New Water Softener problem (Fleck 5000 ProFloSXT)
djt511
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hello,
I recently moved into a home that uses well water and had no water softener as it was removed by the previous owner. After having a water analyst done by ETR labs we decided to purchase the Fleck 5000 ProFloSXT water softener(48000 Grains.) Also upgraded to the Purolite SST60 Resin.
The water is still hard! I'm not sure exactly how hard but hard water spots are still visible. The majority of the iron seems to be removed, but I would like to considering the water condition if it should/could all be removed. When water is poured into a bottle and left sitting for a day there is no visible iron, and the water is clear.
The water softener was purchased from Ohiopurewater, and they have been helpful but have limited advise on the situation.
Thanks,
Danny
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biermech
9 years agodjt511
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Water Softener Loop Problem
Comments (13)"Why would you soften ALL the water in the system, when only the heated water is usually the problem?" A common question and often asked... Back in the day when homes were rarely, if ever, plumbed for a softener retrofits were installed at the water heater because it was easy, quick, and cheaper than interrupting the water service. When door-to-door water treatment hucksters prowled the neighborhoods an easy install was an effective close. When new homes began to include softener loops some had the kitchen and hose bibs plumbed pre-loop so soft water wasn't servicing the kitchen sink and outside. As time went by it seems that excluding the kitchen and hose bibs from water treatment was lost in the shuffle and new construction provided a softener loop for the entire house, if they provided a loop at all. Softener retrofits continued to be whole house, except for those old-timers who learned one way and that's all they knew and in cases where it would be very expensive or not easily done other than to soften only the water heater. People also discovered that washing their cars with soft water was a good thing... just like the car washes have been doing for decades and decades and decades. If the water entering the home is hard and you only treat the water heater then everywhere there is cold water the water is hard. Every faucet, appliance, pipe, and fixture. Everywhere in the house the hot and cold mix the water will be less hard, but not soft. You won't get the advantage of soft water. With today's efficient water softeners it really isn't much more costly to treat the entire house than exclude the kitchen and hose bibs if you factor in the accelerated wear and tear and more frequent repairs to faucets, appliances, pipes, and fixtures that hard hard water will bring not to mention the savings from using less soaps and detergents. Why would anyone want to pay for soft water and then not get it?...See MoreWater Softeners - Kinetico/Fleck Questions
Comments (34)Since you "... used to operate and maintain commercial sized water softeners" I'd think you'd know this fundamental plumbing stuff. LOL. I think you misunderstood my tone. You said I shouldn't let the drain tube touch the laundry sink because it could get cross-contaminated. You didn't say anything about a siphon effect, so I asked you to clarify by asking if you meant a siphon. I don't know if you know what a siphon is. You've given me plenty of advice, which I appreciate, but I don't know you. When I say water sucked up "somehow" it sounds like I don't know what a siphon is, but that's not what I meant. I know next to nothing about the design of these Fleck/Clack valves so I don't know the exact mechanism that would allow the siphon to occur. That's what I meant by "somehow." You are correct that I wasn't thinking about the code requiring separation of the drain line with any other drain, so thanks again for that link. I haven't chosen a softener yet, but rest assured that whichever way I go it won't be a WAG installation....See MoreCorrect sizing of Fleck water softener
Comments (22)You need to get into the master programming of the 7000. When you get in there don't change any values EXCEPT what I tell you to. Write down what the values are set at BEFORE you change them. If you don't know how to get into the master programming here's the manual... click here VALUES TO CHANGE: C = 27 x1000 H = 13 RS = SF SF = 20 DO = 8 BF = 23 You might want to consider getting a small computer UPS (uninterruptable power supply) like a 500va or so to provide power to the 7000 in case of an outage. The 7000 will remember it's settings but a power outage in the middle of a regen will stop the 7000 from advancing through the stages and water will continue to run to drain. It's cheap insurance and protects the 7000 from power spikes, surges, and brown outs. Advice to assemble... If the top basket is not installed on the 7000 click it in now. Make sure it fits the dist tube. There are different diameter tubes. Tape or plug the top of the distributor tube so no resin gets inside. When you start putting stuff in the resin tank it will get heavy so place it where you want it FIRST. Add a few gallons of water to the resin tank. Put the dist tube in and place the nose of the bottom basket in the dimple in the tank bottom. Center the dist tube. Carefully pour the gravel in slowly so you don't damage the basket. Gravel should cover the basket and dist tube should be centered. Add resin to tank careful not to move or pull dist tube. Use food grade plumber's silicone grease (do not use a petroleum product) on the 7000 big o-ring and on the smaller o-ring in the bottom that slides over the dist tube. Once you have set the 7000 on the dist tube do not attempt to pull up or remove the 7000 or the dist tube will lift and you get to start all over....See MoreNew Fleck 9100SXT Water Softener - Settings help, please.
Comments (7)Thanks for the replies. I was away from the computer last night - thus the delayed response. The BFLC sticker reads 1.5gpm The vendor supplied a skimpy, generic install sheet and nothing about settings (the perils of buying on the WWW) I do have the manuals for the valve and it explains what the settings are but doesn't really go into determining what to set them at. It refers you to your professional for that. I made a few changes based on a guide I found on the Internet - it too was a little skimpy on how to determine setting values. We do have the .75 cubic feet of resin per tank setup. The SFR is more than adequate for our well. We've addressed the nitrate level with a ceramic filter at our drinking supply that removes >85%. Since the PH was in the normal range (higher side) and our water tastes good it wasn't addressed. I know there are a lot of settings to go through on the water softener and it's a lot to ask of someone to walk us through each so if anyone can point us to a detailed guide online somewhere that would be great. I just want to make sure it is set up specific to our situation. Thanks again....See Moredjt511
9 years agodjt511
9 years agoUser
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
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