Kenmore 625.38816 Softener Works, Service Regeneration, Water Flow Through Softener in Service

F_j,,_jj,_._,,,, ._i,SECTION 2 _,_J_Jl,,,,........ HOW YOUR WATER	SOFTENER WORKS
B. SOFT WATER SERVICE and REGENERATION
SERVICE	REGENERATION

When the softener is giving you soft water, it is

called "Service". During service, hard water comes from the house main water pipe into the softener.

Inside the softener resin tank is a bed made up of"

thousands of tiny, plastic resin beads (FIG. 5). As

hard water passes through the bed, each bead at-

tracts and holds the hardness minerals. This is

called ion-exchanging. Water without the hardness

minerals (soft water) flows out of the softener and

into the house soft water pipes.After a period of

time, the resin beads hold all of the hardness miner- als they can, and cleaning with salt brine is needed.

This cleaning is called regeneration or recharge. Re-

generation is started at 2:00 a.m. by the electronic timer (see page 2-5). It takes place in 5 stages or cycles. These are:

I	ILL	[]	BACKWASH
	BRINING	[]	FAST RINSE
[]	BRINE	RINSE

Water Flow Through

the Softener in Service

soft water hard water

OUT IN

[] FILL: Salt, dissolved in water, is called brine. Brine is needed to dean the hardness minerals from the resin beads. To make the brine, water flows into

the salt storage area during the fill stage as shown

in FIG. 6. Fill cycle length depends on how much soft water making capacity you have used since the

last regeneration. As you use more water, fill time

increases so more brine is made. The greater

amount of brine cleans more hardness minerals from the resin bed.

Water Flow Through

the Softener in Fill

soft water hard water

OUT IN

1;

saltstorage tank

I

brine valve

salt storage

tank (salt not shown)

brine valve

\resintank

resin bed

fill water

..........

2-2

Problems, Questions? Call 1-800-426-9345 Kenmore Water Line