Abstract: A water softener valve for controlling water flow to and from a water softener is disclosed that includes a cylindrical shaft extending from said inner surface of a piston chamber that fits into a pressure relief port when the piston is in the service position. The shaft clears the pressure relief port of any debris and closes the pressure relief port during the service cycle. The water softener valve also has a flow meter with at least two helically expanding vanes. A magnet on of the vanes trips a sensor as the turbine rotates, thereby providing means for calculating the flow of water through the valve. The valve also has a flow control button located at an inlet of the valve rather than at the drain, preventing the obstruction of the water flow by regeneration sediment of the tank at the drain. The valve also contains an internal piston port for permitting the free flow of water through the valve during a change in softener cycles.

Abstract: A two-chambered water softener tank with a bi-directional valve for controlling the flow of water between the chamber for use with a water softener is disclosed. The tank includes an outer shell, an upper chamber located within the outer shell containing a redox medium, a lower chamber located within the outer shell and beneath the upper chamber that contains an ion exchange resin, a first port allowing water to flow into the upper chamber, a second port allowing water to flow into the lower chamber, and a third port for allowing water to flow between the upper chamber and lower chamber. The water softener tank also includes a bi-directional valve engageable with the third port for regulating flow of water through the third port from the upper chamber to the lower chamber during service of the water softener and from the lower chamber to the upper chamber during regeneration of the water softener. The bi-directional valve remains open as water flows from the upper chamber to the lower chamber.