how to rebed water softener resin replacement

[@basilbcf]

I just replaced the resin in our 15+ year old Kinetico. Also rebuilt the head. Softener works like new now. By the way, if you have a push type bypass valve like in this video, I strongly recommend you turn off the input supply and open a faucet to relieve pressure, then gently push the bypass rather than hitting or pounding it. The shaft on that bypass plunger (at least on mine) is just plastic and can break if you pound it. ASK ME HOW I KNOW! Now, any time I need to bypass, I first turn off the water input supply and open a sink faucet to get rid of the pressure, then the bypass will move easily.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Great tip on the bypass valve. Thanks for posting.

[@robandannetteful]

Did you put gravel in the bottom of your kinetico tanks? Does your system have a couple large plastic rings that you pull off to remove unit from water system. If yes how do you pull them off?

[@robandannetteful]

not rings more like c clips I mean

[@basilbcf]

@@robandannetteful No, there was no gravel in the tanks when I cleaned out the old resin, so I just replaced with the correct resin. Did not add anything else. No c-clips on mine, I just pulled the metal pin from the retaining piece and the two pipes that stick out at the top of the tank just pulled right out of the bypass valve. I think I've seen videos on KZbin of systems that do have the C-clips you're talking about

[@leswhitehead9151]

How full of resin should the tank be ?

[@annatelligman4130]

Thank you so much for this video 😊 Culligan was going to charge us $1,800 to rebed the softener, but we did it for $500 in supplies. My son and I worked on it together, but he did 98% of the work:) I would definitely need a dolly to move the tanks if I was alone. There was a learning curve as our water softener model differed in a few areas, but this video was helpful enough to keep us on the right track. Thanks again.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Great news Anna! Glad you were able to do it yourself.

[@JoeyNarine]

Is the tank still too heavy even after removing the water but still has the resin and gravel in it?...thats what I'm thinking of doing.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Depends on how strong you are. 😁 I just dumped the resin in a bag right in the basement; much easier.

[@chris3w9]

@@HouseDoctorRay ok...something happened. Apparently I have a new profile but it's still me - joey.

[@bunaziulica5776]

Thank you for the video. Also, kudos for choosing to spend a lilttle more in order to buy something produced in the United States. We need all the loyalty we can get.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Especially important to buy something made in the US if it is going in your drinking water.

[@mikehenderson2039]

I've watched a few of your videos...great detailed information and your presentation style helps give confidence that anyone can do the job! Keep up the great work!

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks Mike.

[@broken-chains]

Followed your instructions and change our resin last weekend. Everything went great. Fixed our diminished water pressure and output. Really appreciate you posting this.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Glad it worked out.

[@LIBERTY0RDEATH]

That is one of the most informative videos I have watched about water softeners. Thank you very much.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thank you for the kind words and thanks for watching.

[@MV-ep1ks]

Thank you So Much! I followed your directions, saved me 400 dollars. Water is so soft now. My wife was sceptical but now I'm the home improvement hero. Lots less chlorine smell too

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Great news!

[@jaytapia7003]

I’ve watched 15 of these videos… best one yet! Thank you!!!!

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks Jay. Now order that resin and fix your softener.

[@wbrehaut]

@@HouseDoctorRay This looks like a good place for my question: I need "high iron resin", which I take to mean high-mesh resin that will trap more of the iron, such as ALDEX C-800F Fine Mesh WATER SOFTENER RESIN, but am not sure. Any advice? And Princess #1 must stick with engineering to make that plan work. I switched to academia and am now retired at 85 and doing my own dirty work. 😥

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Sorry, I'm not sure about the resin. Best l can tell you is try and find something made in the US.

[@alamanamoose]

I've been looking at new systems to replace my old one. About $600-$700 for new. Or replace the resin in mine, and rebuild the fleck, plus the float in the brine tank isn't working properly. The fleck isn't even metered, just a timer. This video helped me make the decision. I'm buying new. Thanks Ray.

[@JoeyNarine]

I likes the background music in the videos. I'm going to try doing this during the week. I think this guy makes the best water stuffs.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks. The song is, 'Fresh Fallen Snow'. Lots of videos on KZbin use it, very relaxing.

[@JoeyNarine]

@@HouseDoctorRay Yes...thank you for that info on the music, I found it. I'm going to play it while working on the tank. I'm from Ontario Canada. I'm curious as to what part of the world produces moods such as your video.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Right nearby. I'm in NE Pennsylvania.

[@JoeyNarine]

@@HouseDoctorRay I'm in Simcoe, Ontario...directly across the lake...🙂

[@freeze1305]

I'm so glad that I learned trigonometry and calculous in high school. They were much more valuable skills to know compared to something like this. HEAVY SARCASM. Thank you for the information and easy to follow instructions!

[@HouseDoctorRay]

If you want to put those skills to use you could calculate the volume of the tank, then determine the surface area of the resin.

[@wbrehaut]

@@HouseDoctorRay Or you could learn more calculus in college or university, become an engineer, and earn enough in day to pay a professional to do this dirty work. 🙃

[@HouseDoctorRay]

I hope you're right. Princess number 1 is in her senior year and going to engineering school next year.

[@JR-dr2up]

There is nothing wrong with knowing the hard science and math AND being able to turn a wrench and swing a hammer. Any good engineer knows how to do both. (I like ot think of myself as a renaissance man.) - Renaissance man, an ideal that developed in Renaissance Italy from the notion expressed by one of its most-accomplished representatives, Leon Battista Alberti (1404-72), that “a man can do all things if he will.”

[@ravjibhaipatel9263]

You nailed it and saved our millions !!! Thank you

[@jimball816]

an excellent video on how to change resin & gravel. the mystery is unraveled for me. thanks

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks Jim.

[@robertdangredo2684]

Thank you so much for taking time to post this KZbin. This is exactly what I needed to know. i know I could do it, but I had no idea what the specifc steps were. Awesome

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Glad it was helpful! It is a lot easier than you think.

[@ronvreeland1400]

thank you for the video, very helpful for this 82 yr old. My mineral tank is a 8"x44" so it did not require the gravel. Once I siphoned out the water it was light enough to carry outside to wash it out with the hose.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Glad it worked out for you Ron.

[@jarvisjg700]

Vacuuming is such a good idea… thank you

[@susan579]

Thanks so much. I now have the confidence to take on the job. You're video is the best I've seen yet.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks. You can do it!

[@cementheed]

Okay, Thanks so much for this video! I have the exact same Culligan system and this worked perfectly, I bought the gravel and the funnel from your links; although I couldn't buy the resin in the link (not available), so I had to get it from SEARS. You are absolutely correct about making sure you source the resin from a US manufacturer. The Chinese and/or Indian resin is very poor quality and not properly washed. Thanks RAY!

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Glad it worked out for you. I found another source for the made in USA Purolite resin. Just like everything else the price has gone up significantly. amzn.to/3k3x7U3

[@cementheed]

@@HouseDoctorRay Glad I didn't go with the Chinese stuff - there are horror stories all over the web about it being full of benzene (takes a long time to flush out) and it not having much capacity - poorly reacted functional groups.

[@davebrittain9216]

The funnel on the head was a nice touch lol.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Keeps me safe from 5g

[@davebrittain9216]

@@HouseDoctorRay you need to line it with tinfoil lol. I soon will be doing a resin replacement on my softer as well.

[@SanjaySingh-oh7hv]

Hello. Thank you for the excellent walk through for resin replacement. I wanted to ask about how you mention a few times that you use Vaseline to lubricate your threads and seals. As I understand it Vaseline is a petroleum based gel and the manual for my water softener says to not use any kind of petroleum based lubricants because it will react with the plastics of which the water softener controller is made. So you might want to mention this somewhere in your description or post-process your video to highlight this so users know they might need to use a silicon-based lubricant instead of Vaseline.

[@smirkinatu5512]

Thank you for recording and posting this valuable educational video.

[@kenski0015]

Ray nice job explaining everything, you made it look so easy to do!

[@HouseDoctorRay]

It's not hard at all. You can do it!

[@ronaldcollins3634]

Thanks Ray. You just saved me almost $600!

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Glad to hear it.

[@jarvisjg700]

It’s 2024 and Culligan still makes and sells part for this series of softener (medallist series) if yours leaks like mine did just begind the white control box you need to repack the valve seals. Call your local Culligan supplier.

[@robertcole6237]

Well done, and communicated really well, thank you

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks Robert and thanks for watching.

[@MrKirby365]

I will say that you can probably run up to the dollar store and pick up a piece of card craft board... It usually comes in black or white and it's very flexible. Basically rap it up like a big stiff sheet paper. And it works great. Just as an option for those of us who don't want to spend ten dollars on a funnel that whirling going to use once.

[@MrWolfSnack]

But yet you spend $300 on a cell phone. I will gladly spend $10 on a funnel I'll only use once because when the time comes to use it again I will have it already in the cabinet and not need to jerry rig pieces of paper together and spill $170 worth of media resin all over the floor just to save $10 on a funnel.

[@freddyperry6394]

Thank you very much for making this video. I believe on Do It Yourself all the way. Honesty is scarce.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Glad you liked it.

[@lostbrit_7094]

Nice video. And yes doing your self you will get a better job

[@mortalstorm]

Thanks for this well presented video. I have the same system you do and now I have noticed that the system is no longer producing softened water. I’m going to follow your advice and try using a resin cleaner. I would rather use the cleaner specifically recommended for this purpose, like the Whirlpool cleaner you suggested in another video of yours. Many posted comments have indicated that Iron Out and similar chemicals release potentially toxic fumes and may leave a residue in the regen tank causing the water to take on a foul odor. Again thanks for the great videos and I have hit the subscribe button.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks for your kind words.

[@jamesv5858]

Great video, helps a lot. I'm a little concerned as the resin is classed as hazardous here in the UK and throwing it in the ditch may be a bad for the environment. But I'm no expert.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

We have the same issues here with compact florescent lights (CFLs). They are designated as hazardous waste. We're not supposed to put CFLs in recycling bins or in the garbage. Government drop off centers don't want them either. Go figure. Sorry, but I can't tell you how to dispose of it. Now you can't even feign ignorance because MI5 read your post.

[@nodivisions]

As soon as he put the funnel on his head I knew this was gonna be a good video 😂

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks Anthony.

[@wbrehaut]

I thought he was just advertising he was a Pastafarian--but that would have to be a colander...

[@paulwharton1850]

A really great, useful & detailed video. Many thanks.......all the way from London !

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thank you.

[@pocket83squared]

Thanks a bunch. This was really helpful.

[@JR-dr2up]

Good Good Video. Thanks! (PS: My hair is sooooo much more manageable suddenly!)

[@HouseDoctorRay]

😅😆😂🤣

[@dad1432]

So is my forehead

[@HouseDoctorRay]

🤔

[@sfeldman1953]

excellent!!!! thank you. one of the best home videos i've seen.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@wguisbert54]

Great! I will now have soft and beautiful manageable hair JUST LIKE YOU!

[@HouseDoctorRay]

It's an awesome feeling Wade. Thanks for watching.

[@richard35charter]

Thanks, very helpful. You are right about the job being done better if you do it yourself if you have the knowledge. Love the “hair being soft and manageable”

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Glad you found it helpful. Always had city water before this so never needed a softener.

[@johnd2174]

Very good and thank you my filter and head on my water softener is completely different than the one you did the video on, Would the resin be different in some of the units?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

If you have a brine (salt) canister then you use standard resin. There is 8% and 10% crosslink. The 10% is usually only used if you have a high chlorine content in your water that may damage the 8%. Short answer - the resin I linked to in the video description should be fine.

[@MiieB]

The tube in the liner under the valve on most have a distributor on the bottom

[@LarryB-inFL]

I thought this was an exceptionally well done video!! One question/suggestion: I would never use vaseline as a lubricant where you did; I would use plumber's silicone grease. It is safe for nitrile, etc, whereas petroleum jelly can degrade rubber based products. Your thoughts on that?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

True but... It is very mild and it's also unlikely those o-rings are rubber. They're likely nitrile. It is best to use a water based lube.

[@rider132]

Great, informative video. Exactly what I was looking for and as a bonus for me, I have the same system. Thanks, I was looking for a new system.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Good luck!

[@FernandoLopez-cp8bq]

Perfect Explanation and help me to save a lot of money thanks Ray

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Glad it was helpful.

[@wguisbert54]

To the point! Best video on the subject.

[@spsanders69]

Great video. Thank you.

[@walksoverland6597]

Lovely hair, Ray! Thank you so much for this video.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks.

[@ufrozoo]

Awesome video Ray !!! I'll be ordering my resin and gravel today. I'll be ordering some food grade o-ring lube too👍

[@HouseDoctorRay]

You'll be amazed at how much better your water is when you're done.

[@jenniroberds1571]

Can you use the stuff you used in a culligan?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Yes. The one I put it in is a Culligan.

[@davegarber7964]

3:31 Yes it’s a flow sensor and it can be used for the system to calculate how much water has been used and when to regenerate based on usage vs. regenerating on a timed cycle.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks for the clarification.

[@billreynoldssoccer8753]

great video, easy to follow, made the job super easy.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks Bill, glad you liked it.

[@gabesn200sx1]

Amazing video, I'll just likely be tackling this very soon in my new to me home.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

It's definitely a way to save a lot of money.

[@popnetwork9106]

Where did you get all the orings at

[@HouseDoctorRay]

I used the old ones. They were fine.

[@justinglen88]

How do we know how much gravel to use and what kind of gravel

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Garnet is the normal gravel. You need enough to cover the holes in the bottom of the tube. There are links in the video description for the materials I used.

[@artray9358]

Great video. I’m getting resin in the pipes though. Will this fix that?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

The gravel will help but it's likely the long black pipe is cracked.

[@dudeguy7347]

How soon after the re-bed can you do a hardness test to verify it worked?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Immediately. The resin is ready to go out of the bag.

[@dudeguy7347]

@HouseDoctorRay Okay. so immediately after a new softener is installed or a rebed is done, I should be getting soft water (after the hard water is depleted from the branches of course)

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Yes. The resin tank does hold a few gallons of water so best to check it the next morning after it sits in the resin tank. If it's working right you'll be able to feel the difference just running the water over your hands.

[@dudeguy7347]

@@HouseDoctorRay Okay. Years ago someone from a supply house told me there is a breaking in period with their softeners. May have been Clack. But it sounds like either I misunderstood him or he didn't know what he was talking about

[@dudeguy7347]

@@HouseDoctorRay I guess I thought there had to be a full Regen done to it before the water feels soft

[@jeejay98]

Thanks to your video. This is exactly what I need to see. Clicked to your affiliate link to purchase. How much regeneration or backwashing do I need to do before it becomes usable?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks. It is usable right from the bag. I just hit the regeneration once to reset the system and fill the resin tank with water. You can prefill the resin tank with water before screwing the head back on. The idea is just to flush the air out so your pipes don't bang until the air reaches your faucet.

[@svenjorgensen3059]

Great video! I have a dual tank water softener with the 3rd tank as my brine tank. Wondering if both softener tanks have gravel & resin or is one tank resin and the other tank all gravel? Thanks

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Both softeners likely have gravel. The gravel acts as a filter to prevent the resin from getting into your plumbing. Over time the resin can fracture, the gravel catches the pieces.

[@TimSmith-db1iu]

What do you think the costs would be to be to do this myself. I have the exact same tank and head as you.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

There are links to the products in the video description. Click *...more* while watching the video.

[@bryans8193]

Great video and thank you for posting it! When you dumped the old resin out of your tank did it also have the gravel bedding and if it didn't what was the reason for adding it with the new resin?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Yes it did have gravel. Not all softeners require it but mine did. The gravel is supposed to help with water pressure loss and the resin beads from getting into your plumbing system.

[@bryans8193]

@@HouseDoctorRay Great info thank you.

[@gregorsmith8541]

What are the 3 filters set up as before the softener ? I only have a sediment one.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

I made a multi stage filter. I change the first one more often. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4a0p6SDh5iSgLs

[@seouldar]

How do I determine how much gravel is needed? I have a WG844

[@HouseDoctorRay]

You want enough gravel to cover the slots in the bottom of the center tube.

[@raysmusic49]

Is gravel always used?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Not all require gravel.

[@jdurrani]

I have a Culligan Gold Series water softener, and I'm trying to replace the resin. However, after emptying the media tank, I discovered the Aqua-Sensor Probe was broken. I tried to look it up to see if I could find a replacement, but so far I've had no luck. I'd like to know if I can re-bedd the media tank without the probe, and if so, how it will affect the water softening function. right now I am running on by-pass mode but can not run it by-pass mode for long.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Try and find the service manual online and find out if there are settings to run it without the probe. You can sometimes find Culligan parts on eBay.

[@premanand7125]

Thank you. We dont know when was our rebuilt but will take on this project next if the iron out cleaning doesnt help.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

It's not very difficult. Definitely get the funnel.

[@johncapron4074]

Excellent video. Totally understandable.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks John.

[@ledzeppelin1212]

Very helpful video, sir. Thank you!

[@HouseDoctorRay]

You're welcome and thank you for watching.

[@martinstrickland8260]

What is the brand of your filters?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

DuPont housing. Easy to make multi stage filter. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4a0p6SDh5iSgLssi=_TgPBgGsz3gLKPEJ

[@jaredbradley152]

Wire is a flow sensor. A magnet spins below it and it counts the revolutions. P.S. we have a setup(filter) in our shop that completely cleans our gravel before we do a rebed.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks for posting. Good to know what that wire is and that your crew does a good job for the customer.

[@livetohash6152]

What about the white resin beneath the cation? Is that not required?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Sorry, I don't understand your question.

[@livetohash6152]

@@HouseDoctorRay It's a premium resin I guess, it's white.. recommended by the store I bought the cation from. I guess we'll see how it works 😬

[@wanderingsoul2909]

Very good video. Did you recommend to turn off the water supply to the house before proceeding ? I have the metal bypass valve and it's easy to turn from SERVICE to BYPASS mode. With the system in BYPASS, there is no issue with water leaking right ? In that case , I shouldn't need to turn off the water supply. Thanks !

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Yes, while you're in bypass you should not have a leak.

[@wanderingsoul2909]

@@HouseDoctorRay Ok, I shut the water off and opened a faucet too. This released pressure so that the Valve/Tank could disconnect from the Bypass.

[@deeluxrider9702]

Great DIY video, I’ll be doing this tomorrow. My question is...when you initiate a regen to depressurize the system before taking the top off, how do you stop the regen process after it’s depressurized? Thanks

[@HouseDoctorRay]

I closed the manual bypass valve and unplugged the unit. There may be a more elegant solution but this works.

[@deeluxrider9702]

Thanks for your quick reply, wish me luck.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

No luck needed. You got this!

[@deeluxrider9702]

@@HouseDoctorRay Thanks for your positivity. Got the re-bed done & also cleaned out the brine tank...worked like a charm, water pressure's back to normal, thanks again.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Glad it worked out and glad you saved a ton of money.

[@lazaruslong1971]

Great video. Thanks so much. I was wondering if you had any recommendations for a tank that has a mix of resin and some other material to remove tannins? My tank is setup this way as my well water has tannins present. Is it a different type of resin or something else? Cheers

[@HouseDoctorRay]

You *can* do a mix of tannin removing and softener resin but it could cause problems. During backwash/regeneration the released tannins and minerals can combine in your backwash line to the drain. If you haven't had a problem yet I guess give it a shot using the same ratio of resin that you have now. Best practice is separate systems but that sounds expensive.

[@lazaruslong1971]

@@HouseDoctorRay Thanks for the reply. Its a culligan system like the one you were working on. So far so good. I have been considering a separate system also. Cheers!

[@Abhisek007]

how do i know, if my softener has gravel in it?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Best to just use it. It prevents any broken pieces of resin from entering your plumbing system.

[@randyd9805]

With the gravel bed would the resin fill it to about 2/3'rds full? I have a similar-sized tank and I know I overfilled it yesterday and need to take some out. I put about .75 cu. ft. of resin in the tank and I think I should have only put 1/2 of my 1 cu. ft. bag. My softener is not for home use and never had a gravel bed in it from day one. Does the gravel bed just help keep the water flowing freely? I can't really see any other use for it.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

The gravel acts as a filter to keep the resin beads from getting into your water lines. The beads can crack and the small pieces are caught by the gravel. As far as overfilling: Go to your unit and put it into regeneration mode. Hold a strong light against the side of the resin tank. You'll see the resin start to undulate and rise up. Keep watching until the resin stops rising. Mine goes up about 6-8 inches. As long as it stops rising a few inches from the top of the tank you should be fine. The resin needs room to move around for the salt to strip the minerals away but shouldn't reach the head unit.

[@turbog31]

Hello, how much of gravel and resin on that size tank you are doing? I think mine is the same width but maybe a foot longer. Thanks

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Check the video description. There is a link to a chart to give you an idea how much resin you'll need. There are also links to the products I used. I used all of the 15 lbs of gravel I bought. You want enough gravel to cover the slots in the bottom of the tube.

[@sydneybird116]

I reused my resin. I had a resin tank leak at the neck in less than 3 years. I saved my 10% cross-linked resin by using a Duststopper Cyclonic Dust Separator (HD) on Homer buckets between my shop vac and the resin tank. I used a new 7 ft hose and three new 5 gal Homer buckets and lids. I lost about .25 cu ft of resin that went past the separator and into my shopvac but easily sucked out the 2 cu ft of resin and gravel into the Homer buckets in under 5 minutes. Cost me about $100 in equipment and 0.25 cu ft of resin to save me from buying 2 cu ft of new resin (cost/benefit?) and now I have a new cyclone separator to use now or in three years if/when this happens again. Apparently the gravel mixed with the resin will resettle properly after a regen or two. Gravel is not needed but too hard to separate from the resin. Better to have no gravel as the inside pipe will lift when you take the controller off the tank, say to replace the o-ring seal, and you can't push it back down with gravel in there without fear of breaking the strainer.

[@wanderingsoul2909]

" I had a resin tank leak at the neck in less than 3 years" What do you mean at the neck ? Is this the Riser Tube which has a filter at the end of it which points down to the bottom of the tank. Did that filter crack and let resin into your water system ? I just had a problem with resin leaking into the pipes. I was told that 8-10 year old resin will leak through to your pipes and you need to change to new resin. Thanks !

[@sydneybird116]

@@wanderingsoul2909 Hi, my cracks were at the threaded part of the resin tank that the control valve screws on to. I had to replace the entire tank. The riser tube and the filter at the end were fine so I reused those. I didn't have resin leaking into my plumbing. Your issue may be that the resin is breaking down so that it now can pass through the filter at the end of the riser tube, assuming the filter is not broken. You can inspect the filter and riser tube after you take the system apart. A new filter is cheap if it is cracked. My original installation had gravel at the bottom so there is no way to push the riser tube/filter back down to the base of the tank after taking off the control valve as the tube comes up with the control valve as it is a snug fit. I didn't use any gravel when I put the resin back into the tank in case I needed to disassemble again. Actually, I did have to disassemble a bunch of times because the water was not being softened after putting the system back together. It took me 5 or 6 times opening the system back up to finally figure out that I needed to push the riser tube into the control valve past the o-rings before screwing the control valve to the tank. I figured that the riser tube would engage the control valve once screwed on, but that was not the case. Without the riser tube sealed to the control valve, the water was not passing through the resin. Once you open your system, I would replace the resin if it is more than 5 years old which seems too soon but just prevents having to do it again that many more years. 8-10 years is the lifespan of the resin whether from breakdown or clogging. To save costs, I would use standard resin that you can get from Home Depot, Tier1 1 cu ft 50 lb bags free delivery which is at a fair price.

[@wanderingsoul2909]

@@sydneybird116 Thanks for the in depth explanation. So, I took out my riser and the bottom filter was slightly cracked ( was told that as the resin breaks down it compresses the filter and cracks it causing resin to leak out ). So, I bought new resin and a new riser. Waiting for it and will install it myself hopefully. Thanks !

[@kamranemdadi1628]

Thank you for your video. I have a 52x10 Culligan softener and a salt brine tank that is 15 years old, recently I see salt precipitate under the brine tank. I also see water under the main tank. The brine tank is intact, so I believe this problem is due to the leakage of water from the main tank. Does the main tank lose its integrity over time? There has not been any trauma or accidents. Any suggestions? Do I need a new system?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Dry everything really well and find the source of the leak. I doubt either tank is leaking. It is most likely a connection point or the seals in the softener head. Another option could be water coming through the walls or foundation. When that happens it leaves behind white mineral deposits.

[@emcinc9654]

What type of resin do I use on a Culligan Medalist plus system

[@HouseDoctorRay]

There is a link in the video description.

[@MrWolfSnack]

Do you need to drain the pressure out if the machine has been off for several months? Also does the pressure drain off if you disconnect it after shutting off the water valves? I have a very very old unit and I don;t think it has any pressure drain control. I need to replace the entire resin cylinder.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

You could shut off your water main and just turn on a faucet to make sure the pressure is released.

[@MrWolfSnack]

@@HouseDoctorRay OK. I can do that.

[@djgorba]

Whats the use of the Gravel?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

The gravel stops the resin beads from getting into your plumbing system. It also helps with water pressure dropping.

[@turbog31]

Awesome video, made it look easy! Do you think this would fix the problem for very low to no water pressure? I currently have it on bypass mode so the water can work. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

If your pressure is good in bypass then replacing the gravel and resin could solve your problem. You should have a filter before the softener to prevent contamination.

[@turbog31]

Yes , I have 2 filters connected to it. I replaced them already. Tried a cleaner from Home Depot and did 2 manual regens. Didn’t help.

[@billsteeves2974]

Do you use the same rocks in a well filter?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

I'm not familiar with gravel filters. I would say no, you probably need to use something like sandstone. Garnet is hard and is used in the water softener to prevent the resin from clogging the tube. It doesn't really behave as a filter.

[@vcash1112]

How long is the resin getting rinsed for with the salt brine to be cleaned ? Is it normal water pressure been used?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

It depends on the size of the mineral tank and how you set the softener. You program them with different settings depending on the hardness of your water and how much you use your water. Yes, it uses house pressure to back flush.

[@vcash1112]

@@HouseDoctorRay 👍✨

[@tonybesset]

Thank you for this great video, much appreciated!

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Glad you liked it.

[@adrianlee5026]

Hey Ray. Thanks for the video. I followed your instructions exactly with the same unit. Everything went vert smooth until I opened the bypass back up. The majority of the new resin ended up blowing out of the drain line into our sump pump pit. Any ideas as to what may have gone wrong?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

That center tube probably wasn't seated properly or is cracked. When in regeneration if you shine a bright light on the mineral tank you'll see the resin gently rising.

[@adrianlee5026]

@@HouseDoctorRay Got it figured out. My unit has a quick release hook up for the drain line. I had the tube removed when I put the unit in regen to relieve the pressure in the tank. As a result a blast of water came out of the head where the drain tube fitting attaches. Inside is a rubber flow regulator. Basically a rubber bung with a small hole in the center. I managed to blow this out and into my basement sump pit. So when restarting the unit, after replacing the resin and this flow regulator missing, there was so much pressure that it sent most of the new resin down the drain! Thanks for your help and great video.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Glad you figured it out. Feels good to do it yourself.

[@jimsterken3108]

Thank you for the nice video. How much gravel did you use? My tanks are 10x54"

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Pretty sure I used the whole box from the link in the video description. You want the gravel to cover all of the slits in the bottom of the pipe.

[@TimSmith-db1iu]

@@HouseDoctorRay So you used the 15 lbs box?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Yes.

[@hi-filuggage13]

Culligan is saying I don’t need to add gravel in my 10 x 40, but you’re saying I should?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

It's up to you. If you have well water you probably don't need it. The chlorine in city water can cause the resin to crack. The gravel will keep those little pieces out of your plumbing system.

[@sicil08]

Great video Ray, thank you. question ,How do I know if my water softener has gravel in it.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

See if you can find a manual online for your system. My understanding is that gravel is supposed to prevent pressure loss and prevent channels from developing in the resin. There is not a downside to gravel other than a slight reduction in the amount of resin.

[@sicil08]

@@HouseDoctorRay Thank you Ray

[@secretplanet6393]

Thanks for the informative video. Do you recommend using a resin bed cleaner?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

I would try that before replacing the resin. There is also a product called iron out that you can put in the brine tank. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpXPdGuri6qXjZI

[@nmummau]

I followed your instructions and after turning on the softener for the first time, the water is discolored. I did rinse the gravel many times like you suggested. But it seems that maybe not good enough. The water coming out of the softener appears to be discolored by the gravel. Any suggestions? It seems to be clearing up after running water for a few minutes but is definitely still present.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Could be from the gravel or sediment in your pipes. Run the cold water for a while at your tub spout. This is usually the faucet that has the best flow. You want to avoid getting sediment in your water heater.

[@ronkuehni2115]

Very good very helpful Video thank you for posting!

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks. Glad you liked it.

[@bozo1952]

Do you have to get a specific gravel for the tank?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

There is a link in the video description. Garnet is preferred just rinse it thoroughly.

[@rodrigoresendiz3928]

Did you add gravel to the system that didn’t have gravel. Your video doesn’t show you removing gravel but definitely adding it to your tank.

[@rodrigoresendiz3928]

I ordered a kit for my water softer that didn’t have gravel but the kit includes gravel so just wondering if it helps or if I should leave it out

[@HouseDoctorRay]

There was gravel in it at the bottom. The gravel keeps the resin from getting into the plumbing system. The resin can break down over time especially if you have chlorinated water.

[@mlbjr]

What if the nylon ring at the top of the tank is nicked and leaking. Is it replaceable or can another seal be placed on top?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

The O-ring is what seals the tank. Your local hardware store will likely have them for common brands.

[@sydneybird116]

I'm thinking that you are referring to the top of the tank that is not covered by fiberglass where the controller screws in. The tank is a plastic bottle that is wrapped with fiberglass. On my tank, the threaded part developed two cracks. See my other replies on how I reused the resin. I am getting a new tank under warranty but I have to pay $100 for shipping. That's the problem with not buying your system local, but local was at least 50% more expensive. Cracks at the top are a common problem.

[@MrWolfSnack]

How would you measure the tank size? Do you just wrap the measuring tape around the outside of the tank for the diameter? I'm confused on that part.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Diameter is the width of the tank.

[@Emailmichaelsdroid]

Wrapping around is the circumference, to get the diameter you could divide the circumference by 3.14

[@jennifermccoy8298]

I see you also have a whole house water filter. How do you have it connected? Does it need to go in line before or after the water softener?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

The filter is usually installed right after the expansion tank and before the water softener. You want to keep the sediment out of your water softener. I made a video on how I put the filter together and installed it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4a0p6SDh5iSgLs

[@jennifermccoy8298]

House Doctor Ray thank you. I’m glad I installed mine properly than lol. I couldn’t get a straight answer on the best place to install it so I guessed. Would you recommend a resin cleaning solution? Or is it best to just replace it? I’ve owned my softener for less than a year, but just recently added the whole house filter. I have well water. I was wondering since the water was really bad before the filter installation, do I need to clean or change the resin to get the best water?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

The resin should be fine. The backwash cycle will eventually flush out the sediment.

[@m.m.m.c.a.k.e]

Does the resin material have a lifespan? Or does it fail due to improper maintenance schedule?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Theoretically it has no lifespan but iron from wells eventually coats it, chlorine in city water erodes it, backwashing turbulence cracks it, so yes it wears out. Under normal use without high iron or chlorine it should easily last 10 years. It could be good up to 20 years. Mine was 20 years old and still worked just not very well. There are iron removing chemicals you can put in the salt tank if you have that issue.

[@m.m.m.c.a.k.e]

@@HouseDoctorRay thanks bro. Mine is pushing 15 years old and seems to work pretty good but recently it started turning water dark orange after it regenerates. The water is only orange for about 10 gallons of water and then it goes away until it regenerates again … City water with a good amount of iron,,, and of course chloride,, and whatever else is in it. It’s disgusting to drink so I use bottled water but I think I’m going to install an RO. I appreciate your help I hope you’re well,, have a nice day

[@HouseDoctorRay]

No problem. Sounds like an iron issue, I think the additive is called IronOut. Maybe put a filter on before the softener. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4a0p6SDh5iSgLs

[@vcash1112]

Where did you buy the resin? How much for a 1cubic ft?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

There are links in the video description. I was able to get everything from Amazon.

[@vcash1112]

@@HouseDoctorRay Right now, I spend $200 for a bag trying to find a cheaper Source. How long does the unit get flushed with the salt, few minutes?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Check the links. US made is $190, import $140. Depends on the unit, mine takes over an hour.

[@romma11]

manual I have calls for exchange media and underbedding , stores sell softener resin. Bit confusing names not sure what is what ?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

I would guess that exchange media and softener resin are the same thing. I would also guess that under bedding is the Garnet gravel.

[@romma11]

@@HouseDoctorRay got into mine and found two pipes one inlet one outlet.The tube tank holds like some rubber bag to seal it, inside were beads and small stones mixed together. Should I refill stones first then beads or other way around?

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Sounds to me like the bag should only have gravel in it. Double check and make sure there aren't any holes in it or it came loose. The gravel is only there to keep the resin beads out of your water system. It acts as a filter for any broken resin beads.

[@Solarwasp]

How much gravel do you put in it? There are different kinds. What resin do you also recommend to use? I've seen several different brands and everybody talks about the purelite and teir1 brands

[@HouseDoctorRay]

You need to put in enough gravel to cover the little slots in the bottom of the pipe. The amount will vary based on the size of your tank. The most commonly used is garnet. There's a link in the video description of the resin that I used it works great. As a bonus it was way cheaper than I could have bought it for from one of the water softener suppliers near me.

[@stevesanchez2482]

How much gravel and what type resin is the best, I'm experiencing low water pressure and I'm getting a dark or black water at times in my sink or toilet. I called the guy that I purchased the system from years ago and he told me that I needed the resin changed out, his records show that it was last done in 2014. His current price for that job is $980, after watching your video I'm not sure why his price is so high. It seems like a simple task I just don't know how and what type resin to use, I was just going to measure the gravel I take out if it has gravel he mention that he used something with carbon. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Garnet is the right gravel to use. There is a link in the video description for the Resin. If you need a filter that should be separate from your softener. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4a0p6SDh5iSgLs

[@stevesanchez2482]

@@HouseDoctorRay thank you for your reply, my tank measurements the OD is around 11 inches and the tanks about 4' 6" tall. Would you know how much resin or do you have a link for calculating the amount. I'm using your links for materials but the resin shows unavailable so I'll look around unless you have another link for resin. Still confused why my softner guy quoted me almost 1k for this job. Again thanks for posting a video for this task. Also the pipe in the center of the tank would you have a link for a replacement pipe just in case mine is damaged. Have a good day

[@HouseDoctorRay]

I updated the links in the video description and added a link to a sizing chart. I also added a source for parts. Unfortunately if you have a Culligan you're going to have to scour eBay to find any needed parts because Culligan only sells to authorized distributors.

[@stevesanchez2482]

@@HouseDoctorRay it's not a culligan system mine has a pure water 4 life decal on the tank, again thank you for your help.

[@mattball2700]

beautiful dog!

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thank you.