Water softener questions

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I have a Peerless water softener with a Fleck 5600 control. The softener is restricting the water flow. I was thinking I could backwash the unit, but there is only a setting to do a manual regen.

The unit is about 25+ years old. Do I need a new softener, or is this something that a service tech can fix? I hate to pay for a service call if the thing needs replacing. Also, any idea how long a zeolite tank lasts?

[3pronghook]

when you bypass the valve pressure improves? if so,i would try cleaning the inlet/outlet. alot of times crud builds up on the screens. 25 years? i dont think resin is rated for much more than 20 years? Zeolite even less. but there exceptions to everything. good luck

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Yes, when I throw open the bypass valve pressure improves a lot.

[Walleye Guy]

Consider yourself fortunate to get 25 years out of that softener. It's run it useful life's course. Don't put money or time into something that ought to be replaced.

[3pronghook]

if pressure increases while bypassed then its in the bypasstake it apart and clean it. however, its a bit of a red flag to be having this problem for first time in 25 years? but again, there are always exceptions and simple solutions. good luck

[kerryd15]

I do know that new resin can be purchased if everything else is working. I did this on an Iron filter with a fleck head. The newer softners with meter and dual tank are really nice- lot less salt and you never run out of soft water with dual tanks.

[Ufatz]

New system. Good Grief.....that thing is prehistoric! LOL

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

New system recommendations?

[slyer]

having troubles taking inlet/outlet apart black clips i'm struggling with please help i'm having the same problem

[Walleye Guy]

I installed a Water Boss 900 in both my house and lake home. The lake home had a bad rust and iron problem which the WB cleared right up. It is easy to install and program and it uses very little salt. They go on sale at the M store about once a month.

[Whoaru99]

FWIW, I put in a Sears/Kenmore just short of 10 years ago. Haven't had to do anything with it so far other than add salt.

[aanderud]

I do know that new resin can be purchased if everything else is working. I did this on an Iron filter with a fleck head. The newer softners with meter and dual tank are really nice- lot less salt and you never run out of soft water with dual tanks.

This is a good point. Iffin you do get a new system, one that meters the water and only recharges when it needs to will save you a ton of salt. And if you have dual resin tanks, you never run out of soft water and you'll save another few percent in salt costs because you won't recharge a tank until it's completely used up.

[Tom7227]

Or you could fix what you have.

http://www.kenmorewater.com/HSOforum/animations/product-animation/ts_index.html

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

All the toilets have a very fine sediment in them and the bathtub does too when you fill it.

[echotrail]

+1 with Tom 7272. I used this HSOforum about 4 years ago to rebuild my water softner control and put in a new gaskets. I have had no problems since then.

[3pronghook]

fine sediment could be a well issue. softener will take out fines until it plugs up. The softener problem could be the cause of something going on in well. is the sediment gritty and roll between your fingers or does it smear when you try to pick it up? id run a hose off your pressure tank into a white 5 gal pail and see what your getting from the source. run it for 10 15 mins to get good idea. This is assuming you have you own well as your water supply.

[Whoaru99]

And perhaps consider putting a whole-house filter on as the first in line between the incoming supply shutoff valve and rest of the house.if you're getting sediments. Don't have to put on a super fine filter, just fine enough to stop the chunks, per se, and those generally aren't too expensive and last a fair number of gallons (depending, of course, on how much stuff is in the water).