Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - Fix or Buy New Softener?

I found this forum while doing an internet search for water softeners with fleck valves. I have a Fleck 5600 Econominder unit that was installed in 1995. I have owned this 2200 sq ft house in Phoenix, AZ since 2003 and because the previous owner was a six week a year snowbird, the unit has probably had about six years of use. A couple months ago, the unit kept running for about 12 hours, like something was stuck and then finally stopped. The water bill went up by about $40 and the salt cubes in the tank didn't decrease. We have pretty hard water here, about 20 grains per gallon and I can already see it on the shower glass. A lot of people in my neighborhood purchase a 32,000 grain Ultima unit (locally made) with a 3/4" Fleck 5600 valve for $1074.60 installed from a local water tech company. The technicianl from the company was two doors down on a service call. I had him come into my garage and look at my old unit, told him the situation and he said it's not worth fixing the old unit and to buy the 32,000 grain Ultima unit with a 1" Clack valve instead of a 3/4" Fleck for $1074.60 installed. He said with only two adults living in my house, we do not need a 40,000 grain unit. He also said a Big Blue unit is not needed. It looks identical to the unit I have, except that it says Ultima on the tank. Some people in the neighborhood were convinced by plumbers to purchase a 40,000 grain Ultima Unit with the Fleck valve for $1300 along with a Big Blue filtering system for an additional $475. What do you all think of the techs price and recommendation of the 32,000 grain Ultima with the 1" Clack valve for $1074.60 installed vs fixing my existing unit?

I suspect your softener needs repair sooner than it should because the snowbirds were only there 6 weeks a year and the softener was inactive most of the time.

A Fleck 5600 should give 10-15-20 years of reliable service so I'd call a couple or three other local water treatment pros and get estimates to repair yours.

Be wary of talking to plumbers about water treatment. Very few plumbers (care to) understand water treatment beyond charging to install a softener and making a profit on selling them. There are rare exceptions but the tech you spoke to is not one of them. He should have quoted you a price to repair your Fleck 5600 instead of trying to sell you a new softener that would not do the job any better.

You're far better served dealing with a local water treatment professional who does service and sales. One of the largest water treatment parts and component wholesale distributors is in Phoenix so getting parts to repair your Fleck is a 10 minute drive for the repair tech if he/she doesn't have them on the truck, but they should.

The Ultima softener is NOT locally made. It is locally assembled from the same or similar components your softener is made from.

Thanks for the info. The local company that sells the Ultima says original equipment manufacturer, so I assume that they make the Ultima unit here in town. From looking at the pictures on their website of the Ultima unit, it matches the ones my neighbors have and in fact I'm almost certain that it's the exact same unit as the one I currently have--the Fleck Econominder 5600. The only difference is the ultima sticker on the resin tank. I've seen these units for sale online for under $500 including shipping for a 32,000 grain tank. So is the plumbing company then making a 100& or over $500 profit on a 2-3 hour install job by charging me $1074 installed for the unit?
If I buy parts online for this unit, could a handyman be able to install the parts? I'm willing to try this method out, so long as I don't go beyond the point of diminshing returns.

So is the plumbing company then making a 100& or over $500 profit on a 2-3 hour install job by charging me $1074 installed for the unit?

Yes, but the install is worth money (@ plumber's rates) and the softener will be setup and tested. You pay more but you get more.

If I buy parts online for this unit, could a handyman be able to install the parts? I'm willing to try this method out, so long as I don't go beyond the point of diminishing returns.

The service manual is very helpful when repairing the 5600. A special tool is available for the seals and spacers. With experience and mechanical skill it can be done without the tool. I've done it without the tool.

As I previously posted "call a couple or three other local water treatment pros and get estimates to repair yours". A good tech can do the job in less than an hour. With that information you can decide whether it is a pay-to-get-it-done or a do-it-yourself, which might possibly end up as a screw-it-yourself, project.

As Clint Eastwood said "a man has got to know his limitations". If you elect to give it a try and screw it up be humble when you bring in a pro... he/she might teach you something.

If you do decide to replace the softener look to a local water treatment professional who services what they sell. If you buy online there is no service other than move it closer to the phone so I can see it and if something goes wrong you'd be in the same situation you're in now.