Through ion exchange, the S150 removes the calcium and magnesium that cause hard water scale, along with soluble iron* that can leave orange and brown stains. If your water contains iron, using salt with an iron-cleaning additive, such as Kinetico salt with an iron-cleaning additive, helps keep iron from fouling the resin.
There's nothing to program and nothing to plug in. Just add salt to the brine tank before you can see water in it. If you'd prefer potassium chloride instead of salt, your Kinetico dealer can make the recommended adjustments to your system.
With twin tanks, one tank is always in service while the other is on standby or regenerating. The S150 measures your water use and regenerates only when needed, so you won't waste salt or water, and you'll never run out of soft water.
The Kinetico Premier XP® Water Softener is featured on Kinetico Premier XP® S150 FAQ
- How does the Kinetico Premier XP S150 soften water?
The Kinetico Premier XP® S150 XP softens water through ion exchange, the same proven process used by salt-based water softeners. Hard water contains calcium and magnesium. Inside the S150, resin beads hold sodium ions. As hard water passes through the resin, the beads attract and hold the calcium and magnesium in exchange for sodium, so the water leaving the system is soft.
Once the resin is loaded with hardness minerals, the S150 regenerates: salt brine from the brine tank washes the resin beads, and the system flushes the hardness minerals away. The resin is then ready to soften water again. With twin tanks, one tank keeps supplying soft water while the other regenerates.
- Can the Kinetico S150 XP remove iron from water?
Yes. The Kinetico Premier XP® S150 XP removes soluble iron, along with hardness, from the water entering your home. Soluble iron is iron that's dissolved in water, often from a private well, and it can cause orange or brown stains on fixtures, laundry, and dishes. How much iron the S150 can remove depends on the type and concentration of iron and other water conditions, so a water test is the best way to know. If your water contains iron,
Kinetico recommends salt with an iron cleaning additive, such as Kinetico salt with an iron cleaning additive. The additive keeps iron from fouling the resin and keeps the system in optimal condition. Your Kinetico dealer can recommend the right approach for your water.
- How often do I need to add salt to the S150 XP?
Add salt to the Kinetico S150 XP anytime before water is visible in the brine tank. How often that happens depends on your water hardness and how much water your household uses, because the S150 regenerates based on actual use rather than a timer. To check, lift the lid of the brine tank.
If you can see water, it's time to add salt. You can add salt whenever there's room for at least one bag, but keeping the tank full can contribute to salt bridging, where the salt hardens into a crust. Use a quality salt made for water softeners, such as Kinetico Water Softener Salt. Don't use rock salt, which often contains dirt or other foreign matter.
- Can I use potassium chloride instead of salt in the S150?
Yes, the Kinetico Premier XP® S150 XP can use potassium chloride as its regenerant instead of sodium chloride (water softener salt). Some homeowners prefer potassium chloride to reduce the amount of sodium added to their softened water.
Before switching, contact your local authorized Kinetico dealer, who can make the recommended adjustments to your system so it continues to perform properly.
Keep in mind that potassium chloride is one of the conditions known to contribute to salt bridging in the brine tank, so it's worth checking the tank periodically. If a salt bridge forms, you can carefully break it up with a broom handle. Your dealer can also recommend or perform a schedule of periodic maintenance.
- Is water from the Kinetico S150 XP safe to drink?
Yes, softened water from the Kinetico S150 XP is OK for drinking and cooking. If the softener regenerates with sodium chloride (salt), a small amount of sodium is added to the softened water during ion exchange. People on sodium-restricted diets should count that added sodium as part of their overall sodium intake, or ask their dealer about using potassium chloride instead.
For the highest-quality drinking water, many homeowners pair their softener with a Kinetico reverse osmosis drinking water system, which removes as much as 98 percent of total dissolved solids. Kinetico water systems are intended for use on microbiologically safe water supplies, so if your water is ever under a boil alert, put the S150 in bypass and contact your dealer.
- How is the S150 XP different from other Kinetico Premier XP softeners?
The Kinetico Premier XP® S150 XP is one of several Premier XP models, all of them non-electric, twin-tank softeners that regenerate based on actual water use. The S150 XP and S250 XP use one tank at a time, switching automatically to the other tank when one needs to regenerate.
The S650 OD XP adds Overdrive®, which runs water through both tanks at once for higher flow, and it's rated among the world's most efficient water softeners based on WQA testing.
Kinetico offers several models so your water can be matched with the right system. A local Kinetico dealer can test your water hardness and iron levels and recommend the right model for your household size and daily water use.