Softening cycle, Regeneration cycle, Softening cycle regeneration cycle – Whirlpool WHES40 User Manual
Page 5: Water softener dimensions, How a water softener works
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Water Softener Dimensions
MODEL
NOMINAL RESIN TANK SIZE
A
B
C
WHES40
10” D!A. X 4 0 ”
41-1/2”
39-1/2”
47-7/8”
How a Water Softener Works
Softening Cycle
When the water softener is providing soft water, it is called “service” or the “softening cycle”. During
this cycle, hard water flows from the main water pipe in the household into the water softener. Inside
the resin tank is a bed made up of thousands of tiny, plastic resin beads. As hard water passes through
the bed, each bead attracts and holds the hardness minerals. Water without the hardness minerals (soft
water) flows from the water softener to the rest of the house.
Regeneration Cycle
Eventually the beads become coated with calcium or magnesium ions. At this point, the water softener
needs to replenish the beads with sodium ions. This process is called “regeneration”.
Regeneration occurs when the resin beads are washed with a strong salt water solution. The sodium
forces the calcium and magnesium ions to be released where they are then discharged as waste during
the regeneration cycle. The beads arc then ready to once again collect the hardness minerals (calcium
and magnesium) from the water. Regeneration consists of five cycles; brine fill, brining, brine rinse,
backwash and fast rinse. The total time of the regeneration cycle is approximately two hours.