Tomas. Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 (edited) So I am on well water and it leaves yellow stains on everything, tastes like crap, smells bad, and plugs up the taps. Clearly my water is hard. I took a sample into a local water store and had them test it. I now officially have the hardest water they have ever tested. Not a title I really wanted lol. So the results were total dissolved solids: 1040 ppm Hardness: 27 gpg Iron: 1.5 mgl So a water softener should be in my future. They recommended a 45,000 grain one. They said they had one for $1600. So I went home and was looking online and there were some used ones that popped up for the 300-500 range which is a little easier to swallow. Only problem is I know nothing about water softeners. I have no idea if a used one would be a bad or good choice. And regardless if I buy new or used, I wouldn't know what a good one looked like. Does anyone have any insight on what to look for or what to get? Edited January 5, 2018 by Tomas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionfigureJoe Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 32 minutes ago, Tomas. said: So I am on well water and it leaves yellow stains on everything, tastes like crap, smells bad, and plugs up the taps. Clearly my water is hard. I took a sample into a local water store and had them test it. I now officially have the hardest water they have ever tested. Not a title I really wanted lol. So the results were total dissolved solids: 1040 ppm Hardness: 27 gpg Iron: 1.5 mgl So a water softener should be in my future. They recommended a 45,000 grain one. They said they had one for $1600. So I went home and was looking online and there were some used ones that popped up for the 300-500 range which is a little easier to swallow. Only problem is I know nothing about water softeners. I have no idea if a used one would be a bad or good choice. And regardless if I buy new or used, I wouldn't know what a good one looked like. Does anyone have any insight on what to look for or what to get? Are you going to install the unit yourself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted January 5, 2018 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 5, 2018 Is it a softner that you add salt tabs too , or is it a water treatment? If treatment it will probably need to be repacked. Material will cost abot $235 . You can repack it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas. Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 (edited) I will be installing it myself and and I did not realize you could get one without salt. Edited January 5, 2018 by Tomas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Danger Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I thought Hardness and Iron use two different kinds of filters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 If you can do the plumbing yourself, you can get new ones from amazon or possibly other on-line sources for about $1000cdn. Search 'fleck 5600' and you'll get a bunch of options back. https://www.amazon.ca/ABCwaters-built-5600sxt-Softener-Capacity/dp/B074VDDPLG/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1515196223&sr=1-4&keywords=fleck+5600+48000 These are nice units. I'd also recommend you add an inline filter before the softener. I have one of these. https://www.amazon.ca/Culligan-HF-360-Sediment-Filter-Housing/dp/B000BQUPZ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515196025&sr=8-1&keywords=culligan+360 Not sure which filter would work best for you, but I use 20 micron ones. These two would solve a lot of your issues. Do you drink this water or do you buy bottles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas. Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 My system currently has a sediment filter and according to the water store my iron is not that bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas. Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 I buy bottles as my well water is terrible. I also have a sediment filter and use 20 micron filters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionfigureJoe Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 3 minutes ago, Tomas. said: I will be installing it myself and and I did not realize you could get one without salt. I looked at a 48000 grain softener at menards over the summer. It was under $500. I think it was a fleck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionfigureJoe Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Scratch that price. I thought that you were south of the border. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Carlos Danger said: I thought Hardness and Iron use two different kinds of filters. Yeah, if I remember correctly, there are 3 different types of iron. The softener deals with 2 of them and you need to kill the bacteria to deal with the third. 3 minutes ago, ActionfigureJoe said: I looked at a 48000 grain softener at menards over the summer. It was under $500. I think it was a fleck. Yeah, the ones on amazon are just a hair higher than that in usd. I think the smell is caused by bacteria in the well. I think you need to dump chlorine in it and/or get a chlorinator for that. Not 100% on that one.. Edited January 5, 2018 by Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas. Posted January 6, 2018 Author Share Posted January 6, 2018 Ya. The smell is bacteria and I need to pump some chemicals into it. I just called the store back and they said the softener was an econominder and required salt. They want $1600 cad for it and I install it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Just now, Tomas. said: Ya. The smell is bacteria and I need to pump some chemicals into it. I just called the store back and they said the softener was an econominder and required salt. They want $1600 cad for it and I install it myself. I haven't heard anything good about the salt-less units. The one I mentioned above requires salt but it's fairly cheap..at least in the states.. $6usd for a 40 lb bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionfigureJoe Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 5 minutes ago, Tomas. said: Ya. The smell is bacteria and I need to pump some chemicals into it. I just called the store back and they said the softener was an econominder and required salt. They want $1600 cad for it and I install it myself. Damn. $1600? That's a chunk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas. Posted January 6, 2018 Author Share Posted January 6, 2018 Just checked and a 44lbs bag is 6.50 cad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas. Posted January 6, 2018 Author Share Posted January 6, 2018 1 minute ago, ActionfigureJoe said: Damn. $1600? That's a chunk. Yes, that is why I started looking at used ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted January 6, 2018 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted January 6, 2018 8 minutes ago, Tomas. said: Ya. The smell is bacteria and I need to pump some chemicals into it. I just called the store back and they said the softener was an econominder and required salt. They want $1600 cad for it and I install it myself. Is this a shallow well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ez ryder Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 I have them come 2 times a summer and replace these welding tank size filters . they work great . a lot of people on wells around me have the same swap out tank deal when softeners just do not cut it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionfigureJoe Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 3 minutes ago, Tomas. said: Yes, that is why I started looking at used ones I decided to buy the rental in the basement. Culligan sold it to me for $200. It's got an ancient mechanical timer but works good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas. Posted January 6, 2018 Author Share Posted January 6, 2018 (edited) According to the realtor I used when I bought the house, my pump is 240 feet down. The store sells the old mechanical timer ones as they never break apparently. Found a brine tank and resin? Tank for 150 but needs a metering valve. called the store and the metering valves range from 600-900. https://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-home-appliance/edmonton/water-softener/1307843849?utm_source=com.android.mms&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttonsVIP&utm_content=app_android Edited January 6, 2018 by Tomas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas. Posted January 6, 2018 Author Share Posted January 6, 2018 https://www.kijiji.ca/v-plumbing-sink-toilet-shower/edmonton/water-softener-and-filtration-system/1314309512?utm_source=com.android.mms&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttonsVIP&utm_content=app_android This one seems decent in price and doesn't look bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ez ryder Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 cant you just toss in a Menerds /home depot $450 special run it 6 to 8 yrs and slap a new one in . if your water is that bad any way you will be yanking out a high end one and replacing resin in that time any way. I have put a lot of those in over the yrs and they work just fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ez ryder Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 how much are culligan rental units in your parts ? around here less than 20 bucks a mo then they do free service when needed . so every yr you call them up for free a tune up and in a few yrs just buy it out from them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas. Posted January 6, 2018 Author Share Posted January 6, 2018 2 minutes ago, Ez ryder said: cant you just toss in a Menerds /home depot $450 special run it 6 to 8 yrs and slap a new one in . if your water is that bad any way you will be yanking out a high end one and replacing resin in that time any way. I have put a lot of those in over the yrs and they work just fine https://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-home-appliance/edmonton/ge-water-softener/1324671178?utm_source=com.android.mms&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttonsVIP&utm_content=app_android Like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ez ryder Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Tomas. said: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-home-appliance/edmonton/ge-water-softener/1324671178?utm_source=com.android.mms&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttonsVIP&utm_content=app_android Like this? yeah those are like 450 brand new for the water boss brand same unit around my parts at box stores . buy the box store extended warranty with it for 50 and in 3 yrs be sure it is broken or not working as well as new Edited January 6, 2018 by Ez ryder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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