Replacing the Valve Head may seem intimidating, but don't worry, we'll go through this step-by-step together. Let's get started.
Locate Your Serial Number & Click on Your Model Below
Find the Serial Number printed on the inside rim of the tank, under the salt lid hinges.
Your Model is the first seven digits of your serial number.
Step 1 - Bypass & Depressurize
1. You'll want to start by turning the main water off in your home and open a nearby softened water faucet to relieve pressure in your plumbing.
2. Go ahead and bypass the water softener by pushing the handle in on the back of your unit. This will stop water from coming in or out of the softener while you work.
Depressurize the Unit
3. Hold the Recharge button until the motor starts to turn, then let go. The motor will stop after a few seconds. You will see ‘Recharge Now’ or ‘Recharging’ flashing on the screen.
4. Press the ‘Recharge’ button one time quickly. The motor will turn on, moving to the next cycle.
5. Repeat Step 4 until the flashing 'recharge' indicator disappears from your screen.
6. Now you can unplug the softener’s power cord from the outlet.
NOTE: If you are unable to do a Recharge because the screen is blank or buttons won't work:
- Shut the water off to the home, while the softener is in service.
- Open the faucets to let the water run to depressurize your plumbing.
- Then bypass the softener (by pushing it in) before turning the water back on.
Step 2 - Remove Cover & Disconnect Wires
1. Remove the top cover. You can set it forward on the unit while you disconnect the wires at next step.
- On the back of the unit, unhook the two clips that hold the cover onto the tank below (see photo below). Flex/pull the cover out and away from the softener at these clips.
- There are two similar clips holding the front of the cover on as well. Slide the cover towards you to release these clips. Be careful not to disconnect any wires. It's normal for the plastic cover to produce some noise as it shifts and bends.
2. You'll need to disconnect the electronic connections from the top of the softener:
a. Motor – unplug thick black and red wires at clear plastic connection piece.
b. Switch – unplug the white plastic connector at end of orange and green wires.
c. Wire Harness – unclip harness from around the outlet port.
3. You should now be able to remove the top cover of your unit and set it down. If your softener has a tank light, you'll need to pop the bulb out of the softener rim in order to remove the cover.
4. Remove the black C-clips from the softener/bypass connection at the back of the unit. Pull one side of the black plastic C-clip away from the softener, and slowly roll it towards the other side to remove.
***If the clips seem stuck, slowly and gently rock the softener back and forth slightly while applying pressure to the clip as described above to free them.
5. Now you can pull the softener away from the bypass assembly.
Step 3 - Disconnect Valve Head
1. You'll need to disconnect the Drain hose by pulling up the black clip on the right-hand side of the head (pictured below). Have a towel nearby for any water that may leak here.
2. Go ahead and disconnect the Brine hose from the Venturi (white cone piece). Identify yours below.
- If yours has a white nut attached to the Venturi: unscrew the nut by twisting it counter-clockwise and pull the hose off.
- If your hose doesn't have that white nut, you have the 'push to connect' type. For this type, you'll need to push the small collet piece in and pull the hose out at the same time to remove.
3. Remove the large white clamps from the tank neck by unhooking the retainer clips that hold them together.
4. With both hands on the valve head, wiggle it side to side as you pull it up and off slowly.
5. Check the position of the black O-ring on the riser tube inside the tank. It should sit about ¼ inch down from the top of the tube.
6. Carefully place the new valve head onto the riser tube and push down until it rests on the tank below. Nice work!
Step 4 - Reassemble
1. Now that your valve head is on you can reassemble the large white tank clamps and secure with clips around the neck.
2. Check your Outlet port on the new valve head for the Turbine and Support assembly (pictured below). If your outlet port is empty, make sure to transport the turbine and support from your old valve head and insert it into the new head.
3. Reconnect the softener to the bypass assembly and attach the black C-clips.
4. Reattach the brine hose to the venturi.
- Either screw the white nut back on by twisting it clock-wise:
- Or insert the hose into the collet. You'll need to make sure to push it in until it you notice some resistance. Then push it in a little further. The hose should be in about 5/8 of an inch.
5. Reconnect the drain hose.
6. Reconnect the wires to the Motor and Switch and clip the Wire Harness back onto the outlet port. The switch connection should have one exposed terminal/prong.
7. You can now reopen the main water supply.
8. Go ahead and take the system off bypass by pushing the handle back IN. Watch for any leaks.
9. Put the top cover back on the unit.
10. Time to run a manual advance check. Hold the Recharge button until the motor turns on, then let go. You will see ‘Recharge Now’ or ‘Recharging’ flashing on the screen.
11. Press the Recharge button once to advance to the next cycle. Repeat this each time the motor stops until the flashing recharge indicator on the screen disappears, and the home screen returns.
12. Lastly, you'll want to ensure your new valve head is synced correctly with your control board, by performing a dry recharge on the unit. Check out our article How to Perform a Dry Recharge for instructions.
Please let us know if this article was helpful by voting below.
Step 1 - Bypass & Depressurize
1. You'll want to start by turning the main water off in your home and open a nearby softened water faucet to relieve pressure in your plumbing.
2. Go ahead and bypass the water softener by pushing the handle in on the back of your unit. This will stop water from coming in or out of the softener while you work.
Depressurize the Unit
3. Hold the Recharge button until the motor starts to turn, then let go. The motor will stop after a few seconds. You will see ‘Recharge Now’ or ‘Recharging’ flashing on the screen.
4. Press the ‘Recharge’ button one time quickly. The motor will turn on, moving to the next cycle.
5. Repeat Step 4 until the flashing 'recharge' indicator disappears from your screen.
6. Now you can unplug the softener's power cord from the outlet
If you are unable to do a Recharge because the screen is blank or buttons won't work:
- Shut the water off to the home, while the softener is in service.
- Open the faucets to let the water run to depressurize your plumbing.
- Then bypass the softener (by pushing it in) before turning the water back on.
Step 2 - Remove Cover & Disconnect Wires
1. Remove the top cover. You can set it forward on the unit while you disconnect the wires at next step.
- On the back of the unit, unhook the two clips that hold the cover onto the tank below (see photo below). Flex/pull the cover out and away from the softener at these clips.
- There are two similar clips holding the front of the cover on as well. Slide the cover towards you to release these clips. Be careful not to disconnect any wires. It's normal for the plastic cover to produce some noise as it shifts and bends.
2. You'll need to disconnect the electronic connections from the top of the softener:
- Motor – unplug thick black and red wires at clear plastic connection piece.
- Switch – unplug the white plastic connector at end of orange and green wires.
- Wire Harness – unclip harness from around the outlet port.
3. You should now be able to remove the top cover of your unit and set it down. If your softener has a tank light, you'll need to pop the bulb out of the softener rim in order to remove the cover.
4. Remove the black C-clips from the softener/bypass connection at the back of the unit. Pull one side of the black plastic C-clip away from the softener, and slowly roll it towards the other side to remove.
***If the clips seem stuck, slowly and gently rock the softener back and forth slightly while applying pressure to the clip as described above to free them.
5. Now you can pull the softener away from the bypass assembly.
Step 3 - Disconnect Valve Head
1. You'll need to disconnect the Drain hose by pulling up the black clip on the right-hand side of the head (pictured below). Have a towel nearby for any residual water in this line.
2. Go ahead and disconnect the Brine hose from the Venturi (white cone piece). Identify yours below.
- If yours has a white nut attached to the Venturi: unscrew the nut by twisting it counter-clockwise and pull the hose off.
- Or insert the hose into the collet. You'll need to make sure to push it in until it you notice some resistance. Then push it in a little further. The hose should be in about 5/8 of an inch.
3. Remove the large white clamps from the tank neck by unhooking the retainer clips that hold them together.
4. With both hands on the valve head, wiggle it side to side as you pull it up and off slowly.
5. Check the position of the black O-ring on the riser tube inside the tank. It should sit about ¼ inch down from the top of the tube.
6. Carefully place the new head onto the riser tube and push down until it rests on the tank below. Nice work!
Step 4 - Reassemble
1. Now that your valve head is on, you can reassemble the large white tank clamps and secure with clips around the neck.
2. Check your Outlet port on the new valve head for the Turbine and Support assembly (pictured below). If your outlet port is empty, make sure to transport the turbine and support from your old valve head and insert it into the new head.
3. Reconnect the softener to the bypass assembly and attach the black C-clips.
4. Reattach the brine hose to the venturi.
- Either screw the white nut back on by twisting it clock-wise:
- Or insert the hose into the collet. You'll need to make sure to push it in until it you notice some resistance. Then push it in a little further. The hose should be in about 5/8 of an inch.
5. Reconnect the drain hose.
6. Reconnect the wires to the Motor and Switch and clip the Wire Harness back onto the outlet port. The switch connection should have one exposed terminal/prong.
7. You can now reopen the main water supply.
8. Go ahead and take the system off bypass. Watch for any leaks.
9. Put the top cover back on the unit.
10. Time to run a manual advance check. Hold the Recharge button until the motor turns on, then let go. You will see ‘Recharge Now’ or ‘Recharging’ flashing on the screen.
11. Press the Recharge button once to advance to the next cycle. Repeat this each time the motor stops until the flashing recharge indicator on the screen disappears, and the home screen returns.
12. Lastly, you'll want to ensure your new valve head is synced correctly with your control board, by performing a dry recharge on the unit. Check out our article How to Perform a Dry Recharge for instructions.
Please let us know if this article was helpful by voting below.