Brine tank - moving to remote location

Users who are viewing this thread

OldSalt

Member
Messages
46
Reaction score
6
Points
8
Location
Northern Idaho
This question picks up on an old thread, with a few replies from @ditttohead
ref: Can brine tank be placed farther from the softener

I'm planning an install a Fleck-valve based water softener system for a 2400 sq foot house, in 4 season Idaho. The location available for the install is a water heater closet, which has extra room by virtue of a space saving tankless water heater. I have the footprint for a 10" or 12" (round circumference) mineral tank, but would need to relocate the 14" x 14" brine tank elsewhere, preferably in a downstairs garage. That would require me to run the brine line perhaps 20 feet horizontally through a crawl space away from the mineral tank, and about 12' below to the next floor down. From ditttohead's response, in his experience "up or down 10 feet", no changes are needed, and up to 15' horizontal is OK (which seems to be the published limits), but also that he has made runs up to 70'.

1) In practical experience, will a Fleck valve (5600 SXT for 64,000 grain, is the target) successfully draw brine though a tube extended 20 feet, plus a 10' to 12' drop?

2) Would I need to make modifications to the injectors and settings?

3) Would an alternate Fleck valve be better for this purpose?

4) I've read conflicting information about whether the mineral tank flush discharge can be drained into a septic system. (The point of view seems to depend on what someone is trying to sell.) Salt discharge seems to be less the issue, than water overloading. We have a drywell septic system, 500 gal waste, 1000 effluent by spec, though I was told during an inspection that the tanks installed are actually much larger than that. I have a drain in the water heater closet which would be ideal for the discharge. It would not require me to auger through a concrete foundation wall to route a drain pipe to an existing French drain system. More important than that, it would eliminate the worry about the discharge drain pipe freezing in winter.

Edit:
5) I just read a thread that indicates that there is a significant drop in household service rate, i.e. 15 to 17 GPM, which is concerning. My water pressure is anemic, i.e. about 50 PSI at best from city water, and though I'm not sure what the GPM rate is, it can't be more than 10 GPM based upon the fill time for a 5 gallon pail. Will a water softer end up decreasing the household water pressure flow rate to the point where the system is basically unusable?

All in all, if I can place the brine tank in the garage, the mineral tank in the water heater closet (which is also where my main enters the home, and which also houses separate irrigation pipes), and discharge to the existing household drain, I have a pretty easy solution.

Comments, guidance, and/or directions to available sources in North Idaho (Kootenai County) would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Scott

Aside: I had two different professional plumbing crews working my original house build. I later spent months retrofitting/repairing plumbing both before and after move in. So, though I'd rather make a phone call and get this "done" professionally, experience tells me I'm better off learning the facts, and just doing the install on my own.
 
Last edited:

Reach4

Well-Known Member
Messages
38,796
Reaction score
4,412
Points
113
Location
IL
I think the stuff you have read covers it pretty well. I don't know that a 5600SXT would be better or worse in this regard.

Some things I did want to comment on...
1. 50 psi is not anemic, but it is quite possible that the water pressure at the house drops considerably when the there is much flow. If that pressure drop is in the supply.
2. 10gpm is plenty for a house, but not for filling a big swimming pool, or doing extensive irrigation.
3.The 5600SXT above 7 gpm would have a fair amount of pressure drop with flow. However it will still be enough for most houses. The 5800SXT would have less pressure drop.
4. It is not clear if you have a garden hose thread pressure gauge. You should have one. Hook it to an outdoor hose spigot, laundry tap, or the drain on the WH. Watch it (or record the dial with a cellphone movie) as you run big loads, such as opening the tub faucet full blast. If 50 psi drops to 25 psi, you might want to consider some action on that.
 

OldSalt

Member
Messages
46
Reaction score
6
Points
8
Location
Northern Idaho
I think the stuff you have read covers it pretty well. I don't know that a 5600SXT would be better or worse in this regard.

Some things I did want to comment on...
1. 50 psi is not anemic, but it is quite possible that the water pressure at the house drops considerably when the there is much flow. If that pressure drop is in the supply.
2. 10gpm is plenty for a house, but not for filling a big swimming pool, or doing extensive irrigation.
3.The 5600SXT above 7 gpm would have a fair amount of pressure drop with flow. However it will still be enough for most houses. The 5800SXT would have less pressure drop.
4. It is not clear if you have a garden hose thread pressure gauge. You should have one. Hook it to an outdoor hose spigot, laundry tap, or the drain on the WH. Watch it (or record the dial with a cellphone movie) as you run big loads, such as opening the tub faucet full blast. If 50 psi drops to 25 psi, you might want to consider some action on that.
Thanks for the quick reply. I'll research the valves, and I'm reading some opinions that Fleck isn't the same company it once was, and quality is dropped. Maybe I'll look for an alternative valve supplier.

My 50 psi being weak is a relative statement, i.e. I've been used to 65 (actually, it was 75 to 100 PSI, reduced to 65). I have a pressure gauge mounted inside my water heater closet, and the pressure is a constant 48-50 PSI, even with household usage. Trying to stress the PSI, opening up many fixtures at a time, I believe the lowest rating was about 45PSI. I am also running 3/4" from a 1" main, reduced to 1/2" at the fixtures. Aside: My tankless hot water recirc line is also 3/4", and that makes a heck of a difference (i.e. hot water runs through the house is 1 to 2 minutes, versus the 1/2" cross over line the plumbers originally installed, which then required 10 minutes circulate the whole house.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks