Buy right. Use right. Maintain right.
Softener size, test kits, salt, filters, and settings—organized by what you’re trying to do, not by brand trophies.
Where you are
Three steps in order—decide, run, maintain. Settings is the cross-cutting one: anything you program on the valve, anytime.
1 · Get ready
Still shopping or deciding
Size the softener, know your gpg, then pick salt type—before you buy.
How to Choose a Water Softener (Size and Features)
Three steps: test hardness gpg, size by people x gallons x gpg x regen days, then pick metered regen, resin volume, and matching iron rating before buying.
Read the guide
Hardness Test Kits and Strips: What to Buy
Strips vs drop-count titration vs digital TDS meters compared. How to sample cold tap water, convert ppm to gpg, and avoid a softener sizing mistake.
Compare kits
Water Softener Salt: Pellets, Crystals, How Often
Water softener salt types, how often to add salt, salt bridge and mush, and when resin cleaners help—an editorial overview, not a ranked top-10.
View salt types2 · Day-to-day
Salt & softener routine
After you own a softener: salt form, refills, and salt-bridge issues.
Salt Pellets vs Crystals for Water Softeners
Salt pellets vs solar crystals for water softeners: how each dissolves, when bridges form, when blocks matter, and an if-then pick—not a ranked list.
Explore comparison
How to Add Salt to Your Water Softener (Step by Step)
Step-by-step guide to adding salt to your water softener: when to refill, how much to add, how to break a salt bridge, and common mistakes to avoid.
Step-by-step
Water Softener Salt Bridge: How to Break It and Prevent It
Salt bridge stops regeneration. See how to identify one, break it safely, and prevent future bridges with the right salt type.
Open guide3 · Maintain
Filters & upkeep
RO stages, resin, and cleaners—scheduled upkeep. If something already failed, start under Problems.
RO Filter Replacement Schedule: How Often to Change Filters
RO pre-filters need annual swap; membranes every 2 years. TDS-based trigger works better than calendar timing on the membrane.
Replacement schedule
Water Softener Resin Replacement: When and How to Do It
Resin life depends on gpg hardness, iron content, and maintenance, not a calendar. Test post-regen water first, then size your resin and decide DIY vs pro.
Read guide
Water Softener Cleaner and Iron Removal: When It Helps
Resin cleaners restore iron-fouled softener beds when iron is the cause, but won't fix mechanical wear or valve failure. Test first, then size the dose.
Read guideSettings
Control heads & programming
Valve menus and hardness settings—how to program what you already own.
Fleck 5600SXT Settings: Programming Guide & Common Errors
Fleck 5600SXT programming guide: set hardness (gpg), day override, and regeneration time. Decode Err 1/2/3 codes and fix the settings people get wrong.
Open settings guide
Water Softener Hardness Setting: What Number to Enter
Set the valve to your measured gpg using hardness test strips or a drop kit. Generic settings work for Fleck, Clack, GE, and most residential valves.
Read guideRelated hubs
Systems for types, problems for failures, tools for sizing.