Help needed with my water softeners...

[Car_Wash_Guy]

I closed on a 4ss 2iba with a dog wash last Friday. This is my first wash, although I've owned businesses my whole life. I'm very mechanical and very tech savvy, so I think once I learn all the nuances of the car wash business, I think I'll be relatively happy applying my strengths to my business.

Now, on to my dilemma. My water softeners.

It seems like I've lost the programming on the the softeners, as they were without power for some time. I'm getting a communication error, and going through the manual, it seems as if the programming is my issue.

I have Fleck 3200NT heads. I believe they are on Pentair tanks. Here is my setup:

My issue is I just don't know where to begin with the programming. I have past water usage, so I have an idea as far as maximum daily water usage. I have a water testing kit, so I can find out hardness.

But, what about :

1. Determining my system capacity?
2. Regenerant Flow ( Downflow, upflow(brine first), up flow(fill first))?
3. Regen time? Not sure if there is an auto mode, or best time(least busy)?
4. Regen Cycles? There seems to be about 8 of them.

etc..

Anyone family with going through the master programming mode on these things? Our local water softener company is backup up till next Friday, and to be honest, I'd rather figure this out on my own.

Thanks for any help.

John

 

[MEP001]

You can determine the capacity by measuring the tanks. That will tell you how much resin should be in them.

The brine rate should be printed on the brine valve.

Assuming it's a dual-alternating system, you won't be using a brine time, it will be on demand. You can confirm that by putting one in a regeneration cycle and closing the inlet valve to the other, and you should have no water flow to the wash.

 

[wash4me]

You should get a softener guy out and pay for a service call and pick his brain and take notes then in the future do it yourself.

 

[mac]

If you do call someone out to look at it, I would strongly urge you to avoid Culligan and Kinetico.

 

[Car_Wash_Guy]

Thanks guys for the advice. I was actually going to call Culligan, when my distributor I've been working with tracked down the guy that sold and installed the system originally. They're going to walk me through the programming of it as everyone seems to agree that them being without power for so long lost the programming.

Thanks again.

 

[MEP001]

It would be in your best interests to learn how to do it yourself as these guys are notorious for setting them incorrectly. Unless you're lucky enough to get someone who knows how to do it right, your efficiency will suffer.

 

[wash4me]

I second what mep said.. make sure it's set to the water gallons and not a timer and make him show you the math on the number of grains your softener is capable of and the hardness of your water. If in doubt get another guy out ....personally i prefer an independent individual over a chain. Layer after layer of management, commissions etc. has to get paid somehow at Culligan. Like going to the Casino. Someone has to pay the light bill.