Softener Regeneration Interval?

[birchlake]

I have a question about the best regeneration interval for my new Aquamagic water softener. Here are the specifics:

*48,000 grain unit with additional "activated carbon" in the resin for well water applications.
*Fleck 5600-24EM Econominder demand head
*8 grains of water hardness (just tested)
*No manganese or iron to speak of, very pure water
*Cam on the back of Fleck head set at 10 lbs salt per regeneration
*Well water. 305 foot well built just above bedrock. NOTE: Copper was all super clean when removing the old softener
*Septic tank

The plumber that installed the softener didn't change the regeneration interval setting from the dealer (Frakco Inc. Luverne, MN) It is currently set to 800 gallons between regeneration. I live alone and I have tracked my daily water usage for a while now which is approximately 45 gallons per day, very low but I have low flow appliances all around; for example Duo-Flush toilet, low flow shower head, etc.

So, 800 divided by 45 = Regeneration every 18 days.

1. Thoughts about this setting? This past winter I had been chasing a slight smell that dissipated quickly on the cold water lines, that smell is gone now with the new softener and I definitely want to keep it that way!

2. What is the longest time period (in days or weeks) for my system between regeneration to protect the resin?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Reach4]

ECONOMINDER System info :
salt lb/cuft : 7.33
cubic ft resin : 1.50
Raw hardness : 9.00
Comp factor : 1.06
H compensated : 9.54
Capacity of resin : 34.07
Gallons total : 3572.42
Estimated gal/day : 45.00
Est days/regen : 79.39
:
"Econominder Settings: ":
LBS.OF SALT : 11.00
White Dot gal x100 : 35.27
White Dot gal x1000 : 3.53


Sorry about the formatting.

2. What is the longest time period (in days or weeks) for my system between regeneration to protect the resin?

30 days would be the usual override, so you are well beyond that.

You could consider dropping your salt dose to 9, and dropping the gallons a bit.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[birchlake]

ECONOMINDER System info :
salt lb/cuft : 7.33
cubic ft resin : 1.50
Raw hardness : 9.00
Comp factor : 1.06
H compensated : 9.54
Capacity of resin : 34.07
Gallons total : 3572.42
Estimated gal/day : 45.00
Est days/regen : 79.39
:
"Econominder Settings: ":
LBS.OF SALT : 11.00
White Dot gal x100 : 35.27
White Dot gal x1000 : 3.53


Sorry about the formatting.


30 days would be the usual override, so you are well beyond that.

You could consider dropping your salt dose to 9, and dropping the gallons a bit.

Hey Reach4, thanks for the reply!

There is no override on this basic Fleck 5600 Econominder head. So looking at your calculations above, theoretically I could go 35 days between regenerations. Isn't this a long time between regenerations to protect the resin? Right now, I'm regenerating at half of that interval at 18 days.

 

[Reach4]

My estimate is 79 days, during which time, you would consume about 3500 gallons.

You could set the dot to regen after about 1600 gallons if you wanted to regen more frequently.