Filtered Water “Service” Cycle Unfiltered water enters the valve inlet port. Internal valve porting routes the water down and out the top distributor and into the mineral tank. As water flows downward through the mineral bed, sediment, or taste and odor, is removed, or mineral is dissolved to neutralize acid. Filtered water enters the bottom distributor, goes up the riser pipe and to the valve outlet port. Filtered water is directed to a house faucet when opened. In time, the filter needs cleaning to remove sediments, dirt, iron, etc., and to mix the mineral bed to remove water channels. This cleaning is done in 2 stages, or cycles, backwash and fast rinse. The cleaning cycle is started automatically by the solid state timer. 
Backwash Cycle The timer energizes the valve motor which positions internal valve porting for backwash. Water flow is reversed upward through the filter, and at a fast rate, to flush sediments, dirt, iron, etc, from the bed. The valve drain port is also opened to allow discharge of the cleaned materials to the drain point. The accelerated flow lifts and expands the mineral bed for maximum cleaning. The filter backwashes for 25 minutes, or as otherwise set. During the backwash cycle, valve porting provides bypass unfiltered supply water to house faucets for emergency needs. However, you should avoid the use of hot water because the water heater will refill with the unfiltered water. In most households, water is not in use since the cleaning cycles occur during early morning hours (at timer default values). 
Fast Rinse Backwash is followed by the fast rinse cycle. Valve porting is changed again to return a downward flow of water through the mineral bed. As in backwash, flow is at a fast rate to flush unfiltered water and remaining sediments to the drain, and to pack the mineral bed in preparation for return to “service.” The timer default fast rinse time is 5 minutes. 
Specialty Filtration Filter Sequence 
How Specialty Filters Work