Instructions for Clack Water Softener Valves
(Including Nitrate Sulfate Units) and Backwashing Filters

Downloads:
M1-Valve Manual titled WS1 WS1.25 Water Specialist Drawings and Service Manual
M2-Timer Manual titled Water Specialist EE Control Valve Programming Manual

A. General instructions applicable to both clack water softener valves and filters

  1. Review M1 Manual pages 25-28 to familiarize yourself with basic do’s and don’ts of valve use and installation and pages 32 & 33 for full flow by-pass valve details. Page 35 addresses inlet and outlet fittings use.
  2. Water flow direction. All systems flow from right (untreated water inlet) to left (treated water outlet) when viewed facing the valve timer (front)
  3. When supplied with both a filter and a softener, unless special instructions are given, they are installed so that water flows first through the filter and then on to the softener.
  4. Always place systems on a hard (preferably concrete) and level surface. Install indoors or under cover and minimally exposed to direct sunlight and blowing debris. If outdoors request an optional weatherproof timer cover.
  5. When installing on well systems, place the unit(s) hydraulically after the hydropneumatic pressure tank. Do not install between the well and the tank.
  6. Install within 15 feet of an uninterrupted 115-volt electrical outlet.
  7. A 3/4″ MPT drain fitting is supplied on the top of each control valve. Use a 3/4″ drain for most filters. Reduce to 1/2″ ID tubing or pipe for most softeners unless length exceeds 20 ft. Drains can go up 8 ft. to clear doorways.
  8. Drain water from filters is typically dirty in appearance but free of added chemicals and can be disposed of anywhere. Softener drain water can contain dirt, but about 1/3 of it will contain a high dissolved solids level of salt brine that is environmentally damaging and must be disposed of in a dry well, French drain, sewer or septic tank. Numerous industry studies have shown no degrading of septic tank function due to this discharge.

 

B. Softener and Nitrate Reduction Instructions

  1. Review M1 page 34. After placement and plumbing the in and out, connect and support the drain line. Leave the water to the unit turned OFF.
  2. Connect the 6′ length of black plastic 3/8″ OD tubing shipped in the brine tank first to the push fitting on the top of the valve and then attach the other end to the push fitting on top of the brine valve. To access this second connection, lift the cover off of the brine tank and locate the 4″ dia. white tube (brine well). Take the cap off of the brine well and feed the black tube through the hole in the side of the brine tank and the brine well and push the tube into the push fitting on top of the brine safety valve. Tug on the brine line in the brine tank and then the valve to be certain both are tight. Replace the white cap on the brine well.
  3. Add a minimum of a 40 lb. bag of salt into the brine tank. Use only salt packaged and sold for water softener use. Use rock (94% salt + 6% dirt) or pellet (99% salt) salt. “Common” salt is sodium chloride and potassium chloride can be substituted with no adjustments. Be cautious with potassium chloride if there are daily warm cold temperature swings because its temperature/solubility characteristics are different than sodium chloride and large “cakes” of salt can form in the brine tank that can impair softener operation.
  4. Add about 5 gallons of water to the salt in the brine tank. As received the softener will produce softened water but the resulting brine is necessary for the first regeneration. From that time forward the correct amount of water will be returned to the brine tank automatically to produce brine for subsequent regenerations.
  5. Plug in the valve transformer.
  6. Pressurize the system.
    a. Push the right (REGEN) button on the timer and hold for 5 seconds. Valve will index to the backwash position.
    b. Very Slowly, partially open the water supply to the unit. When all air has been expelled from the unit through the drain line and only water is flowing, open the water supply all of the way open.
  7. By repeatedly tapping the REGEN button, index the valve quickly through the remaining regeneration cycles and back to the service position.
  8. Choose the closest COLD water faucet and open it full flow for a few minutes until the water runs clear.
  9. Set the actual time of day at this point by viewing M2 page 6 or by holding the Set Clock button (also down arrow)  The hours will flash.  Use up or down arrow to set the hour according to your local time.  Press the next button to see minutes flashing.  Set accordingly.  Press next once again and the system will go back into service mode with your local time displayed.
  10. Typically units are preset for the application and will regenerate at 2:00 a.m. on water volume treated. To change the regeneration time or water hardness refer to M2 page 17.
  11. Enjoy your treated water and within a day or two add up to 300# of salt to the brine tank.
  12. To keep your unit functioning well and for a long time
    a.  Always keep the salt level in the brine tank above the liquid level.
    b. If there is any iron, manganese, or suspected bacteria in the raw water, once every 3 or 4 months add a commercially available resin cleaner to the brine tank. Optionally you can purchase from us an automatic cleaner feeder that inexpensively keeps resin clean for years.
    c. Check water pressure available at the unit. If a consumer well supply, pressure must not drop below 25 PSI. Lower pressure may result in incomplete regeneration, salty water at taps, and premature resin failure. If a municipal supply be certain pressure doesn’t exceed 100 PSI and preferably not exceed 70 PSI. High pressures shorten tank and valve life resulting in leaks.
    d. Keep the area around the installation reasonably clean and neat.

C. Backwashing filter instructions.

  1. Review M1 page 34. After placement and plumbing the in and out, connect and support the drain line. Leave water to the unit turned OFF and all faucets, fixtures, and appliances in the facility must also be in their off position.
  2. Plug in the valve transformer.
  3. Push and hold the right (REGEN) button on the front of the timer. The valve will index to the backwash position.
  4. Very slowly, partially open the water supply to the unit. Air and a small amount of water can be seen and heard at the drain.
  5. Once only water is seen at the drain
    a. If it is a carbon filter immediately turn off the inlet water and wait for 30 plus minutes.
    b. For all others and carbon filters after 30 minutes proceed to 6.
  6. Open the inlet valve all of the ways. For carbon filters push and hold the REGEN button for 5 seconds. Allow a full flow to drain during the backwash and flush cycles.
  7. At the end of the flush cycle, view the drain water.
  8. If necessary, repeat the REGEN cycle as many times as necessary until the water to drain at the end of cycles is clean and clear.
  9. Open the closest COLD faucet and run the water until clean and clear.
  10. Valves are factory programmed as follows unless special instructions were made.

Carbon Filters              All others

Regeneration Time                      2:00 a.m.                2:00 a.m.

Regeneration Frequency                6 days                     3 days

Backwash Time                                6 min.                     10 min.

Flush Time                                        6 min.                     10 min.

  1. To change Time, frequency, and cycle duration refer to M2 pages 15 & 17.
  2. Set the actual time of day at this point by viewing M2 page 6 or by holding the Set Clock button (also down arrow) The hours will flash.  Use up or down arrow to set the hour according to your local time.  Press the next button to see minutes flashing.  Set accordingly.  Press next once again and the system will go back into service mode with your local time displayed.
  3. Enjoy filtered water