5. Next, a backwash drain line (1/2-inch plastic hose that you must supply) must be attached to the drain fitting on the back of the control valve and run into a drain. (More directions are in the control valve manual.)

6. Once ALL filters are plumbed in, backwash the Hercules Filter (1st tank) and flush the Purification Filter (2nd filter). Before backwashing & flushing in the next step, take the filter cartridge out of small housing so it doesn’t plug up. First, close the ball valve after the small 10" cartridge filter housing. This is the filtered water going into the house.

7. On the Hercules Filter (1st tank), set the control to the backwash position (check the control valve manual). Unplug the control. Important! Open valve partially to let tank fill very slowly in backwash position. This will allow air to escape out of the drain as the tank fills. Doing otherwise can cause control valve to plug up with media and cause enormous problems. Turn the filtered side water line off. This will keep the dust out of house plumbing, hot water heater, etc. It is also wise to shut off other lines to washer, hot water heater, etc. to keep the dust out of those lines. Caution! You may need to turn off power to hot water heater until you are done. Hot water can expand. Low water can burn out electric heating elements if it is on and the water level is down.

8. The Purification Filter (2nd tank) is flushed at the same time as the 1st tank. A spigot is provided for a hose; run hose to a drain until water is clear about 10 to 15 minutes. With the ball valve shut, no filter dust or media can get into your pipes. Then the water may be turned on faster and flushed until water looks clean. There may be a lot of fine media dust in the filters that will flush out when the water is first turned back on.A spigot is provided for a hose; run hose to a drain until water is clear about 10 to 15 minutes. With the ball valve shut, no filter dust or media can get into your pipes. Then the water may be turned on faster and flushed until water looks clean. There may be a lot of fine media dust in the filters that will flush out when the water is first turned back on.

9. Once water is clear and before opening the ball valve, shut off water and insert the break-in post-filter cartridge into the 10-inch housing. Note: SEE #13. Shut the Inlet & Outlet ball valves, then open the spigot to de-pressurize the system. The break-in cartridge (could be 3, 5 or 10 micron-size) that can be used for a while. This will give the system time to clear out any major debris. Then after the one month's time or when water flow slows, insert the 1 micron-size filter cartridge into the post-filter housing for all future filtering.

10. Note: The water will have a lot of air bubbles coming out for a few days. This is harmless.
If you fill a clear glass, you will see bubbles rise to the top and leave the water crystal clear and odor free. If not, you may run water until clear and repeat air bubble test in glass.

11. Set backwash pins as needed. All pins in = every night. Every other pin = alternate nights, etc. If you don't know how often to set it, email us telling your water conditions before installing the system, and we will be happy to suggest the right setting. (See 1:51 PM 10/9/2009control valve manual).

12. Set clock time to current time. Do not worry about backwashing at night. It is automatically off set when set to current time.

13. Replace 1-micron filter cartridge (post filter) every 6 to 12 months or as needed when water flow slows.
To change cartridge filter: Shut off ball valve before the filter and after the filter. Open the post bib enough to relieve pressure. It’s going to drip and squirt some water. When you unscrew the filter housing, it’s going to be full of water, so have a bucket underneath. Now you can rinse out the cartridge housing and put new filter in the housing.

14. For troubleshooting, check control valve manual.