Do you need to replace the Bottom Distributor in your water softener? We're here to help! This can be an intricate process but don't be intimidated. We'll go through this step-by-step guide together and you'll have it replaced in no time.
Tools Needed: Silicone based lubricant, Bucket, Garbage Bags, Tape, Funnel, Pliers (optional)
Click each step below to expand directions.
Step 1 - Depressurize & Disconnect the Valve Head
1. First, you'll need to turn off the main water in your home and open a nearby softened water faucet to relieve pressure in your plumbing.
2. Go ahead and bypass the unit by pushing the handle in on the back of the unit:
3. Now, unplug the power cord from your outlet.
4. Remove the top cover. If you need more detailed instructions on how, click here. You need to disconnect all wires (circled in yellow below) from the valve head to free the top cover from the unit.
5. You'll need to remove the black C-clips from the softener/bypass connection. 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.
6. You can go ahead and pull the softener away from the bypass assembly.
7. Disconnect the Drain hose by releasing the black clip on the right-hand side of the head (pictured below). You may want to have a towel handy here to catch any leftover water that might leak from the valve head.
8. Now, you'll 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'll need to push the small collet piece in and pull the hose out at the same time to remove.
9. Remove the two large white clamps from the tank neck by unhooking the retainer clips that hold them together.
10. With both hands on the valve head, wiggle it side to side as you pull it up and off. Set the valve head aside.
Step 2 - Remove the Resin Beads
1. Remove O-ring #1, O-ring #2, the top distributor basket, and O-ring #3 (pictured below).
2. Remove the tray/rim from your softener (unclips around top of salt tank) and take the resin tank out of the salt tank.
3. You'll need to pull up on the riser tube to remove it from the resin tank. If it's too hard to pull out, you can wait to take this out in the next step.
4. Now it's time to remove the resin beads. You'll want to line a bucket with a few garbage bags to hold the resin – the beads are dense and saturated, so it'll take some patience to remove them.
Tip: The resin beads are small and slippery. Try to keep them off the floor to avoid slipping.
5. Tip the resin tank over and shake it out into the bucket. If you weren't able to remove the riser tube before, you should be able to slowly pull that out during this step.
6. After removing the bulk of the resin, you may still have some stuck to the inner walls of the tank. If this is the case, lay a towel on the ground outside, and use a garden hose to rinse out the tank. Pour the rinse water and remaining beads onto the towel, so the beads don't get on your lawn or into a street storm drain.
7. Tip the tank back up and wipe off any leftover beads from the neck.
Step 3 - Install the New Bottom Distributor
1. You can place your new riser tube/bottom distributor in the tank now.
2. The bottom distributor should sit on the bottom of the tank, with the riser tube resting slightly higher than the lip of the tank neck (about 1/2 inch).
3. Tape the top of your riser tube shut to stop any resin beads from entering as you refill the tank.
4. It's time to add the resin beads back in. Grab your funnel or similar tool to add it back into the tank. You'll want some patience with this step because the resin may not pour well, as it sticks together slightly.
5. Once you've got the resin tank filled properly, you can go ahead and remove the tape on the riser tube – be careful not to pull the tube up.
6. Wipe the neck of the tank off, removing any beads that may have stuck to it.
Step 4 - Reassemble the Softener
1. We're in the final stretch of the steps! Time to lubricate your three O-rings.
2. Rinse any beads off the top distributor.
3. Place the medium sized O-ring (circled in green) on the bottom of the top distributor and fit the basket onto the riser tube.
4. Roll the small O-ring onto the riser tube, pushing the O-ring down only about ¼ inch from the top of the tube.
5. Fit the large O-ring on the neck of the tank (circled in green).
6. You're ready to move the resin tank back into the salt tank and then you can clip the tray/rim on the softener.
7. Carefully place your valve head back onto the riser tube and push down until it rests on the tank below.
8. Reassemble the large white tank clamps and secure with the retaining clips around the neck.
9. Reconnect the softener to the bypass assembly and attach the two black C-clips.
10. Now you can 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 you notice some resistance. Then push it in a little further. The hose should be in about 5/8 of an inch.
11. You'll reattach the drain hose.
12. Make sure to reconnect all the wires onto the valve head and then put the top cover back on:
13. You can go ahead and plug the power cord back into your outlet.
14. Reopen the main water supply and run a few cold-water faucets in your home until there's no air left in the lines and the water runs smoothly.
15. Last step is to pull your bypass handle back OUT to take it off bypass and watch for leaks. Nice work! You've finished replacing your bottom distributor!
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