How does a water softener work?
1. Hard water enters your water softener and passes down through the ion exchange resin, which are charged with sodium ions. The hard water ions (calcium and magnesium) are attracted to the ion exchange resin and an equal amount of sodium ions are bumped off into the water supply. When the water reaches the bottom of the tank, it is softened and ready to be used in your home and business.

2. When the ion exchange resin is saturated with calcium and magnesium (hard water ions) it must be recharged. A strong brine solution enters the tank and flushes the calcium and magnesium ions off the ion exchange resin and attaches itself.

3. A final rinse process ensures that any unused brine is rinsed from the system and your water softener is now fully recharged and ready to provide you with soft water.

How do I know my water softener is working?
One way to tell is your water. If you've had soft water before, you'll recognize the "soft" silky feeling of ample lather when bathing or showering, and the feel of softer moist skin after bathing. You'll note your fixtures are less spotty and easier to clean. Laundry seems brighter and softer, as well as your dishes coming cleaner in the dishwasher. Softer, easier to comb out, shinier hair is also evidence of soft water. Regular salt usage (the actual amount used can vary based on your water usage and water hardness levels) indicates the softener is regenerating. You may occasionally hear your softener cycling in the middle of the night.

When do I add salt, how much, and what kind should I use?
You should add salt to your salt keeper tank when the salt gets down to about 12" from the bottom. Add salt to about 1/2 full, and then let it get used to about 12" from the bottom again before adding more salt. It is important to not keep topping off the brine tank, as this can lead to mushing or bridging. If you run completely out of salt, replenish the supply, wait at least two hours, and then manually regenerate the softener to restore softening capacity. We recommend clean coarse or extra coarse solar salt. Contact your local Water Treatment Professional to inquire about salt delivery service.

What is the sound of water running I sometimes hear in the middle of the night?
When the softener's ion exchange resin is saturated with calcium and magnesium hardness ions, it must be regenerated. A strong brine solution drawn from the salt keeper tank into the resin tank flushes the calcium and magnesium ions off the resin bed to recharge the resin. Particulate such as dirt or grit trapped in resin bed is also flushed to the drain. This "regeneration" of the softener resin is the flushing sound of water running to the drain that you hear occasionally in the middle of the night.

What do I do in an emergency?
Put your softener on bypass (see your owner's manual for instructions on your specific model) and call McGowan Water Conditioning at 507-388-3361

What is the health impact of drinking soft water?
The sodium added to water by softening is a non-issue most of the time even for people on a low sodium diet. One could soften up to 75 grains per gallon with sodium chloride and still be well within the US Food and Drug Administration's labeling of a "low sodium" beverage. People on a sodium-restricted diet should consult their physician.

Do I still use the same amount of soap now that I have a softener?
No, the Water Quality Association states soft water can save up to 55% on detergent use whether it's in the clotheswasher, dishwasher or in the bathroom. Start with using half the amount of soap you have used previously, this can be adjusted up or down based on preference. The combination of hardness minerals and soap can make fabrics brittle, this is eliminated with soft water so fabrics last longer.

Should I use soft water for my plants?
Some plants may be sensitive to even minute amounts of sodium and some plants tolerate the sodium in softened water just fine. Generally, hard water from an unsoftened faucet like the kitchen cold or an outside faucet can be used to water plants. Water from a reverse osmosis system can always be used to water plants.

Will water spots disappear now that I have a water softener?
Water spots caused by hardness scale will disappear with a functioning water softener. However, other natural minerals dissolved in the water can cause spotting if the concentrations are high enough. These mineral spots will be much easier to wipe away compared to hardness spotting.

Will soft water cause my water or ice cubes to taste different?
Most people can tell the difference in taste between hard and soft water, it is a personal preference. Ice cubes will appear the same, they may look cloudy due to air in the water or dissolved minerals. This will not change when made with softened water. A reverse osmosis drinking water system will provide much clearer ice cubes.

How does my warranty work?
There are different warranties for different model water softeners. Please call for service.

How does the Iron Curtain work?
The Iron Curtain uses a three step process of oxidation, precipitation, and filtration. Mineral rich water is sprayed through a regulated head of air in the Aeration Tank, where it is brought into intimate contact with oxygen. Oxidation begins to convert the dissolved elements in your water into physical particles, or insoluble precipitates. The design of the Iron Curtain system allows for adequate contact / reaction time for the particles to become large enough to filter. The water leaving the Aeration Tank then flows into the Filter Tank where it passes through the Iron Curtain's unique multimedia filter bed. This bed is comprised of five layers of materials layered so that the largest filter media is on the top and the smallest media is at the bottom of the bed. This allows for longer filter runs, faster flow rates, and for use of the entire depth of the filter bed.

What does the Iron Curtain remove?
Iron, hydrogen sulfide, and manganese, elements that cause staining, bad taste and odors.

What is the flushing noise I sometimes hear in the middle of the night?
The Iron Curtain periodically backwashes the Filter Tank to discharge the trapped impurities to drain, while bleeding off the spent air and reintroducing fresh oxygen-rich air to the Aeration Tank. The sound of water running can be heard during this process.

Is there maintenance I need to do on my Iron Curtain?
There is no maintenance the homeowner needs to perform on the standard Iron Curtain System, except for resetting the time of day if there is a significant power outage. * If your water supply has iron bacteria, shock chlorinating your well periodically is recommended. * If your Iron Curtain is equipped with the optional Chlorine Chemical Feed System, you must maintain an adequate supply of unscented bleach in the chlorine reservoir. * If you have a Whole House Sand and Sediment Filter, periodic changing of the filter cartridge is required to protect the filter and other equipment and maintain adequate flow rates to your home.

What do I do if I need service?
If needed, you can bypass your standard Iron Curtain by shutting off the valves on the inlet and outlet pipes and opening the valve on the bypass line. IC 2.0 Iron Curtain systems have individual bypasses on both the Aeration and Filter Tanks. Make a note of your Iron Curtain Model number,and call for service.

How does my drinking water system work?
The RO membrane is the heart of the Millennium's four step filtration process. After passing through the sediment / carbon block prefilter, water is forced through the Millennium's Thin Film Composite Reverse Osmosis membrane, where the water is separated from the dissolved solids it has picked up in the environment. At the same time the surface of the membrane is washing the rejected contaminants to drain to keep the membrane clear of buildup. On its way to the storage tank, the processed RO water percolates through the prolonged contact GAC postfilter-at the rate of approximately a half a gallon per hour. Finally, as you push the lever on the Millennium's faucet, water leaving the storage tank passes through the in line Granular Activated Carbon Filter for a final filtration step just before the water runs into your glass. This four step process assures your family of assured quality drinking water.

What maintenance is involved with the Millennium RO system?
Your Millennium system contains filter cartridges that must be replaced for the system to work properly. With adequate feed water pretreatment, these should need to be replaced only once a year, although under certain conditions more frequent maintenance may be required. This involves sanitizing the system and replacing the prefilter, postfilter, and in line filter. Once every 3-5 years, the RO membrane will need to be replaced. There are instructions on replacing the filters and sanitizing the system in the owner's manual. You can review these instructions to see if you want to perform these maintenance steps, or contact your Hellenbrand Water Treatment Dealer to have your system professionally serviced.