I have an American Standard softener with a Fleck 5600 Econominder control valve. Recently the salt tank filled about 1/3 full of water which I don't think it should do. Is this correct? It appears that the float valve stopped the water flow. Am I correct that the float valve is only a safety device and the timer on the valve should regulate the fill depth?

I disassembled the valve and cleaned it. I found some hard water deposites on the shaft of the small plunger valve that was causing it to stick so I thought I had fixed the problem. After reassembling and turning on the water with the control knob set on "service" it immediately began filling the salt tank with water (I had emptied and cleaned it). I went ahead and followed the start up procedure in the instructions but it once again filled the salt tank until the float valve shut off the water. Is this the way it is supposed to operate? With my employment experience I am more than capable of fixing this, but I could sure use some type of flow chart for what is supposed to happen and when. Is such a thing available on the Net somewhere? Can anyone offer any hints as to what the problem might be?

BTW The condition of the plunger valve looked fine and it sealed well in the bore but then again I am not sure what it looks like when new.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

 

It looks like I solved the problem myself. I took the plunger valve apart again and discovered I had left out an O-ring that sealed the base. Everything seems fine now, and it has gone through a normal regen cycle.
BTW I found an online manual for the 5600 series valves at Fleck.com. It has full exploaded view with part #'s and a flow chart showing the valve positions and flow paths during each cycle.

 

That's the brine valve. It controls the salt dose volume of water in the brine tank. The float controlled valve (2300 or 2310) in the brine tank is a safety valve to prevent brine water overflow from the brine tank onto the floor. Usually it's best to replace the brine valve once they leak, and the safety brine valve doesn't prevent 100% of the causes for too much eater in the brine tank; like the 23x0 valve leaking... They aren't very pricey (maybe $20.00 delivered) so I suggest a new one.

Gary
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Doug Aleshire, Super Moderator 2