If you do not know who your authorized dealer is, contact WaterCare or Water-Right for the name/number of the nearest authorized dealer. Or call/email Clear Creek Water Works and we will get the information for you.
Before you call your authorized dealer for service:
1. Check bypass valve to make sure it is in the service position.
2. Check that time of day is correct.
3. Check salt levels and for “salt bridging”.
4. Check hardness setting and verify hardness of water supply.
When calling your authorized dealer for service, be prepared to answer:
1. What and where are the symptoms of the problem?
2. What is the water level in the brine tank?
3. Is there an error code on the display? If so, what is the number?
4. Have you run out of salt recently?
5. Any other pertinent information that may be useful to us?
How Your Softener or Filter Works
How to Clean Out the Brine Tank
How Your Softener or Filter Works
How Does Water Get Hard/How Is It Softened 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 as it does 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 as water flows through limestone and dissolved by rainwater which leads 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 produce softened/conditioned water by running water through an ion exchange media which by design has the superior ability of attracting and capturing dissolved hardness impurities found in water. Your WaterCare system is the result of using this technology. Here is basically how your system conditions your water.
The Softening Process (CareSoft, CareSoft Pro, CareSoft Pro RC, TotalCare):
- The softener/conditioner directs the flow of your household water through a column of media. The media making up this column is comprised of minute pockets and crevices. The media captures and holds the hardness impurities in the water. When they can no longer hold any more, the system must be regenerated, or recharged.
- Next, the media is backwashed to remove any sediment that may have accumulated in the tank. Any sediment is flushed to the drain. In the second phase of the recharge, the media is automatically drenched in a salt solution (brine) which removes the hardness impurities.
- Following that, the system is rinsed of any residual brine, rendering the system again ready to soften more water for you. Under normal conditions, this cycle can be repeated indefinitely as the media used 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, iron, sand and other turbid particles are “caught” 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 and Water-Right conditioners and some filters are designed to use salt. All salt can, regardless of its source, contain insoluble matter which accumulates at the bottom of the brine tank, and as such 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 but you should check periodically for a condition that can develop called bridging*. For 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, CareSoft Pro, CareSoft Pro RC units: WaterCare recommends 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 units: 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.
If you have a Water-Right unit and you are confused as to which salt to use, use bagged Solar Salt with no additives. This can be purchased at most hardware / home improvement stores.
At no time does WaterCare recommend the use of resin or media cleaners in the brine tank without first contacting your authorized WaterCare dealer as 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 to form.
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, or you can 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. Should an obstruction be found before the mark on the broom handle reaches the rim of the brine tank, a bridge has probably developed. Continue to probe 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 to come.
- Use only mild soap and warm water when cleaning the exterior of the system. You should never use abrasive, harsh cleaning compounds or any which contain 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. You should occasionally remove the control valve cover and brush lightly with a very soft, dry brush.
- Should troubleshooting or adjustment information be needed that is 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 on-line 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 lessen the amount of time to complete the task, 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
- Philips-head screwdriver
- Soft rag
- Remove the brine tank lid and the plastic cap from the brine well.
- Remove the brine well mechanism from the brine tank 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 and 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 out the inside of the tank to rinse out all residue and salt cake that has affixed itself 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 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 that is less than 24 hours, the control valve will remember all settings and time of day. After 24 hours, the only item that needs to be reset is the time of day and will be indicated by the time of day flashing. All other settings are permanently stored in the nonvolatile memory.
For TotalCare Series: Time of day will not need to be reset. System will recognize resumption of power and will switch back. If a power loss occurs that is less than 24 hours and the time of day flashes, this indicates that 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 battery location, remove front cover.