Long story short, my 20+ year old softener had the timer crap out on it. It's still tickin' but the wheel that shows the cycles isn't moving. So does anybody know how long I need to leave the valve in each cycle to "manually" regen the unit? This would be to just get through the next couple of weeks while I get ready to replace it. And while we're on the subject, what's good in water softners these days?
Can't really help you with your specific problem, I think it is probably specific to the model? As far as new units, Kinetico makes a great product. The twin tank design means you are never without water and when one of the tanks regens, it does so with "clean" water from the other tank, they also require no power source other than water pressure supplied by your well pump.
My wish list for a new softner is one that controls the regen cycle with a flow meter and not just a timer. Good info on the kinetico , thanks!
Hmmm, not sure about that. The other thing I forgot about Kinetico is they regen by water usage metering, not just by a prescribed number of days. They can regen at anytime of the day because of the twin tanks.
Sounds like I should be looking into one. (That's the method of operation I'm looking for). Thanks again!
I have an older (14 years or so) GE softener that was one of the first to regenerate off the water used instead of number of days. So far it's holding up well. All I've had to do to it was replace the disc on the regeneration valve, but that was when my old well started pumping sand into it. I think most every softener today has regeneration based off usage instead of every X days. I get Kinetico ads in the mail every now and again, and I about fell over when I heard what the price was. I have a dedicated iron filter in front of my softener, and I could replace the softener and the iron filter each three times and still have cash left over based off the price of the Kinetico. Maybe the prices came down some since then as the last time I looked was 5 or 6 years ago before I replaced the disc in the regen valve.
Don't know anything about them, but I installed one from lowes. Was seeing calcium buildup and decided to install one, it took care of the water and I like how my skin feels. It seems I use less soap and it washes off better. Mines going on 2 years and I just top the salt off whenever I see the light flashing, seems to last 2 months on a load? Never really pay attention though.
I put in a Morton softener from menards. Demand controlled, and only $350 or so. No complaints in 8 years so far.
If you weren't so far away I'd give you one... It's recharged and in my basement not used for the last 7 years...
Maybe but mine works for my situation, the money is cheap compared to dealing with bad water in your home. The previous two big box store cheapo units did not reliably/fully take care of my problem, and I am not screwing around with the water that my family depends on...granted my well water has more issues than most people who are just trying to soften up the city water a bit...as with most things you get what you pay for.
I've used these guys in the past, very helpful site as well if your model is there : http://www.softenerparts.com/default.asp I've rebuilt mine a few times, but it's got to be going on 30 years.
Thanks for the link cnice! I just don't see myself farting around with a 20 year old unit that I don't really like anyways. This is all part of a bigger project: I'm gutting the main water supply to my house. New pressure tank, piping and softener in addition to doing away with the )&&$&"!? Stupid insulated enclosure/mold factory the PO built around the setup.
My folks too. It died after over 25 years. I have a GE from lowes. Was about $550. Kinetico wanted $3700.. Yeah!!! Hahahaha! They try and sucker you on two tanks. Well my unit regens at 3am. I can't think of many times I've needed water at that hr. If I need a glass of water of to flush the crapper it's not like poison will come out the spigot! They say, well the Lowes stuff is cheap. Perhaps, but Kibevtico is just reselling a unit which can be bought at ms plumbing store for about $1500. Even they if it last 20 years, and my Lowes unit last 10 I'm still ahead.
There's a huge spread of products between the home depot softeners, online softeners, the kinetico, and the local water softener guy's system. You do NOT get what you pay for, you get what you are sold and just paying more for something doesn't make it better. I am confident that if you pay over 3500$ for a water softener then you have been ripped off. My water system regenerates at 2am when no water is being used. Paying more for a two tank system to prevent that possibility is ridiculous.
2 am here too. Makes the water just as soft. Cost $500..give or take. Can replace it every 10 years and still be money ahead.
When my unit is regenerating, I get non softened water out of the faucets. I can live with that at 1 AM when my softener regenerates. It's not like the faucets go dry when its regenerating.
