GE 30,000 Grain Water Softener

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Cameron Fields

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Hi everyone,
I recently installed a GE self-contained 30,000 grain water softener. I am on a well I tested my water “straight” and it came back with 6.43 Grains Per Gallon hard with .03 ppm of iron. I have a filter pre-softener I replace every two weeks. I am curious if anyone has experience with this system, longevity, performance, etc. Local companies wanted well over a grand for a unit while I like supporting the economy I couldn’t afford it; this total cost was under five hundred installed DIY. So far, the water is insanely better. This is my first softener so any advice, preventative maintenance I am game to hear. Thanks
 

Reach4

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I am glad the softener is working well for you.

What is a "filter pre-softener", and what does it cost to replace every 2 weeks? Do you replace it based on symptoms, or just look at the calendar?
 

Cameron Fields

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I am glad the softener is working well for you.

What is a "filter pre-softener", and what does it cost to replace every 2 weeks? Do you replace it based on symptoms, or just look at the calendar?
Hi Reach4,
The filter I installed is just a whole home I installed it a year ago to prevent build up on washing machine intake it works well. This is the filter I use https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Whole-House-Replacement-Filters-2-Pack-FXWTC/100034332 I buy the same one at Walmart for $9.00 I replace it every two weeks. I checked it every few days when I first installed it and at the two-week mark in needed to be replaced. I didn’t mean to confuse you I said pre-softener because it is inline but before the softener. I love soft water first time I have ever had it.
Sincerely
Cameron Fields
 

Reach4

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I am surprised you go through the cartridges so fast. A filter with a 4.5 x 20 cartridge would last about 6 times or more as long, but the cartridges cost more, and you probably would not find them locally. Your current filter schedule is over $1500 per decade.

What does the stuff on the outside of the filter cartridge look like when you change the cartridge. If the stuff is course enough, could be that a different filter with a self-cleaning feature could go in front of your cartridge filter letting you get a lot more life out of your cartridges.
 
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Cameron Fields

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I am surprised you go through the cartridges so fast. A filter with a 4.5 x 20 cartridge would last about 6 times or more as long, but the cartridges cost more, and you probably would not find them locally. Your current filter schedule is over $1500 per decade.

What does the stuff on the outside of the filter cartridge look like when you change the cartridge. If the stuff is course enough, could be that a different filter with a self-cleaning feature could go in front of your cartridge filter letting you get a lot more life out of your cartridges.

Hey Reach4,


It is really dark red/brown completely covered and starting to bleed through on the inner side. It also has a fair amount of sediment at the bottom of the canister.


Sincerely


Cameron Fields
 
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Reach4

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It is really dark red/brown completely covered and starting to bleed through on the inner side. It also has a fair amount of sediment in the bottom of the canister.
It sounds like ferric iron (rust). Steel casing on your well?

A TwistIIClean filter or a an Atlas Filtri Hydra filter before your current cartridge filter could be worthwhile. If you scrape the solids from outside of a used filter, and stir it into a glass of water, the quicker you get stuff settling, the better such filters will catch stuff. They can be backwashed in place by twisting a control. Just drain into a bucket, or run a hose.
https://view.publitas.com/impact-water-products/2018-catalog-final/page/156
http://www.twistiiclean.com/


https://terrylove.com/forums/index....ter-before-water-treatment.73141/#post-539563 references a page that was changed after the post.

When looking at mesh sizes, I think 100 mesh means 100 holes per linear inch. About 149 micron. https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/chemis...chnical-library/particle-size-conversion.html

If you had a sulfur smell, a big backwashing filter could deal with that at the same time. But for just iron, your 0.03 ppm is handled well by your softener.
 

Cameron Fields

Undergraduate
Messages
137
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Location
Florida
It sounds like ferric iron (rust). Steel casing on your well?

A TwistIIClean filter or a an Atlas Filtri Hydra filter before your current cartridge filter could be worthwhile. If you scrape the solids from outside of a used filter, and stir it into a glass of water, the quicker you get stuff settling, the better such filters will catch stuff. They can be backwashed in place by twisting a control. Just drain into a bucket, or run a hose.
https://view.publitas.com/impact-water-products/2018-catalog-final/page/156
http://www.twistiiclean.com/


https://terrylove.com/forums/index....ter-before-water-treatment.73141/#post-539563 references a page that was changed after the post.

When looking at mesh sizes, I think 100 mesh means 100 holes per linear inch. About 149 micron. https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/chemis...chnical-library/particle-size-conversion.html

If you had a sulfur smell, a big backwashing filter could deal with that at the same time. But for just iron, your 0.03 ppm is handled well by your softener.

Hi Reach4,

I think it could be the casing on the well I hadn't given it much thought. Thanks for the advice I am going to see about a TwistIIClean that should help out considerably. I hadn't conducted much research on filters; I will give that one a try. Thanks again.

Sincerely

Cameron Fields
 
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