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Rainsoft softener setup

 
 
Reply Tue 4 Dec, 2007 05:57 pm
I have a Rainsoft (Silver Series) water softener that was setup at our previous home by the dealer. When we moved to a more rural area, we took the softener with us (something Rainsoft said wouldn't be a problem).

We had a plumber hook it up for us, b/c Rainsoft said they didn't have anyone in our area that could help us out. It doesn't seem to be working.

I've added salt, and it slowly goes down but the water doesn't seem to be getting soft at all. I know almost nothing about how this is supposed to work. I noticed there is a clear plastic tube going from the softener to a drain, when it regenerates a LOT of water goes thru that tube. There is a small black tube going from the softener to the brine tank.

The water coming into the house goes into the softener and another line goes from the softener to the water heater.

My manual gives no instruction for how this should be setup, only how to work the dials for regeneration on the panel.

Any help or pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
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Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 1,650 • Replies: 16
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travisb33
 
  1  
Reply Tue 4 Dec, 2007 09:21 pm
The by-pass valve is not open. I didn't put water in the tank when installed, there is some water in it now. I don't know about the plumbing, like I said, a plumber installed it, but that doesn't mean he knew anything about water softeners.

I looked at your website. What do I need to do to get my water tested? Is there anything else I should be looking at.

Thanks for the quick response.
0 Replies
 
H2O MAN
 
  1  
Reply Tue 4 Dec, 2007 10:18 pm
Re: Rainsoft softener setup
travisb33 wrote:
I have a Rainsoft (Silver Series) water softener that was setup at our previous home by the dealer. When we moved to a more rural area, we took the softener with us (something Rainsoft said wouldn't be a problem).

We had a plumber hook it up for us, b/c Rainsoft said they didn't have anyone in our area that could help us out. It doesn't seem to be working.


Any help or pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.


Can you post or email a clear picture or two of the installation?

Don't touch the settings.
Email me with a mailing address and I'll mail you a copy of the set up instructions.
A basic water test is required: Ph, total hardness and Iron.
0 Replies
 
Gary Slusser
 
  1  
Reply Wed 5 Dec, 2007 10:50 pm
travisb33 wrote:
What do I need to do to get my water tested? Is there anything else I should be looking at.

Thanks for the quick response.


You're welcome.

Any lab or local water treatment dealer, Sears or plumbing or pump supply house can test water or you can buy a test kit at hardware or big box stores and do your own tests.
0 Replies
 
Andy CWS
 
  1  
Reply Fri 7 Dec, 2007 12:57 pm
Most of the testing kits, I have seen, from hardware stores are not very accurate. Those test strips show a range but lack specific details that a qualified lab or specialist can provide.

Do yourself a favor and get quality equipment that will last you a long time with trouble-free service.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II
0 Replies
 
Gary Slusser
 
  1  
Reply Sun 9 Dec, 2007 03:59 pm
For hardness, pH, iron, manganese etc., the things a softener is used to remove from your water, you don't need Olympic target rifle accuracy at a 1000 meters. A shotgun approach works very well. So don't fall victim to the local dealers' hype that you can't test your own water.
0 Replies
 
justalurker
 
  1  
Reply Sun 9 Dec, 2007 04:19 pm
And don't don't fall victim to the online dealers' hype that you can or should test your own water.

Certified independent labs in your area can be found here (if you're in the US)... http://www.epa.gov/safewater/labs/index.html

Your water is so important that testing it should be trusted to a professional and so should your water treatment.
0 Replies
 
Gary Slusser
 
  1  
Reply Sun 9 Dec, 2007 07:19 pm
You use a softener to remove non-health related hardness and iron in your water, there is no need for certified lab testing.
0 Replies
 
H2O MAN
 
  1  
Reply Mon 10 Dec, 2007 07:44 am
Just have a local H2O pro perform the basic testing on the spot in front of you.
Ph, total hardness and Iron. A bacteria test is a good idea if you are on a well.
0 Replies
 
Andy CWS
 
  1  
Reply Mon 10 Dec, 2007 09:00 am
Rule of Thumb:

The more accurate the testing, the better you understand how to fix it. I prefer to be dead on target than take the nuke-'em approach.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II
0 Replies
 
Gary Slusser
 
  1  
Reply Mon 10 Dec, 2007 10:59 am
Travisb33 already has a softener that he moved from one house to another. It is not giving him soft water and he needs to reprogram it for his current water hardness.
0 Replies
 
H2O MAN
 
  1  
Reply Mon 10 Dec, 2007 11:23 am
Are you saying the H2O in his new home is the exact same as his old home?

He needs to get it tested so he knows what he is up against. This will also tell him if he needs to make any changes to his settings.

I am mailing him a copy of the Silver Series set-up as soon as I find it.
0 Replies
 
Gary Slusser
 
  1  
Reply Tue 11 Dec, 2007 01:18 pm
H2O_MAN wrote:
Are you saying the H2O in his new home is the exact same as his old home?[/'quote]
No.

H2O_MAN wrote:
He needs to get it tested so he knows what he is up against. This will also tell him if he needs to make any changes to his settings.

That's what I've been saying and said in my first reply to him, many days ago.
0 Replies
 
doopie
 
  1  
Reply Thu 13 Dec, 2007 11:06 pm
Can I take the water to a Leslies Pool Place and let them test the water or is it not a good idea since they base the concentrate on a pool size.

Raymond
0 Replies
 
Gary Slusser
 
  1  
Reply Fri 14 Dec, 2007 08:40 am
A water test never depends on teh volume of water the sample was taken from, so yes, a pool place can test for hardness, pH, maybe iron or not. Basically that's all you need to program a softener.
0 Replies
 
doopie
 
  1  
Reply Sun 30 Dec, 2007 08:52 pm
The volume is what they use to determine how much of certain chemicals to add.
0 Replies
 
Gary Slusser
 
  1  
Reply Mon 31 Dec, 2007 10:37 am
Most hardness tests use 5 ml of sample. That's like a thimble full so take them like 8 ounces of water, or 16 oz water bottle full. That's way more than they need for all the tests they will be doing.
0 Replies
 
 

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