is a typical Essential installation configuration. Your installation may vary.
Fit a pressure regulating valve and non-return valve, if required, on the water
supply to the softener.
Figure 1
Untreated Water
Raw Water
Soft Water
to Home
Drain
Line
Overflow
Line
Installation with Three (3) Valve By-pass
Installation with Optional By-pass
Untreated Water
Raw Water
Soft Water
to Home
Drain
Line
Overflow
Line
Provide an air gap for all
drain lines. See page 6
for further information.

5
A
1. System Set-up
Environmental conditions:
50º C (120° F) Max.; protect
from freezing
Water conditions:
Temperature 35 – 120º F
Pressure: 25 – 125 psi
1
Position Softener
Position system on a hard level
surface with access to inlet
plumbing and drain.
Install separate prefilter if sand, silt
or turbidity is present.
25 – 125 psi
35 – 120
°
F

6
B
Figure 2
Connect Plumbing
1
Connect Plumbing
Plumb as necessary and complete the installation.
Warning:
Follow all local plumbing codes.
Note:
When using a sweat adapter, be sure not to solder plumbing with adapter
attached to by-pass or equipment. This will result in damage to plastic
parts.
Important:
After all plumbing is complete, but before connecting to the by-pass,
flush both inlet and outlet lines allowing water to rinse out any debris.
See Typical Installation Overview (figure 1) on Page 4.
2
Attach Drain Tubing and Overflow Tubing
Run drain lines to discharge point.
Attach ½” softener drain tubing from softener valve drain
elbow to drain. Route tubing as shown in figure 2. Make
sure tubing is inserted ¾” into fitting as shown in figure 3.
Attach ⅝” overflow tubing to barbed overflow elbow at rear of cabinet and route
to drain.
Warning: Follow all local plumbing codes.
Be sure there are no obstructions or kinks in drain tubing
before connecting to softener.
Note:
On drain lines longer than 8 feet vertical and 30 feet horizontal, it is best to
attach the ½” drain tubing from the softener to a larger diameter pipe. Do
not restrict the drain line.
See Typical Installation Overview (Figure 1) on Page 4.
Figure 3
¾”
Drain Tubing
Provide an air gap for all drain lines. Waste connections or drain outlets shall
be designed and constructed to provide for connection to the sanitary waste
system through an air gap of 2 pipe diameters or 1” (25 mm), whichever is
larger.
Figure 2

7
3
Finish System Set-up
With the system in service (not by-passed) open a nearby downstream tap,
then slowly open the feed line to the softener until all air has been purged
from the unit through the tap down the drain. Allow the water to continue
flushing the unit for three (3) minutes. Then close the tap.
Silver or Silver HE
Add three (3) inches of water to
cabinet.
Platinum
Add ½ inch of water above grid plate to
brine drum.
Add a quality grade of pellet salt.
DO NOT USE ROCK SALT.
Set Regeneration Frequency.
• Align arrow next to correct hardness value on meter disc with visible
arrow in view window by depressing and rotating hardness adjustment
knob.
See Top View of Softener Valve (Figure 8) on Page 10.
Brine Valve Set-up
Essential Silver and Silver HE
These units come with a pre-adjusted brine valve. No
additional set-up is required. The float is preset to a
0.55 lb. setting. This can be confirmed by measuring
the distance of the float cup from the base of the
brine valve. This distance is 4.25 inches.
Essential Platinum
1. PREPARE ADJUSTER TUBE (Platinum)
Using a pocket or utility knife, cut across the tab horizontally
following the channel. Then pop the 1.0 tab off until the 1.25
setting is reached. Remove the tab individually.
Fill to here
with water.
3”
Silver/Silver HE
Platinum
½ ”
Grid Plate
4.25”

8
2. PREPARE FLOAT CUP (Platinum)
The standard settings for the float cup
are located on the adjuster rod. The
Essential Platinum should be set to 7 ¾”.
In many cases the float cup settings are a
measured distance (in inches) from the
bottom of the valve body to the top of
the float cup. Align the very top of the
float cup with the marked line or
measurement on the adjuster rod. After
the cup is set, check the alignment of the
brine valve guide to ensure that it is still
directly aligned over the brine valve body.
Set to one (1).
3. INSTALL BRINE VALVE (Platinum)
Important! When re-installing the brine valve, do not drop the brine valve in the
drum. Dropping will cause the float cup to lower, resulting in an incorrect float
setting. Locate the brine valve in the brine well. Place it so the 3/8" bent tube is
along the back of the brine well away from the brine drum wall. The 3/8" bent
tube is then snapped into the notch and will extend from the brine drum
approximately 1 inch. See Figure 7 for proper location in the brine well.
Platinum Settings
Float Cup 1
Float Cup Height 7 ¾”
Adjuster Tube 1.25
Salt Setting 1.25
1
Float Cup Height
2
3
4
5
Figure 6
Figure 7

9
Accudial™ Adjustability Charts
Essential
Silver
Essential
Silver HE
Essential
Platinum
Setting
Gallons
Comp.
Hardness*
Setting
Gallons
Comp.
Hardness*
Setting
Gallons
Comp.
Hardness*
6 47 -- 6 47 35 11 60 --
5.75 62 -- 5.75 62 34 10.75 80 50
5.5 73 25 5.5 73 29 10.5 90 42
5.25 83 22 5.25 83 26 10.25 100 40
5 99 19 5 99 22 10 120 33
4.75 114 16 4.75 114 19 9.75 140 29
4.5 125 15 4.5 125 17 9.5 150 27
4.25 135 14 4.25 135 16 9.25 160 25
4 151 12 4 151 14 9 180 22
3.75 166 -- 3.75 166 13 8.75 200 20
3.5 177 11 3.5 177 12 8.5 210 19
3.25 187 10 3.25 187 11 8.25 220 18
3 203 -- 3 203 -- 8 240 17
2.75 218 9 2.75 218 10 7.75 260 --
2.5 229 -- 2.5 229 -- 7.5 270 15
2.25 239 8 2.25 239 9 7.25 280 14
2 255 -- 2 255 -- 7 300 --
1.75 270 -- 1.75 270 -- 6.75 320 13
1.5 281 7 1.5 281 8 6.5 330 --
1.25 291 -- 1.25 291 -- 6.25 340 12
1 307 6 1 307 7 6 360 --
5.75 380 11
5.5 390 --
5.25 400 --
5 420 10
4.75 440 --
4.5 450 --
4.25 460 9
4 480 --
3.75 500 --
3.5 510 --
3.25 520 8
3 540 7
2.75 560 --
2.5 570 --
2.25 580 --
2 600 --
1.75 620 --
1.5 630 --
1.25 640 --
1 660 6
Accudial Setting
4.0
Accudial Setting
4.5

10
C
Start-up Instructions
Top view of softener valve.
Note:
Actual disc colors may vary. Colors shown
are for illustration purposes only.
Actuate a Regeneration
Using a #2 Phillips screwdriver, push
down firmly on the softener valve
screw and slowly turn clockwise,
listening for four (4) clicks to start
the regeneration. At this point you
should hear water begin to run
through the system. If you do not
hear water running through the
system, the disc has not been
advanced far enough.
After the system has finished, open
a tap in the home to release trapped
air from the lines, allow the tap to
run for one (1) minute.
Note:
When the installation is
complete, you must chlorinate
plumbing lines for sanitization.
Use common household
bleach. The amount of bleach
needed can vary depending
on plumbing size.
After the system has completed the
regeneration and all taps are closed,
check all connections for leaks.
Softener Sanitization Procedure
A. Regenerate the water softener unit with sodium chloride (salt). Use a clean grade
of salt appropriate for use with water treatment equipment. DO NOT USE ROCK
SALT.
B. Mix 1 fluid ounce of unscented household bleach in 1 gallon of clean/soft water.
C. Disconnect the brine line and put the 3/8 tube into the container holding the
bleach mixture from the step above. A length of ⅜” tubing may be used
temporarily if needed.
Hardness Adjustment Knob
Decal Viewing
Window
Softener
Valve
Screw
Meter Disc
Figure 8
Accudial Disc #5 for Silver and Silver HE
4.5 Setting
Accudial Disc #10 for Silver Platinum
8.5 Setting

11
D. Put the unit into brine draw.
E. Draw the mixture until a strong bleach odor is detected (smelled or tested) in the
drain line.
F. Place system into by-pass position and allow the unit to stand 60 minutes.
G. Reconnect the brine line (3/8 tube) to the brine tank. Open by-pass valve and
start a manual regeneration. After cycle is complete repeat one backwash and
then return to service.
Specifications
The Kinetico Essential Series water softener is available in three (3) tank sizes that
allow you to use the ideal configuration for your application. For specific unit
operation, please reference the performance data sheet provided by your
authorized Kinetico dealer.
Essential
Essential Silver HE
Essential Platinum
Tank Size 7” x 16” 7” x 16” 9” x 35”
Resin Volume (per tank) 0.26 cu. ft. 0.26 cu. ft. 0.6 cu. ft.
Maximum Compensated
Hardness 25 gpg 35 gpg 50 gpg
Maximum Iron (ferrous) 0.5 mg/L 0.5 mg/L 0.5 mg/L
Maximum Iron (ferric) 0.01 mg/L 0.01 mg/L 0.01 mg/L
Backwash Flow Rate 1 gpm 1 gpm 2.5 gpm
Free Chlorine ≤ 2.0 mg/L ≤ 1.0 mg/L ≤ 2.0 mg/L

www.kinetico.com
Part No. 15200
Rev. 03/2013