Culligan Super S not pulling bleach

**jreed** · 01-03-2013, 12:50 PM

I placed a new bottle of bleach on my Culligan Super S and it is still full over a week later. This is obviously an issue. Before I call my Culligan dealer, id like to see if there is anything i can check to help diagnose the problem. Can anyone help me out? The recharge seems to be running fine.

**Akpsdvan** · 01-03-2013, 03:17 PM

Most likely the injector is plugged or the end of the tube in the bleach is plugged.
If your culligan is an older one there is a silver plate on top of the valve between the control and the bypass, that plate has three screws that hold it down.
With the unit in bypass start a regen or cleaning cycle and then remove the screws and make sure that the injector which is either going to be blue or tan is clear.

**jreed** · 01-03-2013, 05:05 PM

I did that and it looked clogged but not sure how to clean it out. What do you recommend.

Now it is leaking right around the bypass. Why do they make those bypass' so hard to engage?

**Akpsdvan** · 01-03-2013, 06:55 PM

One might have to move the bypass piston back and fourth a few times to get the o rings to work right after there has been no movement with the piston for years.
I just pulled the assembly out with the use of a standard screw driver, there is a flat spot to the rear when the cover is off, the end of the screw driver as a wedge to pop up that injector assembly, then soak the two in some vinegar for awhile to take off the build up a small needle has been known to open the hole but care should be taken not to mark up the blue or tan part that can be removed from the cage that it is in.

**jreed** · 01-04-2013, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by Akpsdvan

One might have to move the bypass piston back and fourth a few times to get the o rings to work right after there has been no movement with the piston for years.
I just pulled the assembly out with the use of a standard screw driver, there is a flat spot to the rear when the cover is off, the end of the screw driver as a wedge to pop up that injector assembly, then soak the two in some vinegar for awhile to take off the build up a small needle has been known to open the hole but care should be taken not to mark up the blue or tan part that can be removed from the cage that it is in.

Great, thanks! I figured it could be removed but didnt want to try myself. The by bypass seems to have stopped leaking now so hopefully it wont start again. Ill try your suggestion tonight.

If that doesnt fix the problem, is there anything else i can check?

**Akpsdvan** · 01-04-2013, 09:50 AM

If the injector is clean or you clean it and the line to the bleach is tight to the valve and clear to the bleach and it will not pull the bleach then there is some thing up with either an o ring on the brine piston or the main seal pack has a challenge.

**jreed** · 01-06-2013, 11:48 AM

I pulled the silver cover off and there was a white valve that I got out...i dont know if it was plugged completely but there was a lot of build up on it so i cleaned that. I didnt notice the other part you were talking about. Maybe Ill take a picture when it is done recharging and see what you think.

One other question I had, at what point in the cycle is the bleach injected? I wish I knew a little more about these systems.

**Akpsdvan** · 01-06-2013, 12:07 PM

Think of your system like that of a softener, the backwash is first and then the brine draw or in your case the bleach draw.
A photo would be good so that we are on the same page of thought.

**jreed** · 01-06-2013, 12:43 PM

LOL, now i ran a recharge and my bleach bottle overflowed a little. Something must have backflowed into it. The only thing I did was take the fitting off of the tube and rechecked it then cleaned that valve. Ill get a photo this evening.

**Akpsdvan** · 01-06-2013, 03:55 PM

There is some thing strange going on.
It is possible that the injector that was removed was not put back in right?
Photos would help to clear some ideas as to what is going on or not going on.

**jreed** · 01-06-2013, 07:20 PM

Wasnt able to get pics tonight because my 5 year old is sick but ill try tomorrow. Very possible I didnt get it reinstalled right. It was very tight going back in so maybe u didnt get the injector far enough in. Could the bleach intake wand have anything to do with it?

**Akpsdvan** · 01-06-2013, 07:57 PM

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Name: Culligan injector assembly.jpg
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The wand is a one way check valve, to pull in what ever it is put into.
Make sure that the drain line is free and clear and not plugged.
Note the injector assembly that I am talking about.
The little blue one in the photos needs to be all the way down in the holder, if not there will not be the proper draw.

**jreed** · 01-13-2013, 10:49 AM

Hey there, sorry for the late response. I just got back around to this today. When I pulled the injector I noticed a small piece of iron had settled into the hole and was plugging it after I had cleaned it. Once I pulled that chunk out and flipped the bypass the thing started pulling bleach!

Thank you so much for the help! You saved me a couple hundred dollars and taught me a few things along the way!

**Akpsdvan** · 01-13-2013, 11:21 AM

Very good news that you have it up and running again.
It is good that you have learned a few things about your system so that you can deal with some simple trouble shooting and get it running.

**jreed** · 01-14-2013, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by Akpsdvan

Very good news that you have it up and running again.
It is good that you have learned a few things about your system so that you can deal with some simple trouble shooting and get it running.

If you dont mind Id like to ask another question. I have had this unit for 7+ years and it's probably time for a rebed. I have a basic idea on how that is done but dont know how to select the materials to put inside. Any tips on that? Is it all generally the same or does it depend on water conditions?