Step 2: Have your water tested.

City Water - If on city water and you don't know how hard it is then simply call the city water department and ask them. They sometimes refer to the water hardness as PPM or Mg/L. If they do then take that figure and divide it by 17.1 to convert it to GPG which is what is used on our calculator. Or click here to see a United States Water Hardness Map.

Private Well - If on a private well and you don't know what the hardness and iron content is then take a sample down to a pool supply company and have it tested for the hardness and iron.

Step 3 - Pick the water softener unit that is right for my usage.

Click here to use our water softener sizing calculator.

Step 4 – Now pick the softener valve that will be best.

Are you in an area where there are a lot of electrical surges or lightning?
If yes, then the econdominder mechanical meter will be better for you than the SE digital style.
If no, then it is a matter of preference.

Here the difference between the econominder mechanical meter and the SE or SXT digital electric meter style valves.

The Econominder Mechanical Meter will still count your water usage even in the event of a power failure. This meter consists of a dome that is on the back of this valve. Inside this dome is an impeller. Coming off the top of the dome is a cable that runs to the meter assembly that is attached to this controller. When you use water, the impeller turns and that turns the cable, the cable is what turns the meter assembly which is where you have set the amount of gallons you are going to use before regeneration. This meter and valve has been in production since 1979!

The SE or SXT Digital Electronic Meter counts your water usage thru an electric pulse. On the discharge side of the system is a turbine assembly, attached to the assembly is a probe that goes to the SE or SXT control valve. As water runs thru it the turbine assembly sends a single to the SE or SXT controller and reads your water usage.

The Benefits of the SE or SXT Digital Electronic Meter over the Econominder Mechanical Meter:

1) You can go into the master programming mode and customize the system by having it backwash and rapid rinse for longer or shorter periods of time, adjust salt pounds all with a touch of a button.
2) Solid state microprocessor with LED display of time of day, remaining capacity, regeneration cycle in process.
3) Compact turbine meter assembly.
4) Higher metering capability.
5) NOVRAM valve status and memory backup.
6) Reads your water usage electronically equals less moving parts than its ancestor the Econominder.
7) Easy to program.

If you are looking for a Smart memory metered system that regenerates with soft water and calibrates itself based on your usage that requires no special tools to work on then pick the Clack WS1 EE Water Softener it is noted to be the most durable, reliable and consumer friendly valve on the market and is rated #1 among professional water treatment dealers and consumers.

Difference between Clack and Fleck

1 ) Clack is a smart memory valve. It keeps track of your daily usage and will regenerate itself at the designated time chosen by the customer, if it senses that there will not be enough softened water available for the following day.

2 ) Clock has a back up, so when you loose power you will not have to reset the time of day.

3 ) It is a 1" ported valve which with full ported bypass valve = higher flow rates than the Fleck 2510 and 5600 valves.

4 ) Also offered as a 1.25" ported valve which gives high flow rates just like the Fleck 7000SXT, but with better functionality and options included.

5 ) No special tools needed to repair if ever needed, Fleck requires special tools to replace the piston, spacer and seals.

6 ) Very few moving parts equals less to go wrong.

7 ) Double backwash ability - great for well water with iron in it.

8 ) Adds soft water to brine tank instead of hard iron fouled water, keeps Brine tank dry and helps keep salt from hardening up, regeneration system with soft water. Clack WS1 EE Water Softener

If the house is less than 2400 square feet and you have no multiple body sprayers in the shower then either the WS1 EE Clack Water Softener, 5600 econdominder mechanical meter or the 5600 SXT digital meter will be the proper choice for you. If this is the case, please click one of the links below to make your purchase. Note: if you don't know what size pipe you have for the hook up to the softener order it with a 1" bypass valve or 1" hook ups for the Clack Softener, you can always bush it down to meet your pipe size with two fittings available at any hardware store.
The Clack WS1 EE Smart Memory Metered Valve Water Softener
The Fleck 5600 Econominder Metered Valve Water Softener
The Fleck 5600 SXT Digital Metered Valve Water Softener

If the house is 2400 square feet or larger and you have no multiple body sprayers in the shower then either the 2510 econdominder mechanical meter or the 2510 SXT digital meter will be the proper choice for you. If this is the case, please click one of the links below to make your purchase. Note: if you don't know what size pipe you have for the hook up to the softener order it with a 1" bypass valve, you can always bush it down to meet your pipe size with two fittings available at any hardware store.
The Fleck 2510 Econominder Metered On Demand Water Softener
The Fleck 2510 SXT Digital Metered Valve Water Softener

Regardless of the homes square footage.
If you have multiple body sprayers in the shower then the Clack WS1.25 digital meter water softener will be the proper choice for you. The Clack WS 1.25 EE valve is a 1.25" valve, although you can bring 1" or 1.25" into it, the flow restrictions are within the valve and the resin tank so the 1.25" Clack WS 1.25 EE valve is needed to accommodate higher flow rates. IMPORTANT: "even though the calculator may have sized the system to be smaller than a 48,000 grain capacity, you want to order the 48,000 to 80,000 grain capacity with this valve in order to get the proper flow rate to run your multiple shower heads and other appliances at the same time. A Clack WS1.25-48M water softener will give you a service flow rate of 18 GPM at a 15 pound pressure drop. Most multiple body sprayers need 15 GPM to operate properly. A 64,000 grain system will give you 20 gpm and an 80,000 grain capacity will give you 24 GPM.
Please click the link below to make your purchase.
Clack WS1.25 High Flow Smart Memory Water Softeners