Superior Water 32-2001 User manual

1
MODEL 32-2001 & 48-2001
OWNER’S MANUAL
Congratulations on having purchased a quality and well built Superior Water Softener. On a
normal installation, your water softener should be connected to all of your plumbing with the
exceptions of your kitchen cold side and your outside faucets. The plumbing connection is
made by using three valves that are generally located directly above the water softener. These
three valves constitute the bypass, which look like the letter “H” when looking at it. In the event
that you should have to shut the water off to the water softener due to a leak, continue with the
following instructions.
TO SHUT THE WATER OFF ON THE SOFTENER
1.) Directly above the water softener are three valves, turn the left and right valves
closed by turning the valves in a clockwise direction.
2.) Turn the middle valve open by turning it counter clockwise. The water should
now be turned off on the water softener and you should have water to your house.
THE SALT AND WATER LEVEL INSIDE THE SALT TANK
It is recommended that the salt level not fall more than 3"(inches) below the water level inside
the salt tank. The water level inside a round salt tank is generally 1ft to 1 ½ feet deep. The
square salt tanks are generally about half to two thirds full of water. Should the softener run out
of salt or you allow the salt level to drop down too far, you may experience hard and/or salty
water. To avoid this, we recommend keeping the salt tank full of salt or at least keeping the salt
level above the water level at all times. Should you experience salty water coming through your
plumbing, the quickest way to flush it out is running the cold water inside your bathtub until the
salt is all flushed out.
Your water softener will function with any type of salt; however our experience has shown us
that fewer problems will occur when using salt pellets. Salt pellets are cleaner, rarely have any
debris and they do not have a tendency to form salt bridges as does rock salt. Also rock salt has
a tendency to carry more dirt and debris with it, which in turns make your salt tank appear very
dirty inside and at times cause it to have a foul odor. However, this dirt will not harm the water
softener.
OPERATING THE WATER SOFTENER
GENERAL INFORMATION
The control valve is designed to initiate regeneration according to the preset factory parameters.
Following the instructions contained in this section will allow the installer to customize the
program for the user’s exact needs.
The control valve utilizes a standard nine volt alkaline battery to maintain the correct time in the
event of a power failure. The battery may not maintain any customized settings. In the event of
a power interruption the control program may revert to the factory default settings.

2
When the battery is weak, the liquid crystal display will generally flash on and off.
INITIAL START UP
1. Remove the battery case retaining screw from the upper portion of the battery case. Lift the
upper portion of the battery case away from the back plate.
2. Place a standard nine volt alkaline battery in the upper portion of the battery case.
3. Press the upper portion of the battery case and the battery down onto the lower portion of the
battery case to connect the battery to the terminals.
4. Reinstall the retaining screw.
5. Plug the control into the power supply.
NOTE: The control valve is computerized and therefore is sensitive to power surges just like
any other computerized item. For this reason, it is recommended that you have a surge protector
installed for the water softener to be plugged into.
6. The display will show 1000 GAL (4000 LIT).
7. Press button #1.
NOTE: This must be done within 30 seconds after connecting the control valve to power or the
control valve will initiate a regeneration. If the control valve begins a regeneration sequence
before button #1 is pressed, press button #5 and button #3 simultaneously, followed by button
#1. The control valve will cycle directly back to the service position.
8. The control valve is now ready for customized programming.
FACTORY DEFAULT SETTING
The following factory default settings are preprogramed into the control valve.
Time of Day: 8:00 a.m.
Time of Regeneration: 2:00 a.m.
Total Capacity: 1000 Gal.
Reserve Capacity: 200 Gal.
Cycle 1: 60 minutes
PROGRAMMING
The programmable functions are accessed by pressing button #2. The various functions are then
increased or decreased by using button #3 and button #4.
The following functions are presented in the order they will appear when pressing button #2.
TIME OF DAY
1. Press button #2. The display will show 8:00 a.m.
2. Press button #3 to set the hours.
3. Press button #4 to set the minutes.
TIME OF REGENERATION
1. Press button #2. The display will show 2:00 a.m.
2. Press button #3 to adjust the hours.
3. Press button #4 to set the minutes.

3
TOTAL CAPACITY
1. Press button #2. The display will show 1000 GAL.
2. Press button #3 to increase the capacity setting in 100 Gal. increments.
3. Press button #4 to decrease the capacity setting in 100 Gal. increments.
NOTE: We have found that the majority of the water softeners will work well at 1000 GAL.
capacity; however, according to your water hardness, your softener may be able to soften more
than a 1000 GAL. If you decide to increase the capacity, do so only in increments of 200 GAL.
and wait a minimum of 2 weeks before increasing it any further. Should you exceed the capacity
of the water softener, back the capacity back down to where it was working and regenerate the
softener 3 nights in a row by pressing the #1 button.
RESERVE CAPACITY
1. Press button #2. The display will show 200 GAL.
2. Press button #3 to increase the reserve setting in 10 Gal.
3. Press button #4 to decrease the reserve capacity in 10 Gal.
NOTE: The reserve capacity should be set to match the water usage for a 24 hour period. The
average person uses 75 Gal. of water daily.
CYCLE 1- BRINE/SLOW RINSE
1. Press button #2. The display will show 1:60.
2. Press button #3 to increase the cycle time in 1 minute increments.
3. Press button #4 to decrease the cycle time in 1 minute increments.
NOTE: The majority of the time 60 minutes is sufficient for the regeneration time; however if
you should continually experience salty water after the softener has regenerated, simply increase
the regeneration time an extra 15 minutes.
PROGRAMMING IS NOW COMPLETE.
NOTE: In the event that you are called away during programming the control valve will return to
the Service Display mode after 90 seconds of no activity. All programmed settings will be
retained. To return to the programming mode press button #3 until the appropriate function
setting is displayed.
SERVICE DISPLAY
The control valve has three (3) available display settings.
They are:
* Time of Day
* Capacity Remaining
* Flow Rate (gpm/lpm)
The Service Display can be changed by pressing button #5 when the unit is in the service mode.
The selected display will be shown at all times except during regeneration.
DELAYED REGENERATION
When the water usage indicates that a regeneration is required the control valve will initiate a
delayed regeneration. A flashing cursor will appear in the lower left-hand corner of the display.
This will indicate that the control will begin regeneration at the preset time of regeneration.

4
IMMEDIATE REGENERATION
A regeneration may be initiated at any time by pressing button #1 when the unit is in the service
mode. A solid cursor will appear in the lower left-hand corner of the display indicating that a
regeneration has been initiated. The control will begin regeneration in approximately 30
seconds.
NOTE: If at any time you have experienced hard water due to a malfunction of the equipment or
having ran low or out of salt, the water softener will need to be manually regenerated three nights
in-a-row or three times in-a-row with a minimum of two hours in between each manual
regeneration. To start a manual regeneration, follow the instructions for IMMEDIATE
REGENERATION.

5
TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE
PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION
Softener will not
regenerate.
A. Bad electrical connection.
B. Broken motor
C. Broken or stripped gears.
D. Gallon counter not counting
A. Check electrical connection.
B. Replace motor.
C. Replace gears.
D. Remove debris or replace part. (Located
on outlet port of control valve)
Drain opens but water
does not leave salt
tank.
A. Low inlet water pressure.
B. Broken or torn diaphragm.
C. Retaining ring missing.
D. Foreign material on stem or
internal seats.
E. Drain line kinked or restricted.
A. Increase inlet water pressure.
B. Replace diaphragm.
C. Add retaining ring.
D. Clean stem and seat on main
body.
E. Straighten or unrestrict drain line.
Softener does not
draw brine. (use salt)
A. Plugged injector screen.
B. Plugged or worn injector.
C. Inadequate backwash.
D. Low inlet water pressure.
E. Broken or plugged brine float
F. Kinked or restricted drain line.
A. Clean or replace.
B. Clean or replace.
C. Adjust backwash flow rate with
backwash adjuster.
D. Increase water pressure.
E. Clean or replace.
F. Straighten or unrestrict drain line.
Low or inadequate
capacity after
regeneration.
A. Plugged injector.
B. Plugged injector screen.
C. Increase in water consumption.
D. Insufficient quantity of brine.
E. Ran out of salt at one time.
F. Leaking toilets or faucets.
A. Clean or replace.
B. Clean or replace.
C. Increase frequency of regeneration.
D. Raise float level on brine valve.
E. Regenerate softener 3 nights in-a-row.
F. Repair leak.
Water chatter at unit
during regeneration
A. High backwash rate.
B. Low water pressure.
C. Diaphragm spring not properly
located on stem.
D. Restricted drain line.
A. Adjust backwash flow adjuster
B. Increase water pressure.
C. Locate spring on tip of stem assembly.
D. Straighten or unrestrict drain line.
Water flows to drain
when not regenerating.
A. Foreign matter trapped in drain
valve.
B. Drain paddle out of adjustment.
A. Attempt to flush out by putting unit into
regeneration.
B. Replace drain paddle.
Salt in lines after
regeneration.
A. Rinse rate to low.
B. Excessive brine in salt tank.
C. Insufficient rinse time.
A. Change to larger injector disk.
B. Lower float setting or check for leak on
float.
C. Increase length of regeneration cycle.
Valve leaking between
body and head
assembly or back cap.
A. Torn diaphragm or pinched
outlet gasket.
A. Replace items.
To much water in
brine tank.
A. Foreign matter in brine float.
B. Loose brine float fittings.
A. Clean or replace brine float.
B. Tighten or replace brine float fittings.
No water in brine
tank.
A Brine float set to low A. Adjust brine float to allow 1 ft. to 1 ½ ft.
of water into Round salt tanks and 15x15
Square salt tanks only. On 11x11 Square
salt tanks, set float to approximately fill tank
half full.

6
Brine Level
DRAIN
Brine Level
DRAIN
BACKWASH
The backwash cycle position directs water
to flow down through the distributor tube
and up throught the filter media and to
drain. Foreigh material and media fines are
flushed from the mineral tank during this
cycle to prepare the media for filtering.
OUTLET INLET OUTLET INLET
SERVICE
WATER FLOW
The service cycle position directs
untreated water to flow down through
the filter media in the mineral tank and
up through the distributor tube. The
water is conditioned when passing
through the media.

7
BRINE FLOAT
6" to 8"
Water enters and
leaves from here
Used to adjust
water level
Can be unscrewed
to remove debris
from inside
A.
B.
C.
Fitting
D. John Guest fitting
E. Rubber gromet
F. Rubber gromet
A. Used to adjust water level. In round salt tanks, and 15x15 square salt tanks the water level
should be anywhere from 1 ft. to 1½ ft. In 11x11 square tanks, the tank should be ½ to 2/3
full of water.
B. Unscrewing this nut allows you enter the chamber where debris can be easily removed
C. Compression fitting.
D. John Guest fitting.
E & F. Rubber gromets that hold float ball in place on the fiberglass rod.

8
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
18.
19.
20.
21.
23.
22.
8. 17.
18.

9
TIMER HEAD PARTS LIST
ITEM
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
P/N
28-8-28
28-142-4
570-246-1
N/A
N/A
568-36-02
541-395-18F
N/A
15-76
15-102
28-8-28
541-368
N/A
570-224-1
570-221
15-87
N/A
N/A
15-76
34-12
541-402
467-339
467349
DESCRIPTION
Strain Relief, Power Cord
Power Cord, 120 Volt
Meter Cable
Paper Gasket
Screw
Face Plate
Computer Board
Spacer
Screw, Clock Mount
Screw (small), Battery Box
Strain Relief, Meter Cord
Head Assembly, with seat and
paddle
Screw
Battery Box, Top
Battery Box, Lower
Screw, Head Mount
Back Clock Mount
Screw
Screw, Motor Mount
Motor
Bearing Plate
Drive Gear Return Spring
QTY
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
2
1
1
1
1

10

11
VALVE BODY PARTS LIST
ITEM
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26
27.
28.
P/N
15-88
541-207
541-206
541-325
428-_
541-221
15-89
413-13
541-254
186-111-N
541-273
19-19
541-243
529-244
541-244
185-024-1
541-204
185-028-12
541-256
19-3
516-221
19-90
185-231-1
541-232
185-211-1
541-205
185-029-1
541-257-1
DESCRIPTION
Screw, Backcap
Backcap, 3 Cycle
Seal, Backcap
Gasket, Injector
Injector (Specify Size)
Cover Plate, Injector
Screw, Injector Mount
Filter Screen, Injector
Spring Clip
O-ring, Brine Fitting
Brine Fitting
C-clip, Backwash Flow Adjuster
Backwash Flow Adjuster w/o-rings
Gasket, Cross Over Port
Body Stem Assembly
O-ring (Small), Seat Insert
Seat Insert
O-ring (Large), Seat Insert
Main Diaphragm
C-clip, Main Diaphragm
Return Spring, Main Diaphragm
Screw, Adapter Ring
O-ring
Adapter Ring
O-ring, 13/16" Riser Adapter
13/16" Riser Adapter
O-ring (Outside), Riser Adapter
Valve Body & Seal
QTY
4
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1