Salt Bridges; Control Of Hardness Of Treated Water - Viessmann AQUAHOME 11-N Installation And Operation Manual

B. Salt bridges
This phenomenon occurs when the
softener is installed in premises with
high levels of humidity. It can also
be caused by the use of
regeneration salt with wrong
parameters. A salt bridge forms on
the water surface and creates an
empty space between water and salt
and prevents their contact, which is
why the salt does not dissolve in the
water and no brine is created. This
prevents the regeneration of resin. If
the brine tank is full of salt, it is
difficult to verify the presence of a
salt bridge. The surface may feature
a normal layer of salt, but an empty
space may be present half way. In
order to determine whether or not a
salt bridge was created, proceed as
follows: use a stick (such as broom
C. Control of hardness of treated water
Insert a stick into the tank
to reach the salt bridge and
break it
2.5 – 5 cm
Pen mark
Stick, e.g.
broom stick
More frequent control of hardness of treated
water (once per two days) is required in the
initial period of operation of the water softener
(during the initial 10 days). The water
hardness value depends on the setting of the
mixing valve. For households the water
hardness value should be set in the range
between 3 and 6, according to the German
water hardness scale.
Following that initial period, the water
hardness parameter should be checked once
every two weeks. Enter the results of the
water hardness measurement to the operation
log book (see page 26). The instructions
handle) and place it near the device
(see figure no. 6). Mark a reference
point on the broom stick, 2.5-5 cm
below the edge of the brine tank.
Then push the broom insert the
broom stick into the brine tank to its
bottom. If stronger resistance can be
felt on the broom stick before it strikes
the tank bottom, it will be most likely a
salt bridge. Push the broom stick into
the salt bridge in a number of spots,
this way breaking the bridge. Never
break the salt bridge by pounding on
the walls of the brine tank. It may
damage the tank.
If the use of wrong kind of salt
resulted in the salt bridge, remove it
from the brine tank, then carefully
rinse the tank and refill it with salt of
appropriate quality.
Fig. 6
Salt
Salt bridge
Water level
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