Over tighten the Fleck 7000 unit to media tank

[Silversaver]

I have found a leak between Fleck 7000 head unit and media tank. I figure it is an easy job so I discount the water softener had my wife hold down on the media take while I tighten up the Fleck 7000 unit. I did another quarter turn and figure I might can tighten up a bit more. All suddenly I heard a crack sound.....Now it is a big leak after connection had to bypass the water line. The question is: Is it the head unit internal connector crack or the media tank?

Thanks in advance

 

[Bannerman]

Most likely the tank cracked and if so, the tank will require replacement.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Silversaver]

Thanks for the response.

I figure it might be the best if I replace with a new system. I have chosen Clark WS1.25 valve 64k unit. The unit isn't install until next week. While study the user manual, I am wonder if I have to scale down as the Fleck7000 unit? I had the 2cuft 64k unit, but was told to program using 48k instead. Any suggestion?

PS. I found the answer. In general, you want to reduce down to 48k. 16lbs salt setting seems to be ideal?

 

[Silversaver]

I have the new Clark WS1.25 64k 2ft3 system installed. I have one question about programming WS1.25 valve. In middle of setting, one value the installer set "P 15". I don't see this value been explain in the user manual. I am assuming this is regarding the source of water and time needed for each cycle. Can anyone explain the "P value" stands for?

Thanks

PS.

I searched online and found a Clark WS1CS 1.25. Looks like the P value has to do with the time of each backwash cycle.

 

[Bannerman]

Instead of individually programming each setting, selecting Program Code 15 (P15) will simply configure the Downflow regeneration cycle to utilize an:
- 8 minute 1st Backwash
- 60 minute Brine Draw/Slow Rinse
- 8 minute 2nd Backwash
- 8 minute Rapid Rinse cycle

 

[Silversaver]

Instead of individually programming each setting, selecting Program Code 15 (P15) will simply configure the Downflow regeneration cycle to utilize an:
- 8 minute 1st Backwash
- 60 minute Brine Draw/Slow Rinse
- 8 minute 2nd Backwash
- 8 minute Rapid Rinse cycle

Thank you

I’m at city water, 70% well water according to water company with hardness of 21. I believe with that backwash cycle should be sufficient. Correct?

 

[Bannerman]

I believe with that backwash cycle should be sufficient.

If your incoming water is clear of sediment, rust and other visible debris, then I expect an 8-minute initial Backwash cycle should be sufficient.

Depending on the Capacity and Brine Fill settings programmed, a second Backwash cycle is often not necessary, but there is no harm keeping it programmed, except for the additional water consumed (for 12" diameter tank, likely 3.2 GPM/minute drain flow X 8-minutes = 25.6 gallons) + some softening capacity consumed due to the additional 25.6 gallons of hard water flowing through the resin.

 

[Silversaver]

If your incoming water is clear of sediment, rust and other visible debris, then I expect an 8-minute initial Backwash cycle should be sufficient.

Depending on the Capacity and Brine Fill settings programmed, a second Backwash cycle is often not necessary, but there is no harm keeping it programmed, except for the additional water consumed (for 12" diameter tank, likely 3.2 GPM/minute drain flow X 8-minutes = 25.6 gallons) + some softening capacity consumed due to the additional 25.6 gallons of hard water flowing through the resin.

The water quality is okay for last 20+ years. I might play safe running P20 setting. I program the 2ft3 system as you recommend 48k with 16lbs salt. The installer actually program as 42k with 16lbs salt running P20 backwash. Water hardness test is 21, but I set the valve with 27 hardness, 48k 16lbs salt.

 

[Silversaver]

One more question. Will a longer backwash #2 help reduce the sodium inside the media tank. I have a drinking water reverse osmosis system, and I do not want sodium to remain in the water just to save a few gallons of water

Thanks

 

[Reach4]

Do not use the backwash to remove residual salt. If salt is not being rinsed out during the slow rinse, increase the brine draw/slow rinse cycle. The slow rinse causes laminar flow, and that moves the bolus of salt better. Fast rinse and backwash cycles are turbulent.

Monitoring the drain line water with a TDS meter would be a good way to measure when the salt is rinsed, and you are down to almost the TDS of your raw water. Softening can raise TDS a bit because the calcium and Mg ions are each replaced with two sodium ions. So don't try to get completely down to the TDS of the raw water.

 

[Bannerman]

Will a longer backwash #2 help reduce the sodium inside the media tank.

I anticipate with a 60-minute Brine Draw/Slow Rinse setting, any calcium, magnesium, chloride and excess sodium, will have already been rinsed out to drain before BW#2 occurs.

Because salt based softeners function by exchanging hardness ions (mainly calcium and magnesium) with sodium ions, softened water will contain added sodium, directly proportional to the amount of hardness that had been originally present in the incoming raw water.

Reverse osmosis is a very effective method for removing sodium. Supplying softened water to an RO unit, will usually extend the useable lifespan of the RO membrane, compared to supplying hard water, thereby forcing the membrane to remove the calcium, magnesium and other minerals that would have been otherwise removed by a softener.

 

[Silversaver]

Thank you very much for the helpful information

 

[Silversaver]

One question. I have set salt with 16lbs setting for 2ft3 system. I understand the brine draw time is set default at 60mins. The question is how much time does it take to empty out the brine tank? My old Fleck 7000 doesn’t take whole 60 min

Somehow I see weak brine draw through the tube. Lots air bubble inside the tube during brine draw. The brine draw rate is very slow. I don’t see any bobble in the tube during brine refill, no air bobble inside the tube. I still has this much of water inside brine tank after brine draw before refill.

Because the slow brine draw, after 60 min cycle, there is still lots water in the brine tank. When refill the brine tank, the water over flow outta tank. The safety float did not stop the brine fill when the float reach all the way up. I found leak on the quick connector of brine tank. Should I unplug the tube and check the quick connect make sure it is seal correctly? I’m assuming the leak quick connector cause the safety float that does not shut off the brine refill?

Thanks

 

[Reach4]

Without knowing your program, the "brine draw" BD settings are often 60 minutes. The brine is typically drawn out by about 25% of that, or 15 minutes. Could be 12 minutes. Could be 17 minutes. If more than 17 minutes, I would increase BD to at least 3.5 x that time.

 

[Silversaver]

I cut off small piece of tube and reconnect. Hopefully the quick connect isn’t seal properly before I call the water softener company. It is not suppose to be air bobble inside the tube while drawing brine and no air bobble during refill.

I’ll regenerate one more time later tonight

 

[Bannerman]

Hopefully the quick connect isn’t seal properly before I call the water softener company.

Any air leaking into a brine tube fitting, will prevent brine from being drawn. Although quick connect (John Guest) fittings are often utilized for brine line connections, I prefer utilizing a locking clip at each connection, as the connections will be less likely to leak, particularly when placed under negative pressure while Brine Draw is occurring.

 

[Silversaver]

Any air leaking into a brine tube fitting, will prevent brine from being drawn. Although quick connect (John Guest) fittings are often utilized for brine line connections, I prefer utilizing a locking clip at each connection, as the connections will be less likely to leak, particularly when placed under negative pressure while Brine Draw is occurring.

That’s a great idea, let me search the proper size clips

 

[Silversaver]

Problem solved. I cut a small piece off and reconnect. It took about 45min to finish brine draw because there a lot of water in it. I’m wonder if Clark WS1 valve has similar function key as Fleck 7000 I can hit the key and it pass to next step in cycle?