Sunday, January 31, 2010

Refilling when it should Sucking Water out of Salt Tank ( Brine Rinse cycle ) Fleck Valve

When Water is coming out of the Valve during the Brine Rinse Cycle ( when suction should be drawing water out, NOT putting water in ), there are several things to check / look for as the source of the problem.
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First, NOTE: There are several causes of High Water in the Brine Tank, see:
high-water-in-brine-tank-problems
But if you suspect an internal leak, or you have ruled out simple clogs or loose fitting, then you need to look a little further.
Internal leakage would be visible, in the form of Scratched Main Piston ( any Fleck model ), or damaged ( visibly noticeable ) or dried out ( due to age - over 10 years or more )rubber SEALS ( in the Seals & Spacers area of the Main Piston ), or Visibly cracked Injector Nozzle or Throat ( you must remove BOTH for proper inspection, as it would be either portion damaged ).
see: Inspecting Injector and Screen video
If the parts check out, then it's time to check out your Drain Flow. You need to check the flow rate ( at the very END of your drain hose ). It should be 2 gpm ( average 9" diameter tank used, 8" = 1.5 gpm , 10" = 2.4 gpm ) during BACKWASH cycle ( not the Brine Rinse cycle, as that is always 50% less than the BACKWASH flow rate ).
If it is less, then the problem will be either the Drain Hose is partially clogged ( deposits of hardness and iron can build up inside over the years ), OR something is partially blocking the small hole in your DLFC Button.
see this Video on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvZMkWihusI
The fact that you have water flowing into the salt tank during the suction cycle can only be one of the following:
1 ) Badly scratched ( you would be able SEE this ) Main Piston
2 ) Badly damaged Seal in the main piston area ( or one missing, should be 5 seals and 4 spacers for Fleck 5600 )
3 ) Damaged Injector SET ( either the Nozzle or the Throat behind it is cracked...did you check both? )
4 ) Back pressure from the DRAIN ( either something blocking the DLFC button, or the drain hose it's self )

3 comments:

dave said...

Hi Andy. I have checked the injector nozzle, throat and screen are perfect. Drain is perfect. Main valve and seals just replaced and checked twice. Perfect. New brine valve and o-rings checked twice. Perfect. I still have water shooting out the brine line bigtime instead of brine draw. What is gong on? PLEASE HELP!. I'm baffled! Dave

Andrew at Softenerparts.com said...

DAVE,
You must have missed something, because it really can only be one of the things mentioned in article. Please contact me Directly by Email, not posting. "andrewcross@softenerparts.com"

Andrew at Softenerparts.com said...

************* if no suction, and water comes OUT during Brine Rinse,
THEN one of the following is the source of the problem,

1 ) Injector not "seated" or perhaps cracked ( inspect both Nozzle and inner Throat ).
see:
http://www.softnerparts.com/product/34600840131/Injector-Drain-Assembly-Fleck-5600.html
2 ) Drain is clogged ( partially is enough to cause the problem ).
* DLFC button has debris or is swollen if the water source is chlorinated. Measure Flow Rate during Backwash or try new drain hose, or remove and inspect DLFC Button,
see:
http://www.softnerparts.com/product/3413759/DLFC-Tool-to-Remove-Retainer-Fleck---3413759.html

3 ) Wrong Main Piston installed... if you do not have the standard Fleck 5600 valve.

4 ) Left out a SEAL ( 5 Seals, and 4 Spacers ).
see:
http://softenerparts.info/2008/06/28/replacing-the-main-piston-seals-and-spacers-and-brine-valve-piston-a.aspx


Those are the 4 things I have seen cause a lack of suction and water coming out when suction should be occurring.