Service Information - North Star PA101 Manual

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Table Of Contents

Table of Contents

OPERATION --- WATER FLOW THROUGH THE SYSTEM

BACKWASH

Figure 14

The motor drives the valve to end brine

rinse and reposition in backwash. In

backwash, a fast upward flow of water

through the resin bed flushes remaining

hardness minerals, brine, dirt, sediments,

iron deposits, etc., from the bed and to

the drain. The fast flow lifts and expands

the resin bed for maximum cleaning.

FAST RINSE

Figure 13

After backwash, valve rotation places the

unit in fast rinse. A continued fast flow of

water reverses direction, flowing down

through the bed. Any hardness minerals,

brine, etc., remaining at the bottom of the

bed are flushed up the standpipe, and to

the drain. The fast flow packs the resin

bed in preparation for service.

The valve motor is energized a final time

to drive the valve to service position.

Remove the brine tank cover and check the salt storage level frequently. Always refill if less than 1/2 full. BE

SURE THE BRINEWELL COVER IS ON.

NOTE: In humid areas, it is best to keep the salt storage level lower, and to refill more often.

RECOMMENDED SALT: Nugget, pellet, solar, button, etc. water conditioner salt is recommended. This type

of salt is formed, or compressed into briquets, from high purity evaporated crystals. It has less than 1% insolu-

ble (will not dissolve in water) impurities. Clean, high grade rock salts are acceptable, but may require frequent

brine tank cleaning to remove the "sludge" residue (insolubles).

SALT NOT RECOMMENDED: Rock salt, high in impurities, block, granulated, table, ice melting, ice cream

making salts, etc., are not recommended.

SALT WITH IRON REMOVAL ADDITIVES: Some salts have an additive to help the unit handle iron in the water

supply. Although this additive may help keep the units' resin clean, it may also release corrosive fumes that

will weaken and shorten the life of some softener parts.

Sometimes, a hard crust or salt bridge forms in the brine tank. It is usually caused by high humidity or the wrong

kind of salt. When the salt bridges, an empty space forms between the water and salt. Then salt will not dis-

solve in the water to make brine. Without brine, the resin bed does not regenerate and you will have hard water.

If the storage tank is full of salt, it is hard to tell if you have a salt bridge. Salt is loose on top, but the bridge

is under it. Take a broom handle, or like tool, and push it straight down into the salt. If a hard object is felt,

it's most likely a salt bridge. carefully push into the bridge in several places to break it.

bypass hard water

to valve outlet

soft water

to valve outlet