If you think the media in the resin tank may be old or foul and your questioning the condition of it, you can take a Core Sample. We'll walk you through the steps below if you'd like to check it. Let's go!
Tools Needed
Pipe (preferably longer than tank & 3/8" to 1" in diameter)
Click each step below to expand directions.
Step 1 - Disconnect the Valve Head
1. Turn off the main water in the home and open a nearby softened water faucet to relieve pressure in the plumbing.
2. Bypass the unit by pushing the handle in on the back:
3. Remove the top cover. Click here for detailed instructions on how.
4. Unplug the power cord from the outlet.
5. Disconnect all wires from the valve head to free the top cover from the unit.
- Motor – unplug thick black and red wires at clear plastic connection piece.
- Switch – unplug the white plastic connector from the valve head at end of orange and green wires.
- Wire Harness – unclip harness from around the outlet port.
6. You'll now remove the black C-clips from the softener/bypass connection. Pull one side of the black plastic C-clip away from the softener, and slowly roll it towards the other side to remove.
***If the clips seem stuck, slowly and gently rock the softener back and forth slightly while applying pressure to the clip as described above to free them.
7. Disconnect the Drain hose by releasing the black clip on the right-hand side of the head (pictured below). You may want to have a towel handy here to catch any residual water in the valve head.
8. Now, you'll disconnect the Brine hose.
- If it has a white nut attached to the Venturi: unscrew the nut and pull the hose off.
- If it doesn't have that white nut, you'll need to push the small collet piece in and pull the hose out at the same time to remove.
9. Remove the two large white clamps from the tank neck by unhooking the retainer clips that hold them together.
10. With both hands on the valve head, wiggle it side to side as you pull it up and off. Set the valve head aside.
Step 2 - Retrieve Core Sample
1. Go ahead and remove the Top Distributor by pulling it up out of the tank. Set it to the side.
2. You'll want to use a small piece of pipe - preferably longer than the tank and 3/8" to 1" in diameter. Take the pipe and push it down into into the media, inside the tank until it touches the bottom of the tank.
3. Now put your thumb over the end of the pipe to seal it and then remove the pipe from the tank by pulling it up and out.
4. Put the pipe onto a table and drag it across as you release your thumb. This will give you a sample of every inch of media in the tank.
Step 3 - Reassemble the Softener
1. Grab the Top Distributor you set aside and carefully place it back inside the tank.
2. Carefully place the valve head back onto the riser tube and push down until it rests on the tank below.
3. Reassemble the large white tank clamps and secure with the retaining clips around the neck.
4. Reconnect the valve to the bypass assembly and attach the two black C-clips.
5. Reattach the drain hose to the head.
6. Reattach the brine hose to the venturi.
- Either screw the white nut back on:
- Or insert the hose into the collet. You'll need to make sure to push it in until it you notice some resistance. Then push it in a little further. The hose should be in about 5/8 of an inch.
7. Reconnect all the wires onto the valve head:
- Wire Harness - attached around the Outlet port. This will only secure properly one way.
- Switch - connect onto the prong.
- Motor - connect at the plastic piece.
8. Plug the power cord back into the outlet.
9. Reopen the main water supply and run a few cold-water faucets in the home until there's no air left in the lines.
10. Last step! Take the softener out of bypass and watch for leaks.
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