Valve Suggestions

[Jason Bryan]

When we purchased this house, we inherited a mess of Fleck valves and filters. The filters work fine (the water in this area is a mess of iron, low Ph, sulfur, just for starters). However, the valves don't seem sized right for the media. For example, the valves are 5600 valves. There is a 1 inch line coming in from the well. 25GPM pump. First filter is calcite in a 12 inch tank but has a 5600 (3/4 inch internal porting). I don't think its sized right for the media and believe it should be a 1 inch ported valve.

I'm getting ready to start servicing some of the media and it seems like a good time to switch valves. Should I switch them out? If so, suggestions on what they should be? I'm fine servicing Fleck valves, but the local supply house (that I found) only carries Clack, which I'm less familiar with (but they HIGHLY recommend).

The media:
Filter 1: Calcite
Filter 2: Katalox
Filter 3: Jacobi Carbon with AIO
Filter 4: Softener

Calcite and carbon needs servicing, so I'll change those now (if needed). Katalox and Softener are next year.

 

[Reach4]

Katalox light requires a lot of backwash gpm. A 5600 or 5600sxt does not have the capacity to backwash a 10 inch KL tank. Fleck 5800 and 2510 have more backwashing ability. What diameter are your tanks?

It does not take much GPM to backwash a softener. The calcite and carbon are in between. What diameter are your tanks?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Jason Bryan]

Calcite is 12. Others are 10. One inch from the well to the valves. These are 5600 valves and they have 1 inch connectors in the back. I think they are 3/4 inch inside. The calcite and katalox are the first two. I figure it needs one inch through the calcite to get enough GPM to the katalox.

 

[Reach4]

 

[Jason Bryan]

Thank you. I figure the 3/4 inch limits flow to about 13-ish GPM in optimal conditions, but the actual flow rates are likely below that. I would guess I'm right at or just under the minimum flow rates with the 5600s and will likely go with the 5800, unless the Clack would make more sense. Which Clack would be a good direction?

 

[Bannerman]

I figure the 3/4 inch limits flow to about 13-ish GPM in optimal conditions

A 5600 valve will only support an approx 7 GPM maximum drain flow rate. Since the drain flow rate is the same as the Backwash flow rate, this is the main reason why a 5600 is unsuitable for many media filter applications, particularly in tank's exceeding 10" diameter.

The recommended Backwash flow rate for calcite is 12 gpm per ft2 to achieve ~35% bed expansion. For a 12" diameter tank, this will then require a drain/backwash flow rate of 9.4 GPM, assuming 60°F supply temperature. If your water supply temperature is warmer than 60, then a higher flow rate will be required to achieve an equal amount of bed expansion.

Without sufficient Backwash flow, calcite will typically compact to form a solid hard mass at the bottom of the tank, whereby service flow will follow the path of least resistance, often around the media, thereby reducing the calcite' ability to do what is intended, that is, to increase water pH.