Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - Morton MSD30D softener--should I?

I currently have a 28,000 gr. cap. softener that's given me good service for nearly 20 years but is on its last legs. I'm presently on greatly reduced hours at work and having a tough time making ends meet so I've had to live with the frequent hard water from my system. My wife works part time at Salvation Army & has called to tell me there's a Morton System Saver MSD30D 30,000 gr. softener just brought in. I'm assuming maybe $100 price tag on this once it's been tagged for sale. Should I buy it?

I've seen the many threads critical of 'big box' softeners, but there have also been some very reasonable posts in their defense. I'm not looking for a 20-year solution here, just soft water on the cheap.

I have the ability to install it myself.

Out here in the semi-country ("exurbs"?) it's not that unusual to find like-new softeners from people hooking up to city water as it becomes available in their neighborhood. That's how I bought my current unit and it's been a great value.

Why is your current unit on the way out? Do you know why you're not getting soft water? I hate to see you purchase a unit you aren't sure about if yours can be fixed cheaper. For all you know the new system may have issues of it's own that need addressed right?

If you give us some info on your current unit we can probably give a recommendation to you.

Shane has some good info. It may be possible to fix your current unit cheaper than spending $100.00 on something you are not sure about.

It's a "Computrol" softener. The valve has a small label on it identifying it as a model 7070828-130 made by Water Refining Co. of St. Paul, MN.

I've had some recent issues with it overfilling the brine tank but cleaning the solenoids & poppets seems to have cured that (for now). Still left with the hard water & iron problems. I'm assuming the 20 yo resin is shot and I don't know if it's wise to put any money into this softener. The only thing in the "+" column is despite its age it seems to be a nice digital demand-type timer and the electronics are still A-OK.

If you guys feel it still has a chance of continued good service if I replace the resin, please tell me what's involved in doing that.

Oh yeah--I did do 2 back to back regen cycles to see if that would help but it didn't make any difference.

What you have is an old Miracle Water valve. Eco Water out of St Paul use to make them years ago. They are no longer made and you may have a very hard time finding parts. You might be better off buying the Morten for $100.00 that way you have access to parts.

I'm still waiting to hear back on the price. If it's way more than $100 I might fix the Compu-whatever if a resin refill isn't too expensive. Do you just invert the tank & dump it all out or suck it up with a shopvac? Is resin the only material in the tank?

Well for $50 I couldn't pass up te Morton-- new in box, sealed parts bag.

Still would like to know what's involved in changing out the resin.

Replacing resin is not that hard. Spin the head off, remove distributor tube and pour resin into a bucket. Use hose to wash out tank. You can use a shop vac (makes it easier).
There may be under bedding (gravel) in the tank. You would need to replace it with the resin. Place tape across the top opening of the distributor and place in tank. Pour in under bedding and then resin. Rinse the threads of resin and spin valve on. All done.

I was very close to deciding to refurbish my softener until I heard that price. :eek:
After reading so many posts about how crappy the rotary disk type heads are--I still might. Does anything else wear out on a 20+ year old softener? Specifically one like mine that doesn't have a clockmotor-driven valve...

Ignore my last post ;)
I just talked to an Eco Water tech and it's true that parts are not available AND he recently even threw out his training aids on that type of valve. He said it would be nuts to refurbish the old unit due to its very poor efficiency. I hadn't really considered the efficiency aspect.

The tekkie in me wanted to salvage the cool, simple, 2-solenoid valve unit but I guess I should be practical and install the new, more efficient motor-driven valve. (ick!)

LOL. It's hard to parts with a good friend. There is a lot that could go wrong. It's better to get another system where parts are available.