Kinetico SuperSoft Manual

Installation Instructions and User Manual
Visit: kinetico.co.uk

Supersoft Water Softener
Installation Instructions and User Manual
Visit: kinetico.co.uk 02
For more information about Kinetico;
Kinetico UK Limited Bridge House, Park Gate
Business Centre, Chandlers Way, Park Gate,
Hampshire SO31 1FQ
T: 01489 566 976
E: [email protected]
W: kinetico.co.uk
You will immediately begin to notice
the numerous benefits of having
quality water throughout your home
and the benefits of having a Supersoft
Water Softener.
Since 1970 Kinetico Incorporated has
designed and manufactured products
to improve the quality of your water.
Kinetico offers a complete line of
quality water systems to solve
your water problems. Pioneers in
non-electric, demand operated water
treatment, Kinetico continually sets
the direction for the entire water
quality industry. Our products are
installed in hundreds of thousands of
homes around the world.
Once you enjoy the benefits of your
Supersoft Water Softener we are sure
you will agree that Kinetico Water
Systems are the world’s finest.
Thank you for choosing
a Supersoft by Kinetico
to improve the quality of
your water.

Supersoft Water Softener
Installation Instructions and User Manual
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Contents
Safety information 04
Getting to know your softener 06
Pre-installation check list 07
Installation instructions 09
Setting the brine valve 15
Installation review 16
Startup instructions 17
Using your SuperSoft 18
Maintaining your water softener 21
Maintenance tips & FAQs 25
Specifications 26

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Safety information
Read all information carefully prior to installing and using
the water softener.
Qualified Installer
Kinetico recommends that a
qualified installer performs the
installation. Failure to do so could
invalidate the Limited Warranty.
Water Temperature
Do not install in an area where the
water temperature can exceed
35°C or cause the unit to freeze.
Water Pressure
Do not install if the supply water
pressure exceeds 6 BAR (87
psi), unless a suitable pressure
regulating valve has been installed.
Overflow
VERY IMPORTANT:
Where a cabinet overflow could
cause damage, you must install
a 1/2” I.D. hose to the barbed
fitting on the cabinet and run to
a suitable outlet that is visible
and capable of taking the
overflow (i.e. through the outside
wall). Make sure the hose does
not go higher than the barbed
fitting as the water will flow away
using gravity.
INSTALLER
1
2
34
5
6
0bar

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Installation Instructions and User Manual
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Copper/Plastic Pipework
Where copper and plastic
pipework is used, Kinetico advises
adherence to the regulatory
requirements to ensure adequate
earth bonding is provided.
Intended Use
Not intended to be used for
treating water that is micro-
biologically unsafe or of an
unknown quality, without
adequate disinfection before or
after the system.
Plumbing Schematic
Please refer to the plumbing
schematic on page 8 before
commencing an installation.
Inlet
InletOnly
Outlet

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Drain
connector
Overflow
Salt block bay
In/out
retaining
bracket
Overflow
Salt block bay
In/out
retaining
bracket
Drain
connector
Getting to know the softener

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Figure 1:
To drinking water
filter
(AquaRange)
By-pass assembly
with non-return
valve/check valve
on inlet
To home
Overflow
through to
outside
To drain
Cold water supply
To RO unit
(K5 range)
Outlet
Inlet
Isolation
Air Gap
Pre-installation check list
When determining the location of the softener, the following
should be considered:

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IMPORTANT: Refer to the plumbing schematic in pre-installation before
beginning installation.
NOTE:
There are two SuperSoft water softener models. Correct application will
ensure you enjoy the full benefits of the water softener. If you are unsure
of the correct model for your particular system, please contact your local
stockist.
The High Eciency, SuperSoft (HE) Part No U0244 -
ideal for vented systems (e.g. gravity tank).
The High Flow, SuperSoft (HF) Part No U0245 -
ideal for pressurised systems (e.g. mega flow, combi boiler).

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Installation instructions
1Locate:
a: Ensure the unit can be positioned on a flat surface.
b: If sand, silt or turbidity is present in the water supply, a
separate prefilter should be installed before the water
softener.
Please note:
The softener can be installed with the connections on the left or right
side of the cabinet by reversing the components.

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Test water pressure:
Test incoming pressure to the unit. A pressure regulating
valve will be required if the pressure is above 5 bar.
1
2
34
5
6
0bar
2

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Install:
Plumb pipework as necessary to accommodate a
by-pass assembly.
CAUTION:
Do not solder any fitting whilst connected to the unit adaptors.
Excessive heat may result in damage to the plastic and rubber parts.
The materials used in the soldering process may attack certain types
of plastics. Care should be taken during the installation process to
assure that solder and flux do not come in contact with media tanks,
the control module and related plastic components.
NOTE:
Verify installation complies with local plumbing codes before
continuing.
Inlet
Outlet
Inlet Only
3

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Flush:
After all the plumbing has been completed, but before
connecting the water softener, flush both inlet and outlet lines
allowing water to rinse out any debris in the lines.
4
5Fit in/out adapters:
a: Fit 2 o-rings to each in/out adaptor then lubricate with the
supplied silicone grease.
b: Connect the inlet/outlet adapters to the supply and return
hoses remembering to use the screened washers.
c: Install adapters into control valve in/out ports, ensuring
that they are fitted into the correct ports (see flow arrows
on valve for reference).
d: Attach the retaining bracket and pin to the control valve.

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Decals:
Place the in/out and overflow decals (found in the pack
included with system) on the side of the cabinet being used.
7
6
Run drain line:
a: Run a drain line to a discharge point, checking for any
obstructions or possible kinks.
FOLLOW REGIONAL WATER REGULATIONS.
b: Before connecting the drain line to the unit, slide on the
stainless steel jubilee clip.
c: Push the drain line onto the barbed fitting and tighten the
jubilee clip securely.
✗
NOTE:
Drain lines must not run more than 2.4m up or exceed a total of 9m.
The drain line must not be restricted or kinked.

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Remove Brine Valve:
Remove brine valve and adjust setting for the water hardness
and meter disc being used (see page 16). Replace the brine
valve and make sure the 1/4” brine line is secure and that the
valve is sat firmly on the base of the unit.
8

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Setting the brine valve
The standard salt dosage for the SuperSoft is 0.3 kg salt. The
brine valve is prepared in the factory to take account of this.
However, it is possible that the float may have moved during
shipping and it is advisable to check the setting on each unit prior
to installation.
SuperSoft 0.3kg brine valve setting:
Bottom of yellow float to be level with top of white plastic
section giving 0.3kg salt.
(109mm)
(114mm)
1
Figure 3:

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Test pressure:
Test incoming pressure to the unit and adjust pressure limiting
valve if the pressure is above 5 bar.
Secure drain line:
Make sure the drain line is secure, uses an airgap and is
fully compliant.
Main inlet valve:
With the by-pass in position (inlet closed, outlet closed,
by-pass open), turn on the main inlet valve slowly and
check for leaks in the plumbing.
Pressurising:
With the inlet valve open, allow the softeners to pressurize.
Water may run to drain until the unit is fully pressurised.
Brine drum:
Allow the brine drum to fill with water until the brine valve
shuts o. The water level should be approximately one inch
over the grid plate.
TIP:
If the cabinet does not fill with water, manually fill with 4 litres of
mains water.
Installation review
1
3
4
5
2

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Startup instructions
NOTE:
After the unit is pressurized, open the outlet valve, ensure isolation valve
is closed. Open a tap in the house to release trapped air from the lines.
Initiate a backwash:
a: Using a Phillips head screwdriver push down on the actuator,
and slowly turn CLOCKWISE until the indicator dot reaches
the letter W in the word “BACKWASH” on the clear cap.
b: You will hear a rush of water and air going to the drain.
c: When the cycle has finished (approx 4 mins), repeat the
procedure, turn the indicator dot to the next backwash cycle
and allow to finish (approx 4 mins).
|
B
R
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E
*
R
I
N
S
E
|
B
A
C
K
W
A
S
H
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|
B
R
I
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E
*
R
I
N
S
E
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B
A
C
K
W
A
S
H
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Actuator
Indicator
1

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Using your SuperSoft
Now that your SuperSoft is installed, you can
enjoy the benefits of soft water throughout
your home. If you are not accustomed to soft
water, here are some helpful tips so you can
gain the full benefit from your system:
Use pure soap products:
Most leading brands of laundry soaps, household cleaners
and shampoos contain large amounts of detergent. The harsh
chemicals in these detergents are necessary when using hard
water, but you can reduce the amount you use or even eliminate
them altogether with soft water.
We recommend you use pure soap products and clear liquid
soaps without dyes.
If you continue to use your normal detergents, you should reduce
the amount you use to suit your needs. Your local stockist can
provide you with more information and recommend the correct
detergent amounts.
Use less soap and household cleaners:
When using soap or cleaners with soft water, start by reducing the
amount you normally use by half. You may even find you can use as
little as a quarter of the amount you were using before. Hardness
minerals in water interfere with the cleaning ability of soap. Once they
are removed, soap can work better. Although you will use less soap,
you will get more suds and cleaner results.

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It’s especially important to reduce the amount of
washing detergent you use.
Washing clothes in soft water not only means you will need less
detergent to get your clothes clean, but also that the detergent
you do use will rinse out completely. Washing in soft water makes
your clothes look brighter and whiter and they will last longer too.
After bathing in soft water, your skin should feel silky soft. The
silky feeling is your smooth skin without soap curd or residue.
When bathing in hard water, this soap residue is normally left
behind. The soap curd that left a visible ring around your bathtub
was also left on your skin. The same dierence is applied when
using shampoo.
Reduce or eliminate the use of fabric softeners:
Fabrics washed in hard water retain soap curd or residue, making
them crackle when removed from the dryer or sti if air dried. It
is necessary to use fabric softeners when washing your clothes in
hard water to help keep them soft.
When washing with soft water, you can reduce the amount of
fabric softener used in your laundry or eliminate it altogether.
Take special precautions with automatic
dishwashers:
Soft water, when combined with caustic phosphates in some
dishwasher detergents and very high temperatures in the dry
cycle, can etch dishes and glassware. To prevent this from
happening, use the “no heat“ dry cycle on your dishwasher.
Use the minimum amount of good quality, low phosphate
dishwasher detergent needed to clean your dishes. This may be
as little as 20% of the amount recommended by the appliance
manufacturer or dishwasher detergent container. Wash good
china and crystal by hand.

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Special care for plants and fish:
Depending on your water hardness level, the amount of rainfall
and how often you water your garden, you could use soft water
for outside watering, but why waste your soft water?
Water your garden, shrubs and outside plants from an outside
hard water tap or put your SuperSoft into by-pass before
watering. See the “By-Pass” section on page 13 for instructions
on how to do this. Many house plants can be watered with soft
water although some can be very sensitive to the elevated level of
sodium ions in soft water. You may prefer to water with hard water
or water from a Kinetico drinking water filter.
Fish accustomed to hard water may have trouble with an abrupt
change to soft water. Make the transition gradually over a period
of 7-14 days by combining hard and soft water, until the tank
contains 100% soft water. As soon as you start using soft water,
you should notice your fish tank will stay cleaner for longer.
Drinking water:
The process of softening water adds a small amount of sodium
into the water. When a person is on a low sodium diet, all possible
sources of sodium should be evaluated in relation to the limit set
by your doctor.
To enhance your drinking water, you may wish to consider using
a Kinetico drinking water product. It will significantly improve the
quality of your coee, tea, cold drinks and water used for cooking
and baking.
Please contact Kinetico for further information regarding our
range of filtered drinking water solutions.