Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - Refurbishing a water softener? Good idea?
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blargg
02-05-09, 01:07 PM
Hello all. I can tell by reading around that I am surrounded by experts here. Sorry if I don't sound professional, but here's my problem.
I spotted a couple used water softeners for around 100 dollars. One is a Kenmore and one is a Whirlpool, both rated at about a 30,000 grain capacity. Now, I am leery of buying used, but new softeners are $400+, so I am trying to save some dough here.
Both softeners are about 8 years old, and I was wondering if it would be cheaper to clean/replace the resin and clean the screen than buy a new $400 softener. I know a bag of resin is a little over $100, so I figure I could save close to 200 dollars by doing this. I found some resin replacement directions here:
Refurbish Your Water Softener and Save Big $$$ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Refurbish-Your-Water-Softener-and-Save-Big-/)
...and on the units I'm looking at, the cylinder is tucked into the tank. Do you think it would be hard to get the cylinder out of there? Are there better ways to refurbish the unit than just replacing the resin?
Thanks for any advice. I just want to get a softener before the calcium builds up too bad on my appliances (new house).
I spotted a couple used water softeners for around 100 dollars. One is a Kenmore and one is a Whirlpool, both rated at about a 30,000 grain capacity. Now, I am leery of buying used, but new softeners are $400+, so I am trying to save some dough here.
Both softeners are about 8 years old, and I was wondering if it would be cheaper to clean/replace the resin and clean the screen than buy a new $400 softener. I know a bag of resin is a little over $100, so I figure I could save close to 200 dollars by doing this. I found some resin replacement directions here:
Refurbish Your Water Softener and Save Big $$$ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Refurbish-Your-Water-Softener-and-Save-Big-/)
...and on the units I'm looking at, the cylinder is tucked into the tank. Do you think it would be hard to get the cylinder out of there? Are there better ways to refurbish the unit than just replacing the resin?
Thanks for any advice. I just want to get a softener before the calcium builds up too bad on my appliances (new house).
AndyC
02-05-09, 02:06 PM
Boy, Kenmore, Whirlpool and Sears softeners are the cheapest (in both senses of the word) available! I would never recommend a new one let alone a 'refurbished' one.
I believe you'll be sending good, albeit little, money after bad if you try to rebuild something that wasn't even trusted past one year by its manufacturer when sold new. Get a new one unless you can do it as hobby and don't mind being frustrated with poor results...at no cost.
I believe you'll be sending good, albeit little, money after bad if you try to rebuild something that wasn't even trusted past one year by its manufacturer when sold new. Get a new one unless you can do it as hobby and don't mind being frustrated with poor results...at no cost.
biermech
02-05-09, 04:43 PM
It's like buying a used car. You are taking chances. Spend the money for a good one.
blargg
02-06-09, 04:42 PM
I am looking at the Fleck 5600 for $399. Looks like a decent unit. Can anyone vouch for this?
biermech
02-06-09, 06:48 PM
All I sell is the Fleck 5600. So yes that is a very good valve. For that price, it seems that the unit is either small or a timered unit. You should know how big a unit you need and I always reccommend a metered unit.