Water Softener Disinfection
The materials of construction of your water softener will not support bacterial growth nor will these materials contaminate a water supply. However, the normal conditions existing dur- ing shipping, storage, and installation indicate the advisability of disinfecting a softener after installation, before the softener is used to treat potable water. In addition, during normal use a softener may become fouled with organic matter or in some cases, with bacteria from the water supply.
Therefore, every water softener should be disinfected after installation, some will require periodic disinfection during their normal life. Disinfect as follows:
SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE (household bleach)
5.25% Sodium Hypochlorite solutions are available under such trade names such as Clorox, Linco, Bo Peep, White Sail and Eagle Brand Bleach. If stronger solutions are used, such as those sold for commercial laundries, adjust the dosage accordingly.
1. Dosage:
a. Softening resin; 1.2 fluid ounce per cubic foot of mineral (see page 33).
2.Add the required amount of hypochlorite solution to the brine well of the brine tank.
a. Proceed with the normal regeneration. Press regen and allow the water softener to go through a normal regeneration.
Water Softener Draining Procedure
In cold weather climates it is common for plumbing systems that are not in use to be “winterized“ or drained of all water to prevent any damage that may be caused by the excessive expansion of water when it freezes. To prevent damage to a water softener it must be properly drained also. A simple way to properly drain or winterize a water softener is to use compressed air to force all of the water out of the softener mineral tank. The following procedure will explain the process:
1)Initiate the softener into a manual regeneration cycle. Advance control to backwash and allow it to complete the backwash cycle (this will clean the media) and start into the
2)Turn the water supply inlet and outlet valves off to the water softener as soon as the air check shuts off and no more brine is being drawn into the softener (at the beginning of the slow rinse process).
3)Unplug the electric power leaving the softener control valve in the brine draw cycle.
4)Remove the brine refill elbow assembly from the control valve. Remove the refill flow control retainer assembly from the elbow. Reinstall the elbow assembly and secure with the locking clip. Disconnect the brine tube at the top of the salt keeper and force air into the brine tube toward the softener mineral tank and control valve. The air will force the brine/water solution that was drawn into the mineral tank out to drain through the control valve drain line. (An air compressor blow gun attachment with a portable air compressor works well.) Reinstall the brine line flow control retainer in side of the refill elbow assembly. Reinstall the brine refill elbow assembly and secure with locking clip.
CAUTION: You do not want to apply any more pressure than necessary to force the brine/water out of the mineral tank.
The small amount of brine/water that may be left in the mineral tank will not expand enough to cause any damage to the softener when it freezes.
If your softener is equipped with an optional bottom drain on the mineral tank, you will have to follow all of the same procedures with the exception of the need for compressed air. With the brine tube disconnected from the salt keeper, raise it to a level above the softener control valve and temporarily secure it in this position. Now open the drain valve at the bottom of the mineral tank and allow all brine/water to drain from the mineral tank.
CAUTION: If a hose is connected to the drain valve to direct the brine/water to a floor drain be sure it runs downward and is unob- structed. When brine/water quits running at the drain, be sure to leave the drain valve open until you start the system up again.
5)At this time the salt keeper has very little water left in it. What liquid is left in the salt keeper is saturated brine, provided that there is still salt left in the tank. Saturated brine will not freeze solid and cause any damage and does not have to be drained any further from the brine tank.
If there is no salt left in the salt keeper when the system is drained we recommend dumping all of the water out of the brine tank at this time. See brine tank cleaning instructions. (#2 in miscel- laneous section, below)
6)CAUTION: It is important at this time to be assured that the inlet/ outlet water supply piping is properly drained. Depending on how the water supply piping was routed to the water softener control valve, a water loop or trap may have been created.
Sometimes drain valve(s) are installed at the bottom of the loop to assure all water can be drained out. If not it may be neces- sary to disconnect the control valve from the piping system and open the inlet/outlet valve(s) to allow all the water to drain from the piping. This should be done when the rest of the plumbing system is drained.
7)Draining or winterizing of your softener is complete. Refer to the start- up procedures on page 8 when you are ready to start your softener.
Miscellaneous
1.Salt Usage: See your water conditioning professional for a rec- ommendation on the best type of salt for your application.
2.Brine Tank Cleaning:
a.Remove brine tank cover.
b.Scoop out as much old salt as possible.
c.Disconnect brine tubing from safety brine valve at brine well.
d.Remove safety brine valve from brine well.
e.Place one hand in brine well to hold overflow nut and remove 2 piece overflow.
f.Remove optional brine well and grid plate, if used, from brine tank.
g.Remove any remaining salt and/or impurities from brine tank.
h.Using clean water and a brush or rag, wipe and rinse inside
of brine tank. Also wipe and rinse the grid plate and brine well.
i.Reassemble brine tank reversing steps c - f. Note: If grid plate is used and it is damaged or cracked, replace with new one.
j.Put brine tank in place making sure there is no debris or foreign material beneath it.
k.Reconnect brine tubing to safety brine valve.
l.Manually add 6 inches of water to the brine tank (or to approximately 1” above the grid plate, if used).
m.Add new salt. Important: Do not add the old salt which was removed earlier unless it is clean and not mushy. We recommend using new salt.
n.Follow the disinfection instructions found at the top of this page.
o.Put on brine tank cover.
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