US Water Systems Escort 091-EPWS-1 User manual

Escort High Capacity Portable
Water Softener
Visit us online at
www.uswatersystems.com
Owners Manual
Models:
091-EPWS-1, 091-EPWS-2, 091-EPWS-1-CR, 091-EPWS-2-CR
REVISION # 1.1
REVISION DATE May 5, 2016
US Water Systems Corporate Office
1209 Country Club Road
Indianapolis, IN 46234
1. Read all instructions carefully before operation.
2. This system is not intended for treating water that is microbio-
logically unsafe or of unknown quality without adequate disin-
fection before or after the system.

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Be sure to check the entire softener for any shipping damage or parts loss. Also note dam-
age to the shipping cartons. Contact US Water Systems at 1-800-608-8792 to report any
shipping damage within 24 hours of delivery. Claims made after 24 hours may not be hon-
ored.
Items List
 2.5 X 10 Filter Housing and 5 Micron Filter
 Resin Tank and Tank Head
 Softening Resin
 Filter Wrench
 Feed Water Manifold (A)
 Intermediate Manifold (B)
 Outlet/Regeneration Manifold (C)
 Regeneration Stand Pipe (D)
 Backwash Whip Hose (E)
Unpacking / Inspection
PAGE
Unpacking / Inspection 2
Safety Guide 2
Proper Installation 3
Specification 3
System Dimensions 4
Before Starting 5
Component Identification 7
Softener Preparation 8
Installation Instructions 13
System Start-up 14
System Regeneration 15
System Backwash 19
System Care 22
Capacity Calculation 23
Warranty 24
Table of Contents
Safety Guide
For safety purposes, the information in this manual must be followed to minimize the risk of
property damage or personal injury.
 Use care when handling the water softening system. Do not turn upside down, drop, drag
or set on sharp protrusions.
 WARNING: This system is not intended for treating water that is microbiologically un-
safe or of unknown quality without adequate disinfection before or after the system. Con-
tact US Water Systems for disinfection treatment equipment.

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Proper Installation
This water softening system must be properly installed and located in accordance with the
Installation Instructions before it is used or the warranty will be void.
 Do not install or store where it will be
exposed to temperatures below freezing or
exposed to any type of weather. Water
freezing in the system will break it. Do not
attempt to treat water over 100°F.
 Do not install in direct sunlight. Exces-
sive sun or heat may cause distortion or
other damage to non-metallic parts.
 Maximum allowable inlet water pressure is
125 psi. If daytime pressure is over 80 psi,
night time pressure may exceed the maxi-
mum. Use a pressure reducing valve to
reduce the pressure.
 Softener resins may degrade in the pres-
ence of chlorine or chloramines above 2
ppm. If there is chlorine or chloramines in
excess of this amount, it can reduce the
life of the resin. In these conditions, a car-
bon filter with a chlorine reducing media
may be considered. Contact US Water
Systems for Chlorine and Chloramine re-
moval equipment.
 WARNING: Discard all unused parts
and packaging material after installation.
Small parts remaining after the installation
could be a choke hazard.
Specifications
Model Number Tank
Size
Resin
Amount
Capacity Salt Needed for
Regeneration
Maximum
Flow Rate
Minimum
Flow Rate
091-EPWS-17X24 0.3 cu/ft 10,000
Grains
3lbs 3 GPM 1.4 GPM
091-EPWS-28X35 0.7 cu/ft 20,000
Grains
6 lbs 7 GPM 1.4 GPM
 Continuous operation at flow rates greater than the service flow rate may affect capacity
and efficiency performance.
 The manufacturer reserves the right to make product improvements which may deviate
from the specifications and descriptions stated herein, without obligation to change previ-
ously manufactured products or to note the change.
 The above capacity and flow rate specifications have not been validated by WQA.

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System Dimensions
MODEL ABCDEF
091-EPWS-127” 21 1/2” 7” 26” 14” 7 1/2”
091-DPWS-238” 21 1/2” 8” 26” 14” 7 1/2”
NOTE: DIMENSION “C” IS ALSO THE SYSTEM DEPTH.

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Before Starting Installation
Tools, Pipe, and Fittings, Other Materials
 Channel Locks
 Screwdriver
 Teflon tape
 Razor knife
 Two adjustable wrenches
 Additional tools may be required if modification to the plumbing is required.
 Power Drill and 7/16” drill bit may be required to convey the regeneration waste line.
BE SURE to check the system dimensions and verify there is room for the system.
The system MUST be vertical to work properly. DO NOT use this system with the tank
in the horizontal positon.
The Escort Portable Water Softener is equipped with garden hose connections for the inlet
and the outlet. These scan be removed and 3/4” NPT connections can be utilized. There is
a 6’ long regeneration hose that can be conveyed to a drain or out of a RV to the ground. A
7/16” hole will be needed for this tube if it is conveyed through a wall or floor. There is also
a 6’ tube for the backwash whip hose. This can be conveyed through the same hole when
the backwash procedure is performed. The system will need a periodic backwash especially
if it is treating iron or when there high sediment levels in the feed water The system will
have to be turned 180 degrees when the backwash procedure is performed. Keep this in
mind when installing the system and other components around the system.
NOTE: If the unit is to be installed in an RV, be sure the unit is secured during transit.
This can be done with straps or bungee cords. Be sure not to break the tank or fit-
tings when securing the system. If straps are used be sure no metal is touching the
fiberglass tank or damage may occur.
How Your Water Conditioner Works
The principle behind water softening is simple chemistry. A water softener contains resin
beads which hold electrically charged ions. When hard water passes through the softener,
calcium and magnesium ions are attracted to the charged resin beads. The result is remov-
al of calcium and magnesium ions which produces soft water.
After a set amount of gallons, the system must be regenerated using salt. The salt is intro-
duced to the tank and it replaces the calcium and magnesium on the softening beads with
sodium. This regenerates the resin and prepares it to treat water once again. A backwash
should be performed after a week of usage. This will lift the resin bed and prevent channel-
ing through the resin bed. This will also help remove and sediment and iron build up in the
resin tank. A diminished flow rate or pressure drop would indicate the need for a backwash
procedure. The system is equipped with a 5 micron sediment filter to protect the resin, but
in some applications, there is sediment that can still make it through the filter to the softening
tank.

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Where To Install The Softener
 Place the softener as close as possible to
the feed water source.
 Place the softener as close as possible to
a drain pipe, or other acceptable drain
point.
 Connect the softener to the main water
supply pipe BEFORE the water heater or
water storage tank. DO NOT RUN HOT
WATER THROUGH THE SOFTENER.
Temperature of water passing through the
softener must be less than 100 deg. F.
 Outside faucets and irrigation systems
should be supplied with hard water prior to
the water softener. Soft water is not rec-
ommended for plants and grass.
 Do not install the softener in a place where
it could freeze. Damage caused by freez-
ing is not covered by the warranty.
 Put the softener in a place water damage
is least likely to occur if a leak develops.
The manufacturer will not repair or pay for
water damage.
 If installing in an outside location, you must
take the steps necessary to assure the sof-
tener, installation plumbing, wiring, etc. are
protected from the elements and contami-
nation sources.
 Keep the softener out of direct sunlight.
The sun’s heat may soften and distort
plastic parts.
Before Starting Installation

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Component Identification
TANK AND TANK HEAD 5 MICRON FILTER REGENERATION
STAND PIPE (D)
2.5 X 10
FILTER HOUSING
FEED WATER
MANIFOLD (A)
INTERMEDIATE
MANIFOLD (B)
OUTLET/REGENERATION
MANIFOLD (C)
BACKWASH
WHIP HOSE (E)

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Tank Preparation
1) Remove the resin tank from carton.
2) Verify the riser tube is centered in the bottom center of the tank. A flashlight may be
necessary. There is an indentation in the bottom of the tank that will center the dis-
tributor tube. The distributor tube should be flush with the top of the tank when it is
installed properly.
3) Place a piece of duct tape over the riser tube so no media enters the riser while filling.

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Tank Preparation
4) Use the Blue Funnel provided, to pour the softening resin into the tank. Pour it evenly
around the hole to ensure it is well distributed in the tank and pour slow enough, to
keep from plugging the hole. A helper may be needed to hold the funnel during the
filling process. It is recommended that a dust mask and safety goggles be worn to
prevent possible injury. Pour all the media sent with the system in the tank. US Wa-
ter does not ship “extra” media.
5) When media is installed move tank side to side to settle the media. Remove the fun-
nel and tape from the distributor tube.

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Softener Preparation
1. Remove the resin tank and tank head from the packaging. Remove the shipping cap
from the resin tank and install the tank head by placing the upper basket over the dis-
tributor tube and turning it clockwise until hand tight. BE SURE not to cross-thread
the head in the tank. Once hand tight grip the head and turn it an additional 1/4 to 1/2
turn to snug it.

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Softener Preparation
2. Install the intermediate manifold (B) in the resin tank “IN” port. Tighten with channel
locks. BE SURE not to overtighten the manifold or damage could occur.
3. Remove the sump from the filter housing and install the filter housing head on the in-
termediate manifold. The intermediate manifold (B) should attach to the filter housing
“OUT” port. Once hand tight, snug further with channel locks.

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Softener Preparation
4. Install the feed water manifold (A) in the “IN” port on the filter housing head by turning
it clockwise. Then snug it further using channel locks. DO NOT overtighten or dam-
age could occur.

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Softener Preparation
5. Install the outlet manifold (C) into the “OUT” port on the resin tank head. Turn it clock-
wise until hand tight then snug it an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn with channel locks.

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Softener Preparation
6. Install the 5 micron pre-filter in the filter housing sump and install the sump on the filter
housing head. Tighten it hand tight, then snug it an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn with the
supplied filter wrench.
BE SURE to remove the plastic from the filter.

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Installation Instructions
1. Install the system and secure it in the desired location.
2. Connect the inlet plumbing to the feed water manifold (A). Be sure the connection is
tight.
3. Connect the outlet plumbing to the outlet/regeneration manifold (C).

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System Start-Up
1. Open a faucet down stream of the unit and slowly open the inlet valve on the inlet mani-
fold (A). Open about 1/4 of a turn and allow the system to SLOWLY fill.
2. Once the system is full, open the inlet valve on the inlet manifold (A) completely.
3. Rinse the system until the water is running clear and there is no air.

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System Regeneration
The Escort Portable water softener will need to be regenerated periodically. The following
process will be used when this is necessary.
091-EPWS-1 (0.3 cu/ft)
3 minutes for brine feed
30 minutes soak time
15 minutes rinse time
Total 48 minutes.
091-EPWS-2 (0.7 cu/ft)
3 minutes for brine feed twice (6 minutes total)
30 minutes soak time
25 minutes rinse time
Total 58 minutes.
1. Shut off the water supply.
2. Remove the pre-filter and rinse or discard.

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System Regeneration
3. Install Regeneration Stand Pipe (D) stand pipe in the filter housing cap.
4. Fill the filter housing sump with 3 lbs of canning salt.
5. Pour about ½ cup of water in the sump to help with installation.
6. Install the sump of salt by forcing the stand pipe through the salt.
7. Tighten the filter sump and be sure not to cross thread it.
8. Be sure all downstream water sources are shut off.

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System Regeneration
9. Open the 0.5 GPM restricted regeneration valve
10. Open the water supply valve and allow the system to run through the 0.5 GPM restricted regeneration
valve for 3 mins.
NOTE: DO NOT run longer than 3 mins for each sump full of salt or over dilution may occur.
11. The larger system (0.7 cu/ft) will require two sumps full (6 lbs) of salt for regeneration. So after the initial
3 min brine feed repeat steps 1-10.
12. Once the brine has been feed into the system (3 mins with one sump full of salt for the 0.3 cu/ft system
and 6 mins with two sumps full of salt for the 0.7 cu/ft system), close the feed water valve and allow the
system to soak for 30 mins. The system will continue to drain from the restricted regeneration valve as
the pressure in the system drops. That is normal.
13. Once there is no water coming out of the restricted regeneration valve remove the filter sump and re-
generation stand pipe from the filter housing cap.

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System Regeneration
14. Install a new or rinsed used filter back in the filter sump and install the filter sump on the filter cap. Tight-
en it hand tight and an additional ¼ to ½ turn.
15. After 30 mins of soak time, open the feed water valve and allow the system to rinse through the restrict-
ed regeneration valve.
16. The 0.3 cu/ft unit will need to rinse for 15 mins and the 0.7 cu/ft unit will need to rinse for 25 mins.
17. After rinsing for the specified time, close the regeneration valve and open a downstream point of use
and rinse for 5 more mins.
18. Once the appropriate rinse time is completed, the system is now regenerated and ready for use