We recommend installation by a licensed plumber, and Aidan supports your plumber by phone at 800-460-5810, 7 days a week. A non-backwashing unit typically takes a plumber about 2 hours; a backwashing unit also needs a drain line (drain tubing is not included) and a standard outlet. The bypass valve comes already installed on the control valve, and our install video walks through every step.

Check the level once a year: hold a bright flashlight behind the tank and look for the shadow of the calcite. When it is about halfway down, add calcite with the included funnel, filling to about 10 inches below the fill port. How long that takes depends on the tank size: about every 6 to 12 months on a 1.0 cubic foot tank, 18 to 24 on a 1.5, 24 to 30 on a 2.0 and 30 to 36 on a 2.5. A calcite and FloMag blend does not change it. You never replace the calcite; it dissolves as it works.

Not noticeably. The Vortech tank has no gravel bed, and its distributor plate spans the whole tank. Pressure drop is not something our customers call about. Rated flow depends on the size (the 2.5 cubic foot non-backwashing tank is rated up to 17 GPM), and this model's number is in the specifications tab above.

The unit ships via freight truck with liftgate service. The driver will lower the pallet to your driveway or curb. You are responsible for disposing of the wooden pallet and cardboard packaging. The tank itself is lightweight when empty (~25 lbs) and easy to move into your garage or basement before filling it with the included media.

It depends on the model. The non-backwashing models (Clack C1190 head) need no electricity and no drain line. The backwashing models (Fleck 5600SXT and 2510SXT valves) plug into a standard outlet and need a drain line for the backwash; drain tubing is not included.