SYSTEM DISINFECTION
Disinfection Of Water Softeners
The.materials.of.construction.of.the.modern.water.softener.
will.not.support.bacterial.growth,.nor.will.these.materials.
contaminate.a.water.supply..During.normal.use,.a.softener.
may.become.fouled.with.organic.matter,.or.in.some.cases.with.
bacteria.from.the.water.supply..This.may.result.in.an.off-taste.or.
odor.in.the.water.
Some.softeners.may.need.to.be.disinfected.after.installation.and.
some.softeners.will.require.periodic.disinfection.during.their.
normal.life..
Depending.upon.the.conditions.of.use,.the.style.of.softener,.the.
type.of.ion.exchanger,.and.the.disinfectant.available,.a.choice.
can.be.made.among.the.following.methods.
Sodium or Calcium Hypochlorite
Application
These.materials.are.satisfactory.for.use.with.polystyrene.resins,.
synthetic.gel.zeolite,.greensand.and.bentonites.
5.25% Sodium Hypochlorite
These.solutions.are.available.by.various.sellers.of.household.
bleach..If.stronger.solutions.are.used,.such.as.those.sold.for.
commercial.laundries,.adjust.the.dosage.accordingly.
1.. Dosage
A.. Polystyrene.resin;.1.2.fluid.ounce.(35.5.ml).per.cubic.foot.
B.. Non-resinous.exchangers;.0.8.fluid.ounce.(23.7.ml).per.
cubic.foot.
2.. Salt.tank.softeners
A.. Backwash.the.softener.and.add.the.required.amount.of.
hypochlorite.solution.to.the.well.of.the.salt.tank..The.salt.
tank.should.have.water.in.it.to.permit.the.solution.to.be.
carried.into.the.softener.
B.. Proceed.with.the.normal.recharge.
Calcium Hypochlorite
Calcium.hypochlorite,.70%.available.chlorine,.is.available.in.
several.forms.including.tablets.and.granules..These.solid.
materials.may.be.used.directly.without.dissolving.before.use.
1.. Dosage
A.. Two.grains.(approximately.0.1.ounce.[3.ml]).per.cubic.
foot.
2.. Salt.tank.softeners
A.. Backwash.the.softener.and.add.the.required.amount.of.
hypochlorite.to.the.well.of.the.salt.tank..The.salt.tank.
should.have.water.in.it.to.permit.the.chlorine.solution.to.
be.carried.into.the.softener.
B.. Proceed.with.the.normal.recharge.
INSTALLATION CHECKLIST
.Read.the.owner's/installation.manual?
.Follow.all.safety.guidelines.in.the.manual?
.If.metal.pipe.was.used,.did.you.restore.the.electrical.ground?
.Securely.install.both.drain.hoses.to.an.approved.drain?
.Perform.a.leak.test?
.Move.the.bypass.valve.to.service?
.Sanitize.the.softener?
.Add.salt.pellets.to.the.salt.storage.tank?
.Program.the.control.correctly.to.meet.your.needs?
.Start.a.recharge?
CARE AND USE OF YOUR BRINE TANK
Each.time.the.softener.recharges,.salty.water.(brine).is.needed.
to.recondition.the.media.in.the.water.tank..The.brine.is.pulled.
from.the.salt.tank.at.a.controlled.amount..If.the.salt.tank.does.
not.contain.enough.salt,.the.brine.is.weak,.the.media.will.not.fully.
recondition.and.untreated.water.will.pass.through.
You.must.keep.salt.in.the.tank.
The.salt.tank.operates.best.when.the.salt.level.is.below.half-full..
If.the.tank.is.filled.more.than.that.the.salt.pellets.may."bridge"..
The.salt.pellets.wedge.against.each.other.and.do.not.fall.into.
the.water.at.the.bottom..Bridging.will.eventually.provide.no.salt.
to.make.brine..The.softener.will.recharge.but.not.recondition.
the.media..A.salt.bridge.can.be.broken.up.using.a.broom.handle.
or.similar.rod..Carefully.pound.it.into.the.salt.and.the.pellets.
will.collapse..After.loosening.the.salt.pellets.wait.2.hours.and.
start.a.regeneration..A.second.recharge.may.be.needed.to.fully.
recondition.the.media..
You.should.only.use.sodium.chloride.pellet.salt.for.water.
softeners..Other.types.of.salt.(rock.or.snow.melting).will.contain.
dirt.and.chemicals.that.will.affect.your.water.softener..
Keep.the.brine.tank.covered..
Empty.and.clean.the.tank.every.three.years.
16 •
Pentair.5600SXT.Softener.System
