Clinger
New Member
Hello, I'm new to posting on this forum but have learned a lot reading the excellent post and replies. I need to replace my old Waterboss softener and need some advice. Wife also wants a good quality water source for drinking and cooking.
Old Waterboss, must be a 1-1.5 CuFt system. Has overflowed twice during regenerations, doesn't do a good job softening the water. Needs to go. We have 6 people in the house, 2 under 10. I believe our water usage is in the 300 gpd range. Well water at 35-55 psi using ¾†lines (I can adjust the settings and get 40-60 out of it if needed). Only 1 shower (of 2 in house) is used at any given time. SFR not more than 10gpm, we don't run a lot of faucets at same time.
Had Culligan and Kinetico come out for estimates. Both gave water hardness #s of 24-25 gpg, and Iron level of 3.5 ppm. We get a very noticeable orange stain from the shower/faucets when the softener is not working properly or when the kids forget to add salt when needed. We have a TDS of 480-550. We also have some sediment from the well, but it is filtered out with 2 small filters (old Kenmore unit that needs to go).
Estimate from Kinetico: 735 Unit (dual tank, around 42000 grain I think) along with a K5 RO system and a whole house filter set. Total cost $3800 plus tax. Which isn't that bad (for Kinetico) from what I've read on the net. Culligan unit was a single tank, about 42000 grain, with a pre-filter and RO system for about the same $.
I'm planning on testing the Ph level next week, and also getting a professional water report before making final decisions. I really like the K5 RO system and the dual tank softener from Kinetico, but I think the price is still way too high.
From my research, I think the 42000 grain system is way too small and will need to regen every 3 days or less. This seems to be inefficient. I'd like a system that regens about 5-7 days. I believe I need 300gpd water x (25gpg + 3.5 ppm*5) = 13000 grains per day, so I'd need a 60000-80000 grain system to regen every 5-7 days.
This is what I'm looking at installing myself: A Fleck 9100 SXT Dual Tank 80000 grain softener. A 20†whole house sediment filter, and a quality RO system. Perhaps an iron filter if needed.
Questions:
1. Do I need an independent iron filter system based on the 3.5 ppm iron content? Would a separate media filter such as MediaGuard KDF85 be good, if not, what should I get? Do I go with a smaller softener if iron filter is used?
2. Is the 9100 at 80000 grain (dual tank) overkill? Should I go with a smaller dual tank unit (I want a dual tank option) and why? Calculations for softeners don't account for dual tank options.
3. Should I go with Noryl or Stainless inlet (I'll get the bypass option either way)?
4. Any other help or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks for the time and the information.
Old Waterboss, must be a 1-1.5 CuFt system. Has overflowed twice during regenerations, doesn't do a good job softening the water. Needs to go. We have 6 people in the house, 2 under 10. I believe our water usage is in the 300 gpd range. Well water at 35-55 psi using ¾†lines (I can adjust the settings and get 40-60 out of it if needed). Only 1 shower (of 2 in house) is used at any given time. SFR not more than 10gpm, we don't run a lot of faucets at same time.
Had Culligan and Kinetico come out for estimates. Both gave water hardness #s of 24-25 gpg, and Iron level of 3.5 ppm. We get a very noticeable orange stain from the shower/faucets when the softener is not working properly or when the kids forget to add salt when needed. We have a TDS of 480-550. We also have some sediment from the well, but it is filtered out with 2 small filters (old Kenmore unit that needs to go).
Estimate from Kinetico: 735 Unit (dual tank, around 42000 grain I think) along with a K5 RO system and a whole house filter set. Total cost $3800 plus tax. Which isn't that bad (for Kinetico) from what I've read on the net. Culligan unit was a single tank, about 42000 grain, with a pre-filter and RO system for about the same $.
I'm planning on testing the Ph level next week, and also getting a professional water report before making final decisions. I really like the K5 RO system and the dual tank softener from Kinetico, but I think the price is still way too high.
From my research, I think the 42000 grain system is way too small and will need to regen every 3 days or less. This seems to be inefficient. I'd like a system that regens about 5-7 days. I believe I need 300gpd water x (25gpg + 3.5 ppm*5) = 13000 grains per day, so I'd need a 60000-80000 grain system to regen every 5-7 days.
This is what I'm looking at installing myself: A Fleck 9100 SXT Dual Tank 80000 grain softener. A 20†whole house sediment filter, and a quality RO system. Perhaps an iron filter if needed.
Questions:
1. Do I need an independent iron filter system based on the 3.5 ppm iron content? Would a separate media filter such as MediaGuard KDF85 be good, if not, what should I get? Do I go with a smaller softener if iron filter is used?
2. Is the 9100 at 80000 grain (dual tank) overkill? Should I go with a smaller dual tank unit (I want a dual tank option) and why? Calculations for softeners don't account for dual tank options.
3. Should I go with Noryl or Stainless inlet (I'll get the bypass option either way)?
4. Any other help or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks for the time and the information.