What about Northstar softeners?

[tmp9a59]

I am in the market for a new softener and this is what the plumber is selling.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[Gary Slusser]

They are sold through plumbing and pump supply houses. They are made by Ecowater and have the same valve and nonindustry standard clamp om tanks as a Kenmore, Whirlpool, mortonsalt.com, GE at Lowe's and Ecowater softeners except they have two separate tanks and the rest have the resin tank inside the salt tank; called a cabinet model.

They have a rotary disc valve and last about 2-5 years before they quit. You would do much better buying from an online dealer like me and installing it yourself or hiring a plumber to install it. I suggest a Clack WS-1 control valve. Depending on the size of the softener, you'd probably save $500-$1000.

[tmp9a59]

Thanks for the reply. I thought that was about the life of the product. It is in bypass mode now since the valve it self will do nothing but run water through it.
Not worth dealing with all the o-rings and finicky pieces.

Since I have the plumbing already complete, I will just do my research and go online.

Thanks

[Gary Slusser]

My price for Clack parts is less than the equivalent Fleck parts and nowhere near the price of replacing the whole valve. Out of roughly 1180 sales, I've had 22 problems that required changing a part and he most expensive was $120 retail including shipping.

[Cass]

Andy...just in case you didn't know Gary is a real person...and is also a professional...but then you know that and were just trying to agrivate... he can also talk on the phone as easy as a guy who lives a few towns away from the OP...what was the reason for the remark...