{"product_id":"water-softener-fleck-5600sxt-80000-grain-18-33-salt-tank-with-10-crosslink-resin","title":"Fleck 5600SXT 80,000 Grain Electronic Demand Deluxe Water Softener","description":"\u003cp\u003eWater softener for hard water in 6 to 10 person households with 5 or more bathrooms, Fleck 5600SXT 80,000 grain demand-regen valve with 2.5 cu ft of premium 10% crosslink Purolite C-100E resin handling 25 to 80 grains per gallon hardness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFleck 5600SXT 80,000 Grain Whole-House Water Softener with 10% Crosslink Resin and 18 by 33 Brine Tank\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAn NSF\/ANSI 61 certified whole-house salt-based water softener built as the top single-tank size in the Fleck 5600SXT lineup, sized for very hard water households with 25 to 80 grains per gallon (gpg) of total hardness, 6 or more occupants, and 5 or more bathrooms, using a Fleck 5600SXT digital metered control valve that only regenerates when soft water capacity is actually depleted (not on a fixed timer) and 2.5 cubic feet of premium 10% crosslink Purolite C-100E cation exchange resin that lasts roughly 12 to 15 years instead of the 8 to 10 years typical of standard 8% crosslink resin used by most competing 80,000 grain softeners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eBest For \/ Not For\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUse this 80,000 grain size if\u003c\/strong\u003e your household has 5 or more bathrooms, 6 or more occupants, or extreme hardness in the 25 to 80 grains per gallon range, on either municipal city water or low-iron well water (under 2 ppm dissolved iron). This is the largest single-tank Fleck 5600SXT we offer and is built for large homes, multi-generational households, and commercial-residential properties (vacation rentals, large country homes, small inns) where peak demand is high but water draws still cluster into a daily pattern that allows a single overnight regeneration window.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStep down to the 64,000 grain size if\u003c\/strong\u003e your household has 4 to 6 bathrooms, 4 to 7 occupants, and hardness in the 15 to 50 gpg range. \u003cstrong\u003eStep down to the 48,000 grain size if\u003c\/strong\u003e your household has 2 to 4 bathrooms, 3 to 5 occupants, and hardness in the 5 to 30 gpg range. \u003cstrong\u003eStep down to the 32,000 grain size if\u003c\/strong\u003e your household has 1 to 2 bathrooms, 1 to 3 occupants, and hardness below 25 gpg.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStep up to the twin-tank Fleck 9100SXT 64,000 grain softener instead of this 80,000 grain single-tank if\u003c\/strong\u003e your peak service flow exceeds 14 GPM, or your household never has a 2-hour quiet window for the softener to regenerate (large families with shift workers, rental properties, small commercial accounts, anyone who needs continuous soft water 24 hours a day). The 9100SXT runs two alternating tanks so one tank is always in service while the other regenerates, eliminating the off-window that any single-tank softener including this 80,000 grain unit has during regeneration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable as a standalone solution if\u003c\/strong\u003e your well water has more than 2 ppm dissolved iron, hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell), or pH below 6.5. In those cases an iron filter (Fleck 2510AIO with Katalox Light) or acid neutralizer must be installed BEFORE the softener so the softener resin is not damaged by iron fouling, sulfur, or acidic water. Free phone consultation will confirm sizing and pre-treatment requirements based on your water test before you order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWatch the Complete Guide First\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWatch our 14-minute walkthrough \"Complete Guide to Water Softeners (32 Years of Experience)\" on YouTube before buying: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H8pL9FGyUaY It covers how ion-exchange softening actually works, salt-based versus salt-free conditioner systems, single tank versus dual tank (directly relevant when deciding between this 80,000 grain single-tank and the twin-tank Fleck 9100SXT), how to size a softener by hardness and household, salt usage and ongoing cost (about $12 per month at this size on Walmart salt prices), the step-by-step regeneration cycle, well water versus city water, why the softener always goes last in a full treatment train, the difference between 8% and 10% crosslink resin, and the three biggest mistakes homeowners make when buying a softener.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eTalk to Aidan Before You Buy\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFree expert phone consultation before you order. Call Aidan at 800-460-5810, 7 days a week, 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern. Send your water test results (hardness in grains per gallon, iron in ppm, pH, manganese, total dissolved solids) and Aidan will recommend the right size, confirm whether you need pre-treatment for iron or pH, walk you through whether the 80,000 grain single-tank or the twin-tank 9100SXT is the better fit for your peak demand pattern, and walk you through installation positioning. No upsell, no commission, no hard sell. Mid Atlantic Water is an online-only national ecommerce business shipping to all 50 states; phone consultation, water test interpretation, and ongoing technical support are delivered remotely to homeowners and their local plumbers in every state.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy This 80,000 Grain Softener vs Cheaper 80,000 Grain Timer-Based Softeners\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEliminates calcium and magnesium hardness so soap actually lathers, dishes come out spot-free, laundry stays bright, and skin and hair feel softer\u003c\/strong\u003e, by exchanging the hardness ions for sodium ions on the 2.5 cubic feet of 10% crosslink Purolite C-100E resin bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSaves salt and saves water by only regenerating when soft water is actually depleted\u003c\/strong\u003e, using the Fleck 5600SXT digital metered demand-initiated regeneration valve that tracks gallons used (cheaper timer-based 80,000 grain softeners regenerate every 3 days regardless of usage and waste hundreds of pounds of salt per year, which adds up fast at this capacity).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLasts 12 to 15 years on the resin instead of the 8 to 10 years typical of standard 8% crosslink resin\u003c\/strong\u003e, because the 10% crosslink Purolite C-100E polystyrene structure resists chlorine oxidation 20 to 30 percent better than the 8% crosslink found in most competing 80,000 grain softeners. Critical for city water with chlorine or chloramine, helpful on any well water too.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandles extreme hardness up to 80 grains per gallon\u003c\/strong\u003e by carrying 2.5 cubic feet of resin (the largest in the single-tank Fleck 5600SXT line), which is what well-water households in central Texas, central Florida, southern Arizona, the Las Vegas valley, and similar very-high-hardness regions typically need to avoid daily regeneration cycles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProtects water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, faucets, shower heads, and copper plumbing from scale buildup across a large home\u003c\/strong\u003e, which extends appliance lifespan by years and cuts energy bills (a scaled water heater uses 25 to 30 percent more energy, and that math gets large when there are two water heaters in a 5+ bathroom house).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRemoves up to 2 ppm of dissolved (ferrous) iron as a bonus\u003c\/strong\u003e, useful for low-iron city water or marginal well water, but not a substitute for a dedicated iron filter when iron exceeds 2 ppm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes the 1 inch stainless steel bypass valve pre-installed on the control head\u003c\/strong\u003e, so the softener can be isolated from house plumbing for service or salt refill without shutting off water to the rest of the home.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUses readily available standard salt\u003c\/strong\u003e (sodium chloride pellets or potassium chloride for low-sodium households) from any grocery store or hardware store, no proprietary cartridges, no chemicals, no annual service contracts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSystem Type: Whole-house salt-based ion-exchange water softener, single-tank metered, top single-tank size in the Fleck 5600SXT line\u003cbr\u003e\nSoftening Capacity: 80,000 grains per regeneration cycle\u003cbr\u003e\nResin Volume: 2.5 cubic feet of premium 10% crosslink Purolite C-100E cation exchange resin\u003cbr\u003e\nResin Type: 10% crosslink polystyrene sulfonate, sodium form, Purolite C-100E (premium upgrade vs standard 8% crosslink)\u003cbr\u003e\nExpected Resin Life: 12 to 15 years (10% crosslink resists chlorine oxidation 20 to 30 percent better than standard 8%)\u003cbr\u003e\nControl Valve: Fleck 5600SXT digital metered demand-initiated regeneration head (Pentair)\u003cbr\u003e\nRegeneration Trigger: Gallons-used metered demand (only regenerates when soft water capacity is depleted, never on a fixed timer)\u003cbr\u003e\nService Flow Rate: approximately 14 GPM continuous, sized for 5 or more bathrooms simultaneously\u003cbr\u003e\nMineral Tank Dimensions: 13 inches diameter x 54 inches height (round fiberglass-wrapped polyethylene)\u003cbr\u003e\nBrine Tank Dimensions: 18 inches x 33 inches square brine tank with safety float overflow shutoff\u003cbr\u003e\nSalt Capacity: approximately 250 pounds (full brine tank)\u003cbr\u003e\nSalt Per Regeneration: approximately 12 pounds at standard salt setting (about $12 per month at typical large-household usage)\u003cbr\u003e\nHardness Range: 25 to 80 grains per gallon (gpg) of total hardness, including extreme well-water hardness\u003cbr\u003e\nIron Tolerance: up to 2 ppm dissolved (ferrous) iron before requiring a dedicated iron pre-filter\u003cbr\u003e\nRecommended Bathrooms: 5 or more bathrooms\u003cbr\u003e\nRecommended Occupants: 6 or more people\u003cbr\u003e\nConnection Size: 1 inch female threaded inlet and outlet\u003cbr\u003e\nBypass Valve: 1 inch stainless steel bypass valve, pre-installed on the control head\u003cbr\u003e\nDrain Connection: 1\/2 inch on the control valve, plus brine line to brine tank\u003cbr\u003e\nPower: standard 110-120V grounded outlet, 48-hour internal capacitor preserves settings during power outages\u003cbr\u003e\nDisplay: large blue backlit LCD showing remaining soft water capacity, regeneration status, and time of day\u003cbr\u003e\nControl Valve Warranty: 5 years (Pentair \/ Fleck)\u003cbr\u003e\nTank Warranty: 10 years structural\u003cbr\u003e\nCertification: NSF\/ANSI 61 certified components\u003cbr\u003e\nCountry of Assembly: United States\u003cbr\u003e\nShipping: free freight to all 48 contiguous states, ships pre-loaded with resin\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon Hard Water Symptoms This Softener Treats\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCalcium scale buildup on faucets and shower heads, white spots and film on glassware and dishes after the dishwasher, soap scum rings on tubs and shower doors, dingy or stiff laundry that requires more detergent, dry itchy skin and brittle dull hair after showering, reduced water heater efficiency and shorter water heater lifespan, scale buildup inside kettles and coffee makers, blocked low-flow shower heads and aerators, white crusty residue on faucet bases, slow-filling toilets, scale lines inside hot water tanks, hard rings on tile grout and bathroom fixtures, premature failure of dishwashers, washing machines, ice makers, humidifiers, and tankless water heaters. The Fleck 5600SXT 80,000 grain unit eliminates the calcium and magnesium ions that cause every one of these symptoms, even at extreme hardness levels above 25 gpg where smaller softeners would regenerate so often that they wear out years early.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow Ion Exchange Softening Works (Plain English)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHard water enters the mineral tank from the top and flows down through the bed of 2.5 cubic feet of 10% crosslink Purolite C-100E resin beads. Each resin bead carries thousands of negatively charged sites loaded with sodium ions. As the hard water passes through, the calcium and magnesium ions (positively charged, bigger and more strongly attracted than sodium) swap places with the sodium ions on the resin. The water leaves the bottom of the tank as soft water and is sent to the home. After a volume of soft water that depends on hardness (a 50 gpg household will get fewer gallons per cycle than a 15 gpg household, which is exactly why this 80,000 grain capacity exists), the resin is loaded with calcium and magnesium and the Fleck 5600SXT meter triggers a regeneration cycle: brine (concentrated salt water) is drawn from the brine tank and pulled through the resin bed in reverse, the high concentration of sodium displaces the captured calcium and magnesium back off the resin, the calcium and magnesium are flushed to the drain, and the resin is recharged with fresh sodium ions ready for the next service cycle. The cycle typically uses about 12 pounds of salt and 50 to 80 gallons of water and runs at 2 AM by default.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eInstallation Overview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe softener installs on the main cold water line where it enters the home, AFTER any iron filter or acid neutralizer if those are present (softener always goes last in the treatment train so it sees clean water and is not fouled by iron or sulfur). Required: a 1 inch (or 3\/4 inch with adapters) feed line, a drain within 20 feet (floor drain, laundry sink, sump, or condensate pump), a standard 110V grounded outlet within 6 feet, and roughly 28 inches by 60 inches of floor space for the 13 by 54 mineral tank plus another 18 by 33 inches for the brine tank. Most installations are completed by a homeowner with basic plumbing experience in 2 to 4 hours, or by any local plumber in under 2 hours. The system ships pre-loaded with resin so there is no media loading step at install.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOngoing Maintenance and Cost\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAdd a 40 pound bag of softener salt (sodium chloride pellets, or potassium chloride for low-sodium households) to the brine tank every 3 to 6 weeks depending on water usage and hardness. That is the entire ongoing maintenance routine. There are no filter cartridges to replace, no media to swap, no chemicals to dose, no annual service visits required. Salt cost is approximately $12 per month at Walmart prices for a typical large-household usage pattern, more if the home is on the high end of the 25 to 80 gpg range. Resin replacement is typically not required for 12 to 15 years on this 10% crosslink Purolite C-100E (versus 8 to 10 years on standard 8% crosslink). Power consumption is negligible (less than $5 per year). Water consumption per regeneration is 50 to 80 gallons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and Ongoing Support\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFleck 5600SXT control valve carries a 5 year manufacturer warranty (Pentair). Mineral tank carries a 10 year structural warranty. Brine tank carries a 5 year warranty. NSF\/ANSI 61 certified for safe potable water contact. Mid Atlantic Water provides remote technical support to all 50 states for the life of the system at 800-460-5810 for setup questions, error codes, replacement part identification, and troubleshooting, free of charge whether the system is in warranty or not.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions (Mined From Real Customer Calls and Emails)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs 80,000 grains the right size for my house?\u003c\/strong\u003e Likely yes if you have 5 or more bathrooms, 6 or more occupants, or hardness in the 25 to 80 gpg range. Multiply household occupants by 75 (gallons per person per day) and multiply by your hardness in grains per gallon to get daily grains of hardness removal needed. At 7 occupants and 30 gpg that is 15,750 grains per day, so the 80,000 grain unit regenerates every 5 days. At 8 occupants and 60 gpg that is 36,000 grains per day, so the 80,000 grain unit regenerates roughly every 2 days, which is still a healthy duty cycle. Above that, a twin-tank 9100SXT is the right answer instead. Free phone sizing consultation at 800-460-5810.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShould I get this 80,000 grain single-tank or the twin-tank Fleck 9100SXT 64,000 grain instead?\u003c\/strong\u003e Buy this 80,000 grain single-tank if your household has a 2-hour quiet window between roughly midnight and 4 AM where no one is showering or running a dishwasher, and your peak service flow stays below 14 GPM. Buy the twin-tank 9100SXT if your peak demand exceeds 14 GPM, or you need continuous soft water 24 hours a day (large families with shift workers, vacation rentals, small inns, anyone whose schedule does not allow a 2-hour off-window for regeneration). The 9100SXT alternates between two tanks so one is always in service while the other regenerates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill this 80,000 grain unit remove iron from my well water?\u003c\/strong\u003e It will handle up to 2 ppm of dissolved (clear water) iron as a bonus. Above 2 ppm of iron, or any oxidized (orange) iron, or any hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell), you must install a dedicated iron filter (Fleck 2510AIO with Katalox Light catalytic media) BEFORE the softener. Sending iron-heavy water through a softener fouls the resin within months and ruins the system, and ruining 2.5 cubic feet of premium 10% crosslink resin is an expensive mistake.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy 10% crosslink Purolite C-100E resin instead of standard 8%?\u003c\/strong\u003e The 10% crosslink polystyrene structure has 25% more cross-bonding between polymer chains, which makes the resin physically stronger and significantly more resistant to chlorine oxidation. On chlorinated city water, standard 8% crosslink resin degrades in 8 to 10 years. The 10% crosslink Purolite C-100E in this system typically lasts 12 to 15 years. The upgrade adds about 30% to resin cost but doubles practical lifespan, which is why it is standard equipment on this softener and on the entire MAW Deluxe softener line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is demand-initiated regeneration and why does it matter at 80,000 grains?\u003c\/strong\u003e Cheaper timer-based 80,000 grain softeners regenerate on a fixed schedule (every 3 days, every 5 days, etc.) regardless of how much water you actually use. The Fleck 5600SXT measures water usage with a flow meter and only triggers a regeneration when the soft water capacity is depleted. A typical large household saves $80 to $150 per year in salt and 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of water per year by going metered instead of timer-based at this capacity. The savings are larger than at smaller capacities because each missed-need regeneration uses 12 pounds of salt and 50 to 80 gallons of water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs soft water safe to drink?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. The amount of sodium added per gallon is roughly equivalent to the sodium in two slices of white bread per gallon of water consumed, far below FDA \"low sodium\" thresholds. Households on strict low-sodium medical diets can use potassium chloride pellets instead of sodium chloride. Many homes also install a small reverse osmosis drinking water system at the kitchen sink for lowest possible mineral and sodium content in drinking water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long until it ships?\u003c\/strong\u003e Free freight to all 48 contiguous states, typically ships within 1 to 3 business days from the warehouse, transit time 3 to 7 business days depending on destination. The system ships pre-loaded with resin, on a wooden pallet, with the bypass valve already installed on the control head and the resin already in the mineral tank. No assembly of the mineral tank is required at install.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need a plumber to install this?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Most homeowners with basic plumbing experience install in 2 to 4 hours using SharkBite fittings, copper sweat, PEX, or PVC. Required tools are common: pipe cutter, wrench, Teflon tape. If hiring a plumber, the install is typically a 1 to 2 hour job at the standard hourly plumbing rate. Detailed install videos are available on the Mid Atlantic Water YouTube channel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use this on city water?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. The 10% crosslink Purolite C-100E resin is specifically chosen for city water because it tolerates chlorine and chloramine far better than standard 8%. City water typically has 5 to 15 grains per gallon of hardness, so an 80,000 grain unit on city water will regenerate very rarely. This size is more typically chosen by city-water households with 6+ occupants and 5+ bathrooms who want long service intervals, or by city-water households where every shower runs simultaneously at peak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat happens during a power outage?\u003c\/strong\u003e The Fleck 5600SXT control valve has an internal capacitor that preserves all settings (time of day, regeneration schedule, capacity remaining) for up to 48 hours during a power outage. After 48 hours the time of day must be reset; all other settings persist indefinitely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"midatlanticwater.net","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54070881386780,"sku":"MT56\/16MB-80B--SXTV | F250","price":2495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/9523\/4605\/files\/fleck-5600sxt-softener_80ebd114-883c-4d29-abdb-8b9c9659670b.jpg?v=1777338522","url":"https:\/\/midatlanticwater.net\/products\/water-softener-fleck-5600sxt-80000-grain-18-33-salt-tank-with-10-crosslink-resin","provider":"Mid Atlantic Water","version":"1.0","type":"link"}