Adding water softener cleaner to your water softener every 4 months will help your system work at peak performance. This solution cleans the inside of your system of contaminants, iron, and scale buildup to maximize your softener’s efficiency.
To Purchase
Rheem® Water Softener Cleanser purchase information and available retailers can be found here.
To Use
a. Confirm your softener is out of bypass (handle should be pulled out):
b. Locate the Brinewell inside your salt tank. It is the 4-inch diameter dark tube with a lid on top. This lid will either pop off or screw off counterclockwise:
c. Pour one bottle of Cleanser down the Brine well tube and replace the lid.
d. Hold the ‘Recharge’ button until the motor kicks on, then let go. This will start a recharge cycle (2 ½ hour duration). A 'Recharge Now' message will continuously flash during the recharge.
e. After the recharge is completed, run a few cold water faucets for 5-10 minutes to rinse any residual cleanser from the unit.
Comments
18 comments
My water softener cleanser has been back-ordered at Home Depot since February 21. Any ideas on when it will be available?
We have created a ticket on your behalf to help track down the details on your water softener order. Thanks for reaching out to us!
On newly purchased unit, I used bleach per instructions to sanitize upon startup. I assume I don't use the first bottle of cleanser until the end of the first quarter of use... correct?
Correct
After I pour the bottle into the brine well tube, do I need to immediately start a recharge cycle or can I set the unit to recharge ~12 hours later in the middle of the night?
You can do either. But usually, I put the cleaner at night when we are done using water. Then I set for regular recharge. You can do immediate also, but don't use the water when it is recharging. See https://youtu.be/F9vTAT1GzVU
I think this is a lot to expect of a widow who has no children and no help to get this done. I don't completely understand the bypass valve and am afraid I might mess it up. I'll look at it. Plumbers don't know your equipment because it's not what they usually install. It's a downside from getting the unit at Home Depot. Then you want me to put this in before bedtime, which means I have to go down in the basement when it's not the greatest light. If I do this around 3:00 pm, like now, what water in the house is affected when I recharge?
Shawna, we understand your concern. Luckily, the bypass handle should always be in the OUT position, so there should be no need to adjust that for this procedure. While the softener is in this cleansing/recharging cycle, any water used in the home will not be softened.
Thank you for your quick answer. I've looked at your list of local plumbers. It appears none of them service your water softeners. How do I find one who can take care of it? What if it ever needs more than just putting cleanser into it? My general contractor put this unit in and didn't have a clue what he was doing. I eventually had to pay a plumber who fixed his bad connections and water in the wrong pipes. Who do I call next time something is wrong?
I apologize for ranting a bit, but I'm widow without children and no help to get this done. You have good instructions but they are not completely clear and I am sorry for another question. I got the cleanser put in just fine and then pressed the Recharge button. It is blinking "Recharge Now". Is it supposed to do that? How do I know that it is working?
Suggest purchasing from Home Depot with service plan. They will find someone to fix/check the softener for you. It won't be your problem. If it is new, you may still be able to purchase an extended warranty from the place who sold it to you. On Recharge, push the button for 3 seconds, Recharge flashes and it is on. It may take a few hours. I usually push Recharge Tonight.
My contractor bought the unit in July, but. have a copy of his receipt. I will check with Home Depot. Thank you for the tip on that. Recharge is done, I eventually just searched on that term. It would be helpful to have those cross referenced in your cleanser instructions. I work in technology and those kind of things just come to mind when working with my customers. Thanks for help. I appreciated having a place to even ask questions. Says a lot about your company.
I don't understand the last part "run a few cold water faucets for 5-10 minutes to rinse any residual cleaner from the unit"
1. a few cold water faucets? you mean an out side water hose?
2. rinse the whole tank or only the Brinewell?
3. Could you include this procedure in the video?
Peter, we recommend running a few cold water faucets in your home (kitchen or bathroom sinks) fpr 5 minutes after the cleansing recharge is finished. This will rinse any residual cleanser from the softener's media tank.
Howdy. My plumber changed out my RHS4221 softener to Potassium Chloride. We are WILDLY HAPPY over the improved results! Just checking to be sure that it is OK to use Rheem Cleanser every 4 months, since I am using Potassium rather than Sodium Chloride pellets in the unit. Thank you!
Does the softener need to be empty when I do this or can salt be in the softener
There should be salt in the softener. Unless you are moving the softener, it probably should never be empty of salt, whether normal usage or cleaning. Thanks.
Tehama.up and Erik aguirre - We apologize for the delay in response. We have created tickets for each question and our team will be reaching out to you.
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