9
System Installation
Pre-Installation Considerations
• A minimum of 25psi of water pressure is required for regeneration
valve to operate effectively.
• A continuous 115 volt, 60 Hertz current supply is required.
Make certain the current supply is always hot and cannot be
turned off with another switch.
• Condition of existing plumbing should be free from lime and
iron buildup. Piping that is built up heavily with lime and/or iron
should be replaced. If piping is clogged with iron, a separate
iron filter unit should be installed ahead of the water softener.
• The softener should be located close to a drain.
• Always provide for the installation of a bypass valve.
• The full weight of the plumbing system must be supported by
pipe hangers or other means.
• Do not install the system where it would block access to the water
heater, main water shutoff, water meter, or electrical panels.
• Install the system in a place where water damage is least likely
to occur if a leak develops.
• If applicable, use di-electric unions where dissimilar metals
are present.
All plumbing connections have right-hand threads. Turn clock-
wise to install.
NOTICE
If O-ring lubricant is required, only use a silicone based
compound formulated for potable water O-ring applications.
Watts recommends Ordering Code #68102757 Silicone
Lubricant. The use of other types of lubricants may attack
the control’s plastic or rubber components. Petroleum-based
lubricants can cause swelling in rubber parts, including
O-rings and seals.
NOTICE
WARNING
!
Do not exceed water pressure of 125psi (8.6 bar). Do
not exceed 110°F (43°C). Do not subject unit to freezing
conditions.
General Installation Instructions
1. Turn off water heater(s).
2. Turn off the main water supply to the building and open a treated
water faucet (cold and hot) to relieve any pressure within the
plumbing system.
3. Place the mineral tank(s) in the desired installation location.
Make sure that the location is level and sturdy enough to
support the weight of the system once it is in operation.
4. After the mineral tank(s) have been placed into their final position,
and will not need to be moved again, load the mineral tanks
with resin and gravel media following the instructions below:
4a. Inspect the distributor screens for damage, and make
sure all screens are present before loading the mineral tank
with media. Before proceeding with installation, replace any
damaged components immediately.
4b. Cap the top open end of the distributor tube with tape and
plastic sheeting to keep all media and foreign debris from
entering the distributor tube. This cap must be secure and
not come off during media loading.
4c. Place the distributor tube, screen end down, into the mineral
tank and center it in the bottom. The top of the distributor
tube should be flush with the top of the tank. Test the tape
cap to make sure it can not come off during the media
loading process.
4d. Fill the mineral tank
1
⁄
3
full with water to prevent breakage of
the distributor tube screens during the media loading process.
4e. Make sure the plastic and tape cap is secure to the top of
the distributor tube, place a funnel on the top of the tank
and load first the gravel (load the largest gravel first, then
the smaller gravel) then the softening resin into the tank.
The cap must not come off of the distributor tube during
the loading of the media.
4f. Remove the funnel from the top of the tank and plastic
cap and tape from the top of the distributor tube. DO NOT
PULL UP ON THE DISTRIBUTOR TUBE when removing
the cap. The distributor tube top must remain at the proper
height to the top of the tank.
4g. Clean any media from the control valve seating area on top
of the mineral tank. Media on the O-ring sealing surface of
the tank can prevent the control valve’s O-ring seal from
sealing properly.
4h. Lubricate all O-rings on the bottom of the control valve
and control valve’s flange base (distributor tube port O-ring
and top of tank O-rings). Use nonpetroleum based silicone
lubricant only.
4i. Press the factory suppled stainless steel upper diffuser
basket, flared side up, into the top flange port of the min-
eral tank. The flare will seat on the inside of the tank flange
when fully inserted. Then position valve flange components
on top of tank flange. See page 35 for assembly diagram.
4j. Place the control valve on top of the tank When perform-
ing this step, seat the top of the distributor tube inside the
distributor port located on the bottom of the control valve
first, then press the control valve down until the control
valve come in contact with the tank flange. This ensures
that the distributor tube is properly seated into the bottom
of the control valve. Then place the 2 flange segments over
the control valve’s base and insert flange bolts. See page
35 for assembly diagram.
4k. Tighten flange bolts.
Mineral tanks with 42" and 48" diameters include a bottom
center PVC flange cover. Please make sure flange bolts are
tight before proceeding with the installation.
NOTICE
WARNING
!
The weight of this control valve exceeds 115 pounds.
Do not attempt to install or remove control valve
alone. Team lifting and proper scaffolding should
be used. A 2"male NPT X Eye Bolt fitting has been
provided with each control valve. This assembly is
intended to be threaded into the control valve’s drain
port, tightened with a wrench, and used as a lifting
point when placing control valve onto tank flange.
