Do NOT Buy! Why A Fleck Softener Might NOT be Worth it
Here is Why You Should Not Buy A Fleck Softener (2023 Update).
In the first draft of this article I recommended Fleck and in many ways, I still recommend it as a good standalone softener.
However, I am no longer recommending Fleck and here is why:
Most people don’t understand that a Fleck softener does NOT filter. Yes, it will treat hard water but you will only end up with soft water. All contaminants that were in your water at the start will still be in there after it becomes soft.
The fact that it doesn’t fully treat your water means that the seemingly affordable $600+ price tag is slightly mis-leading. You will still need to buy a filter to make the water drinkable. This means that you will need to buy and pay for installation of an extra device. The final costs will be closer to $1600 to $2000. 
Aside from the extra costs, adding an extra filter device makes the whole process more complex.
This is why softener filter combinations are more cost effective overall despite the higher upfront cost.
It is rare to find Fleck softeners with filters and when you do find them, the filters are rubbish. Meanwhile you can get something like Aquasana whole house systems that treat everything including bacteria, viruses, chlorine, lead, mercury, pharmaceuticals and so much more.
Fleck only work when you use salt. This means more work, maintenance and on-going costs. However, new technology is making it possible for devices to effectively treat hard water WITHOUT needing salt.
For instance, all-in-one softener + filter combinations from brands like Aquasana treats hard water up to 25ppm without salt.
Did you know that fitting and installing Fleck softeners yourself can possibly void your warranty? Whereas companies like Aquasana give you a professional installation kit. This could save you the extra costs and hassle of hiring a plumber by allowing you to install it yourself.
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| Treats hard water UP TO 25 ppm (low to medium low hard water). | Treats hard water OVER 25 ppm (medium to extremely hard water). |
| Does NOT require electricity. | Requires electricity if using the electronic head monitor. |
| Control Your System With An App:? NO | Control Your System With An App:? YES |
| - Powerful salt-FREE water softener. - 1,000,000 one million gallon capacity. - Aquasana Rhino exceeds NSF standards. - Treats hard water WITHOUT salt. - Removes chlorine, bacteria, iron, sulfide, manganese, mercury, lead etc. - Includes pre-filter, copper-zinc and carbon filtration stages with standard fittings. - 90-Day Pure Satisfaction Guarantee. - Limited 10 year warranty.  | - Powerful salt-BASED water softener. - 1,000,000 one million gallon capacity. - Also includes a multi-stage filter. - Easy installation (inside or outside) - Sufficient for 1-3 bathrooms (options for 4-6 and 7+ bathrooms also available). - 6 month money back guarantee. - Limited lifetime warranty. |
| $$$ Ships to US and CA. | $$$ Ships to US, CA and Puerto Rico. |
| Sale prices automatically applied by clicking this link. | |
| If there is *no* sale try coupon code: AQGEEK50 | Coupon Code: GEEK5 |
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Fleck 5600SXT Review
Fleck 5600SXT digital metered water softener is perhaps the best selling water softener system for the medium to large household.
It sells so well partly because it is very effective at dealing with hard water and partly because it is so affordable.
The Fleck 5600SXT also has a unique set of specifications that makes for a super easy set up and softening.
Unlike saltless or salt-free water softener the 5600SXT is a salt-based system.
This means it actually REGENERATES and creates soft water.
This is something that Fleck does particularly well because it does a good job of automating this process. This means you can almost ‘set it and forget it’ with a guarantee of good quality soft water.
Do you want to know the best part?
People almost NEVER complain about their Fleck water softening system not working.
Fleck is one of the most popular and best selling water softeners on the market today. Who makes fleck water softeners? There are different versions of fleck but the most common one is made by ABCwaters who hand assembly it in Arizona.
To provide you with a more balanced view here are some of the pros as well as the cons of getting one of the best selling water softener systems on the market today.
PROS
It is very easy to use and designed to be relatively maintenance free.
Very effective at softening hard water.
Has a generous warranty that is longer than the average for most softeners.
It is meter regenerated, meaning that it automatically runs off your water meter.
Has a large capacity (1-4 people).
CONS
It’s a heavy and big bulky system that needs significant amount of space.
It is linked to running costs of regularly buying salt pellets.
It might not be right for a larger household, consider getting a higher capacity Fleck SXT model like the Fleck 9000SXT.
Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener: Full Specifications
It comes with a meter-based control system with a screen so you only have to push a few buttons to set up and generate soft water on demand. This also means you only need to replace the salt pellets every now and then.
48 000 grain capacity system, which means it’s a good option for the average household with 1-3 bathrooms.- In simple terms, this machine uses salt pellets and resin beads to soften hard water and this also means it does not need the resin beads to be cleaned very often.
- It has a softening system computer as well as a large brine tank this includes a standard 120v power outlet.
- The dimensions are 10″ x 54″ (tank) along with a 14″ x 17″ x 33″ brine tank (as a guide, it will take up to 3ft X 18″ (width) of space.
The Good
It has a fully automated meter regeneration that can reduce running costs. This meter regenerated system is very easy to maintain and run. The ease of use also means that it has cheaper running costs because it is very efficient at managing water, thereby saving you money in the long run.
Longer warranty. Each Fleck 5600SXT comes with a generous 5 year warranty on the actual system and a full 10 year warranty on the tank. However, it is almost guaranteed to last a lifetime if you closely follow the instructions.
Easy to use control panel.Easily set up this Fleck model with its back lit LCD display that is easy to use with touch-pad controls.
Easy installation. You don’t have to be an expert plumber to install this water softening machine. A confident DIY-er or someone with basic plumbing knowledge should be able to install this system by following the instructions.
Value for money. There are many water softening models on the market and most of them cost considerably more than the Fleck 5600SXT, which typically costs a few hundred dollars. But even though it is low on cost, it is one of the most reliable water softener systems money can buy.
The Bad
As with all water softener systems the 5600SXT is both heavy and bulk. so you will need sufficient room and manpower to both move (it probably needs at least 2 people to carry it) and install.
Is Fleck 5600SXT The Right System For Me?
Fleck 5600SXT is RIGHT For…
- Family homes that have up to 4 people with up to 2 standard bathrooms.
- People that need a ‘set it and forget it’ water softener system. This is because it operates on a meter based regeneration. I.e it only regenerates depending on how much water you use. The only thing you may need to check from time to time is the salt. Like all water softeners, this Fleck softener model needs salt to regenerate soft water.
But this is very easy to do and should only take a few minutes. Also, salt is very cheap. You can easily pick this up from almost any large department or hardware store for about $12+ per 40lb bag. - Homes that experience medium to very hard water. Does your home have water that is harder than most? Does your kettle, sinks, tap faucets and home kitchen appliances suffer from limescale? This Fleck option is very effective at dealing with very hard water.
Fleck 5600SXT is WRONG For…
- Very large households. If your home is a larger one and has more than 2 bathrooms and/or your water usage is ridiculously high then this model is wrong for you. Larger homes or high water users should consider a Fleck 9000 water softener.
- People on a sodium restricted diet. Hard water is softened water with salt. This means that soft water will contain higher levels of sodium than regular water. However, you really shouldn’t be drinking soft water in the first place and I have written extensively about this in my post here.
Here is why Fleck 5600SXT so popular.
In a nutshell, Fleck 5600 SXT is popular because it is very effective at dealing with high levels of hard water.
It does this at a very competitive price when compared to other models.
It also has a good capacity so can sufficiently provide soft water for the average home of between 1-4 people.
The 5600 SXT is also ideal for easy installation, easy setup and offers the best value for money. Consider getting this Fleck model because it:
Takes care of itself (set it and for get it).
Good at dealing with very hard water.
Lower water usage means it has lower running costs.
Why I Am *NO* Longer Recommending Fleck (2023 Update).
In the first draft of this article I recommended Fleck and in many ways, I still recommend it as a good standalone softener.
However, I am no longer recommending Fleck and here is why:
Most people don’t understand that a Fleck softener does NOT filter. Yes, it will treat hard water but you will only end up with soft water. All contaminants that were in your water at the start will still be in there after it becomes soft.
The fact that it doesn’t fully treat your water means that the seemingly affordable $1100+ price tag is slightly mis-leading. You will still need to buy a filter to make the water drinkable. This means that you will need to buy and pay for installation of an extra device. The final costs will be closer to $1500 to $2000.
Aside from the extra costs, adding an extra filter device makes the whole process more complex.
This is why softener filter combinations are more cost effective overall despite the higher upfront cost.
It is rare to find Fleck softeners with filters and when you do find them, the filters are rubbish. Meanwhile you can get something like Aquasana whole house systems that treat everything including bacteria, viruses, chlorine, lead, mercury, pharmaceuticals and so much more.
Fleck only work when you use salt. This means more work, maintenance and on-going costs. However, new technology is making it possible for devices to effectively treat hard water WITHOUT needing salt.
For instance, all-in-one softener + filter combinations from brands like Aquasana treats hard water up to 25ppm without salt.
Did you know that fitting and installing Fleck softeners yourself can possibly void your warranty? Whereas companies like Aquasana give you a professional installation kit. This could save you the extra costs and hassle of hiring a plumber by allowing you to install it yourself.
| |
| Treats hard water UP TO 25 ppm (low to medium low hard water). | Treats hard water OVER 25 ppm (medium to extremely hard water). |
| Does NOT require electricity. | Requires electricity if using the electronic head monitor. |
| Control Your System With An App:? NO | Control Your System With An App:? YES |
| - Powerful salt-FREE water softener. - 1,000,000 one million gallon capacity. - Aquasana Rhino exceeds NSF standards. - Treats hard water WITHOUT salt. - Removes chlorine, bacteria, iron, sulfide, manganese, mercury, lead etc. - Includes pre-filter, copper-zinc and carbon filtration stages with standard fittings. - 90-Day Pure Satisfaction Guarantee. - Limited 10 year warranty. | - Powerful salt-BASED water softener. - 1,000,000 one million gallon capacity. - Also includes a multi-stage filter. - Easy installation (inside or outside) - Sufficient for 1-3 bathrooms (options for 4-6 and 7+ bathrooms also available). - 6 month money back guarantee. - Limited lifetime warranty. |
| $$$ Ships to US and CA. | $$$ Ships to US, CA and Puerto Rico. |
| Sale prices automatically applied by clicking this link. | |
| If there is *no* sale try coupon code: AQGEEK50 | Coupon Code: GEEK5 |
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IF we install it outside in a enclosed ‘shed’ with heat lamp during winter, would that be conducive to functioning normally? Why would cold hurt it? Our old water boss (3 of them over 25 yrs) has been installed in our well house for 7 years and ran fine. We do turn on heat lamps if a freeze is coming. But with our new house we are hoping FLeck will last longer than 7 years avg.
Hi Elizabeth
You can double check with the specific manufacturer that is responsible for your machine but it’s my understanding that Fleck machine’s don’t work well under extreme weather conditions.
Lamps might not be enough in a serious freeze and personally I wouldn’t take the risk.
Perhaps you should stick with Water Boss if it’s worked well for you in the past?
Stay hydrated,
Luke
I have a question. Can the Fleck water softener be installed outside, in a non-freezing climate?
Thank you for your answers.
Hi David
My understanding is that it is possible to install water softeners outside where it wont freeze, however, this is not going to be conducive to the machine functioning long term in an optimal way.
But in any case please contact the manufacturer of the specific make and model that you’re interested in to get their approval before you go ahead with this and circle back here to let me know how you got on?
Best wishes,
Luke
Thanks for your reviews. I have 2 questions about the Fleck system. 1) Can potassium pellets be used? 2) If it regenerates according to the amount of water used, will it regenerate at any time of day? For instance, it’s really annoying have to put off doing a load of laundry or taking a shower because the system needed to regenerate.
Hi Suzy
Here are the answers:
1) Yes, potassium pellets should generally be fine as they usually work in the same way as salt does. But it’s worth a quick call with the customer service team that represent the specific brand/model that you’re interested in buying.
2) You can put the settings to generate at a more suitable time. For instance, make it generate every morning at 3am when you’re asleep so that you always get water during the day when you need it. You can speak to the manufacturers about how to change the settings.
Hope this helps,
Luke