I know these sizing questions come up often, but I thought I would see if anyone would comment on my situation. Original owner installed GE softener has a cracked body, so I'm planning a replacement I'll do myself. At this time I'm looking at basic Fleck (5600 timer) or maybe an Autotrol. Water tests show about 7 gpg, no iron. Water authority says 19 gpg, but with two tests at about 7 and having lived in the south with much harder water, I think 7 is reality, not 19.
I've been taking daily meter readings to track water usage. We've been running about 160 to 175 gal/day for 2 adults and 2 elementary school age kids. That's puts us in the 40-45 gal/person/day range - lighter than the averages I've seen on the web. Looking at a year worth of water bills, that 40+ gallons/person/day is accurate. We've got a 2500 sq ft house, standard 2.5 baths.
At the highest 175 gallons/day and 7 gpg, that's 1225 gpd of needed capacity, not much. A 24,000 grain unit would go almost 20 days between regeneration. Even if I assume up to 60 gal/person/day for when the kids hit the teenage years, a 24,000 grain unit could still go 14 days or so between regenerations. I've read not to go beyond about 7 days between regenerations, so based on that and the fact that usage per day if pretty consistent, I think a timer unit would be OK and a meter/demand unit is unnecessary since I would using what I think is called calendar override almost every time. There is not a great deal of price difference between say Fleck 24,000 grain units, timer or meter, so I'm not against spending a few dollars more for a metered model if there's a benefit, but I'm having trouble seeing any. So from a total capacity standpoint, does a 24,000 grain timer unit like the Fleck 5600 seem the right choice?
The other issue is flow capacity as I've read. The 24,000 grain units come with 3/4 cu. ft of resin. My meter has a flow measurement capability and I've monitored flow for the higher demand fixtures in the house. Tub comes in #1 at 4.8 gpm with the washer close behind at 4.6. Showers are 2-3 gpm, dishwasher 1.2 gpm. I see a flow rate for 3/4 cuft of resin at 7 gpm, 1 cuft at 8. At first look, the 3/4 cuft resin seems light. However, we don't use the high demand fixtures at the same time and if it occurs every so often, so what? Even if we are not softening at 100%, since we are only at 7 gpg, even if let a few gpg's by, I don't think it is a big deal. I could upsize to a 32,000 grain, 1 cu ft unit, but from a total capacity standpoint, I'm way oversized and am I really buying much more in flow capacity? Again, the price difference between 24,000 grain and 32,000 grain units are not great.
So after looking at everything, I'm still at a 24,000 grain timer unit. Anyone think I should buy a metered unit or 32,000 grain capacity? Again, it's not so much about cost, but I think bigger isn't necessarily better when it comes to water softeners as I'm finding out.
Also, any comments on upgrading to the better resins? I'm looking at buying from Affordablewater.us and I think the upgraded resin is a Dow resin vs the standard resin.
Thanks in advance for any comments.
I've been taking daily meter readings to track water usage. We've been running about 160 to 175 gal/day for 2 adults and 2 elementary school age kids. That's puts us in the 40-45 gal/person/day range - lighter than the averages I've seen on the web. Looking at a year worth of water bills, that 40+ gallons/person/day is accurate. We've got a 2500 sq ft house, standard 2.5 baths.
At the highest 175 gallons/day and 7 gpg, that's 1225 gpd of needed capacity, not much. A 24,000 grain unit would go almost 20 days between regeneration. Even if I assume up to 60 gal/person/day for when the kids hit the teenage years, a 24,000 grain unit could still go 14 days or so between regenerations. I've read not to go beyond about 7 days between regenerations, so based on that and the fact that usage per day if pretty consistent, I think a timer unit would be OK and a meter/demand unit is unnecessary since I would using what I think is called calendar override almost every time. There is not a great deal of price difference between say Fleck 24,000 grain units, timer or meter, so I'm not against spending a few dollars more for a metered model if there's a benefit, but I'm having trouble seeing any. So from a total capacity standpoint, does a 24,000 grain timer unit like the Fleck 5600 seem the right choice?
The other issue is flow capacity as I've read. The 24,000 grain units come with 3/4 cu. ft of resin. My meter has a flow measurement capability and I've monitored flow for the higher demand fixtures in the house. Tub comes in #1 at 4.8 gpm with the washer close behind at 4.6. Showers are 2-3 gpm, dishwasher 1.2 gpm. I see a flow rate for 3/4 cuft of resin at 7 gpm, 1 cuft at 8. At first look, the 3/4 cuft resin seems light. However, we don't use the high demand fixtures at the same time and if it occurs every so often, so what? Even if we are not softening at 100%, since we are only at 7 gpg, even if let a few gpg's by, I don't think it is a big deal. I could upsize to a 32,000 grain, 1 cu ft unit, but from a total capacity standpoint, I'm way oversized and am I really buying much more in flow capacity? Again, the price difference between 24,000 grain and 32,000 grain units are not great.
So after looking at everything, I'm still at a 24,000 grain timer unit. Anyone think I should buy a metered unit or 32,000 grain capacity? Again, it's not so much about cost, but I think bigger isn't necessarily better when it comes to water softeners as I'm finding out.
Also, any comments on upgrading to the better resins? I'm looking at buying from Affordablewater.us and I think the upgraded resin is a Dow resin vs the standard resin.
Thanks in advance for any comments.