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CARE
OF EQUIPMENT - Softeners
General maintenance:
A
softener should be kept recharged at all times. Failure to do so
permits hard water to flow into the pipes and water heater.
Care of equipment
is highly important to insure satisfactory results. While this is
the responsibility of the owners, dealers in some areas will clean
and inspect equipment on a service basis. Also, if the owner prefers,
they will handle all maintenance necessary.
Salt requirements:
Salt is to a softeners as gasoline is to a car. Regardless of the
type of unit, always have an adequate supply of salt on hand. One
way to insure sufficient salt is to subscribe to a salt delivery
service.
Evaporated
Salt:
Evaporated flakes, cubes or crystals are generally produced by an
evaporation process. They are salts of high purity, containing less
than 0.1% impurities, and these are soluble. Evaporated salts for
water softeners should have no additives incompatible with brine.
Flake Salt
and Evaporated Crystals:
Flake and evaporated crystals, although highly pure, are not generally
recommended for direct salt or brine tank softeners. In direct salting
units, the dissolving rate of the salt is too fast to allow for
proper contact time.
Solar Salt:
Solar salt is a high purity salt. Unlike granulated salt, solar
salt particles are available in three or four sizes: fine, medium,
coarse and undried. (The undried is not generally a screened or
graded product.)
Briquetted
or Compressed Salt:
Only evaporated crystals are considered pure enough for use in briquetted
or compressed salt products for use in regenerating household softeners.
Calcium sulfate impurities present in fine rock salt make this rock
salt an undesirable source for water softening briquettes or blocks.
Briquetted salt is compressed salt of small-sized particles which
are generally referred to as pellets, nuggets, gems, pearls, zeo-tabs,
beads or buttons, depending on the supplier's designation.
Block Salt:
The salt blocks used in water softener brine tanks are of the same
general size, shape and weight (50 lbs) as those used on farms for
livestock feeding. Here the similarities end, as salt blocks produced
for animal nutrition generally contain binders or additives. When
purchasing block salt, bear these points in mind:
1.Do not use block salt containing binders or additives for a softener,
as these materials may interfere with the recharging of the unit.
2. For obvious sanitary reasons, purchase only individually wrapped
and protected salt blocks.
3. While some block salt comes from rock salt, use only blocks made
from high grade evaporated salt. These, you will find, are an excellent
source of brine
4.While block salt is sometimes used in other types of brine tanks,
it is recommended only for use in those units specifically designed
for this form of salt. Note: Do not use block salt in the newer
EcoWater units that use dynamic brining. The block salt will not
dissolve fast enough to reach proper saturation levels.
Rock Salt:
Rock salt is a natural product that has varying amounts of impurities.
In extreme cases it may contain up to 15% impurities. These may
be soluble or insoluble. The soluble impurities, particularly the
salts of calcium can reduce the effectiveness of the chemical recharging
process. Insoluble impurities (such as silica, calcium, sulfate,
and the oxides of iron and other metals) can collect in the brine
tank, or, if the unit is a salt-in-head or direct salting model,
in the softener bed. This increases pressure drop, plugs orifices,
and necessitates shutdowns for cleaning which would not otherwise
be necessary. Therefore, when using rock salt, always select the
best grades available, preferably those averaging less than 1% impurities.
Salt Additives:
There are a number of products on the market to keep softener beds
free of fouling. Among these are Ferrid, Peptifer, and Redout. While
the use of these products is not necessary, or even advisable in
all cases, their periodic use where there is iron or turbidity may
well be desirable. In extreme cases, it is necessary to use a salt
additive with every recharge as a measure of good preventive maintenance.
Maintenance
of the Brine System:
Brine tanks require periodic cleaning. How frequently you do it
depends on the type and amount of salt used. Although a more frequent
rate may be necessary, inspect the brine tank at least once a year
for buildup of insoluble materials. At the same time, check and
clean the brine valve and float assembly, if used. Such periodic
cleaning is necessary to free equipment of salt deposits caused
by the creeping action of salt that sometimes occurs at the water's
surface.
Never permit
the brine tank to run dry, except for the purpose of cleaning the
tank. At such times, inspect all fittings for signs of leakage or
salt buildup to prevent the corrosive tendencies of salt.
Electrical
Equipment:
Keep the electrical components clean at all times. If you plan to
inspect the unit, always unplug the cord before opening the electrical
equipment box.
Brine tank
cover:
Put the cover on the brine tank at all times to keep dirt and dust
out of the brine. Avoid using the cover as a storage shelf.
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