Back Flush On The Go Water Softener - Complete Maintenance Guide
Essential Maintenance
Regular back flushing is crucial for maintaining the efficiency and longevity of your portable water softener system
Optimal Performance
Proper back flush and regeneration cycles ensure your softener continues to deliver effectively softened water
RV & Portable Use
Specifically designed for portable systems used in RVs, camping, and mobile applications
On The Go Water Softener Products
Understanding Back Flush for On The Go Water Softeners
Back flushing is an essential maintenance procedure for portable water softeners like the On The Go models. This process involves reversing the water flow through the softener tank to expand the resin bed and break up any channels that may have formed. Regular back flushing ensures optimal contact between water and resin beads, maintaining the system's softening efficiency :cite[1]:cite[5].
When to Perform Back Flush:
- Regular Maintenance: Every 3 months for standard units (2-5 minutes), double standard units (5-10 minutes), and park models (10-15 minutes) :cite[1]
- Before Regeneration: Always perform back flush before the regeneration process when doing both procedures :cite[1]:cite[2]
- Seasonal Storage: Before storing your water softener for extended periods :cite[2]
- After Long Non-Use: When bringing the softener out of storage :cite[2]
- Performance Issues: If you notice reduced water flow or decreased softening efficiency :cite[5]
Back Flush Step-by-Step Instructions:
Follow these steps to properly back flush your On The Go water softener :cite[1]:cite[2]:
- Turn off the water supply and disconnect both inlet and outlet hoses from the softener
- Use the unlabeled female/female adapter and connect it to the outlet of the softener
- Connect your water source to the softener outlet (reverse flow direction)
- Turn the water on full stream. If flow stops completely, turn water off, tap the tank against the ground to settle resin, then turn water on at 75% stream
- Allow water to flow for the recommended time based on your model (2-15 minutes)
- Turn water off and reconnect the softener to the inlet and outlet hoses in normal configuration
Regeneration Process for On The Go Softeners
The regeneration process recharges the resin beads with sodium ions, restoring their ability to remove hardness minerals from water. This should be performed when test strips indicate hardness levels above 0-3 GPG or approximately every 2-6 weeks depending on usage and water hardness :cite[2]:cite[5].
Regeneration Steps:
- Turn off water supply and disconnect inlet and outlet hoses
- Drain water by tilting unit over with head/cap ON, then tap base against ground to settle resin
- Remove top cap and add the appropriate amount of table salt:
- Standard Model: One 26 oz box of salt
- Double Standard Model: Two 26 oz boxes of salt
- Park Model: Four 26 oz boxes of salt
- Replace cap and inlet hose, then turn water on for a VERY SLOW rinse (stream should be pencil-sized):
- Standard: 12-15 minutes
- Double Standard: 24-30 minutes
- Park Model: 50-60 minutes
- Increase water flow to full stream and rinse:
- Standard: 3-4 minutes
- Double Standard: 6-8 minutes
- Park Model: 10-12 minutes
- Verify regeneration is complete using test strips (0-3 GPG) and ensure water has no salty taste :cite[2]
Troubleshooting Common Issues:
If your On The Go water softener isn't performing optimally after regeneration, consider these solutions :cite[2]:cite[3]:cite[5]:
- Incomplete Softening: Perform a special regeneration process with extended rinse times
- Resin Bed Compaction: Ensure regular back flushing to prevent channeling and compaction
- Iron Buildup: Use iron removal products specifically designed for water softeners in areas with high iron content
- Salty Taste: Extend the fast rinse cycle until water no longer tastes salty
- Reduced Flow: Back flush more frequently and check for resin bed issues
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