Tricity Bendix CDW 086 - Water Softener and Salt; Understanding Water Hardness; Adjusting Water Softener Levels; Filling the Salt Container

The Water Softener
Water contains varying amounts of lime and mineral
salts depending on the area where you live: these are
deposited on the dishes leaving white marks.
The higher the content of these salts, the harder your
water will be. The «hardness» level is measured on 2
equivalent scales: French Degrees or Clarke Degrees.
Contact your local Water Authority to find the exact
water hardness level for your area.
The dishwasher is equipped with a softener which
uses special dishwasher salt to provide lime-free
(softened) water. The softener can treat water hard-
ness up to 90 French degrees via 5 adjustment levels.
Find on the table below the level corresponding to the
hardness of your water and the required adjustments:
(Water hardness ;
Water | Adjustment
°dH °TH softener on the
Clarke | French eyed? | Use ot.sal adjustment} machine
degrees | degrees
0-10
0-14
1
NO
NO
NO
11-27
|
15-39
|
*2
YES
NO
NO
28-35
|
40-50]
3
YES
YES
NO
36-49
|
51-70
|
4
YES
NO
YES
50-63
|
71-90]
5
YES
YES
|
YES
* The water softener is factory set at level 2 as this
suits most users.
™ If you use phosphate free detergents containing
enzymes, add salt starting from 6 Clarke degrees.
Level 1
If your water is «level 1» it is already soft and therefore
there is no need to use salt.
Levels 3 and 5 (water softener adjustment)
If
your
water
is
level
3
or
5,
proceed
as
follows:
slide
out
the
lower
basket
and
unscrew
the
cap
of
the
salt
container;
turn
the
two-position
selector
anticlockwise
from
position
=
to
position
+
with
the
aid
of
a
knife
or
a
screwdriver.
Levels 4 and 5 (adjustment on the machine)
If your water is level 4 or 5,
open the door and drill
membrane (A) on the
4 upper left-hand corner of
the machine.
=
With a water hardness of level 5 both adjustments
must be made.
Important
Salt MUST be used regularly from level 2 upward,
otherwise white lime deposits will build up inside
the dishwasher and wash results will be impaired.
Filling with Salt
Only use salt which is specifically designed for use in
dishwasher. Other types of salt i.e.: table/cooking salt
contain high percentages of other substances which
may reduce the efficiency of the water softener.
To fill with salt, unscrew the cap of the salt container.
Pour about half a litre of water inside the container, or
until it is full (this is necessary only before filling with
salt for the first time).
Then, using the funnel
provided, pour in the salt
until the container is full
(approx. 1 kg) Do not
worry if water overflows
from the unit when filling
with salt as this is quite
normal.
Replace the cap making sure that there is no trace of
salt on the screw thread or in the gasket.
Screw the cap on tightly.
If you have inadvertently spilled salt select a wash
programme immediately after.
When this has been done, all that is then required is to
periodically top up the container with salt. You are
reminded of this by a green refill indicator on the cap
of the salt container.
This is a float which is clearly visible on the small
window
in
the
cap
when
there
is
salt
inside
the
container, and almost disappears when the salt is
finished (i.e. every 30-50 washes depending on the
setting of the water softener).
The
salt
container
always
has
some
water
inside
which
will
normally
overflow
when
refilling
with
salt.
Caution: Only fill with salt just before starting one of
the
complete
washing
programmes
(not
the
Rinse
and
Hold
programme).
This
will
prevent
any
grains
of
salt
or salty water, which may have been spilled, remaining
on the bottom of the machine for any period of time.
This could cause corrosion.