Iron Breaker pulling too much gpms after 10 years

[MarioandLuigi's]

I have been servicing our Iron Breaker Iron filter for about 10 years now, and have had no issues.... However, for about a year now , the backwash cycle is driving my psi down to 35 and hanging there.... I have replace everything except for the ws1 head... I have replaced the well pump, pipe , wire, also pressure tank, switch.... Etc.... I do know that charger water has changed the media that they use for a while... But I don't think that would do that right...? Has anyone else noticed this problem with the iron breaker....?

 

[Bannerman]

From an online search, Culligan specifies the backwash rate will be between 5 to 10 GPM, depending on the specific filter model.

There are various media's normally utilized, applicable to specific filter models. Possible medias that maybe utilized include BIRM, Manganese Greensand, Manganese Dioxide, or Katalox Light. Because Culligan produces some of those medias themselves, Culligan media is often given a unique 'Culligan' name such as 'Cullsorb C', 'Cullsorb B' or 'Cullneu' (acid neutralizer media), even as equivalent medias are often also produced by other manufacturers and marketed using common media names.

The diameter of the media tank will also significantly influence the flow rate needed to backwash whatever 'Iron Breaker' media that maybe contained.

the backwash cycle is driving my psi down to 35 and hanging there....

Not clear what is meant by this statement. Do you mean by "hanging there", the psi doesn't build higher than 35 psi after the Iron Breaker's backwash cycle has concluded? If so, that would suggest a problem with the well or the well pump controls, not necessarily an issue with the filtration unit itself.

What pressure range is your well pump's pressure switch set to?

You said you replaced the p tank and pressure switch, but didn't specify if the pressure gauge and the nipple which supplies pressure to the pressure switch were also replaced?

What type and model of well pump is installed?

Diameter and depth of well? Well's static water level depth and recovery rate?

 

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[Reach4]

I don't know about your backwashing iron filter.

However, for about a year now , the backwash cycle is driving my psi down to 35 and hanging there....

I see no problem with that, even if using a 40/60 psi pressure switch. Few would ever check on that.

You are probably implying that the pressure was a higher level in the past. So if it used to stabilize at 45, and now 35, you are wondering if the output ability of the well+pump has dropped, or has the valve started passing more gpm during backwash. Maybe the well level has dropped. Is the iron filter the first thing after the pressure tank-- no strainer, for example?

I guess figuring out what backwash rate was intended, perhaps by checking the markings on the flow control, and then measuring the gpm coming out of the drain line during backwash (compute from number of seconds to fill a 5 gallon bucket) could give you what you want.

 

[Ramm.]

You can also check the flow restrictor in your the iron breakers drain line. It may have fallen out during the last service or didn't get replaced after cleaning it. If the flow isn't restricted the filter could use a lot more water and even allow the media to escape.