3
SOFT WATER BASICS
Hardness
Excess amounts of calcium and magnesium in
water produce hardness. A water softener removes
the majority of calcium and magnesium to produce
softened water.
Hardness is measured in terms of grains. (This
grain weight is derived from the average weight
of a dry grain of wheat.) When water is tested
the grain hardness is calculated and expressed
as grains per gallon (gpg). This calculation, as
well as the number of people in the household or
business will help determine what type and size
of water softener will most efficiently soften your
water.
Your water softener contains an ion exchange
media (often called resin) which removes the hard-
ness from water as it flows through each softener
tank. Eventually so much hardness collects on
the exchange media that the softener can no
longer soften the water in that tank. At this point
it is considered "exhausted". The twin alternating
function automatically switches to the standby
tank and regeneration occurs immediately on the
exhausted tank.
OPERATING CONDITIONS
Figure 1
Regeneration
To regenerate the exchange media, it must be rinsed with a brine (salt) solution. This removes the hardness from the exchange media
and replaces it with sodium. The exchange media is then ready to remove hardness from water. The hardness minerals and excess
brine solution are rinsed down the drain.
During the regeneration cycle the softening media is also backwashed. This reversing of the normal flow of water serves to remove
sediment which may have accumulated during the softening process due to the filtering action of the exchange media. Backwashing
also loosens and fluffs up the bed of exchange media to insure that during regeneration the brine solution will come into contact with all
the media.
Maintenance of Your Softener
Salt:
Salt to a softener is what gasoline is to a car. Not only must a softener have salt, but it should be the proper type to insure
efficient recharging of the unit. Ask your dealer what type of salt may best suit your needs. Always have an adequate supply of salt on
hand. Check the salt level of your brine tank every couple of weeks initially to determine how much salt you use - this will depend on
how much water you use. As a rule of thumb, with 20 gpg hard water, about a 1/2 lb. of salt per person per day is used. In other words,
a family of four uses 60 lbs. of salt a month. Fill the tank approximately three-fourths full, with a minimum of 12” of salt. DO NOT USE
Block Salt when the Pro315-TA Series control is programmed for prefill. Block salt does not dissolve quickly enough to provide a good
regeneration. If using Block Salt, Pro315TA Series control must be programmed for post fill.
Cleaning Salt Tank:
The salt tank may require periodic cleaning. Inspect the salt tank at least once a year for buildup of insoluble
materials. It is recommended to periodically clean the salt tank no matter what kind of salt you are using. See page 15, Miscellaneous
#2 for details on cleaning.
REMEMBER:
Salt is the fuel to run your water softener. Buy the best clean salt available.
Your water conditioner has been designed to adequately
handle up to 40 grains per gallon of hardness as well as up to
0.5 ppm of ferrous bicarbonate iron. This is iron that is dissolved
in water and not visible to the eye in a freshly drawn sample.
After standing in contact with air, the ferrous iron will become
oxidized to the ferric state and start to precipitate as a reddish
brown floc. It can be seen and may cause discolored water. In
order for your softener to remove the iron, air (oxygen) must be
kept from coming in contact with water until after it has been
passed through the water conditioner. In some cases, additional
equipment may be required to treat water supplies having special
characteristics, such as: ferric hydroxide iron, iron bacteria, low
pH, taste and odors, etc. If any question should exist, contact
your dealer.
This water softener is not intended to be used for treating
water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality
without adequate disinfection before or after treatment.
