Water Softener Need Proper Sizing for efficiency

[Rldev]

I want to install a Clack WS1 for my home as my town has very hard water. I want to figure out efficient settings and proper sizing. Ideally I would like to top off the salt no more than every 2 months since(bad back) . I'm thinking I need a 1.5 cubic ft unit for my criteria. I will be installing an idententical Clack WS1 backwashing carbon filter(CAC) before the softer as well. I will also install a filter before and after the units( 4 x 20 sediment before and a 4 x 20 polishing filter after)Thanks.

Water Condition
Type: Town Public Wells
TDS: 450
Iron: 0.15ppm
PH: 8
Hardness: 25 gpg

Baths: 3
People: 2-3

 

[Bannerman]

The usual recommendation to achieve the best balance of salt efficiency, soft water quality (low hardness leakage) and useable Capacity each cycle, for a softener containing 1.5 ft3 resin (48,000 grains total hardness removal capacity), will be to program the Capacity setting to 36, which will cause the unit to regenerate when 36,000 grains capacity has been consumed. To regenerate 36K Capacity will then require only 12 lbs salt, to achieve a maximum hardness reduction efficiency equaling 3,000 gr/lb (36,000 gr / 12 lbs).

Assuming each person will consume 60 gallons soft water per day, that will be 180 gallons/day X 25 gpg = 4,500 gr/day estimated softening load.

36,000 gr Capacity / 4,500 gr/day = 8 days - 1 day Reserve gallons = an estimated regeneration frequency of 7-8 days. This size softener will then be the minimum size recommended for 3 persons with 25 gpg hardness.

If there are only 2 persons present, then the estimated regeneration frequency will be 11-12 days, which is ideal.

Because municipal supplied water is chlorinated, it will therefore contain 0 ferrous iron that will be removed by the softener.

How was the 25 gpg hardness determined? If the hardness amount was stated by the water supplier, they will typically state the average hardness from all water sources. As the hardness of the water usually arriving at your location maybe higher or lower than average, recommend testing at your location utilizing a Hach 5B Total Hardness test kit, which will also permit a periodic comparison of both the incoming raw water hardness and the soft water hardness to verify the softener is operating optimally.

Because municipal supplies are often obtained from multiple sources, with each source potentially contributing a different amount of hardness, recommend programming the softener's hardness setting 2-3 gpg higher than the onsite test result, to anticipate occasions throughout the day/week when hardness maybe greater than average.

I will also install a ... 4 x 20 sediment before

Why? Does your municipal water contain visible sediment/debris? If not, not necessary nor recommended to install cartridge filters before water treatment equipment. Any small particles that may potentially enter the carbon filter, will become backwashed out to drain during each Backwash cycle.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Rldev]

The usual recommendation to achieve the best balance of salt efficiency, soft water quality (low hardness leakage) and useable Capacity each cycle, for a softener containing 1.5 ft3 resin (48,000 grains total hardness removal capacity), will be to program the Capacity setting to 36, which will cause the unit to regenerate when 36,000 grains capacity has been consumed. To regenerate 36K Capacity will then require only 12 lbs salt, to achieve a maximum hardness reduction efficiency equaling 3,000 gr/lb (36,000 gr / 12 lbs).

Assuming each person will consume 60 gallons soft water per day, that will be 180 gallons/day X 25 gpg = 4,500 gr/day estimated softening load.

36,000 gr Capacity / 4,500 gr/day = 8 days - 1 day Reserve gallons = an estimated regeneration frequency of 7-8 days. This size softener will then be the minimum size recommended for 3 persons with 25 gpg hardness.

If there are only 2 persons present, then the estimated regeneration frequency will be 11-12 days, which is ideal.

Because municipal supplied water is chlorinated, it will therefore contain 0 ferrous iron that will be removed by the softener.

How was the 25 gpg hardness determined? If the hardness amount was stated by the water supplier, they will typically state the average hardness from all water sources. As the hardness of the water usually arriving at your location maybe higher or lower than average, recommend testing at your location utilizing a Hach 5B Total Hardness test kit, which will also permit a periodic comparison of both the incoming raw water hardness and the soft water hardness to verify the softener is operating optimally.

Because municipal supplies are often obtained from multiple sources, with each source potentially contributing a different amount of hardness, recommend programming the softener's hardness setting 2-3 gpg higher than the onsite test result, to anticipate occasions throughout the day/week when hardness maybe greater than average.


Why? Does your municipal water contain visible sediment/debris? If not, not necessary nor recommended to install cartridge filters before water treatment equipment. Any small particles that may potentially enter the carbon filter, will become backwashed out to drain during each Backwash cycle.

Hello Bannerman, thank you for your detailed reply.
25GPG was determined by a Hatch 5B test kit. Iron was also tested with a Hatch test kit. I have tested some friends water in different parts of the area and all seem to be fairly identical. All the water is sourced various wells in the same geographic area.

The reasoning for pre filter was because the town flushes the lines and you get some debi kicked up. This is not often though. So perhaps I should rethink this part.

We are two people, but sometimes 3 and may eventually be 3 full time. We plan to be in this home for 25 years. Would you recommend a 2 ft3 system(64000K) instead when you also consider that GPG should probably be set to 28GPG? What would the numbers look like with a 2ft3 system?

It looks as if it would be as follows:

Assuming each person will consume 60 gallons soft water per day, that will be 180 gallons/day X 28 gpg = 5,040 gr/day estimated softening load.

48,000 gr Capacity / 5,040 gr/day = 9.5 days - 1 day Reserve gallons = an estimated regeneration frequency of 8.5 days.

If 2 persons, then the estimated regeneration frequency will be 12-13 days.

Is this correct? Should I size up the Carbon filter to match?

Thanks again. You lay out the information in an easy to understand way.

 

[Rldev]

So I installed the 2ft3 unit and will start firing it up this weekend. I'm still confused what to set salt dose to on the Clack.

Assuming each person will consume 60 gallons soft water per day, that will be 180 gallons/day X 28 gpg = 5,040 gr/day estimated softening load.

Clack WS1 Softener Settings
Capacity: 48K
Hardness GPG: 28
Salt Dose: 16lbs? Should the clack be set to 8 or 16? (8lbs per cubic ft)
Override: 14 days
Regen Time: 2AM

How many days can I expect before regeneration for 2 people and 3 people with the above settings? Thanks.

 

[Reach4]

9.1 on average. So sometimes 8, sometimes 10, etc

I suggest raising Override to 30. With 14 day override, that would rule when you are on vacation.

 

[Rldev]

Thanks, but I'm still confused about the salt dose setting. For a 2ft3 unit and using an 8lb salt dose per cubic foot, do I enter 8 or 16 in the settings when my capacity is set to 48,000?

 

[Reach4]

The service manual, says 16. See the manual for more info.

 

[Rldev]

The softener is all setup and in operation. The first regen run was a mess. It turned out that the drain line from the sink that runs through the area was clogged. I had to snake it out. Good thing it's in the garage. All is running well and testing well. Thank you for all of your help.