Dana 2 Scott
New Member
My setup: 3 years old, house has pex plumbing
Well tank
Backwashing sediment filter - 10x44 Vortech tank with 1.0 cu ft Filter-Ag, Clack WS1TC service valve
Big Blue 4.5 x 10", 5micron AP810 sediment filter
Whirlpool 33000 grain cabinet style softener
Well Water:
pH 6.6
Hardness 1 gr/gal
Iron 2.86 ppm
Water sample taken post filters but before softener:
pH 6.6
Hardness 1 gr/gal
Iron 0.08 ppm
Treated Tap Water:
pH 6.6
Hardness ND
Iron 0.20 ppm when the softener is in-service
Iron 0.08 ppm when the softener is bypassed
The intent of the water softener was to use it primarily for iron removal since the well water is pretty soft to begin with. But the softener actually seems to be adding iron back into the finished product. I'm just guessing that the resin is fouled to some degree and leaching a bit of iron. Yesterday for the first time I tried a backwash with Iron Out but it only reduced the iron from 0.25 to 0.20 at the tap. I'm assuming the iron in the well water must be almost entirely ferric because the Filter-Ag and the 5 micron AP810 (surprisingly) remove almost all the iron and the softener is only treating 0.08 ppm. I don't know if the iron reaching the softener is ferrous or small ferric particles which might pass through the 5 micron filter. So I have a few questions: Do I even need a softener since the hardness is only 1 gr/gal? Does 1gr/gal cause problems with, for example, spotting on glass shower doors or shower heads? Or should I re-bed the softener and keep it? Or maybe continue to try more IO cleanings before deciding to re-bed. Should I be at all concerned with the pH 6.6 water since I have pex piping and have no copper stains in any bath fixtures after 10 years? I don't like the idea of calcite filters because the two I've owned in previous houses have turned into concrete after a while. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and help. Much appreciated.
Well tank
Backwashing sediment filter - 10x44 Vortech tank with 1.0 cu ft Filter-Ag, Clack WS1TC service valve
Big Blue 4.5 x 10", 5micron AP810 sediment filter
Whirlpool 33000 grain cabinet style softener
Well Water:
pH 6.6
Hardness 1 gr/gal
Iron 2.86 ppm
Water sample taken post filters but before softener:
pH 6.6
Hardness 1 gr/gal
Iron 0.08 ppm
Treated Tap Water:
pH 6.6
Hardness ND
Iron 0.20 ppm when the softener is in-service
Iron 0.08 ppm when the softener is bypassed
The intent of the water softener was to use it primarily for iron removal since the well water is pretty soft to begin with. But the softener actually seems to be adding iron back into the finished product. I'm just guessing that the resin is fouled to some degree and leaching a bit of iron. Yesterday for the first time I tried a backwash with Iron Out but it only reduced the iron from 0.25 to 0.20 at the tap. I'm assuming the iron in the well water must be almost entirely ferric because the Filter-Ag and the 5 micron AP810 (surprisingly) remove almost all the iron and the softener is only treating 0.08 ppm. I don't know if the iron reaching the softener is ferrous or small ferric particles which might pass through the 5 micron filter. So I have a few questions: Do I even need a softener since the hardness is only 1 gr/gal? Does 1gr/gal cause problems with, for example, spotting on glass shower doors or shower heads? Or should I re-bed the softener and keep it? Or maybe continue to try more IO cleanings before deciding to re-bed. Should I be at all concerned with the pH 6.6 water since I have pex piping and have no copper stains in any bath fixtures after 10 years? I don't like the idea of calcite filters because the two I've owned in previous houses have turned into concrete after a while. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and help. Much appreciated.