School me on water softeners

[Akira-R]

So my water softener was unplugged for a a year or so (unbeknownst to me). Had it turned back on, and cycled through and now after every regen, it pumps out grey water for a few minutes. Reading up on it, this seems like carbon buildup and/or the resin base needing replacing? I also notice a small leak when it's regenerating. But it's not horrible.

The system is probably over 20 years old and should be replaced anyways. The guy who came out to look at it recently said it's 1450 to replace with their own brand of softener. I believe it's Maxima branded. It looks like it uses a Fleck head unit, and some 3rd party tank/resin. Reading up it seems that is very common. This also means the resin/tank can be of poor quality and not last long, but living off the 'Fleck' name. Usually those tanks/resins aren't certified.

I'm seeing prices of new systems from $500 - $2000
I'm not looking for the saltless water conditioners.

There's 5 people in the house, water is used a good amount. There is no chlorine in our water (great oaks water), but it is very hard.

TLDR;

I need a new water softener for the house. I don't care about reverse osmosis etc. Just care about softening hard water, quality, longevity (10+ years)

So tell me what you have and how you like it!

thanks!

--reid

 

[jt2]

Just a thought - if it was unplugged for a year and you didn't notice, do you really need it?

 

[JesasaurusRex]

No name is the same as the high $ shit. Just a unit with resin and a trash can with salt. Don't buy into the marketing. Don't remember where i bought mine way back when but I'd probably check ebay first if i were in the market again.

 

[Akira-R]

Just a thought - if it was unplugged for a year and you didn't notice, do you really need it?

Actually, yes. Plenty of scale buildup . I just got around to getting someone out to look at it. I honestly didn't even know where it was plugged in. It was way on the other side of the garage. I do feel lazy for not checking it, but I still wanted someone out to look/go over it.

 

[Butch]

This is cool
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_softening#Ion-exchange_resin_method

 

[Akira-R]

I forgot to mention water pressure. Some methods have issues with water pressure and lower the overall water pressure.

Curious to hear what people have and their water pressures.

 

[UDRider]

I have Kinetico one. It has active carbon that supposed to prolong raising life, and Regen cycles are controlled mechanically.
Although for you probably not an issue since you don't have chlorine.

Don't know maybe it is a marketing hype, but it works. Had it for five something years now. Just keep salt bin topped off, other then that maintenance free.

I don't quite remember now, but I don't think it noticably reduced water pressure.

 

[ctwo]

My landlord forced me to pay the culigan dude to replace the head on ours. $800 and they took the old one.

I was ready to buy a Fleck from Amazon for a couple hundred less.

If your head works, I'd just look into dumping the resin into a bucket and cleaning it and both tanks, and fix the leak. The resin is usually very fine beads that will sink. You can also just buy new resin if you think you need it but I would just clean it out first.

Rubber seals will swell with with RV slideout silicone spray by 3in1, if you can't fine the right seal or it's some expensive mold.

 

[bigpoppa]

I have Kinetico one. It has active carbon that supposed to prolong raising life, and Regen cycles are controlled mechanically.
Although for you probably not an issue since you don't have chlorine.

Don't know maybe it is a marketing hype, but it works. Had it for five something years now. Just keep salt bin topped off, other then that maintenance free.

I don't quite remember now, but I don't think it noticably reduced water pressure.

I'm another satisfied Kinetico user. I've used them on the two houses I've bought to date. While there may be better systems out there, I like that it doesn't use electricity and in my personal experience it does a good job of softening the hard water.

If you want filtered drinking water you do have to get a separate under sink filter unit for that though. I had it in my first house but decided not to get it for my second house.

A couple of points:
1) Kinetico systems aren't cheap but the ongoing cost is mainly rock salt and an annual filter check/flush. I didn't keep up with the annual checks in my first house and after 10 years the unit did crap out but since I moved out of that house shortly after I didn't bother getting it fixed.
2) In my opinion, water softeners/conditioners make the most sense in a relatively new house since there's been no opportunity for any kind of build-up to occur in the pipes. In an older house, you might want to go with a cheaper system if all you're after is softening the water.

Finally, I did recommend Kinetico systems to friends as an option to look into and those who did go with them have no complaints.

 

[fraz]

My house had a Kenmore when I bought it and my buddy installed one in his house several years ago and they both seem to work quite well. Also they are not very expensive at all (~$500). If you can cut and sweat copper pipes, they aren't terribly difficult to install yourself either. The OP sounds like the plumbing has already been done for the most part so that makes it easier.