What type of water softener should I buy?

I have a home built in the early 1960's. It is on well water and has an old kenmore water softener installed. The water softener has to be atleast 10+ years old and the display no longer works. I can't change any of the settings or even reset the salt monitor when I fill it. It does go through salt but it's very slow so I think there may be an issue with it.

I really want to get the water softener replaced before it completely breaks. Am I OK just going out to a Home Depot or Lowes to pick out a new one or should I go with a more fancy system like Kinetico? It's my understanding Kinetico is extremely expensive so unless there is a huge benefit I am leaning toward the HD or Lowes model. I'm open to other suggestions as to who I can call to get this replaced as well.

I would just pay to have someone install the softener. What model or type of system do you recommend and why?

Thanks in advance!

 

Clack and Fleck make very reliable valves. Have your water tested for iron, hardness, pH for starters. Based on the numbers will determine what you need as far as treatment. Kinetico makes a good unit but you will not be able to get parts anywhere other then them.

 

Thanks for your reply. I went down and looked and my current softener is a Kenmore Ultrasoft 250. As mentioned the display is broke and none of the buttons work. It does go through salt very slowly so I think it's working but I can't be sure of it. I know it goes through a cycle nightly but since the buttons are broke I can't change any of the configurations. I have lived in the house several years but the softener was left by the previous owners so I have no other info on its age. I recently remodeled my bathrooms and plan to do the kitchen soon. I don't want any of my pipes or faucets to get damaged due to hard water if my softener finally dies completely so I am trying to be pro-active in replacing it.

When you speak of a water test, is that the same as the home test packets sold by home depot? I would like to do the test myself, as I feel if someone trying to sell the softener tests the water, they may exaggerate the results to try and get me to buy their product. I spoke of Kinetico because there is one nearby. As I looked at prices, it got me a little worried as I don't know that I can really afford to spend $3-5k on a softener. I just want to find something that will work well and be reliable but I don't need top of the line.

Any other advice you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Go to either Sears, Home Depot or Lowes and buy one that is as close to the specks of your current system.
From what I have been reading your looking more at price than a system quality that can be repaired say every X years.
The three sellers are more of a replace over repairs.. they sell repair parts but really they would rather you buy new..

 

Yes price is important but I value quality as well. I don't need the top of the line but I want something that will do a good job with my water. Going back to the water test, is that something I can buy at a big box store? Since my current softener is still running (just has no display), will my test really be accurate? I would just be testing water that came through my working system so it might not test "bad" and likely won't be accurate since the water already went through my softener.

I think going in with my current model # may be a starting point but I'm not positive it was sized right to begin with. I would rather make sure I buy something that will adequately suit my needs.

 

The best test kit for a home owner is a Hach 5B test kit. They cost about $20.00 on line. I have a few control panels. Let me know your model # and I will see if I have one. If the system is still working, it might be worth just replacing the board. PM sent.