Fleck 5600 SXT water softener comes from the house of AFW Filters. AFW filters have a reputation for producing quality solutions for dealing with hard water problems.
Fleck 5600 has created quite a name for itself in recent times due to its efficiency in reducing the hardness of the water. In this review, we will be critically evaluating all the features of Fleck 5600 SXT 48,000 water softener.
Some Quick Facts
- Model: Fleck 5600 SXT Water Softener
- Grain Size: 48,000 or 1.5 Cubic Feet (Resin Capacity)
- Flow Rate: 12 Gallons per Minute (28 Gallons Peak Rate)
- Water Consumption: 45,000 Gallons during Regeneration
- Water Compatibility: Moderate to Very Hard Water
- Warranty: 5-Years on valve heads, 10-years on the tank
- Dimensions: 27 x 17 x 62 inches
- Weight: 20.8 Pounds
Now we will discuss every feature in detail
Grain Size/Resin Capacity
The grain size is 48,000, and the resin capacity is 1.5 cubic feet. Resin capacity is the amount of material available for the system to perform the ion trade and remove the hardness of the water. It makes the water safe to be used for your appliances. Once the system utilizes this capacity, the regeneration process starts, and it consumes around 45,000 gallons during regeneration.
Flow Rate
The system can offer you a peak flow rate of 28 gallons per minute. Such a high flow rate is only possible when the water supply pressure is at its peak. With average water pressure, it offers a flow rate of 12-14 gallons per minute. Ideally, this is enough for a family of 4 individuals, but if you are a bit careful, you can use it in a family of six.
What does it remove?
Fleck works on the principle of ion exchange to make your water soft and fit for use. It captures the hardness causing minerals like calcium and magnesium and replaces it with sodium minerals, thus making your water soft. Please keep in mind that the system only removes a fraction of iron from the water source. If you want to remove sulfur as well, you will have to install separate sulfur removing system.
Regeneration Mechanism
The system works intelligently by measuring your water usage and running regeneration cycles based on the consumption or as programmed. It saves water and salt during the regeneration cycle. Regeneration means that when the system reaches its peak capacity, it regenerates to get itself rid of the filtered elements.
During this process, you will have to use hard water, but you don’t need to worry, you can plan it according to your ease. You can use the following four modes to plan the regeneration cycle
- Immediate meter regeneration
- Delayed meter regeneration
- Delayed time clock regeneration
- Day of week regeneration
Digital Display
Fleck offers a digital display for you to control your water softener. It comes with three touch buttons, a backlit LCD, and an easy to understand interface. You can adjust the salt usage, water regeneration time, and mode and also check the volume of soft water remaining, and run a self-test for the system.
Safety Float
It is just like a safety check to ensure that there is less wastage of water and salt. Safety float ensures that there is no over spilling in the system.
Installation
For installing the system, you would not need the services of the professional plumber. The manufacturers have made it easy for you to install the system by providing a detailed step by step guide. All the tools you need to install the system come with the unit. You have to make sure that you install the unit indoors away from direct sunlight and close to drain for any water wastage.
Technical Details
The resin tank and brine tank measure 10 x 54 inches and 15 x 33 inches, respectively. The brine tank can hold around 250 pounds of salts. The system comes with a bypass valve, a 1-inch male yoke connection, and all the materials used are certified by NSF.
Cost Analysis
The cost may look a bit higher at the time of purchase. Once you install it and start using it, you will get to know that it is a very economical water softener. It also comes with a digital meter and 48,000 grain. It will also increase your saving by reducing your spending on salt and water bill.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Works excellently with medium to hard water
- Comprehensive Warranty
- Digital meter with controls
- Resin is already loaded for the first time
- Less salt and water wastage
- Safety float
Cons
- The power of resin is a bit low: 8 Percent
- Very low level of iron removal
- Flow rate decreases if you increase the usage at one time
Our Opinion and Verdict
It is a perfect water softener for families of 4-5 people with a water supply containing less iron. We recommend this water softener to you so that your appliances stay safe and you don’t have to worry about the hardness of water again. We give it a rating of 9 out of 10.
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