I have an air eductor iron filter system along with an acid neutralizer and a water softener. For the past few weeks my faucets have been sputtering as soon as you turn the water on. This is a new occurance. The only part where air could be introduced into the plumbing is the air eductor. I tested my hypothesis by bypassing the system and that solved the problem. I have not serviced the system in 2 years. Is there a valve that could be the problem? It is a fleck 5600 head.
Air injection iron filter causes sputtering from faucet
- Thread starter Rona1d
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See https://terrylove.com/forums/index....-air-injection-iron-filter.74384/#post-551972 and the preceding posts.
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Bannerman
Well-Known Member
The usual flow sequence is: pressure tank > acid neutralizer > AIO iron filter > softener > faucets.
You said the faucets sputter when they are turned on. Is this every time water is drawn, only first time in the morning every day, or only first in the morning on certain days that may relate to when a water treatment device has regenerated or backwashed during the night?
When you refer to bypassing the system, is that bypassing all 3 treatment devices or only the AIO filter?
If there is too much air added by the AIO filter, I would anticipate excess air will become trapped within the softener. For air from the AIO to pass through the softener, the softener's resin tank would need to become substantially filled with air.
Assuming the softener's control valve is also a Fleck, the air-check valve will be located at the bottom of the brine tank. The air-check is a floating ball that will seal off the brine pickup port when the brine level becomes too low so the ball will no longer float. Occaisionally, dirt or debris (ex: string from a salt bag) can become lodged between the air-check ball and the pickup port, thereby preventing an airtight seal.
You said the faucets sputter when they are turned on. Is this every time water is drawn, only first time in the morning every day, or only first in the morning on certain days that may relate to when a water treatment device has regenerated or backwashed during the night?
When you refer to bypassing the system, is that bypassing all 3 treatment devices or only the AIO filter?
If there is too much air added by the AIO filter, I would anticipate excess air will become trapped within the softener. For air from the AIO to pass through the softener, the softener's resin tank would need to become substantially filled with air.
Air can be present in the water if the softener's air-check valve is not fully closing during the brine draw stage of regeneration.
Assuming the softener's control valve is also a Fleck, the air-check valve will be located at the bottom of the brine tank. The air-check is a floating ball that will seal off the brine pickup port when the brine level becomes too low so the ball will no longer float. Occaisionally, dirt or debris (ex: string from a salt bag) can become lodged between the air-check ball and the pickup port, thereby preventing an airtight seal.
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ditttohead
Water systems designer, R&D
This is a very common problem with AIO designs, just one of those things you will need to contend with at times. Water under pressure can hold a lot of gas. When you open your faucet you suddenly depressurize the water, like opening a 2 liter bottle of soda. The dissolved gasses are released. Changes in your water supply can make this problem come and go. Water temperature, amount of gasses in the water prior to treatment, etc. We do hear a lot of people complain that this problem comes and goes, and they notice it is seasonal, meaning the water table varies enough to change the water in away that exacerbates the problem. Wish I had a better answer for you. A minor solution that we have seen people implement with a little success is to add a rr cycle to the programming if it is turned off or to 0 minutes. Make it 4 minutes and see if that changes things.
Bannerman
Well-Known Member
Where is the Schrader valve located?
Post some photos of the equipment and the Schrader valve.
I have the same problem with the sputtering, but I'm thinking that I have too much air being injected into the system. I see there is an adjustment screw on the air injector (same as micronizer but no name on it). Does anyone know what adds or removes air? I.E. if screw is all the way in is that maximum air or minimum? Thanks for any help.
ditttohead
Water systems designer, R&D
Post a picture of your setup.
ditttohead
Water systems designer, R&D
The system should draw in an air pocket. If you push the Schrader after the regen cycle you should get air out of it. It appears you have a Calcite AIO, a unique design that is somewhat effective if applied properly. Sputtering is common. We have a new device that is supposed to mitigate the problem but I have not had enough feedback from the field to know if it really works well or not.
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how would air be drawn into the system after regeneration?
Air is drawn in on purpose during regeneration. The A in AIO stands for air.
After regeneration, some of the air doesn't stay where you hope it would stay.
So when the system was installed by a professional, about two years ago, there was no sputtering from my faucet. So it is a new occurance.
What could have changed inside of the valve head to now cause sputtering?
Bannerman
Well-Known Member
See post #4 above.
if I push on the shrader valve while the system is not regenerating, should air come out?
LLigetfa
DIYer, not in the trades
What did you bypass, the softener or the AIO filter? As @Bannerman said, the AIO should be before the softener so excess air from the AIO should be trapped in the top of the softener media tank. There would have to be so much air as to completely displace all of the water in the softener for the air to move forward to the faucets.
As @Bannerman also said, the softener could be a source for air to be introduced.
Does the air come out of the hot, cold, or both faucets? As @ditttohead said, air can be released from the water further downstream. The hot water tank is a common place for the air to separate.
ditttohead
Water systems designer, R&D
New Clack top diffuse to reduce air in the lines.
LLigetfa
DIYer, not in the trades
Can you describe the theory of operation? Inquiring minds want to know.
ditttohead
Water systems designer, R&D
No... 
Clack usually does enough homework to make things work but not everything they do is perfect. I have not put this on my clear test system yet to see what the difference is but I will in a few weeks.
Clack usually does enough homework to make things work but not everything they do is perfect. I have not put this on my clear test system yet to see what the difference is but I will in a few weeks.Similar threads
