Care & Maintenance
Before you call your dealer:
- Check the bypass valve to make sure it is in the service position.
- Verify the time of day on the LCD screen is correct.
- Check salt levels, and make sure salt bridging* is not occurring.
- Check hardness setting and verify hardness of water supply.
When calling the dealer, be prepared to answer:
- What are the problem's symptoms? Where is the problem?
- What is the water level in the brine tank?
- Is there an error code on the display? If so, what is the number?
- Have you run out of salt recently?
- Any other pertinent information about the problem/symptoms.
How Your Softener or Filter Works
How does water become hard? All of the Earth's fresh water originally falls as rain, sleet, and snow. Surface water is drawn upwards by the sun, where it forms as clouds. As it falls back to earth it is pure and soft, but it also begins to pick up impurities in the air. Finally, as it seeps through rock and soil it can gather hardness, iron, and acids, as well as unpleasant odors and tastes.
Water is known as the universal solvent because over time it dissolves everything it comes in contact with. High concentrations of dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium are picked up through limestone and dissolved by rainwater leading to hardness in water. Years ago, people who wanted soft water would gather rainwater in barrels and cisterns before it was able to pick up impurities from the earth. In today's world, we can soften and condition water by running water through an ion exchange media designed with the superior ability to attract and capture dissolved hardness impurities found in water.
The Softening Process (CareSoft® Series Softeners and TotalCare® Series Conditioners)
The softener or conditioner directs the flow of your household water through a column of media. This media is comprised of minute pockets and crevices. It captures and holds the hardness impurities in the water. When they can no longer hold any more of these impurities, the system must be regenerated or recharged.
Next, the media is backwashed to remove any sediment that may have accumulated in the tank. This sediment is flushed to the drain. In the second phase of the recharge, the media is automatically drenched in a salt solution (brine) removing the hardness impurities.
The system is then rinsed of any remaining brine, so the system is again ready to soften the water. Under normal conditions, this cycle can be repeated indefinitely as the media lasts for years and years.
The Filtering Process (Ion Pro® and CareClear Pro®)
A filter, like the softener, directs the flow of water through the media. As the water travels through the media, particles like iron and sand are captured by the media.
Next, the media is backwashed to remove any sediment that may have accumulated in the tank. This sediment is flushed to the drain.
What Kind of Salt to Use
All WaterCare softeners, conditioners, and some filters are designed to use salt. All salt, regardless of its source, may contain insoluble matter, which accumulates at the bottom of the brine tank and requires periodic cleaning. If pellet or rock salt is used, you should clean out your brine tank at least once a year. If solar salt is used, the brine tank will require less frequent cleaning. However, you should periodically check for salt bridging*. For the proper operation of a water softener or conditioner, the brine tank should be at least 1/3 full of salt at all times.
For CareSoft Series Softeners:
We recommend the use of solar salt for best results. Water softeners and conditioners manufactured by WaterCare can support the use of potassium chloride (KCI) as a regenerant in lieu of sodium chloride.
For TotalCare Series Conditioners:
WARNING: Do not use salt containing mineral bed cleaners. Salts that claim any iron cleaners, rust savers, or additional cleaning agents should not be used as they can harm the media. Only "plain" solar salt, rock salt or block salts should be used. Contact your dealer for more information.
At no time do we recommend the use of resin or media cleaners in the brine tank without first contacting your authorized WaterCare dealer. Some cleaners require not only proper handling but can be detrimental to the tank's media bed.
*Salt bridging occurs when a gap is formed between the salt and the water preventing the salt from dissolving in the water and making brine. The effects of high humidity, as well as the use of some brands of purified salt products, may cause bridging.
A quick way to check and eliminate this problem is to press your knee against the side of the brine tank and listen for the salt to readjust inside the tank. You can also take a broom handle and make a mark about 30 inches from the end and carefully begin to probe down through the salt with the handle. If an obstruction is found before the mark on the broom handle reaches the rim of the brine tank, a bridge has probably developed. Continue probing to break up the bridge.
Care and Cleaning
These simple precautions will help keep your water treatment system looking like new, and help ensure that you experience trouble-free service for many years.
Use only mild soap and warm water when cleaning the exterior of the system. Never use abrasive, harsh cleaning compounds or any containing acid (such as vinegar) or an oxidizer (such as bleach) or similar products.
Do not stack heavy objects on top of the system's control valve (timer case) or brine tank.
If the system is installed outside or in a pump house, dirt and debris such as cobwebs, insects, etc., may create mechanical issues. Occasionally remove the control valve cover and brush lightly with a very soft, dry brush.
Should you need troubleshooting or adjustment information not included in this Use and Care guide, please refer to the proper "Installation and Owner's Manual" for your model. If you do not have this manual, it may be obtained from your local WaterCare dealer or online at watercare.com.
WARNING: Water is always inside your controller, media tank and brine tank, and must be protected to prevent the water from freezing temperatures. If your unit should freeze, do not attempt to disassemble it. Call your authorized WaterCare dealer for service.
How to Clean Out the Brine Tank
A periodic clean out of the brine tank is recommended to keep your system operating at peak efficiency. The following is a step-by-step procedure to properly clean out the brine tank. To reduce cleaning time, it is suggested that you perform this clean out when the salt supply is low.
Following is a list of suggested tools to use:
- Garden hose
- Scoop
- Bucket-size container
- Household scrub brush
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Soft rag
Cleaning the brine tank.
- Remove the brine tank lid and the plastic cap from the well.
- Remove the brine well mechanism and carefully set it aside in an upright position. To do this, disconnect the brine overflow tube and brine line from the safety float mechanism. While holding the nut on the inside of the brine well, unscrew the elbow. Be careful not to lose the nut.
- Should you desire to save any clean, dry salt remaining in the brine tank, remove it and place it in a clean container.
- Use a scoop to dig out and discard as much remaining salt, water and insoluble matter as possible.
- Carefully lay the brine tank on its side, and using the garden hose wash the inside of the tank to rinse out all residue and salt cake affixed to the inside of the tank.
- If a salt grid was installed, remove and clean it using a household scrub brush and mild soapy solution.
- Stand the brine tank upright. Place the brine well in position and reaffix it to the tank with the elbow and nut. Connect the brine line back to the safety float mechanism.
- Reinstall the salt grid and replace the brine well cap.
- Fill the brine tank with 2 to 3 inches of water.
- Fill the tank 2/3 full of salt.
- Replace the brine tank cover.
PLEASE NOTE: Allow about 2 to 3 hours for brine solution to be made before the system regenerates.
Battery Replacement
The AC transformer comes with a 15-foot power cord and is designed for use with the control valve. The transformer should only be used in a dry location.
In the event of a power outage for less than 24 hours, the control valve will remember all settings and time of day. For an outage over 24 hours, the only item that needs to be reset is the time of day, which will flash when a reset is required. All other settings are permanently stored in the nonvolatile memory.
For TotalCare Series Conditioners:
The time of day will not need to be reset. The system will recognize the resumption of power and will switch back.
If a power loss occurs for less than 24 hours and the time of day flashes, this indicates the battery is depleted. The time of day should be reset and the non-rechargeable battery should be replaced. The battery is a 3 Volt Lithium Coin Cell type 2032 and is readily available at most stores. To access the battery, remove the front cover.
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