I have Econominder 5600 water softener that is spitting out resin and clogging the pipes. It is now on by-pass. The plumber tells me it's broken and cannot be fixed. It was installed in 1989. Can this unit be repaired or do I have to replace the whole thing? It seems to me a simple replacement job if I must replace it but was told $450 labor to replace and $850 for new unit. Sounds outrageous. Who do I call to repair? What is the best course of action?
Gary Slusser
12-14-04, 06:25 AM
Sorry to say that many plumbers don't know how to fix softeners etc. and many overcharge if they will do it. You have a broken distributor tube or the oring that seals the DT into the bottom of the control valve; they are the only possibilities. A new DT costs roughly $20 and if the service person knows what they are doing, they can have it done in 30 minutes. A service call should be roughly $125.00 and that would include the time to fix it. At the same time you have to replace the missing resin which is best done by replacing all the resin; at about $100/cuft. You may have a gravel underbed and replacement is maybe $10.00. All prices are average retail. IMO, and I have rebuilt many softeners, since your control is 15 years old, I vote for replacement of the softener. That's because its seals, piston and brine valve are problably in need of replacement and over the internet you can buy a new softener for less than it costs to rebuild you softener.
Gary
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Doug Aleshire, Super Moderator 2