The Five Functions of a Water Softener

Last Updated on Tuesday, 11 May 2010 20:19 Monday, 10 May 2010 00:00

Articles - Plumbing Fixtures and Appliances

Ever wonder how a water softener cleanses itself? Here are the five typical steps a water softener goes through.

Service

The normal softening valve position directs hard water down through the resin and soft water up the distributor tube into your household plumbing.

Backwash

This is the first cycle in the cleaning process and last approximately ten minutes. The control valve reverses the water flow in the mineral tank and allows the water to run backwards in an up-flow direction through the unit to the drain line. The backwash lifts and separates the beads while washing accumulated sediment particles from the system and prepares it for the next cycle. The reason for 1/3 freeboard in the mineral tank is to give the resin beads room to lift and separate. This cycle is very important for water with iron in it because it keeps the resin bed from fouling out. Addie Water Systems always recommends the use of a water softener with 50% freeboard in the mineral tank for water that contains iron.

Slow Rinse and Brine

This is the next cycle in the cleaning process which lasts about fifty minutes. The control valve runs water through the mineral tank in a down-flow direction and at the same time pulls salt or potassium chloride solution from the brine tank. This strong salt or potassium chloride solution causes the resin beads to release the hardness and iron ions and forces them to the drain line. This leaves new sodium or potassium ions from the brine solution to take their place on the resin beads. After about ten minutes into this cycle, the storage tank will run out of salt or potassium chloride solution. Then, for the remainder of this cycle, the unit will continue to slowly rinse the excess salt or potassium chloride solution from the mineral tank.

Rapid Rinse

This is a short ten-minute cycle to give the softening resin beads one final rinse before it's put back online. Also, the final rinse compacts the resin beads for the service position. The mineral tank is now ready for the next service cycle.

Storage Tank Refill

The last cycle the control valve does before returning to service is to put fresh water back into the brine tank so it can dissolve salt and make solution for the next time the control valve calls for it. This takes just a few minutes and when complete, the valve goes directly to the service cycle to provide soft conditioned water once again.

Content provided by Addie Water Systems

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