Rainfresh CAFO 948 User manual

1
CAFO948
Air Induction Oxidation Iron Filter
Installation & Operation Manual
(Please save for future reference)
Thank you for purchasing one of our ENVIROGARD / Rainfresh products. We are committed to
ensuring that you are totally satisfied.
If you have any problems, don’t go back to the store– please contact us !
Most issues can be resolved over the phone.
Help Line : 1-800-667-8072 (Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM EST)
www.rainfresh.ca
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. System Specifications .............................................2
B. How the CAFO System Works.................................2
C. Safety Precautions .................................................2
D. Installation..............................................................3
a. Electrical Requirements................................3
b. Unpacking the unit .......................................3
c. Plumbing the filter unit.................................5
E. Start-up and Programming .....................................7
a. Language Selection.......................................7
b. Basic Programming.......................................8
c. Advanced Programming ...............................9
d. Manual Backwash.........................................10
F. Other Features .......................................................10
G. Maintenance ..........................................................10
H. Troubleshooting .....................................................11
I. Exploded Diagram & Parts List................................12
J. Warranty ................................................................14
Certified by IAPMO R&T against CSA B483.1

2
(A)SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS
Model No.
Rated Service
Flow
US GPM (LPM)
Max Flow Rate
US GPM (LPM)
Min. Well
PUMP Flow
Rate
US GPM (LPM)
Inlet /
Outlet
Drain
Electrical
Pressure
Drop
Operating
Pressure
Shipping
Weight
(lbs)
CAFO 948
3 (11.3)
6 (22.7)
5 (19)
3/4"
MNPT
1/2"
Hose
110V
AC
< 15
psig
30 –100
psig
82
(63.5 Kg)
Water Temp –4- 38°C (39 - 100°F)
Water pH Range –6.8 to 8.5*
Max Raw Water Turbidity –5 NTU
Max Raw Water Iron –15 PPM
Alkalinity > [2 x (Sulphates + Chlorides)]
Chlorine - Nil
Tannins –Nil
Polyphosphates –Nil
Hydrogen Sulphide - Nil
* Higher the pH, better the performance. If pH is lower than 6.8, call Rainfresh for information on ordering a pH Neutralizing Filter
(B)HOW THE CAFO SYSTEM WORKS
Your Rainfresh CAFO iron-removal filter utilizes oxidation and filtration technology to remove dissolved iron from water.
This filter works by adding oxygen to the incoming water by passing it through a bubble of compressed air which oxidizes
the ferrous iron to a filterable rust form (ferric iron). The water is then passed through a special filter bed which acts as a
physical barrier to trap iron precipitate. As more water passes through this iron filter, the oxygen in the unit is used up, and
the media gets loaded with iron. The automatic backwash process then replenishes the supply of oxygen, and flushes away
the precipitated iron trapped in the media bed.
The backwash process is completely automatic and is factory set for 12:00 AM (can be changed).
Note: No salt or chemicals are required to clean the system. As such it is typically safe to dump the water into the septic
system. However, because in every backwash cycle, about 60 gallons of water are used to clean the system, it is
recommended that you consult a professional to ascertain the safety of the water going into your septic system.
(C)SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
-Follow all applicable province/state and local regulations.
-Handle the filter carefully. Do not lie on side, turn upside down, drop or drag.
CAUTIONS BEFORE INSTALLATION
Follow all plumbing codes for installation.
To operate properly, the well pump flow rate must exceed the backwash flow rate (4.5 US GPM (17 LPM)). If your
well pump does not deliver this flow rate, do not install the unit as it will not work properly. You may need to either
change the well pump or call Rainfresh for a custom size unit that will operate within your pump specifications.
The automatic control valve works on 110V AC. We recommend a GFI (ground fault interrupter) 120 volt outlet
within 5 feet of the filter. Extension cords are not recommended.
CAFO systems do not kill or remove bacteria or any other pathogenic microorganisms. To continuously disinfect all
the water in your house, we recommend that you install a Rainfresh UV system. Call Rainfresh for details.
For use on cold water only.
Only use thread seal tape (Teflon® tape) for fitting connections into unit. DO NOT USE pipe dope or chemical
sealants.
If water pipes are used to ground electrical system, install jumper wire (#4 gauge solid copper wire) across the unit
to maintain proper grounding of your electrical system
Protect your unit from freezing - drain the unit if freezing temperatures exist.
Do not use petroleum based lubricants on O-rings as they will cause swelling and result in water leakage.
NOTE: IF SOLDER TYPE FITTINGS ARE USED DO NOT USE torch near inlet/outlet connections. All solder joints
should be made before joining pipe to filter head.
DO NOT over-tighten metal fittings on to unit connections.

3
The unit should only be moved by 2 or more people due to heavy weight. Failure to do so can result in back or other
injury.
DO NOT TURN FILTER UPSIDE DOWN
How to check well pump flow rate (must be more than 4.5 GPM (17 LPM).
Make sure that the pressure tank is full and no one uses any water until you have finished the test.
1) Connect a hose to an appropriate outlet at the bottom of the pressure tank and put the other end into an empty
pail of known volume (e.g. a 10 gal pail)
2) Open the valve to which the hose is connected and collect water into the container. Shut off the valve as soon as
you hear the well pump come on. Measure the volume of water collected. This is the drawdown from the tank.
3) Note the time in seconds that it takes for the pump to complete a cycle from start to shut-off.
Well pump flow rate = (Volume of water collected (drawdown) ÷Time for pump cycle) x 60
EXAMPLE : If you collect 5 gal of water and the pump takes 40 seconds to complete a cycle, the flow rate is:
(5/40) x 60 = 7.5 GPM.
(D) INSTALLATION
Electrical Requirements:
The automatic control valve requires a constant power supply - 120V/60 Hz AC. We recommend a GFI (ground fault
interrupter) outlet within 5 feet of the CAFO Filter. Extension cords are not recommended.
If water pipes are used to ground electrical system, you will need to install a jumper wire across the filter unit.
Unpacking the unit
The unit includes:
Unpack the unit and place it at the location where you intend to install the unit.
1) Main filter tank
with control
valve and
bypass valve
2) Inlet/outlet elbow fittings (2) –¾”
Male NPT with allen key ( for ease
of opening & closing bypass valve)
3) Inlet check valve
4) Drain hose (15 ft) with hose
clamp
5) AC power adapter
6) Brine check Valve

4
Stand back and look at the main media tank and make sure it is standing straight up and not tilted to one side.
Sometimes during shipment, the bottom of the tank will get knocked out of alignment and you will need to
straighten it out before starting installation. If your tank is a bit tilted, simply pick the tank up 2 –3 inches off the
floor and drop it gently but firmly down, favoring the side that needs to be adjusted to make the filter stand straight
up again.
Make sure your chosen location is fairly level, dry, and protected
from possible freezing conditions. The plastic base of the filter is
slightly adjustable to non-even floors. The filter can sit directly on the
floor, it will not corrode. DO NOT set the tanks onto make shift
platforms as this may cause the filter to topple.
The following materials can be used for installing your new system,
but it is recommended that you check your local plumbing codes.
Copper and PVC, CPVC, and PEX are the most popular.
The system has 3 connections - an inlet, an outlet, and a drain line
connection. If you are looking at the back of the unit (Fig 1), the inlet
is on the left side. Warning: Make sure that you have correctly
identified the inlet of the system. REVERSING THE CONNECTIONS
WILL RESULT IN FILTER MEDIA BEING THROWN INTO YOUR HOME'S
PLUMBING SYSTEM CAUSING DAMAGE TO IT AS WELL AS THE Filter
system.
You may choose not to treat the water spigots that go outside used
for irrigation or sprinkler systems. You will have to plan the job so that
you cut in to feed the CAFO filter AFTER these spigots. Installing the
CAFO filter after the pressure tank is the proper location
(WARNING : DO NOT INSTALL CAFO FILTER BETWEEN WELL PUMP &
PRESSURE TANK). If you intend to install a water softener to soften
the water or a UV system to disinfect the water, these should be
installed after the CAFO filter (see Fig 2).
Figure 2: Piping Schematic
WATER
IN
WATER
OUT
Fig 1
Fig 1A

5
CAUTION: BEFORE YOU BEGIN
INSTALLATION, CONFIRM THE INLET AND
OUTLET OF THE UNIT AND IDENTIFY THE
SERVICE AND BYPASS POSITIONS OF THE
VALVE (Fig 3). The bypass valve is used to
isolate the unit from the plumbing system in
order to perform maintenance or repairs on the
unit. During normal use the bypass valve should
be in “SERVICE” position and to isolate it, the
valve should be turned to “BYPASS” position.
Plumbing in your CAFO Iron Filter
Turn the power off to the well pump then
shut off the main water shut off valve
which should be located after the pressure tank. Open a
few faucets and empty the pressure tank before cutting
into the line. If your hot water tank is electric, turn off the
power to it to avoid damage to the element in the tank.
The bypass valve generally comes pre-assembled. If not,
attach the bypass valve to the control valve by pushing it
in and secure it with the metal clips and screws (Fig 4).
Insert Allen key into the bypass handles and make sure
that the valve is in BYPASS position.
Firmly push the inlet/outlet elbow fittings fully into the
open end of the bypass valve and lock them in by inserting
the red locking clips into the slots (Fig 5).
For ease of installation, orient the inlet/outlet fittings in
the direction of the inlet & outlet pipes by simply rotating
them.
Use thread tape on the inlet fitting and attach the INLET
CHECK VALVE on this fitting (Fig 6) with arrow marked on the check valve pointing towards the bypass valve.
Caution: Do not install the INLET CHECK VALVE on the
outlet fitting as that will cause malfunction of the unit.
Remove the blue locking clip on the brine fitting. Make a
mark on the open white tube of the brine check valve,
about ¾” from the open end. Push the white tube (with
brine valve attached) into the brine fitting until the mark
is flush with the fitting. Replace the blue locking clip.
Now plumb in the ½” flexible plastic drain tubing (included)
running from the filter (elbow hose fitting) (Fig 7).
oYou can run the drain hose from the unit to the ceiling
joists (max 8 ft ceiling) and run it to the nearest laundry
tub or drain pipe. This can be ran up overhead or down
along the floor. If running drain line more than 30 feet
overhead, increasing the line size to 3/4" will be
required. Please follow your local health dept. codes
Fig 4
Fig 5
Fig 6
RAW
WATER
OUT
Fig 3

6
for where to run filter discharge water.
oWARNING: NEVER MAKE A DIRECT CONNECTION
INTO A WASTE WATER DRAIN. A PHYSICAL AIR GAP
OF AT LEAST 3" SHOULD BE USED TO AVOID
BACTERIA AND WASTEWATER TRAVELLING BACK
THROUGH THE DRAIN LINE INTO THE CAFO FILTER
(Fig 8). CAUTION: If you have other water
conditioners, such as a water softener, tannin filter
etc., RUN THE DRAIN TUBING FOR EACH UNIT
SEPARATELY. DO NOT TEE (COMBINE) DRAIN
TUBING FROM OTHER UNITS.
oThere will be a fair amount of pressure on this flexible plastic drain line when the filter is in the backwash mode,
so secure it to the drain fitting by a hose clamp. Also secure the drain tube to the wall or ceiling.
You can also use code-approved air-gap attachments available at most plumbing stores.
Before proceeding further, once again make sure that the bypass valve is in the bypass position (Fig 3)
Close all open taps and turn on the switch for the well pump.
Insert the Allen key into the inlet side of the bypass valve and turn it on only slightly and watch for leaks. Make sure
a faucet is on somewhere and that any aerator is removed to avoid clogging from loosened scale in the pipes. Leave
the bypass valve in the same position and slowly turn the main shutoff valve on all the way. If you have no leaks,
proceed to the next steps.
Connect the control valve to the AC power source (Fig 9).
Manually put the CAFO filter into the BACKWASH cycle by pressing the
REGEN button (see page 10).
oNOTE : WITHOUT PERFORMING BACKWASH THIS UNIT
WILL NOT BE READY FOR SERVICE.
Turn the bypass valve slightly more into the service position to allow water
to run into the unit. You want water to initially fill the tank slowly. Once
the tank is full of water, you can open valve fully. This prevents filter
media from being pushed up into the control head by the initial surge of
water going in. Once the tank is full of water you should start to see water flowing from the drain line. It may look
somewhat discoloured at first. This is normal. Once the water runs clear and free from air pockets, turn both
handles of the bypass valve into the full "service position". You should have a full flow to the drain at this point.
Your water may be discoloured for a day to two after initial installation or may appear milky due to small air
bubbles. This is normal. Also, it will take a few days to get all the untreated water out of your hot water tank and
you may choose to empty your hot water tank at the time of installation and clean it before letting water in from
the filter.
The system is now ready for use.
Fig 8
LAUNDRY
TUB
STANDING
PIPE
FLOOR DRAIN
OR SUMP
Min 1.5”
air gap
Min 1.5”
air gap
Min 1.5”
air gap
Fig 7
Fig 9

JUN/21/2020
05:27 PM
JUN/21/2020
05:27 PM
JUN/21/2020
05:27 PM
(E) START UP & PROGRAMMING
The control valve is controlled with simple, user-friendly electronics displayed on an LCD screen.
When power is first supplied, the valve electronics may take up to a minute to initialize. During this time the screen may
show “INTIALIZING WAIT PLEASE”. Do not touch any buttons at this time. When the valve reaches the service position,
it will display the following information in sequence. THIS IS NORMAL
1. Date & Time
2. Total & Remaining Days
3. Last Regeneration date
4. Total # of regenerations
5. Total Treated Gallons of water
6. Current and Peak water flow rate
7. Day override
8. Delayed Regeneration
9. Regeneration Time
10. Valve Mode
11. Valve ID
The control valve has a display screen and 4 buttons
PROGRAMMING
(I) LANGUAGE SELECTION
SETTINGS
The function of this key is to
enter the level one
programming mode where
the valve settings can be
adjusted.
MANUAL REGEN
This button has two functions. The first is to initiate
a manual regeneration by holding the button for 3
or more seconds. The second function is while in
programming mode, pressing this key allows the
user to change the value of each setting.
UP / DOWN
These buttons are used to
increase or decrease the value
of the settings while in the
programming mode.
Press SETTINGS and REGEN
button together for 3
seconds. The display will
beep & change to LANGUAGE
LANGUAGE
ENGLISH
Press UP or DOWN key to
select your preferred
language
Press SETTINGS for 3 sec.
After 3 seconds the display will
beep confirming unlock
LANGUAGE
ENGLISH
Press SETTINGS again to exit
Language selection.

8
JUN/21/2020
05:27 PM
(II) BASIC PROGRAMMING
1. Press SETTINGS for 3 sec.
2. After 3 seconds the display
will beep confirming unlock
5. Press SETTINGS again.
Hour value will be
accepted and minute
value will be highlighted
3. Press SETTINGS again and
the hour value becomes
highlighted
TIME OF DAY
05 : 27 PM
TIME OF DAY
08 : 27 PM
4. Press UP or DOWN key to
change the hour value to
current time
TIME OF DAY
08 : 27 PM
6. Press UP or DOWN key to
change minute value to
current minutes
TIME OF DAY
08 : 51 PM
TIME OF DAY
08 : 51 PM
7. Press SETTINGS key again
and AM/PM will be
highlighted.
8. Now press UP or DOWN
key to change AM/PM
value to current time
9. Press SETTINGS button
again and YEAR will be
highlighted
10. Now press UP or DOWN
key to change YEAR to
current year
MONTH
JUN
YEAR
2020
10. Press SETTINGS again to highlight
and use UP or DOWN keys to select
current month. Then press
SETTINGS again to advance to DATE
TIME OF DAY
08 : 51 AM
YEAR
2018
13. Press SETTINGS again to
advance to “REGEN DAYS”
DAY
01
12. Press UP or DOWN to enter
CURRENT DATE.
REGEN DAYS
3DAYS
14. Press UP or DOWN key to
change backwash frequency.
REGEN DAYS
2DAYS

9
(III) ADVANCED PROGRAMMING
In the advanced programming, you can change individual regeneration cycle times. DO NOT change these without confirming
with Rainfresh technical support. By changing these values your unit can malfunction.
15. Press SETTINGS again to
advance to “GALLONS”.
Leave at default setting.
GALLONS
OFF
REGEN. TIME
02:00 AM
16. Press SETTINGS to advance
to “REGEN TIME”. This is
the time when the unit will
complete regeneration.
Leave at default setting or
use UP or DOWN keys to
change per your choice
LOAD DEFAULT
NO
17. Press SETTINGS again to
advance to “LOAD
DEFAULT”. Do not change
this setting unless you
want to change all your
settings to factory settings
PROGRAMMING
COMPLETE
18. Press SETTINGS again and
this completes the
programming
Unlock display by pressing
SETTINGS for 3 sec. Press UP
& DOWN keys together for 3
seconds until unit beeps and
display changes to VALVE
MODE.
VALVE MODE
CHEMFREE-AIR
AIR-DRAW
45 MINUTES
Press REGEN button to
advance to “AIR-DRAW”
Leave at default setting. You
can use UP
arrow key to
increase this setting to max 70
min. DO NOT REDUCE value
AIR-DRAW
45 MINUTES
Press REGEN to advance to
“LOCK VALUE”
LOCK VALUE
UNLOCK
Leave VALVE MODE at default
setting. Press REGEN button
to advance to “SYSTEM SIZE”.
VALVE MODE
CHEMFREE-AIR
Default BACKWASH is set for
15 min. Press UP
to increase
this setting if your water has
high turbidity
BACKWASH
15 MINUTES

10
JUN/21/2020
05:27 PM
Manual Backwash
To perform a manual backwash, follow the following steps.
F. OTHER FEATURES
Control Operation During a Power Failure
In the event of a power failure, the valve will keep track of the time and day for 48 hours. The programmed settings
are stored in a non-volatile memory and will not be lost during a power failure. If power fails while the unit is in
backwash, the valve will finish backwash after power is restored. If the valve misses a scheduled backwash due to a
power failure, it will queue backwash at the next backwash time once power is restored.
New Sounds
You may notice new sounds as your filter operates. The backwash cycle lasts approximately 20 minutes. During this
time, you may hear water running intermittently to the drain.
Manual Bypass
In the case of emergency, such as a leak, you can isolate your filter system from the water supply using the bypass
valve located at the back of the control (see Fig 3). To resume filtered water service, open bypass valve by rotating
the knobs counterclockwise.
G. MAINTENANCE
The CAFO948 filter does not require any routine maintenance except ensuring that it regenerates regularly. There
are no filters or parts to be replaced. Typically, after a few years of service (5-7), you may notice that some iron is
present in filtered water. At this time you will need to replace the filter media in the unit, which can be purchased
from Rainfresh. Please call customer service at 1800-667-8072.
PROGRAMMING
COMPLETE
LOCK VALUE
LOCK
Press UP to unlock programming.
Press REGEN button to advance
to complete programming
Display will briefly show PROGRAMMING
COMPLETE & go to home screen. It will
now display various settings in sequence.
Press SETTINGS for 3 sec.
After 3 seconds the display will
beep confirming unlock
Press REGEN button again and
the unit will start the
regeneration process. This will
last for over an hour.
Press and hold REGEN button
and display changes to
REGENERATION.
REGENERATION
IMMEDIATELY
ADVANCING TO
BACKWASH

11
Care of your CAFO948 Iron filter
To retain the attractive appearance of your new filter, clean occasionally with mild soap solution. Do not use
abrasive cleaners, ammonia or solvents. Ensure that there is no dust or debris on the bypass valve.
Winterizing the system
If the unit is to be winterized, the best way is to close the by-pass valve and unscrew the 2 screws adjacent to the by-
pass valves that hold the unit and the by-pass valve together, and carry the unit to a place where it will not be
subject to freezing temperatures.
(H) TROUBLESHOOTING
Please review the following troubleshooting guide before calling customer service.
If you are unable to resolve the problem using the guide below, please call customer service)
Please have your receipt & model number ready before you call. Customer service may request
digital pictures of your installation in order to help troubleshoot the unit.
ISSUE
POSSIBLE CAUSE
SOLUTION
A. No water flowing into filter
unit
1. Inlet check valve installed in reverse
2. Bypass valve closed
1. Install check valve with arrow pointing towards
bypass valve (see Fig 6)
2. Open bypass valve (see Fig 3)
B. Unit does not backwash
1. No power supply
2. Defective circuit board
3. Bypass valve closed
4. Defective motor
1. Check power supply & re-set time of day
2. Replace faulty parts
3. Open bypass valve (see Fig 3)
4. Replace motor
C. Filter does not seem to be
working as there is iron in
filtered water
1. Power supply unplugged
2. Bypass valve is closed
3. Leak between valve and riser tube
4. Internal valve leak
5. Air leak in brine check valve or inlet
check valve
6. Supply water pH too low
1. Plug in control valve to power supply
2. Open bypass valve
3. Check if riser is cracked or O-ring is damaged.
Replace faulty parts
4. Replace valve seals, spacer and piston assembly
5. Push brine check valve fully into fitting or replace.
Replace inlet check valve
6. Install pH neutralizing filter (Call Rainfresh)
D. Low water pressure
1. Pump flow rate less than 4.5 GPM
2. Inlet of control valve plugged due to
dirt
1. Replace pump to correct size. Remove any flow
limiting devices before unit
2. Clean control valve inlet
E. Filter media in drain line
1. Incorrect or missing drain line flow
control (DLFC)
1. Check and replace DLFC
F. Filter media in plumbing lines
or water is coming out grey or
very discoloured
1. You have reversed the inlet/outlet
of the unit
1. See fig 1 for correct inlet/outlet and plumb
correctly. You will need to flush all your plumbing
lines and may need to top up the filter media as well
G. Unit cycles continuously
1. Defective circuit board
1. Replace faulty parts
H. Water flows to drain
continuously
1. Valve settings incorrect
2. Internal leak
1. Check valve settings
2. Replace seals, spacer & piston assembly
I. Filter is leaking between the
bypass valve and control valve
1. O-rings pinched or damaged
Check the metal adapter clips holding the 2 components
together and tighten if necessary. Replace O-rings as
required
J. Filter is always flashing
through different pieces of
information
This is normal
No action required
K. My display screen is blank
1. Power cord may be unplugged from
either adapter or receptacle
2. Defective circuit board
1. Re-connect power cord
2. Call Rainfresh to receive new circuit board with
replacement instructions
Need help troubleshooting? Call Toll Free 1-800-667-8072 Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 5 PM EST.

12
(I) PARTS LIST
Valve body
Power head

13
To order replacement parts:
Call 1800 667 8072
Monday to Friday
8:00 AM to 5 PM EST.

14
(J) LIMITED WARRANTY
This CAFO948 System is warranted to the original
Consumer purchaser for a period of one (1) year, from the
date of purchase, against defects in materials or
workmanship. The electronic controls and mineral tank are
warranted for 5 and 10 years respectively against defects in
materials or workmanship. The company's obligation under
this warranty shall consist of repair or replacement, at its
option, of any part found by company inspection to be
defective, provided that the product has not been misused,
abuse, altered or damaged by Consumer with respect to
the original installation, as determined by the company.
This warranty will not apply if feed water does not meet
specifications of this system. This limited Warranty applies
only to a unit when returned to the Warrantor at the
owner’s expense and in accordance with shipping
instructions received from the Warrantor. This warranty
does NOT cover, and is intended to exclude, any liability on
the part of Envirogard for any incidental damages,
consequential damages, labour charges or any other costs
incurred in connection with the purchase, installation, use,
maintenance or repair of the system whether under this
warranty or any other warranty implied by law. Some
provinces/states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or
consequential damages, so the above limitation or
exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you
specific legal rights and you may also have other rights,
which vary from province/state to province/state. This
warranty applies only to CAFO948 systems purchased in
Canada.
Envirogard Products Limited
446 Major Mackenzie Drive East,
Richmond Hill, ON L4C 1J2, Canada
Tel : [phone] Helpline: 1800 667 8072
Web: www.rainfresh.ca
© COPYRIGHT . ENVIROGARD PRODUCTS LIMITED 2020 . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Jun 2020
DESCRIPTION
1
Riser
2
Media Tank –9”x 48”
3
Filter media (1 cu ft)
4
Bottom Distributor
5
Power adapter (110V)
6
Inlet check valve
7
Brine check valve
5
6
7