Can/should I add old resin to new softener

[Martin1b]

I just purchased a new softener and am questioning the quality of new resin. The tank is only 1/2 full of resin and seems to lose softness quicker than I expected. My old softener seemed to have softer water after a regen.

I replaced my old softener because the head was leaking. However the old resin, even though 15 years old, was pretty effective at softening. I saved the old resin.

Can/should I add the old resin to the new softener to increase capacity?

Bill

 

[Old]

This is likely a setting issue. City or well water? What is the water hardness? What is the make, model, and size of the unit? What are the current settings?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

2/3 full is normal.

Does the softening go harder after about 2/3 of the expected time?

 

[Bannerman]

Depending on the brand and type of softener, the quantity of resin you estimated within your softener seems to be correct.

Most softeners are filled to approx 66% of the tank height to allow sufficient free board space for expansion and reclassification of the resin during the backwash phase of regeneration. The upper and lower dome sections of the tank are not included in the 66% calculation, and in consideration of resin compaction due to Rapid Rinse, the 50% estimate seems about right.

Not recommended mixing 15-year-old resin with new.

The correct method to determine how effective the softener is performing is to compare the hardness of the softened water to the hardness of the incoming raw water using a Hach 5B Total Hardness test kit.

To determine the softener's correct program settings, we would need to know the softener's current total capacity or the volume of resin within the media tank and also the settings that are currently programmed. We also need to know the Brine fill rate (BLFC typically specified on a label nearby to the brine line connection) and the tested hardness of the raw water.

It os also beneficial to know how much water is consumed or the number of people residing in your home and your water source. If your source is a private well, is there iron and or manganese entering the softener and if so, how much of each?

 

[Martin1b]

It's a Fleck 5800 pro configured for upflow. It's has 96k (3 cf of 8% Aldex C800 resin).
We're on well water that is 30 grains hard and there are 9 people in the house.

DF : Gal
Regenerant Flow : Upflow brine first
Control type : Meter delayed
Capacity : 24x1000
Hardness : 30
Fixed reserve capacity
RC : 0
BD : 60
BW: 10
RR: 10
BF : 24
FM (flow meter type) : 3/4" paddle wheel (although it's a 1" input/output?)
Relay setting : off
VR : off

 

[Reach4]

13x54 inch tank?

I suspect the 5800 Pro is similar to the 5800SXT,

Identify the BLFC from the label under the cover.

Also say what injector the label says too.

How did you determine 30 grains of hardness?

 

[Martin1b]

You're correct. The model is a 5800SXT. Tank is a 14 x 65. It's big. There are 4 tags under the cover but it doesn't say anything about BLFC. 30 grains hardness was the result when I sent it off to a lab for test.

 

[Reach4]

14x65 would usually have 3.0 cuft of resin, or maybe even 3.5

The blue label just above the middle of picture 4 is going to say 0.25 gpm.

5800SXT System info (not programmed)
salt lb/cuft : 7.7 ; A choice ( efficiency vs capacity)
BLFC : 0.25 ; Brine Refill rate GPM
cubic ft resin : 3.0 ; Same as (nominal grains/32,000)
Raw hardness : 30.0 ; including iron etc
Estimated gal/day 480.0 ; 60 gal per person typical calc
Est days/regen 4.2 ; presuming days each use reserve capacity


Fleck 5800SXT Settings:
DF = Gal ; Units
VT = 5800.0 ; Valve type
RF = dF2b ; Downflow, Double Backwash
CT = Fd ; Meter Delayed regen trigger
C = 71 ; capacity in 1000 grains
H = 35 ; Hardness grains after comp factor
RS = rc ; rc says use gallons vs percent
RC = 480 ; Reserve capacity gallons
DO = 30 ; Day Override (typ 28 if no iron/Mn)
RT = 2:00 ; Regen time (default 2 AM)
B1 = 6 ; Backwash 1 (minutes) [3...10]
Bd = 100 ; Brine draw minutes
B2 = 4 ; Backwash 2 (minutes)[3...10]
RR = 6 ; Rapid Rinse minutes [5...10]
BF = 31 ; Brine fill minutes

FM = P0.7 ; flow meter

====================================
The less salt per cubic ft, the more salt efficient, but more hardness breakthrough.
BLFC 0.25
cubic ft resin 3

lb/cuft C= BF=
5.0 57.3 20
5.3 58.8 21
5.5 60.3 22
5.8 61.7 23
6.0 63.0 24
6.3 64.3 25
6.5 65.6 26
6.8 66.7 27
7.0 67.9 28
7.3 68.9 29
7.5 70.0 30
7.8 71.0 31 #used above
8.0 71.9 32
8.3 72.9 33
8.5 73.8 34
8.8 74.6 35

 

[Martin1b]

Thanks. I've read upflow is more salt efficient, which is why I configured it that way. Is that correct?

I'm hoping to limit salt usage where possible, and don't care if I run out for a day until it regenerates.

 

[Reach4]

I missed that you ordered the unit set up for upflow brining. Different piston for upflow brining vs downflow brining.
The settings I wrote should mostly be good for upflow, except for RF. And for better salt efficiency, the BF=24 and C=63. corresponds to salt 6 lb/cuft. That is what you posted originally.

Plus reduce the RC number to have less reserve.