Your sizing is good. Either one will work. Only thing is you stated 6 lbs salt usage. It would be 6 lbs PER CF which on the 1.5 CF system 9 lbs..

^Thank you! Did not read the salt dose properly.

I am now finding that online dealers are reluctant to sell me parts I am specifying. Gravel, premium resin...

This post was edited by cntl4userguy on Mon, Jan 19, 15 at 12:16

In order for online dealers to stay in business they have to squeeze every cent of profit from a sale and that means not using the best parts and components when they can get away with it.

Have you considered shopping locally for an independent water treatment company?

If you run a 1.5 CF softener at 6 lbs, you will only get 20,000 grain capacity. At 9 lbs of salt per regen brings it up to 30,000 grains. Less regens = longer life. What valve are you looking at?

By my math...

1.5 cubes @ 6 lbs/cube = 30k
1.5 cubes @ 8 lbs/cube = 36k

I have made phone calls to a number of firms in my area but it seems they only want to sell what they can get. I would prefer a Clack valve but none of the dealers locally want to source that. Fleck is easier to get but not my first choice.

Right, in practice, 6lbs. is not going to get me where I need to be. I might have a a larger problem at hand though. The only dump-point for the discharge would be at the base of a stack cleanout. This is outdoors. Would 18" of standpipe atop a P-trap attached to that cleanout (still maintaining the cleanout function) be what you guys would do? I have heartburn over doing that...

Clack and Fleck are about equal with parts availability an edge for Fleck.

Clack overhauled their distribution philosophy a ways back and limited availability of their control valves to certified B&M professionals. Small shops did not take that change well and many just continued on with Fleck. If you have a good local dealer who sells Fleck and stocks parts then there is no downside to that choice.

^I agree with you- go local and try for a Fleck. I'll keep phoning plumbers here. So far, the ones that actually returned my call are pushing other brands and/or steamrolling me. Perhaps I look too much like typical no-nothing H.O..

Chances are you now know more about water treatment than most plumbers and they'll try to sell you whatever the local plumbing supply sells.

I'm sure that there are plumbers out there who have taken the time to learn about water treatment but I've never met one.

You want to stay away from plumbers and find a water treatment pro. Plumbers are OK for the rudimentary connection.

Justalunker, 1CF of resin (30K) requires 15 lbs of salt to yield 30K grain. At a 6 lbs setting, you only get 20K. That would mean a 1.5 CF would reuqire 22.5 lbs to get 45K or 9 lbs to get 30K.
cntl4userguy, I know what you mean about the Clack valves. I was 100% Fleck for years until I saw that Clack was just as good & user friendly. Now all I sell is Clack. I have even sold them online.

If you MEANT to say 1 cube @ 6 lbs/cu ft = 20k then OK, BUT you said "If you run a 1.5 CF softener at 6 lbs, you will only get 20,000 grain capacity"

I said "1.5 cubes @ 6 lbs/cube = 30k "

I guess this is wrong too...

Tried again today to get a plumber out here to estimate the rough-in for a softener. No-go for any of the three outfits. The 2nd plan was to sub-out the utilities and do the install of the unit myself. Plan 3 is screw 'em all and source, rough-in & install.

Although far down the road for me, this discussion about salt dose should help others in the meantime. Appreciate the input from both of you!

Sorry forgot to say my opening post was incorrect at 6lbs. total. I also understand the salt dose is 6#/cuft. So, yes, 9lbs@30k, 12lbs@36k.

You might find that a local water treatment pro is more interested in installing a softener than the plumbers you've contacted.

The only specialist I have had contact me, so far, was a Hague rep. The rough quote was close to $5k w/R.O.. Initial approval from the wife was for $1,500. I probably won't go back to the boss for an increase :)

You can find a 1.5 CF Clack softener for $900.00 and install it yourself. With the saving of $600.00, buy your wife something special and get new fishing gear. LOL

Right, IF I can find. Their current business model is not so DIY-friendly. You know of a grey-market seller?

affordablewtr@aol.com

I've put a hold on the purchase of the softener for now. One thing has me concerned and maybe you guys can throw out some guidance. 1.5cuft of resin may take care of my harness but possibly not the flow rate I would like to maintain.

If I take the upper limit SFR, 19gpm, 1.5 cuft/12in mineral tank is not fitting. However, if size larger,say 2.5cuft/13in tank, how will I know if channeling won't enter the picture?

Are you on a well or city water?
Any particulates in your water?
Just the two of you? 45 gpd TOTAL water use (I ask because that is really low), is that an estimate or measured?

If you have no particulates, as frequently as you use your smaller tub, you shouldn't have a problem with channeling. However, if your water usage number is accurate, your softener will be way over capacity to accommodate your flow rate regardless of which size you choose. The salt usage difference between a 1.5 CF and a 2.0 CF softener will be 9-11 lb per month. You will have to decide which is more important to you: Saving a few $ per year on salt (buy a 1.5 CF unit) or preventing a little hardness bleed twice per year (buy a 2.0 CF unit).

City Water
No parts. issue
2 adults, 2 kids

And, if I had half a brain it would die of loneliness- 3740gal/mo or 125gal/day. Not 40 something (I have no idea where I got that figure.

I'm sure I need to start over with calc. size now. Thank you Alice for questioning this!

That makes more sense. In that case, I would go with the larger 2.0 CF softener to accommodate the higher-flow tub and potential increased water usage as your children turn into teens and use more water.

Regardless of where you ultimately decide to purchase, you want to ensure your softener meets some specific criteria:

2. High quality American or German made resin. This will provide a tight size distribution for optimal flow within the resin, longer resin life, and more reliable, predicable water softening.

3. Since you have CITY WATER: 10% crosslinked resin. The oxidizers that city water treatment plants use, such as chlorine or chloramine, are harmful to softener resins. Higher crosslinking will resist chemical attack longer.

4. Top basket. This serves two purposes. It sets up a proper water distribution during normal operation and prevents resin loss during backwash.

5. Gravel underbed. The gravel underbed is there to set up proper flow patterns, improve backwash, keep the bottom basket in place, prevent basket failure, and prevent channeling. Many softener sales companies like to leave this out or sell softeners with a vortex system instead. Vortex systems weigh less than gravel so they cost less to ship. In addition, they are a more expensive item that adds profit for the softener salesperson, but provides no additional benefit to the homeowner . It simply adds another piece of equipment that can break.

6. Fleck or Clack valves. These set the industry standard. Be aware that you will not be able to purchase Clack valves online. This is not a problem if you purchase locally.

7. The valve should have the capability to regen based on water usage.

8. Install the softener with a three-valve bypass. This will make it much easier if you ever need to remove the softener for repairs or wish to take it with you when you move. Use full-port, quarter-turn valves.

9. Noryl bypass. Most softeners are available with either Noryl or stainless bypass valves. Both are good valves, but the noryl tends to be more reliable when not used for long periods of time. This is a redundancy if you install with a proper three-valve bypass. I prefer a bit of redundancy but it is your call.

10. Brine tank: Although either round or square will work, round brine tanks are more structurally sound and will not deform like a square tank will. Since you need a softener 1.5 cuft or larger, a square tank will most likely be too small.

11. If you live in a cold climate, ensure equipment is stored in a climate-controlled environment. Frozen softener resin is damaged softener resin.

12. Purchase a Hach 5-B test kit. You will want to periodically check to ensure your softener is working correctly and this kit is your best option.

125 gal/day is the figure for the family. 2 kids = one adult + 2 adult users= 3 "adults". That makes, for sizing sake, 42gpd/person.

Is this the right units for input into the size calculator?

This post was edited by cntl4userguy on Fri, Feb 6, 15 at 17:00