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When or Why to replace your
softening resins.
First let me say that is has been my experience
that the resins in your water softener will usually out last the control
valve. Examination of resin tanks over 20 years old found the resins to
still be capable of the ion exchange ( which is the process by which
your water is softened ). Some depletion of the amount of resin occurred
in some of the systems over 20 years old. And modern day resin has
improved slightly, but replacement is not needed as often as some would
lead you to believe.
* How much resins should be in the tank?
Tanks 44" and taller normally are only 65%
full when new. Some shorter tanks may be as much as 80% full ( Note -
the valve head must have an upper distributor screen or
"basket" installed to use this higher percentage of resins ).
* When should you replace your resins?
1. The number one reason to replace your resins is because
they have been damaged by years of exposure to chlorinated
"city" water. After about 10 years ( can be much sooner, or a
bit later ) the resins break down and become so fragmented they start to
restrict the water pressure through the resin tank. This is generally
how you "know" you need new resins. On some systems the
fragments ( "Fines" ) will start coming into the house and clogging faucet screens.
If resin fragments have been getting into your house, then you will also need to replace the Bottom Distributor ( use our PN MD1236 listed below ).
Your Resins look like this ( color many vary ) >
2. When the resin bed has become contaminated by a noticeable
and usually visible amount of algae growth ( This problem is common in
tanks installed outside ).
3. When the resin tank has a large amount of fine sand in it.
This sometimes happens on well water. It is always recommended to have a
sediment prefilter installed in the water line before your water
softener. This fine sand in the resin bed will cause you to have very
poor water pressure. The only way to solve the problem is to dump ( or
suck ) out all the resins and sand. Replacing with new resins is a whole
lot easier than trying to sift the sand out of your old resin.
4. When a resin tank has been sitting unused for months or
years, and a strong odor is detected from the resins. You can try
cleaning with a weak chlorine solution, but odds are you will need to
dump the resins, bleach out the tank ( with a strong chlorine solution )
and start with fresh new resins.
5. Resins "fouled" by Iron and Organics can usually
be cleaned by adding a heavy dose of resin cleaner ( such as ResUp, Iron
Out, Citric Acid, or Bleach ). Of course replacing with new works every
time.
How To Replace Your Resins
1. Turn off water, unplug control valve
from electric outlet, disconnect control valve from water lines, drain
line, and brine line.
2. Unscrew control valve ( may require two people ).
3. Remove control valve and distributor tube ( the two normally can
be separated at the control valve ).
4. Now the fun part. Depending on your situation ( size and location of
your tank ), you need to either dump the water and resins out OR use
suction to remove them. The resins are a non-toxic plastic and can be
throw away or spread out in your lawn or flower bed. If you live in an
area that has some "law" about disposal, please don't break the
law. I am currently unaware of any restrictions, but now a days the local
governments are getting "creative" in passing laws to
"protect" the public.
5. You can clean the inside of the tank with chlorine ( bleach ) if you
feel it needs it. If you need to scrub the inside of the tank, use a clean
toilet bowl brush with piece of pipe to extend the handle.
And if you are going to be replacing your Bottom Distributor and center pipe, this would be the time to do it ( when the tank is empty ).
6. The next step is to pour in the new resins. A funnel is needed. A
second person to help the resins "flow" into the tank is always
nice to have, but one person can do it by themselves ( slowly ). If your
resin tank's diameter is over 12", it is recommended that you pour a
4-6 inch layer of fine gravel ( 1/8" x 1/4" ) into the tank
before the resins. On tanks 12" or less in diameter, the gravel under bedding
is usually an unneeded option. If gravel under bedding is used, you must
have the distributor tube in the tank before you start filling with
gravel. Be sure you cover the top opening of your distributor tube to
prevent any gravel or resins from getting inside. A plastic sandwich bag
and rubber band works well.
NOTE: We do not recommend gravel for residential water softeners with tank diameter's under 13 inches.
7. Now do steps 3,2,1 in reverse.
8. Once reassembled you should backwash your new resins for 10 minutes
using your control valve ( All control valves have some way to manually
advance the valve to backwash ). You can allow the valve to run a complete
regeneration cycle, but it is not needed. The resins come fully charged.
9. With the control valve in the normal "service" position, run
the water in the home for a few minutes to clear the lines of any
"trapped" air.
10. - You're Done -
How Much Resins To Use
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Resin Replacement 
