I have not obsessed over this, I've gone sometimes for months with out thinking about it. Sporadically I tried alcohol and vinegar and ammonia and bleach and hot alcohol and hot vinegar and hot ammonia and hot bleach but recently cleaning the machine I noticed it and went after it with tools and a flashlight. There was a little place where one could insert a tool and then twist and lift the top and three parts of the softener dispenser could be removed. I soaked the parts in hot water and then hosed them off with pressure and finally removed the gooed up material. I am really surprised that persons actually use that stuff (What is softener anyway?) but what I am sharing here is this: if you find five year old liquid softener when you move, toss it.

I'm a fairly handy person, have done some construction and home remodeling, but haven't done any plumbing other than changing out faucets and toilets. Do you think its something a realitively handy home owner can do himself? I don't mind trying or just having a plumber install one that I buy online. I cant imagine what my local pros are going to want to charge me for this substantial water softener when they were quoting me about 2x the actual price for their woefully undersized units. I can't see paying 2x the cost just to get a 5-10 year warrenty. If I can install my self I could buy 2 softeners which i'm sure would last me more than there warrenty period. Thanks for you help and suggestions. I will be taking a serious look at the Fleck you suggested.

Oxidation/Filtration: An oxidizer such as ozone, air, or chlorine may be used to react with the iron and force it to become particulate iron that can then be removed via filtration. A typical setup would involve the oxidizing unit, a holding tank, then a media filter. This type of system works quite well, but takes some expertise in sizing - you would want a water treatment pro that you trust to help you with this option. Oxidizing filtration media: This type of treatment consists of a sealed tank filled with one of several media. Water passes through and is oxidized and filtered by the media. These are relatively easy to operate and what I would recommend for the average homeowner. There are several different media that can be used: manganese greensand: water runs through for treatment. The media must be regenerated with potassium permanganate. Care must be taken with dealing with potassium permanganate as it readily dies organic material, such as your skin, a purple-brown color. Some people are quite comfortable dealing with the chemical; others are not. Synthetic greensand: This is essentially the same as option (a) but consists of a coating of greensand on a silica sand core so does not require as much backwash flow. Service flow rate is 2 - 5 gpm/sqft. Backwash flow rate is 12 gpm/sqft. birm: This media acts as a catalyst to force oxidation of iron. While it does not need to be regenerated, it does need fairly high dissolved oxygen in the water. If your water does not have adequate dissolved oxygen (and it probably doesn't since it is well water), air injection would be necessary prior to the birm. Additionally, birm requires a minimum pH of 6.8.. Service flow rate is 3.5 - 5.0 gpm per sqft. Backwash flow rate is 11 - 20 gpm, depending upon water temperatures and desired bed expansion. pyrolox: an ore that oxidizes then filters the iron out. It does not need regeneration, but needs to be backwashed (to rinse out the iron) at a high rate. pH range is 6.5 - 9.0. This type of filter works very well, but backwash is critical. Service flow rate is 5 gpm/sqft. Backwash is 25-30 gpm/sqft. Backwash daily. Terminox: Similar to Pyrolox, but a proprietary formula . It does not require as much backwash flow rate and is more resistance to a low pH. The particulars are only available from the company that sells it. Backwash daily. Filox: Also similar to Pyrolox. pH range 5.0 - 9.0. Backwash flow 12-15 gpm/sqft. Service flow 6 gpm/sqft. It must be backwashed daily.

PH of the water? Manganese? # of bathrooms? SFR of the plumbing? Any water hogging appliances like a Jacuzzi or monster shower? Is the softener plumbed to soften the whole house or just the water heater?