EcoPure MW_MW25_450215A - Manual (Page 14)

...................................... AUTOMATIC WATER SOFTENER
WATER AND WATER CONDITIONING, continued
~ Colloidal and inorganically bound iron is of ferric or
ferrous form that will not filter or exchange out of water.
In some instances, treatment may improve colloidal iron
water, but always CONSULT A QUALIFIED WATER
CHEMISTRY LAB before attempting to treat it. Colloidal
iron water usually has a yellow appearance when
drawn. After standing for several hours, the color
persists and the iron does not settle, but remains
suspended in the water.
Iron in water causes stains on clothing and plumbing
fixtures. It negatively affects the taste of food, drinking
water, and other beverages.
ACIDITY or acid water is caused by carbon dioxide,
hydrogen sulfide, and sometimes industrial wastes. It is
corrosive to plumbing, plumbing fixtures, water heaters,
and other water using appliances. In can also damage
and cause premature failure of seals, diaphragms, etc.,
in water handling equipment.
A chemical analysis is needed to measure the degree of
acidity in water. This is called the pH of water. Water
testing below 6.9 pH is acidic. The lower the pH
reading, the greater the acidity. A neutralizer filter or a
chemical feed pump are usually recommended to treat
acid water.
SEDIMENT is fine, foreign material particles suspended
in water. This material is most often clay or silt. Extreme
amounts of sediment may give the water a cloudy
appearance. A sediment filter normally corrects this
condition.
HOW THE WATER SOFTENER WORKS
SOFT WATER SERVICE, AND REGENERATION ...see illustrations, page 15
SERVICE
When the softener is providing soft water, it is called
“Service”. During service, hard water flows from the
house main water pipe into the softener. Inside the
softener resin tank is a bed made up of thousands of
tiny, plastic resin beads. As hard water passes through
the bed, each bead attracts and holds the hardness
minerals. This is called ion–exchanging. It is much like a
magnet attracting and holding metals. Water without the
hardness minerals (soft water) flows from the softener
and to the house pipes.
After a period of time, the resin beads hold all of the
hardness minerals they can and cleaning is needed to
remove them. This cleaning is called regeneration, or
recharge. The demand timer automatically determines
when regenerations occur. Regeneration is started at
2:00 a.m. (factory setting) by the softener timer, and
consists of 5 stages or cycles. These are: FILL,
BRINING, BRINE RINSE, BACKWASH, and FAST
RINSE.
REGENERATION
z FILL: Salt, dissolved in water, is called brine. Brine is
needed to clean the hardness minerals from the resin
beads. To make the brine, water flows into the salt
storage area during the fill stage as shown on page 15.
z BRINING: During brining, brine travels from the salt
storage area, into the resin tank. Brine is the cleaning
agent needed to remove the hardness minerals from
the resin beads. The hardness minerals, and brine are
discharged to the drain.
The nozzle and venturi create a suction to move the
brine, maintaining a very slow rate to get the best resin
cleaning with the least salt.
z BRINE RINSE: After a pre-measured amount of brine
is used, the brine valve closes. Water continues to flow
in the same path as during brining, except for the
discontinued brine flow. Hardness minerals and brine
flush from the resin tank, to the drain.
z BACKWASH: During backwash, water travels up
through the resin tank at a fast flow rate, flushing
accumulated iron, dirt, and sediments from the resin
bed and to the drain.
z FAST RINSE: Backwash is followed by a fast flow of
water down through the resin tank. The fast flow
flushes brine from the bottom of the tank, and packs
the resin bed.
After fast rinse, the softener returns to soft water
service.
AUTOMATIC HARD WATER BYPASS DURING REGENERATION....................................................................
For emergency needs, hard water is available to the
home during the regeneration cycles. However, you should avoid using HOT water because the water
heater will refill with the hard water.
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