OWNER'S
MANUAL
MODEL NOS.
UltraSoft 100
625.388150
UltraSoft 150
625.388160
Caution:
Read and Follow
All Safety Rules and
Operating Instructions
Before First Use of
This Product.
If you have questions when
installing, operating or main-
taining your softener, and
when setting the timer, call
this toll-free number...
1-800-426-9345
www.KenmoreWater.com
SAVE THIS MANUAL
Water Softeners
with Deluxe Valve
• Warranty
• Start Up / Setting Timer
• How It Works
• Care Of
• Specifications
• Repair Parts
Use the plastic bag and tie provided, to hang manuals
nearby the softener for future reference.
I Sears, and Co., 3333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 USA
PRINTED IN USA 72590!6 (Rev. A 4/2/03)
Roebuck
I
W
SEARS RESIDENTIAL WATER SOFTENER
A
For one year from the date of purchase, when this water softener is installed and
maintained in accordance with our instructions, Sears will repair, free of charge,
defects in material or workmanship in this water softener.
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If you want your water softener professionally installed, talk to your Sears Salesman. He will arrange for a
prompt, quality installation by Sears Authorized Installers.
For ten years from the date of purchase, Sears will furnish and install a new current
model water softener tank or salt storage drum, free of charge, if either the tank
or drum develop a leak.
TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE, SIMPLY CONTACT THE NEAREST
SEARS SERVICE CENTER THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. This war-
ranty applies only while this product is in use in the United States.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which
vary from state to state.
FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON WATER SOFTENER
FULL TEN YEAR WARRANTY AGAINST LEAKS
Sears, Roebuck and Co., D/817 WA, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
SEARS INSTALLATION POLICY
All installation labor arranged by Sears shall be per-
formed in a neat, workmanlike manner in accor-
dance with generally accepted trade practices. Fur-
ther, all installations shall comply with all local
taws, codes, regulations, and ordinances. Customer
shall also be protected, dunng installation, by insur-
ance relating to Property Damage, Workman's
Compensation and Public Liability.
FACTS AND FIGURES TO KEEP
FLUin the blanks below and keep this book in a safe place so you always have
these facts.
Water Softener Model No.t
Serial Number
Date Installed
Water Hardness
Iron Content
pH
Water Pressure
Water Flow Rate
t The model number is on the ra ring decal, loca ted on the rim, under the salt hole cover.
Taste And/Or Odor
Grains Per Gallon
Parts Per Million
Pounds/Square Inch
GaLlons Per Minute
SEARS INSTALLATION WARRANTY
In addition to any warranty extended to you on the
Sears merchandise involved, which warranty be-
comes effective the date the merchandise in
installed, should the workmanship of any Sears ar-
ranged installation prove faulty within one year,
Sears will, upon notice from you, cause such faults
to be corrected at no additional cost to you.
salt hole cover.
rating decal
A
WATER SOFTENER START UP
PAGE NO.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
E
0
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B.
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D.
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a.
Safety Guides
Check List of Step-By-Step Guides To Install
Program The _imer - - =................................
Sanitizing The Water Softener
Fill The Storage Tank With Salt .....
HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
Faceplate _qmer Features
Soft Water Service and Regeneration
CARE OF YOUR WATER SOFTENER
Salt: Refilling Storage Tank / Salt Bridge
Keeping The Water Softener Clean
Protect The Water Softener From Freezing
Checklist (Not Getting Soft Water)
ABOUT YOUR WATER SOFTENER
Dimensions / Specifications
1-1
1-2
1-3, 1-4
1-5
1-6
2-1
2-2 to 2-5
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
4-1, 4-2
B.
a.
B,
C.
a.
C.
SERVICE TECH. INFORMATION
Troubleshooting ..........
Rotary Valve Service
Water Flow Through The Softener Valve .........
REPAIR PARTS FOR WATER SOFTENER
Water Softener Complete -
Brine Valve Assembly ....
Valve Assembly
B
5-1 to 5-4
5-5
5-6 to 5-8
6-1
6-2
6-3, 6-4
I_i!_iii_i!!_ii!iii_ SECTION 1 '_J__
A. SAFETY GUIDES
• Read all steps, guides and rules carefully before
S
installing and using your new water softener. Follow
all steps exactly to correctly install. Failure to follow
them could cause personal injury or property damage.
Reading this book will also help you to get all of the
benefits from your water softener.
WATER SOFTENER START UP
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• Your water softener will remove hardness minerals
and "clear water" iron* from water, up to the limits
shown on page 4-1. It will not remove other types of
iron, acids, tastes and odors, etc. It will not purify pol-
luted water or make it safe to drink.
• Protect the softener and piping from freezing. Dam-
age from freezing voids the softener warranty. See
page 3-3.
CAUTIONS
PLEASE READ AND COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING
GUIDES TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE SOFTENER
OR OTHER PROPERTY, PERSONAL INJURY, OR
POSSIBLE FATAL SHOCK.
• THIS SOFTENER WORKS ON 24 VOLTS ONLY. BE
SURE TO USE ONLY THE TRANSFORMER IN-
CLUDED, AND PLUG IT INTO A NOMINAL 120V, 60
CYCLE HOUSEHOLD OUTLET THAT IS GROUNDED
AND PROPERLY PROTECTED BY AN OVERCUR-
RENT DEVICE SUCH AS A CIRCUIT BREAKER OR
FUSE. IF TRANSFORMER IS REPLACED, USE ONLY
THE AUTHORIZED SERVICE, CLASS II, 24 VOLT, 10
VA TRANSFORMER.
• Unplug the transformer right away if the power
cable should become damaged or frayed. Make re-
pairs, or replace transformer, before plugging back
into the power outlet.
• Always unplug the softener from electrical power
before removing outer valve covers.
• This system is not intended to be used for treating
water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown
quality without adequate disinfection before or after
the system.
* Capacity to remove clear water iron was tested in the
field by the manufacturer.
1-1
Problems, Questions? Call 1-800-426-9345 Kenmore Water Line
_i!_j_jj_j_ SECTION 1 i_!_iii_ii_iiii_i_i_ WATER SOFTENER START UP
B. CHECK LIST OF STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES TO INSTALL
To be sure you have done all the steps to install the
softener, read the following list. Refer to the Instal-
lation Manual, part no. 7258997, for step-by-step
guides.
Page numbers referred to are in the Installation
Manual unless otherwise noted.
Is the house water flow going INTO the softener
valve INLET? Trace piping to be sure. See pages
2-4 and 2-5.
p" Is the plumbing bypass valve (or 3 valves) set for
SERVICE? Bypass valve(s) should always re-
main in soft water service position. Position in
"bypass" only if needed for softener repairs. See
FIG. 14, page 4-1 of this manual.
w" Is the valve drain hose connected the right way,
and without sharp bends or kinks that could
stop or reduce water flow? See page 3-5 in the
installation manual.
""VALVE
INLET
Page numbers referred to are in the Installation
Manual unless otherwise noted.
p" Is the transformer plugged into an inside, al-
ways live, grounded, 120VqSOHz electrical out-
let? See pages 3-8 and 3-9 in the installation
manual, and the wiring schematic on page 5-1 of
this manual.
Be sure to restart the water heater. See page
3-9.
plastic 3-valve (.i _r/L_
Bypass Valve(s)
NOTE: Codes in the state of Massachusetts require installation
by a licensed plumber. For installation, use plumbing code
248-CMR of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Problems, Questions? Call 1-800-426-9345 Kenmore Water Line
1-2
_iii_i_i_i_iii_ii SECTION 1 ii_iiiii;i_iiiiii_!i_iiiit WATER SOFTENER START UP
C. PROGRAM THE TIMER
display
\
F
\
[ !
Customer AssJstar_ce
1-800-426-9_5
RECHARGE NOW
RECHARGE TONIGHT
ON/OFF-HOLD button
(Recharge Tonight-Now)
When the transformer is plugged in, a model code,
and a test number (example: $3.0) show in the face
plate display for 4 seconds. Then, 12:00 AM and
PRESENT TIME begin to flash.
UitraSoft 100
COOE
5R22
IS3.0
UP button DOWN button
SELECT button
SOUND "BEEPER": A "beeper" sounds while
pressing buttons for timer set-up. One beep signals
a change in the face plate display. Repeated beeps
mean the timer will not accept a change from the
button you have pressed, telling you to use another
button. For example, while setting the hardness
(step 2), the beeper sounds repeatedly when the dis-
play reaches I using the DOWN button, or the high-
est hardness setting using the UP button.
i _'w..JW I
PRESENT TIME |
UltraSoft 150
5R2H
• COOE
[530
J_.rlr-_
u
Notes:
If SR - - shows in the display, press the UP (_ or
DOWN (_ button until SR22 or SR24 shows. Then,
press the SELECT button to set, and change to the
flashing PRESENT TIME display.
To check the model code, unplug the transformer at
the wail outlet and ptugin again, if other than SR22
or SR24 shows, see page 5-3 to reset.
B SET PRESENT TIME OF DAY
If the words PRESENT TIME do not show in the dis-
play, press the SELECTbutton (FIG. 2) until they do,
or see the previous notes.
• Press the UP / DOWN buttons to set the present
time. Press UP to move the display ahead; press
DOWN to move the time backward.
If the present time is between
noon and midnight, be sure PM
shows.
If the present time is between
midnight and noon, be sure AM
shows.
Each press of the UP /DOWN buttons changes
the time by one minute. Holding the buttons in
changes the time rapidly.
1-3
%B"I
PRESENT TIME j
1
Problems, Questions? Call 1-800-426-9345 Kenmore Water Line
C. PROGRAM THETIMER
B SET WATER HARDNESS NUMBER
• Press the SELECT button once to display 25
(flashing) and HARDNESS.
The grains per gallon (gpg) hard-
ness of your water supply is on
your water analysis report. Be
sure to enter water test results on
page A, for future reference.
If your water supply contains iron, compensate for
it by adding to the water hardness number. For ex-
ample, assume your water is 20 gpg hard and contains 2
ppm iron. Add 5 to the hardness number for each I ppm
of iron. In this example, you would use 30 for your hard-
ness number.
20 gpg hardness
2 ppmironx5 = 10 +10
(times) 30 HARDNESS NUMBER
• Press the UP / DOWN buttons to set your water
hardness number in the display. The DOWN button
moves the display to 1. The UP button moves the
display to the highest setting (see maximum setting
for your model in the specifications).
Note:
Each press of the UP / DOWN button changes the
display by I between I and 25. Between 25 and the
highest number, the display changes 5 at a
time... 25, 30, 35, etc. Holding the UP or DOWN but-
ton in changes the display twice each second.
• Press the UP / DOWN buttons to set the desired
recharge starting hour. Be sure to observe the AM-
PM as you did when setting the present time of day.
Note:
Each press of the UP / DOWN buttons changes the
display I hour. Holding the buttons in changes the
display twice each second.
_SET SALT EFFICIENCY
A new feature in this modelis Salt Efficiency. When
this feature is ON, the unit will operate at salt effi-
ciencies of 4000 grains of hardness per pound of salt
or higher which will reduce the softeners salt usage.
• Press and hold for 3 seconds the SELECT button
until the following screen is displayed.
.,o
I
WATER METER (A) SWlTGH (B)
More information on this particular display is
found in the Troubleshooting Section of the manual,
under Manual Initiated Electronics Diagnostics.
• Once in this display, press the SELECT button and
one of the following two displays is shown.
_SET RECHARGE (REGENERATION) TIME
• Press the SELECT button to display 2:00 A_M
(flashing) and RECHARGE TIME.
At the 2:00 AM recharge time
setting, the softener begins re-
generation (see pages 2-3 and
2-4) at 2:00 AM, ending no later
than 4:00 AM. This is a good time in most house-
holds because water is not being used (see Auto-
matic Bypass, page 2- 4). If a different recharge time
setting would be better for your household, do the
following.
7,1717A_
C'uu /
IF YOU NEED HELP PROGRAMMING THE TIMER, CALL TOLL FREE,
NUMBER 1- 800-426- 9345.
SEE PAGE 2-1 FOR OTHER FACE PLATE TIMER FEATURES.
Problems, Questions? Call 1-800-426-9345 Kenmore Water Line
_I
• Press the UP button to set this feature ON, press
the DOWN button to set OFF. When the Salt Effi-
ciency is ON, the icon will be displayed in the nor-
mal run display.
• Press the SELECT button once again, to com-
plete initial programming, and RECHARGE TO-
NIGHT shows in the display.
1-4
D. SANITIZE THE WATER SOFTENER
Care is taken at the factory to keep your water soft-
ener clean and sanitary. Materials used to make the
softener will not infect or contaminate your water
supply, and will not cause bacteria to form or grow.
However, during shipping, storage, installing and
operating, bacteria could get into the softener. For
this reason, sanitizing as follows is suggested ®
when installing.
salt hole
cover
In The first time you sanitize your softener, be sure
to do alI steps in the installation manua!, and on
pages 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 of this manual first.
Note: Be certain the bypass valve is pulled out
to "service" position.
Lift the salt hole cover and use a pail to fill the
salt storage tank with 3 gallons of water.
Remove the brinewell cover (FIG. 3) and pour
about 3/4 ounce, or I to 2 tablespoons, of com-
mon 5.25%, unscented, household bleach (Clo-
rox, Linco, BoPeep, White Sail, Eagle, etc.) in the
softener brinewell. Replace the brinewell coven
in
Press the ON/OFF-HOLD button and hold for 3
seconds to start a recharge. This first recharge
does several things.
• It draws the bleach into and through the softener
to sanitize it.
• It fills the salt tank to the water level needed.
• It gets all the air out of the resin tank.
* It prepares the resin bed (see page 2-3) for ser-
vice and flushes residual chlorine from the soften-
er.
Notes:
This recharge takes about 2 hours.
You can sanitize the softener with or without salt
in the storage tank.
bnnewell
cover
remove and add
about 3/4 oz. bleach)
brinewell
water,
about 3 gallons
Q
Recommended by the Water Quality Association. On some
water supplies, the water softener may need periodic
disinfecting.
Problems. Questinns? Call 1-800-426-9345 Kenmore Water Line
1-5
E. FILL THE STORAGE TANK WITH SALT
Brine (salt dissolved in water) is needed for each
and every regeneration. The water for making brine
is metered into the salt storage tank by the softener.
However, you must keep salt in the tank, but it is not
necessary to keep it full. In humid areas, it is best
to fill the storage tank one quarter to one half full,
and to refill it more often. Salt bridging (see page
3-1) occurs more often when conditions are humid.
Fill the tank with NUGGET or PELLET water soft-
ener salt. DO NOT use rock salts, as they have dirt
and sediments that will stop the softener from
working.
Before filling, be sure the brinewell cover is in place
on the top of the brinewell. Salt storage capacity is
shown on page 4-1.
If you choose Potassium Chloride (KC1) as a regen-
erant, following these suggestions will help give
you years of maintenance free service.
1) Place only one bag of KC1 in your softener at a
time (the salt storage tank should contain no more
than 60 pounds of KC1 at any one time).
2) A softener using KC1 should not be placed in
areas with temperature fluctuations and high hu-
midity (KC1 will harden in these environments and
may make the softener inoperable).
3) Check the brine tank and brine well (black tube in
salt storage tank) monthly. If hardening is present,
pour small amounts of warm water on hardened
areas until they loosen.
4) If your softener does not have a KC1 salt setting
you must increase your hardness setting by 25% to
ensure continuous soft water as in example below.
Raw Water Hardenss
(grains per gallon)
5 gpg 7 gpg
10gpg 13gpg
1Sgpg 19gpg
20gpg 25gpg
25gpg 32gpg
3Ogpg 38gpg
35 gpg 44 gpg
40 gpg 50 gpg nants.
+ 25 % =
Softener setting when
using KCl
WATER SOFTENING SALT WITH IRON REMOV-
ING ADDITIVES -- Some salts have an additive to
help the softener handle iron in the water supply.
These salts may be used if your water supply has a
high iron content. It is recommended to use Sears
Resin Bed Cleaner 42- 34426, for periodic treatments
to keep your resin bed clean. This is available at
your local Sears store.
brinewell
cover
salt
storage
tank
brinewell
Sodium information: Water softeners using sodium
chloride for regeneration add sodium to the waten
Persons who are on sodium restricted diets should
consider the added sodium as part of their overall
sodium intake. For example, if your water supply is
15 grains hard, you would have to drink 3 quarts of
softened water to consume 335 milligrams of so-
dium. That is equivalent to eating 2-1/2 slices of
white bread.
Persons who are concerned about their drinking
water should consider a Kenmore Drinking Water
System that will remove or reduce in excess of 90%
of the sodium and other drinking water contami-
1-6
Problems, Questions? Call 1-800-426-9345 Kenmore Water Line
_iii_ii_i SECTION 2 _."_,'_.'_,','," HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS
A. FACEPLATE TIMER FEATURES
S
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• EXTRA RECHARGE
Sometimes, a manually started
regeneration (recharge) may be
desired, or needed. Two exam-
ples are:
- You have used more water than
usual (guests visiting) and you
may run out of soft water before
the next timer started regenera-
tion.
- You did not refill the softener
with salt before it was gone. After
you refill with salt:
You can start a regeneration right
away, or you can set the timer to
regenerate at the next 2:00 AM (or
other preset recharge time). Do
the following.
Press andrelease (donothold) the ZI: I_ ]i
ON / OFF-HOLD button. RE- -_ IL
CHARGE TONIGHT flashes in REC.A_ _O_.V
the display, and the softener be-
gins regeneration at the next preset recharge time.
Press and release the ON/OFF-HOLD button once
more if you decide to cancel the regeneration, and
RECHARGE TONIGHT.
• PROGRAM MEMORY
If electrical power to the softener goes off, the time
display is blank but the face plate timer keeps the
correct time for about 6 hours. When electrical pow-
er comes on again, you have to reset the present
time only if the display is flashing. The HARDNESS
and RECHARGE TIME never require resetting un-
less a change is desired.Even if the timer is incorrect
after a long power outage, the softener works as it
should to keep your water soft. However, regenera-
tions may occur at the wrong time of day until you
reset the timer to the correct time of day.
• RECHARGE NOW
Press the ON/OFF-HOLD but-
ton and hold for 3 seconds. RE-
CHARGE NOW begins to flash
in the display, and the softener
enters the fill cycle of regeneration right away. This
regeneration will last for about 2 hours. Then, you
will have soft water again.
• RECHARGE TONIGHT
RECHARGE NOW J
IF YOU NEED HELP PROGRAMMING THE TIMER, CALL TOLL FREE,
NUMBER 1-800 -426 -9345.
• ERROR CODE
An error code could appear in
the face plate display if a prob-
lem occurs in the softener elec-
tronics. If you see an error code
instead of the present time of
day, turn to page 5-2 under
"Troubleshooting" to resolve
the problem.
2-1
Problems, Questions? Call 1-800-426-9345 Kenmore Water Line