[Shop-talk] o/t Water softener

[Peter J. Thomas]

On 3/19/2015 1:38 PM, Tim . wrote:
> Good info. Thanks Peter.
>
> Is this something an amateur could install? Someone with minor knowledge? I
> plumbed my garage air using copper with no issues or leaks so am able to seal
> up copper pipes. Thanks

I did it.  If you can sweat a pipe, which you can, that's it.  Only 
other thing is the back wash drain.  In my case since I already had a 
system it was trivial.  If you're adding one for the first time you need 
a diverter value, which should come with and the system, and to tap into 
the waste lines or run it outside.


>
>> Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2015 12:07:29 -0400
>> From: bjzwissler at gmail.com
>> To: shop-talk at autox.team.net
>> Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] o/t Water softener
>>
>> I purchased one of these:
>>
>> Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 grain water softener digitial sxt metered whole
>> house system
>>
>> from Abundant Flow Water Systems on Amazon.  I was frustrated with
>> having to repeatedly repair the "consumer" equipment sold by Sears,
>> Lowe's, etc., and didn't want to pay "professional" prices.  This has
>> the Fleck control head (same as used on most professional units,
>> including Culligan).  The rest of the system is just tanks, plumbing
>> and resin so there's little risk there.  I sized it for our four
>> bed/three bath house on reasonably hard Indiana municipal well water,
>> but with just my wife and I at home most of the time now its way
>> oversized.  I paid about $6-700 including shipping and I used Amazon
>> largely because the price was good and I hoped they would help if
>> things went "bad."
>>
>> I bought it about 2 1/2 years ago and have had absolutely no problem
>> so far.  I'd go this way again.  I feel I got a professional unit for
>> a "big box" price and it took me about an afternoon to install.  Fleck
>> parts are widely available and if the tank failed before the control
>> head I'd likely just replace the tank if it was less than 10 yrs old.
>>
>> Ben....
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 19, 2015 at 9:31 AM, Peter J. Thomas <pj_thomas at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>>> On 3/15/2015 9:13 PM, Ian McFetridge wrote:
>>>> The existing 30,000gr softener is from 1994 and the valve is broken
> beyond
>>>> repair and has to be replaced. (1994 vintage, so not unexpected)  At 20
>>>> years old, I'd like to replace the cylinder, valve, and brine tank.  I
> got
>>>> quotes from two local companies, one that installed the system for the
>>>> previous owner.
>>>>
>>> I had one installed in 1994.  I have a lot of iron and manganese. It did
> not
>>> last me 20 years. The problem with the major brands is they are
> proprietary
>>> and require you to go to the "authorized" dealer for parts and service at
>>> steep prices.  I opted for a non proprietary system and installed it
> myself
>>> for about 1/3 the cost. Works great, zero problems.
>>>
>>> I don't remember the company or the brand of the unit but you might
> consider
>>> searching the web.
>>>
>>> Peter T.
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