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Thu 10 Jan, 2008 12:33 pm
I am looking to purchase a new water softener for my new home and am looking for some unbiased help!
The House:
2 1/2 baths - the master bath has a large soaking tub and the shower has two heads
75 gallon hot water heater
6 people in the family (3 of which are teenagers) and we occassionally have company that stays for a while
The Water:
Hardness = 18
Iron = very low (don't have exact #)
Manganese = very low (don't have exact #)
My county's water supply is drawn from two local rock quarries and as a result, the water hardness has increased over the last few years. I have also been told that as more water is drained from the quarry and you get closer to the bottom, the water is likely going to get harder.
The Problem:
I have found a lot of information online about what the best type of valves are and how to properly size a unit for the house. Unfortunately, the information does not usually match so I am a little confused at this point!
I have had 3 local companies come out to test the water and to give me quotes on what they had to offer:
Culligan - $1,800 (32,00 grain unit)
2nd offer - $1,250 (32,000 grain unit with a Fleck 6700 valve)
3rd offer - $1,350 (32,000 grain unit with an unknown valve)
After searching the Internet, I have narrowed the choices down to the following Fleck valves:
2510SE
5600SE
7000
I have also heard that the Clack WS-1 is a decent valve as well but have read that they can tend to be on the noisy side as well.
In my search, it would appear that I would need at least an 80,000 grain unit if we wanted it to recharge once-a-week. If that is the case, then why would the companies that came to visit me only offer a 32,000 grain unit that will likely run every 2-3 days? I am not sure what the logic is here? From everything that I have read, it seems like the less the valve is used, the longer it will last so I don't understand why the recommend the smaller tanks. In fact, the individual from company #2 told me that anything over 40,000 would be "overkill."
So it appears that I need an 80,000 grain tank for once a week or maybe a 64,000 grain unit for every 4-5 days.
Since we have so many kids and the tendency to be running many things at the same time (showers, tubs, washing machine, and dishwasher), it would seem that one of the high-flow valves (Fleck 7000 or Clack WS-1)may be the way to go!
Please help shed some light on this subject!
Thanks!
Scott
Scott,
Seems like you have a good understanding of what you need. It does seem that a larger softener than quoted would be required.
Have you posed the why such a small softener question to the three companies that have quoted you?
Without a good reason they might eliminate themselves from your consideration. It would be interesting to hear the reasoning behind their quotes.
You might also want to consider a twin resin tank softener while you're doing your pre-sales research.
Re: Water Softener - Correct Size
You need exact water test numbers .
You need to get the SFR correct for the number of bathrooms and the size and type of the fixtures, along with the number of people. If not no softener will give you consistent soft water.
Hardness comes from dissolved rock. I doubt that with less water in a quarry, that the hardness would increase because there would be less rock in contact with water but, usually a quarry would be deep enough to have the bottom below the water table, and most groundwater contains hardness.
I've sold all but a thousand Clack WS-1 valves and none of my customers have mentioned noise with the exception of justalurker, recently, since he read the same guy as you probably. That guy is a Fleck guy.
A 1.0 cuft (32K) is way too small for your needs and I have a tough time believing they suggested one; they don't know what they are doing when it comes to sizing a softener correctly.
The flow rate of the control valve tells dealers that know what they are doing, what size tank the control valve can be used on. The volume of resin dictates the size of the tank it goes in, and the SFR gpm of the softener. The salt dose dictates the K of capacity of the softener which is adjustable and establishes the salt efficiency of the softener.
The 5600, 6600 and 6700 can not service larger than a 2.0 cuft 12" tank. The 2510, IIRC a 13" tank. The 7000 is a 1.25" valve, and overkill for your needs plus I stopped selling them because of problems and the variable brining using more water due to more frequent regenerations than once every 7-9 days.
IMO the Clack WS-1 is the best choice.
BTW, what other names have you posted here with?
Re: Water Softener - Correct Size
sshuntley wrote:I am looking to purchase a new water softener for my new home and am looking for some unbiased help!
Scott, contact your local EcoWater Dealer and see what they have to offer.
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