Air Check - Ball dropping early - Autotrol 155 or 255 Series
Can you clarify whether the air check should be seated or not during the BRINE/SLOW RINSE portion of operation?
** ONLY after sucking out the water from the salt tank, THEN it drops and "seats" to prevent suction of air.Normal draw time of all the salt water from the brine tank is 15 - 25 minutes, and the Rinse cycles last a full 50 minutes.
** IF the Ball is dropping prematurely,
then you have an "air leak" at one of the fittings between the Air Check and the Brine Pick Up tube in the salt tank.
1 ) The Elbow that connects to the Air check threads is the most common.
NOTE: Be sure to use Teflon Tape or similar product ( like our Lock Leak ) on the male Threads of the Air Check
( where the female fitting must thread on to ).
It is NECESSARY, or it will develop an "air" leak.
For older 36F Air Check ( used on most 155 models ), it would be this male x compression fitting,1/4 male x 3/8 compression
And for newer style air check( used on all 255 models and late model 155 and all Technetic 1000 valves ),
the fitting is 1/4" female x 3/8" compression nut
( since most systems use 3/8" O.D. brine tubing ).
2 ) The Elbow that connects to the Brine Pick Up tube in the salt tank area has Two compression nuts
that should be checked to make sure they are tight.
And the fact that there are 2 nuts to be checked is often overlooked.
One connects the 3/8" tubing and elbow, and one that is connected to the gray pick up tube that goes down into the brine tank.
** A partial leak in either of these Elbow connections may allow some water to be removed from the brine tank,
but the ball "drops" in less than 60 seconds, due to air getting sucked in at the same time.
3 ) The tubing between the air check and the brine pick up tube can become cracked
or if have a pin hole in it that allows air to be sucked into the Valve ( into the Air Check chamber )
and the ball drops before any of the water from the salt tank gets removed ( drawn out ).
*** Still having issues after checking all Fittings:
Customer wrote:
* A small drop is okay. But if it drops too far, and causes a "premature" Air Check during the Brine Rinse ( suction ) Cycle, then you still have a problem.
? This is what I did today Removed the compression nuts, cleaned & inspected them. Took them off the tubing. Removed the air check, along with the elbow, applied new Teflon tape to the air check male threads Removed the brine control dial & ball, it was clean, found no debris Removed the injector, screen, flapper valves. Found no debris in the valve body where the flappers sit. Almost none in the injector area. You figure I would see a liquid leak between the air check & brine pick up, I see nothing. Unless its vapor. ?
* No, you would not see a LEAK.
If you have a problem ( air leaking INTO the system ), the water simply flows down into the Brine Tank.. no noticeable leak at any fitting.
? What holds the liquid in the air check on the valve body side?
* Gravity and a slight vacuum .. unless air is getting in somewhere.
Usually it is at a FITTING ( but you've re-sealed those ).
Other places are:
1 ) Brine Control Dial leaks from the CENTER
https://www.softenerparts.com/ap1f19.htm
2 ) Air Check O-ring
https://www.softenerparts.com/ap1010143.htm
3 ) Brine o-ring between upper valve body and lower tank adapter ( the smallest one at the front of the valve ).
Sold in KIT,https://www.softenerparts.com/ap150a129.htm
The older 36F ( on left ) is an OBSOLETE PART > Air Check Assembly used on Autotrol 155 prior to 1993.
Assembly threads on to Tank Adapter.
Old PN # 36F - No longer made, nor available from any source.
NOTE: Replacement options explained on product page. Old PN # 36F
Air Check - New Style ( kit 1032417 = Air Check Kit, 1/4" Male )used from about 1993 to present.
Can NOT be used in place of the old style ( see part # AP36F ).
Used only on late model Autotrol 155 and all 255 water softener valves.
*** Note: If you have the Air Check ( old or new style ) with the "Ball" in the chamber,
then the Brine Pick Up tube only needs a "screen" at the end ( not an "air check" ).
see:
Brine_Pick_Up_Tube_with_Screen
and if can be used with a shut off control ( and separate float ),
see:
Safety_Brine_Valve_Assembly_2310_60014
and float rod,
Float_Assembly_2310_w_30_Rod_PN_60068_30
AND
If you have any problems with Too Much Water in the Brine Tank,
There are several areas you need to be checking,
reference:
My_softener_does_not_remove_the_water_from_my_salt_tank
********************************
For other reasons that a Brine Tank may be overflowing, or the salt water not being sucked out during the Brine Rinse cycle,
See: # 1 FAQ = High Water in Brine Tank - Problem
The older 36F ( on left ) is an OBSOLETE PART > Air Check Assembly used on Autotrol 155 prior to 1993.
Assembly threads on to Tank Adapter.
Old PN # 36F - No longer made, nor available from any source.
NOTE: Replacement options explained on product page. Old PN # 36F
Air Check - New Style ( kit 1032417 = Air Check Kit, 1/4" Male )used from about 1993 to present.
Can NOT be used in place of the old style ( see part # AP36F ).
Used only on late model Autotrol 155 and all 255 water softener valves.
*** Note: If you have the Air Check ( old or new style ) with the "Ball" in the chamber,
then the Brine Pick Up tube only needs a "screen" at the end ( not an "air check" ).
see:
Brine_Pick_Up_Tube_with_Screen
and if can be used with a shut off control ( and separate float ),
see:
Safety_Brine_Valve_Assembly_2310_60014
and float rod,
Float_Assembly_2310_w_30_Rod_PN_60068_30
AND
If you have any problems with Too Much Water in the Brine Tank,
There are several areas you need to be checking,
reference:
My_softener_does_not_remove_the_water_from_my_salt_tank
