Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - Culligan Mark 100 Repair Data

Does anyone know if there would be an online source to maintenance and repair for the Mark 100 Conditioner? Thanks

Repairs on proprietary valves like Culligan, Kinetico, Ecowater, are problematic because replacement parts are often limited thru the brand's dealer network. Being a former Culligan dealer does not have the advantages as it once did for me because I can only purchase replacement parts (at full retail) from a dealer in my geography due to a new nationwide dealership agreement that is being enforced by Culligan international.

In the future, I suggest you purchase a system that can have parts available for any contractor to perform the repair.

Thanks for the reply...I was just at Lowes and saw that they had Whirlpool Conditioners. They had one rated for my hardeness value and water requirements (house with 2 adults) I am wondering if you have any knowledge of the quality of a system like this rather than my investing a ton of money in my culligan if needed (they want $70.00 for coming out and the first 30 minutes). The system at Lowes is $415.00. I paid $3,000 for the Culligan in 94' for the Mark 100, AC30 Drinking water system and a 12" Carbon Filter unit.

On the Carbon Filter, with utilizing the back wash cycles, how long can I figure it will be OK before needed it recharged? Or, with backwashing, don't these tanks need reconditioning of any kind?

I am looking at leaving my AC30 in place, and replace the conditioner and carbon filter (if need be)with something like I saw at Lowes (their carbon filter for my water use would be $100).

Any feedback you have will be much appreciated - Thanks so much Bob

The cheaper softeners are limited in durability & efficiency but when you're talking basic city water that is not too hard (15 + gpg), it should be good for several years. It sounds like you're on a private well with the carbon filter unit - please confirm. What type of pre treatment tank is it and what was it treating? Thanks.

Art

they want $70.00 for coming out and the first 30 minutes

Since this Culiigan was installed in 94 and it's been doing it's job it seems prudent to spend $70 with Culligan for them to come out, diagnose the problem, and quote the cost to bring it back to proper operation.

I'd consider it $70 well spent and you might find that the cost to repair the Culligan is less than the price of a "ready-built" softener from a big box store that is far below the quality of the softener you already have. Try calling Whirlpool when that softener is out of warranty and needs service. I doubt that the Whirlpool will last the same 12 years you've already gotten from the Culligan.

Wasn't one of the reasons you paid a premium price for the Culligan was so that they'd stand ready to provide service down the road? It wouldn't matter to me if parts are available from ANY contractor when the company that designed and built and installed the softener is right there ready to service it. At least give Culligan the chance to either impress you or give you a heart attack :)

What's wrong with putting a new transmission in a car that otherwise does everything you want it to?

Absolutely agree - my wife and I talked, and figured we would first see what was wrong with the unit and then go from there... Thanks so much for your time - Bob

Let us know what you find out ... BTW, I'm not Bob and neither is Art

Over the past 20 years, I've owned a Mark 89 and Mark 100 and have found them extremely reliable. As far as fixing and maintaining they are a piece of cake. The units come with a installation guide, user guide and parts diagram. You can usually figure things out with those manuals. If you call your dealer, ask for a repair technican they usually will walk you thru whatever problem you are having. I recently had a piston break, seal pack jam and a bunch of other little things that needed attention. Dealer sold me a prepackaged kit in order to update the Mark 100 ($65) took about an hour to replace, works great. You do need to get a tube of food grade silicone which you can get from Culligan Dealer for lubing the seals, gaskets and o-rings. Good Luck

Biff,

Do you know what the part number is for the Mark 100 update kit? Also, did it come with instructions? Thanks.

Peter

Biff,

Looks like I've got a failed seal pack. What is that upgrade kit number and HOW did you get the old seal pack out? I can get the end cap off and the piston out, but I can't see how to get the rest out.

Maybe if I saw one already out - like if I got the kit.

Peter,

Does the kit come with instructions?

Thanks.

Jim

Just moved in about 6 weeks ago. At first the water felt slick and soft. (good) Then I noticed It got harder, I looked in the salt refill tank, It was almost completely empty of salt. Only water was in the tank. (probably 5'' or so) So I filled it with 6, 20lbs bags of "Culligan Brand" Rock salt. This was three days ago, and still no slick and soft water. Any words of wisdom for this water softener rookie...

I looked in the salt refill tank, It was almost completely empty of salt. Only water was in the tank. (probably 5'' or so) So I filled it with 6, 20lbs bags of "Culligan Brand" Rock salt.

You may have missed the problem. THe salt at the bottom of the brine tank may be bridged, or a big solid lump, preventing the brine from being sucked into the resin tank during regeneration.

To check you need to remove all the salt you put in and clean out the brine tank. If there's a solid lump at the bottom you can use hot tap water to dissolve it. After it's all cleaned out, pour about a gallon of hot tap water down the brine well (the round tube where the float lives) to dissolve any salt that may be clumping in there.

After you're all done that pour about 3 gallons of water in the brine tank and add ONLY enough salt to cover that water. Wait about two hiurs for the water to dissolve the salt and then do a manual regeneration. After the regeneration is done there will be water in the brine tank. Add ONLY enough salt to cover that water. You should have soft water.

Putting too much salt in the brine tank increases the chances of salt bridging. Best to keep just enough salt in there to cover the water and add it more often.

It's not a bad idea to pour a gallon of hot tap water down the brine well once a month. At any rate, a routine (once a year) cleaning of the brine tank insn't a bad idea.