Water Softener Suggestions

[Chuckster in NJ]

My 20 year old DWC whole house water softener head started leaking and now I need a replacement....... Any suggestions on brand and model? A plumber friend of mine suggested a Watts PWSR 145K and it is hard to find reviews on it.

Well water, no iron or sulphur problems...... Just hard water!

BTW! Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

We ordered our set-up from Ohio Pure Water and it came with a Fleck valve.

 

[joey1320]

Zip 44070

Check your local Home Depot and see if they are also clearing out their water softeners.


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[a_whale]

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[Sumboodie]

Some of those "high end" unit are crazy expensive.

Can buy 2 or 3 normal units for 1 of those!

Lowes or Home Depot units will do the job just gine for $400-500.

 

[Mercer2]

Any suggestions for a 40gpm water softener?

Thank you

 

[Sumboodie]

Any suggestions for a 40gpm water softener?

Thank you

Lowes Whirlpool is what I have. Been working just fine for the last 10 years.

 

[tez929rr]

Currently we have two Waterboss softeners from local Home Depot. We went through 3 of those GE type (same softener is sold under several brand names), but the Waterboss uses a lot less salt and seems to work fine. I talked to Culligan to get a price for a service contract before my last softener purchase and for their monthly price I could replace the softener every year and still come out way ahead.

We have one for the house and a smaller one in an outbuilding with an apartment in it.

 

[bigman68]

Waterboss, my first one lasted 20 years, my current one is on year 2 no problems:

https://www.waterboss.com/water-softeners/

 

[gungatim]

LGR!

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Clack or Fleck is good. I've used both, I'll give the Clack a little edge over the Fleck.

Tommy

 

[allinon72]

It really depends on your household size and subsequent water usage. I have a Fleck 5600sxt and it's perfect. Basic in operation, small footprint, efficient.

 

[a_whale]

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[Chuckster in NJ]

It really depends on your household size and subsequent water usage. I have a Fleck 5600sxt and it's perfect. Basic in operation, small footprint, efficient.

THREE people, low consumption dishwasher and washing machine. The outdoor spigots are on UNCONDITIONED water (bypass the softener) and the hot/cold car wash faucet is on conditioned water...... I usually wash two cars per week.

THANKS for all the suggestions so far! I am interested in a well made efficient softener that will last...... I am a firm believer in "you get what you pay for" and have no problem buying a quality unit.

 

[dcg9381]

Clack or Fleck is good. I've used both, I'll give the Clack a little edge over the Fleck.

Tommy

These are the the two brands to get. They're commercial duty and fully rebuild-able. I believe Clack stopped allowing direct sales to consumers, but Fleck still does.

I farted around with a bunch of Home Depot / consumer sets until I finally landed on these valves. You can buy these basically "wholesale" and various water suppliers online. Through a turn-key retailer in my area, they marked these systems up 100-300%, but of course, it's a lot less work.

 

[thammel]

I've got one I bought from qualitywatertreatment.com.....Just a fleck 5600 and it works fine. The good thing is that it is easily repairable if need be.

 

[rburke65]

I’m running a GE from H Depot...ok by me.

 

[JRC3]

Some of those "high end" unit are crazy expensive.

Can buy 2 or 3 normal units for 1 of those!

Lowes or Home Depot units will do the job just gine for $400-500.

For pretty much the same money as that box-store junk you can buy a quality unit. https://www.qualitywaterforless.com/collections/meter-demand-softeners

 

[pr3dict]

I'm always trying to figure out this water softener thing... Can these be drained into a septic system? Also what's everyone using for filtration?

 

[DieselNut88]

Kinetico. No electricity needed, regens on gals used. I dump mine into my septic tank, no problems.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

I guess a good question for OP is how long he plans on living in the house. If just a couple more years, maybe the cheapest solution is the best solution.

I am 67 years old and in very good health (for now) and I want a good one that will give me years of trouble free service. I don’t plan to move anytime soon and the way things are going it is impossible to find a LOCAL company who returns calls or sells softeners........ I guess they all went away after online sales and the "planned demic" so now I have to buy online and install it myself which is NOT a problem. The biggest problem is deciding on a manufacturer and model.

 

[gungatim]

LGR!

 

[Ran when parked]

Test the water hardness. You can buy test kits and do it yourself. The amount of calcium or other minerals you are trying to remove may help you determine the capacity of your new unit. A test kit will also allow you to test the effectiveness of your new softener.
I have an Aquatrol. Very efficient unit but the interface is not very intuitive.

 

[HenryAZ]

Clack or Fleck is good. I've used both, I'll give the Clack a little edge over the Fleck.

I bought mine from an independent dealer who had considerable knowledge of the components necessary to put one together. He told me that Fleck is an offshoot of Clack. Some Clack engineers went off and founded Fleck. At any rate, he sold me a Fleck valve, which is still going strong and flawlessly after 16 years. He is no longer in business because those companies clamped down on independent sellers selling their equipment.

Clack or Fleck, agreed, is the way to go for the heart of the system, the valve.

 

[Sumboodie]

I'm always trying to figure out this water softener thing... Can these be drained into a septic system? Also what's everyone using for filtration?

It's not ideal, but no choice here.
If it's not cold at your house, drainage to the curb or woods is better I guess.
They say the salt in the septic is rough on it.
Maybe rusts out faster?

 

[a_whale]

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[LS6 Tommy]

I bought mine from an independent dealer who had considerable knowledge of the components necessary to put one together. He told me that Fleck is an offshoot of Clack. Some Clack engineers went off and founded Fleck. At any rate, he sold me a Fleck valve, which is still going strong and flawlessly after 16 years. He is no longer in business because those companies clamped down on independent sellers selling their equipment.

Clack or Fleck, agreed, is the way to go for the heart of the system, the valve.

My Fleck was about 25 years old when it started to go. It wasn't a "bad" unit and could probably have been repaired, but it was starting to nickle and dime me, I wanted to go to a demand system and the Clack was my guy's choice. We use them on the job, too.

Tommy

 

[JRC3]

Test the water hardness. You can buy test kits and do it yourself.

Below is the kit I've posted before. Save the headache and time and buy a good kit...Like we say around here all the time, "buy once, cry once."

https://www.hach.com/total-hardness-test-kit-model-5-b/product-downloads?id=7640219508

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008FM7WLU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I use the kit regularly to test my softener and RO drinking system, you get at least 100 tests out of it.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Pulled the plug and purchased a GENESIS 2 PREMIERE from Discount Water Softeners. Com

I will report back next week about how it works.

Thanks for all the replies!!

 

[pcmeiners]

"I am a firm believer in "you get what you pay for"

Not in the water treatment industry. There are plenty of dealers who will sell you a $1000 system for a meager $4000 .

 

[JRC3]

"I am a firm believer in "you get what you pay for"

Not in the water treatment industry. There are plenty of dealers who will sell you a $1000 system for a meager $4000 .

I have about $1400-1500 in my whole system...Mang-ox iron filter>water softener>RO. Those are Fleck 7000sxt valves. It can be done correctly without breaking the bank.

 

[dcg9381]

"I am a firm believer in "you get what you pay for"

Not in the water treatment industry. There are plenty of dealers who will sell you a $1000 system for a meager $4000 .

Bingo... Turn key especially.
Buy any softener from a reputable online company with a Clack of Fleck valve. You can't go wrong.

 

[a_whale]

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[JRC3]

Also, I started running potassium chloride in mine because I have never liked the taste of the NaCl... They told me that running KCl was no problem and I have noticed no difference in the water quality.

Sadly potassium chloride cost about 5x as much. The salt was the main reason I installed reverse osmosis for drinking water, as I needed to cut my sodium. I then run all the RO water through a final stage 10" charcoal for even better taste. I have a 3/8 line that runs to the kitchen RO faucet/tap and fridge and will eventually install drinking taps in the bathroom vanities too.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Sadly potassium chloride cost about 5x as much. The salt was the main reason I installed reverse osmosis for drinking water, as I needed to cut my sodium. I then run all the RO water through a final stage 10" charcoal for even better taste. I have a 3/8 line that runs to the kitchen RO faucet/tap and fridge and will eventually install drinking taps in the bathroom vanities too.

I am NOT an expert but my guess that "IF" you have a very efficient softener the cost of Potassium Chloride would be the same price as a "non efficient" salt softener.

BTW! I have all my drinking water taps plumbed before the softener and put through a filter....... I love the taste of my well water.

 

[a_whale]

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[thammel]

I've been using KCL for the 15 years I've had the softener. Yes, it costs a bit more but then it does last a long time. I'm happy with reduced sodium intake.

 

[JRC3]

BTW! I have all my drinking water taps plumbed before the softener and put through a filter....... I love the taste of my well water.

You wouldn't like my well water...Too much iron and sulfer. Bluhck.

This is a tub full of raw well water compared to a fill of iron-filtered and softened water.

It's amazing how different everyone's water is, be it well or municipal.

 

[a_whale]

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[pcmeiners]

"This is a tub full of raw well water compared to a fill of iron-filtered and softened water."

Wow that is a lot of iron, much more than I have. I ended up with a pre-filter, an aerating tank, followed by a couple of Katalox tanks, then charcoal tank. Have not installed them yet as I am in the process of installing a Radon mitigation setup.