Clack unit does not seem to work

[liem123]

Gary:
I sent you e-mail, but maybe I can post it here.
I bought a Clack unit from you in 2006. Everything worked great until several months ago when we started noticing that the salt level has not gone down for a while now and we got lots of iron (my white t shirts are all brownish now).

So I mixed iron out and poured it in the brine well and regen. I did that twice, one week apart, but problem remained. What should I do? Can I call you to reset the unit? I am not sure what you recommended as far as settings go. Thanks.

I bought a home kit test and it showed iron about 3-5ppm and hardness around 20-25 grains (can't match the colors on the strip exactly)

[Gary Slusser]

Hi Liem, yes I don't do email very well because it takes way too much time (I get tons of email) and my answers usually cause another email and then another etc., over a number of days.

As you know, if the softener isn't using salt, it isn't regenerating and you need to find and fix the problem so it can because it can't work right until you do. The most common causes are; blocked drain line or injector, injector screen or loose brine system connections that prevent it from sucking heavy brine water from the salt tank. Or a stuck closed (up) float valve. If you need help with that call me when you can be at the softener.

Then after you get it to suck salt water you need to do 2 manual regenerations back to back with no water use during or between them at the max salt dose lbs for your cuft of resin. You have a 1.5 cuft so change the salt lbs to 23 and do the 2 regens and then change the lbs back to what they were. You should add a 1/2 cup (dry measure) of Iron Out or Super IO mixed in a gallon or more of water to the water in the brine well before each of those two manual regenerations. Start the first one at 7PM or so and then the second can be started like 10:30PM or so. The next morning change the salt lbs back to what they were. And do the IO solution once per month or 1.5 months with a 1/4 cup in a gallon of water poured down the brine well and do a manual regeneration.

Your original programming data is in the body of the email I sent you when you ordered your softener but maybe your water quality has changed. So if your dip strip tests can't be read, get a test from a lab etc. or buy a better test kit like from Hach CO. Then call me if you have a problem or if you need new program data; or use the sizing or calculator pages on my web site.

[liem123]

Gary:
Thanks. Let me check the drain line first, then i will call you if that does not fix. Also, can you send me the program info again? I looked at the data in the control unit and my water usage is is 100 gallon/day averager over 3 weeks. My hardness is 25 grains. Thanks.

[liem123]

Hi Gary:
I checked the drain line. It looks OK.
I did a manual regen to observe. The brine line does suck the water and air (about 1/2 water, 1/2 air) in 45'. However, I did not see when the water was supposed to enter the brine tank. Should I have seen some water going into the tank from the brine line during the brine cycle and about how much? That may be my problem there.
Thanks

[Gary Slusser]

Since it is sucking air, you have a loose brine line connection on the bottom of the 2310 valve or on the elbow on top of it. Fix it and then do the 2 manual regenerations with 23 lbs.

If programmed right, the Fill position is at the beginning of a regeneration.

Unless your water hardness etc. has changed or you changed the programming you don't need to reprogram. Tell me what program data it is programmed with now and how many people in the house and I'll check it.

[liem123]

Also, during the refill, the water never got above the salt grid. It got to about 4'' so it never dissolve the salt. How do I increase the refill time to get the water above the salt grid? Right now, it is about 3 minutes, so when the refill cycle stops, the water level is not high enough. I think that is my problem. My P number is 13.

About the brine line, I am not sure about it is sucking air, so I will call you some time next week. Thanks again.

[Gary Slusser]

There is salt in the legs of the grid and part of that salt is under water and the water is 100% brine strength, so the water doesn't have to come above the grid.

You need to check out those things I told you were potential causes of hard water and do the back to back regenerations.

[liem123]

Gary:
THANKS SO MUCH.
I tightened the brine line connection, clean out the injector, ran 2 regen back-to-back with max salt dose as you suggested.

The hardness is much improved (still reads about 3 grains).. Iron is gone..SO I think I am good. I will test again in a week.

My current program setting is P 13, capacity=15, salt=5, 3days override. My total usage is 100 gallons/day. I used your sizing chart. Does that look right?

[Gary Slusser]

How many people in the house?

What is your hardness?

100 gallons/day and day 3 doesn't sound right to me.

[liem123]

Gary:
The 100 gallons/day is the actual measure I got from going to the diagnostic mode of the valve (I average it over 3 weeks and the number comes in around 93-95 gallons/day). There are 3 of us. I exercise early in the AM and take showers at the club. We are not at home during the day and do not waste water.
Hardness is 25 grains. Iron is 5. I used the 3 days override because of iron problems.
THANKS SO MUCH. You are the best!!!!

[Gary Slusser]

I found an email from you saying:
Hi Gary:
I keep having iron problems. I mixed iron out and water and regen as you suggested, but still having iron problem. I checked and the iron level is about 4ppm and hardness is around 25 grains.

I think I need to reset the unit. I still have the manual, but don't know what to set.

My household has 2 adults and 1 teenager. We are not home most of the day. What should I set the unit (hardness around 25 grains).
************************

As we see in your posts above, you aren't using my programming AND your softener isn't working right.... there's a lesson in there. lol

The math... 3*40=120gals/day, (5*4= 20 + 25)=45 gpg compensated hardness * 120= 5400 * 4days= 21600 rounded to 22K. 22000/2500=8.8 lbs. So program it for 22K, 45gpg, 8.8 lbs, P13, day 4 or 5, Auto, Normal + on 0.

And once per month you should mix 1/3rd dry measure cup of Iron Out or Super Iron Out in 2 gals of warmish water poured down the brine well and do a manual regeneration on your way to bed.

Try all that and see if your problems don't disappear.