Older Rainsoft Softener - Need help please

Angie, the water not going through the softener is clear, the water through the softener is discolored... that says there is something wrong with the softener, and the resin specifically. It is adding iron back into the water.

You can mix a 1/4 cup of Iron Out in a gallon of water and pour it into the water in the salt tank, wait two hours and then do a manual regeneration. That may stop the problem. Or replace the resin or the softener.

I'll try that, thank you for your help.

Iron Out
Actually the directions on the Iron Out container says to add 1 cup of Iron out to a gallon of water. I do this every couple of months.

Yeah they like selling the stuff but how much to use depends on the volume of resin in the softener etc.. Maybe their label isn't big enough.

older rainsoft system
The iron out is only going to be a very short term fix. The resin is iron fouled. You need to remove the iron before it gets to your rainsoft system. you can put in an iron filter for around a $1000. Or you can wait til the resin no longer works. Then you will have to buy another softner and spend Well more than $1000 for new softner. Then you will run into the same problem again with a standard water softner. also with the iron you have in your water, it probably has gotten worst in the last 30 yrs. the water in any area has changed tremendously in the last 30 yrs.

The use of a resin cleaner, such as Iron Out, is a very good idea if there is over say .5 ppm of iron in the water going to a softener. The frequency and volume used varies greatly depending on how much iron and resin and the volume of water used etc.. It is a very inexpensive way to keep a softener humming along trouble free for years.

I and other online dealers sell iron filters and softeners for many hundreds of dollars less than a $1000 each.

so what your saying is add chemicals to your water?? i work for a international water treatment company, i would never recommend to add any chemical to water(even chlorine!). if you did it your way with chemicals would you still drink the water? no you would have to buy another system for drinking water. so the $1000 isnt bad when you can treat the water for consumption. thats all. you dont have to reply. thanks.

Then how is it you don't know about ion exchange water softening resin cleaners and that the "chemical" is flushed out of the tank to drain during the manual regeneration and can not get into the person's water?

jerrouse,

With all do respect, you really need to consider things on a case by case basis. Such generalizations in the water treatment industry are left to those are selling dubious products, have little knowledge or simply don't care.

Whether the elements you are adding to or removing from water is all a matter of the original water source quality, available technology/equipment and the motivation to seek final result you wish to achieve. Blanket policy statements have never sat well with me.

Granted, you may have some valid points in many cases but saying that adding iron out salt is harmful or that chlorination of public water supplies is responsible would sound a bit sophomoric to me...especially from someone in an "international water treatment company".

Since you brought it up, what is your position there? What certifications, training, and other qualifications do you have? if you don't mind.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II

Re: Older Rainsoft Softener - Need help please


Along with the Iron Out / Red Out cleaning the valve may need to be refurbished.
This should have you urine free with a quickness :wink: