Kenmore 62538818003, 62538817003 Owner’s Manual

OWNER'S

MANUAL

MODEL NOS.

UltraSoft 175

625.388170

UltraSoft 180

625.388180 I-_

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

(M - F, 7 am - 8 pm, CST)

Water Softeners

with Deluxe Valve

_i,Warranty

For repair or replacement parts, call this toll-free num-

ber...

1-800-366-7278

_i,Start Up / Setting Timer _i, How It Works

_i, Care Of

See back cover for other

Sears service numbers.

WWW.KenmoreWater.com

SAVE THIS MANUAL

Sears, Co., Beverly Road, Estates,

I Roebuck and 3333 Hoffman IL 60179 USA I

PRINTED IN U.S.A. 7276539 (Rev. C 8/22/05)

_i,Specifications _i, Repair Parts

Use the plastic bag and tie provided, to hang manuals

against NSF/ANSl Standard 44for softener performance.

I ystems Tested and Certified by NSF International

nearby the softener for future reference,

"_ Ti_

Ii WARRANTY I

d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d • _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d_d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d _d

SEARS RESIDENTIAL WATER SOFTENER

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.

N T

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 warranty ap-

plies 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 laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances. Customer shall also be protected, during installation, by insur-

ance relating to Property Damage, Workman's Compensation and Public Liability.

FACTS AND FIGURES TO KEEP

Fill in the blanks below and keep this book in a safe place so you always have these facts.

Water Softener Model No.± Serial Number

Date Installed Water Hardness Grains Per Gallon

Iron Content Parts Per Million pH 'lhste And/Or Odor

Water Pressure Pounds/Square Inch Water Flow Rate Gallons Per Minute

± Themodel number is on the rating decal, located on the rim, under the salt hole cover.

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

WATER SOFTENER START UP

PAGE NO.

C 0

B. C.

D. E.

C. D.

Safety Guides Check List of Step-By-Step Guides To Install Program The Timer

Sanitizing The Water Softener Add Salt to the Storage Tank

HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS

Faceplate Timer Features Soft Water Service and Regeneration

CARE OF YOUR WATER SOFTENER

Salt: Adding to Storage Tank / Salt Bridge Keeping The Water Softener Clean Protect The Water Softener From Freezing

Checklist (Not Getting Soft Water)

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

ABOUT YOUR WATER SOFTENER

Dimensions / Specifications

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

4-1,4-2

5-1 to 5-4

5-5

5-6 to 5-8

6-1 6-2

6-3, 6-4

SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START UP

A. SAFETY GUIDES

• Read all steps, guides and rules carefully before

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.

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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 POS-

SIBLE FATAL SHOCK.

• THIS SOFTENER WORKS ON 24 VOLTS ONLY. BE SURE TO USE ONLY THE TRANSFORMER INCLUDED, AND PLUG IT INTO A NOMINAL 120V, 60 CYCLE

HOUSEHOLD OUTLET THAT IS GROUNDED AND PROPERLY PROTECTED BY AN OVERCURRENT DE- VICE SUCH AS A CIRCUIT BREAKER OR FUSE. IF

TRANSFORMER IS REPLACED, USE ONLY THE AU- THORIZED 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,

* The capacity to reduce clear water iron is substantiated

by WQA test data.

1-1

Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line

SECTION 1 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.

w" Is the house water flow going INTO the softener

valve INLET? Trace piping to be sure. See pages 2-4 and 2-5.

w" 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.

_-" 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.

INLET

Page numbers referred to are in the Installation

Manual unless otherwise noted.

_-" Is the transformer plugged into an inside, al-

ways live, grounded, 120V-60Hz 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.

California Efficiency Requirement

Your Kenmore Water Softener has a "High Effi- ciency" feature with an "ON" or "OFF" setting. This softener setting is shipped in the "OFF" position, which utilizes the maximum rated ca-

pacity while most often achieving maximum salt efficiencies. When installing this unit in the State of California, you MUST turn this setting to the "ON" position which may initiate more frequent recharges, however it will operate at 4000 grains

per pound of salt or higher. If you wish to turn the Salt Efficiency feature "ON" (_ icon will show in display), follow the instructions in the Faceplate Timer Features, Sec-

tion 2 of this manual.

plastic

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

SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START UP

C. PROGRAM THE TIMER

display UP button

\ \L;W

[ ] ALT

Customer Assistance

1-800-428-9345

TONIGHT

HOLD FOR

_,, IMMEDIATE ,,j

RECHARGE button SELECT button DOWN button

When the transformer is plugged in, a model code, and a test number (example: J1.0) show in the face plate display for 4 seconds. Then, the words SET

TIME show in the display along with a flashing 12:00 PM.

UltraSoft 175

LtJ

SP2SI

¢OOEI

To check the model code, unplug the transformer at the wall outlet and plug in again, if other than SR25

or SR26 shows, see page 5-3 to reset.

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 1 using the DOWNbutton, or the high- est hardness setting using the UP button.

SET PRESENT TIME OF DAY

If the words SET TIME do not show in the display, press the SELECT button (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 SET the time back.

If the present time is between ,[SEr ] noon and midnight, be sure PM ITM

shows. I 14:SB ..

Notes:

If ..... shows in the display, press the UP [_ or

DOWN [_ button until SR25 or SR26 shows. Then, press the SELECT button to set, and change to the

flashing SET TIME display.

Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line

If the present time is between [SEt

midnight and noon, be sure AM [_'MEshows.

Each press of the UP /DOWN buttons changes the time by one minute. Holding the buttons in

changes the time rapidly.

1-3

SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START UP

C. PROGRAM

SET WATER HARDNESS NUMBER

• Press the SELECT button once again to display the words SET HARDNESS and a flashing 25.

ness of your water supply is on The grains per gallon (gpg) hard- s£r

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 1 ppm of iron. In this example, you would use 30for your hard-

ness numbel,.

20 gpg hardness

2 ppmironx 5 = 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 1 between 1 and 25. Between 25 and the highest number, the display changes 5 at a

time...25, 30, 35, etc. Holding the UP or DOWNbut- ton in changes the display twice each second.

SET RECHARGE (REGENERATION) TIME

• Press the SELECT button once again to display the words SET RECHARGE TIME and a flashing

2:00 AM.

HARDNESS

THE TIMER

water is not being used (see Automatic Bypass, page 2-4). If a different recharge time setting would

be better for your household, do the following.

• 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 1 hour. Holding the buttons in changes the display twice each second.

SET SALT LEVEL

• Press the SELECT button once again to display SETSALTLEVEL and a flashing 0 (zero). See Step E, page 1-6, for instructions on adding salt to the salt

storage tank.

The face plate timer has a salt monitor with an indicator light to remind you to add salt to the stor- age tank.

Note: You must set salt level each time salt is added to the water softener.

• To set this monitor system, lift the salt hole cover and level the salt in the storage tank. The salt level

decal, on the brinewell inside the tank, has numbers from 0 to 8. Observe the highest number the leveled

salt is at, or closest to. Press the UP / DOWN but- tons until the number corresponds with the salt lev-

el number. At level 2 or below, the indicator LED will flash. If you wish to turn this feature off, press

the DOWN button past 0, and the word "OFF" flashes in the display.

SETSALTLEVEL

At the 2:00 AM recharge time set- IsEr | ting, the softener begins regenera- R_Td_AR_

tion (see pages 2-3 and 2-4) at _,1-11"1 2:00 AM, ending no later than 4:30 L 'LJL! A_

AM. This is a good time in most households because

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

• Press the SELECT button once again, to complete initial pro-

gramming, and the currect time of day will show in the display.

1-4

SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START UP

D. SANITIZE THE

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 (i9 when installing.

_The first time you sanitize your softener, be sure

to do all steps in the installation manual, 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.

_lJ Remove the brinewell cover (FIG. 3) and pour

about 3/4 ounce, or 1 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 cover.

WATER SOFTENER

water

about 3 gallons /

brinewell

cover

about 3/4 oz. bleach)

brinewell

D Press the RECHARGE button and holdfor 3 se-

conds 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 2-1/2 hours. You can sanitize the softener with or without salt in the storage tank.

Recommended by the Water Quality Assodation. On some

water supplies, the water softener may need periodic disinfecting.

1-5

Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line

SECTION 1 WATER SOFTENER START UP

E. ADD SALT TO THE STORAGE TANK

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. You must keep salt in the tank, but because the wa-

ter softener is very efficient, it is not necessary to keep it full. Especially 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) oc-

curs more often when conditions are humid. Use NUGGET or PELLET water softener salt. DO

NOT use rock salts, as they have dirt and sediments that will stop the softener from working.

Before adding salt, be sure the brinewell cover is in place on the top of the brinewell.

If you choose Potassium Chloride (KC1) as a regen- erant, following these suggestions will help give

you years of maintenance free service.

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.

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) You must increase your hardness setting by 25% to ensure continuous soft water as in example be-

low.

Raw Water Hardenss Softener setting when

(grains per gallon) using KC1

5 gpg 7 gpg

50 gpg 13 gpg 55 gpg 19 gpg

20 gpg 25 gpg 25 gpg 32 gpg 30 gpg 38 gpg

35 gpg 44 gpg 40 gpg 50 gpg

+25 % =

brinewell cover

salt

storage

tank

brinewell

Sodium information: Water softeners using sodium chloride for regeneration add sodium to the water.

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, and you drank 3 quarts of softened

water, you would 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- nants.

1-6

Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line

[i!i!!_,i_!!_,i_ SECTION 2 _i:!!! _,i_!! _,i_i] HOW YOUR WATER SOFTENER WORKS

A. FACEPLATE TIMER FEATURES

II_ EXTRA RECHARGE

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RECHARGE NOW Press the RECHARGE button and hold for3 seconds. The words RE-

CHARGE NOW begin to flash in the display, and the softener en-

ters the fill cycle of regeneration right away. This re- generation will last for about 2 hours. Then, you will have soft water again.

RECHARGE TONIGHT Press and release (do not hold) the

RECHARGE button. RECHARGE R_,.aR_ TONIGIHT TONIGHT flashes in the display, _:.._ ,_-_

and the softener begins regenera- tion at the next preset recharge time. Press and re-

lease the RECHARGE button once more if you de- cide to cancel the regeneration, and RECHARGE TONIGHT will not flash in the display.

SET SALT LEVEL

To set this monitor system, lift the SETSALTLEVEL salt hole cover and level the salt in

the storage tank. The salt level de- cal, on the brinewell inside the tank, has numbers from 0 to 8.

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.

RECHARGE

HOW

IF YOU NEED HELP PROGRAMMING THE TIMER, CALL TOLL FREE,

NUMBER 1-800- 426- 9345.

Observe the highest number the leveled salt is at, or closest to. Press SELECT once to get to the Set Salt

Level screen. Now press the UP or DOWN buttons until the number corresponds with the salt level

number. At level 2 or below, the indicator LED will flash. If you wish to turn this feature off, press the

DOWN button past 0, and the word "OFF" flashes in the display. Note: You must set salt level each

time salt is added to the water softener.

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 HARD- NESS, RECHARGE TIME and SALT LEVEL never

require resetting unless 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, regenerations may occur at the wrong time of day until you reset the timer to the correct time of day.

EFFICIENCY MODE

When this feature is ON, the wa- [ ] ter softener will operate at salt ef- ficiencies of 4000 grains of hard- F_ _ _ ness per pound of salt or higher. OU _ - -

(May recharge more often using [SET ]

smaller salt dosage and less wa- f._ f._

ter). Installations in the state of _ California require this setting to

be turned ON. This softener is shipped in the OFF

setting. To turn this setting to ON, press and holdthe SELECT button until the display shows 000- -. Then press (do not hold) the SELECT button again. Use the

UP arrow to turn ON. Press SELECT to enter and re- turn to normal running screen. The efficiency icon

_-_will only be displayed when this feature is ON.

ERROR CODE

face plate display if a problem oc- An error code could appear in the J[E

curs in the softener electronics. If F F _ _ you see an error code instead of

the present time of day, turn to page 5-2 under "Troubleshooting" to resolve the problem.

t I

2-1

Problems, Questions? Call 1- 800- 426- 9345 Kenmore Water Line

+ 22 hidden pages