How to Remove Chlorine From a Water Softener

Residual chlorine needs to be flushed from the water softener when the softener is first installed. Removing residual chlorine from a water softener involves performing a forced recharge. It's a sanitizing recharge, too, and uses household bleach in the brine well. At the same time, you will remove any bacteria that may have crept in during storage, shipping or installing.

Things You'll Need

• Household bleach

Instructions

1. Lift the salt hole cover and use a bucket to fill the salt storage tank with up to 3 gallons of water. The water level in the tank should be about 3 inches deep.

2. Remove the brine well cover and pour about ¾ oz. of common, 5.25 percent unscented household bleach into the brine well. That's a couple of tbsp.

3. Replace the brine well cover.

4. Open the bypass valve and press the "On/Off/Hold" button for three seconds until the display reads "Recharge Now." The recharging clean will commence and take about two hours. Residual chlorine will be flushed from the softener.

Tips & Warnings

• It doesn't matter if you have or don't have salt in the storage tank when performing this recharge.

• You can see the recharge time remaining by looking at the display during recharge. The display will also show you at what stage the recharge is at: Service, fill, brine, backwash or rinse.

References

• Kenmore UltraSoft 400 Water Softener User Guide