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Fleck 5600sxt Reviews [UPDATED 2021]

By G. Simms, Plumber, Contractor 

By G. Simms

Plumber, Contractor

Time: 1-minute read

The Fleck 5600 SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener is an industry and user favorite because of its unique and efficient shape. This unit comes in few colors. It can easily be installed in any kitchen or house. It also has a 10-year warranty, bigger than most manufacturers can offer. Read further in this review to find out more about the model's design and specifications.

With high efficiency and a range of useful features, this is the perfect water softener if you have a small to medium-sized household with up to 6 people.

If you have used water softeners before, you will be impressed by the flow rating, performance, and ease of installation of this device.

If this is your first water softener, you can rest assured that you will not need to buy another water softener for the next 20-25 years.

Let’s take a quick look at the features and specifications of this unit. 

Fleck 5600SXT 48000 Grains

PROS

  • Useful for softening different grades of hard water
  • Extensive warranty of 10-years on the tanks, 5-years on the control head
  • Reduces salt and water wastage with intelligent regeneration
  • Low price
  • Intelligent Regeneration, Digital Display
  • Safety Float to prevent overfilling

CONS

  • Not the most ideal for large families
  • Heavy system
  • Might require assistance for installation

How we conducted the test:

We got a team of evaluators and tested this product to see its peak and weak performances according to specific purposes. We also logged in the number of hours that we spent in testing the model.

3 TESTERS

1 PRODUCT TESTED

74 HOURS


Is the Fleck 5600 SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener Worth Your Money?

Spending money on a quality device like the Fleck 5600 SXT will give you great returns in the long run. You will, for instance, increase the lifecycle of your appliances that use water when you use a proper soft water.

There are also several health benefits of using soft water. If you have faced skin and hair problems because of hard water, you can say goodbye to these problems once you start using the Fleck 5600 SXT.

From your washing machine to your dishwasher, every appliance will work more efficiently and clean better with soft water. Your clothes and dishes will look better when you wash them with soft water.

The plumbing of your house will work more efficiently when you start using soft water for your daily household chores. In effect, the water softener will pay for itself in a few years of use because you will be saving all the costs associated with the problems caused by hard water.

And because this unit already comes at such a low price, has no maintenance needs, and will last for the next two or three decades, it will continue providing those benefits reliably.


Detailed Review & Breakdown

The Fleck 5600 SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener is one of the best-selling water softeners for general use. This water softener is ideal for small to medium-sized families. The flow rate of 12 gallons per minute allows you to use multiple water sources without facing low pressure in any of them.

Whether you have well water or city water in your house, this water softener performs excellently. The unique 8% crosslink resin in this water softener works flawlessly to filter out the hardness-causing minerals from the water.

Another feature of the Fleck 5600 SXT that deserves mention is the control head. The control head essentially works as the brain of the water softener as it remembers the cycle and program settings in case of a power outage. The power capacitor also triggers regeneration when the water is not in use, and it keeps track of how much water you have used.

And last, but not the least, the control head has a 5-year warranty on it. The salt and resin tanks come with a 10-year warranty.

PRODUCT DETAILS

  • Grain Size: 48000
  • Flow Rate: 12 GPM
  • Dimension: 27 x 17 x 62 inches
  • Weight: 20.8 pounds
  • Water Consumption: 45 gallons during regeneration
  • Warranty: Manufacturer warranty on control head is 5 years, 10 years on tank

FEATURES

Here are some more features of this unit at a glance.

Intelligent Regeneration - The regeneration cycle is based on the meter that calculates how much water is being used in the house. If there is an increase in water needs, the system modifies its settings to match that pace.

Digital Display - The digital display makes it easy to check the system status of the water softener with ease. You can check the amount of water used, the time left for regeneration, and any error codes that you might need for troubleshooting.

Safety Float - The water softener is designed to ensure there is minimal wastage of salt or water. With the safety float in place, there is no risk of overflowing or water spillage.

Easy Installation - The water softener is also easy to install. If you have any experience in installing plumbing, you can follow the video instructions provided on the USB drive included with the product to install it yourself. If you find it difficult, you can always call a plumber who can install the water softener for you.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Weight : 20.8 pounds
  • Dimensions: 10 inches by 54 inches
  • Size: 48,000 Grains
  • Color: Black
  • Voltage: 120 volts
  • Flow Rate: 12 GPM
  • Water Consumption: 45 gallons during regeneration
  • Warranty: Manufacturer warranty on control head is 5 years, 10 years on tank

EASE OF USE & RELIABILITY

The Fleck 5600SXT is a highly efficient water softener that is also easy to use. Once you have installed the water softener, simply feed in the estimated water hardness and the date. The control valve of the water softener takes care of the rest.

In case there is a power failure, the control valve will remember the settings for up to 72 hours. Once the power supply resumes, the water softener will continue with its regular regeneration cycles.

In the rare case that the unit is without power for more than 72 hours, you only need to input the date once the power supply resumes and the system will program itself accordingly. The system is highly reliable, and there are several features in place to make sure the unit works efficiently with minimal input from the users.

The water softener is designed by Fleck to be maintenance free. The system only needs salt refills every couple of months. The water softener’s control valve is smart enough to read when you are using more or less water. The regeneration rate adjusts according to the usage of water in the house.

In case you are going away from home for a few days, you don’t need to switch off the water softener. The control valve will not regenerate water if no one’s using it.

Ease of Installation

The ease of installation depends on your experience in installing any kind of plumbing.

However, it is a straightforward process with detailed instructions provided in the manual and the manufacturer’s website.

In case you get stuck with the installation, you can watch the installation instruction videos on the included USB drive. The videos are highly instructive so that even a person who has no plumbing experience should be able install the water softener provided they have the proper tools and fittings.

Before you think about buying a Fleck 5600 SXT, make sure there is ample room in the place where you want to install this water softener. The unit is heavy and large. You might need help from another person to set it up and install it.

Once installed, the system takes up to a 3-foot by 18-inch space. You’ll also need room for the brine tank, though you can set that somewhere else.

Once the installation is complete, there is very little maintenance required and the water softener can work efficiently for decades. You simply need to refill the salt so that the softener keeps working properly.

Cost

At the time of writing of this review, the Fleck 5600 SXT is available at a relatively low price. Please keep in mind that the price of appliances can change depending on the seller. If you decide to get a plumber to install this water softener for you, you will need to add in the plumber’s fee too.

Who is the Fleck 5600 SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener For?

If you have a small or a medium sized family with 5-6 members, this is the perfect water softener for you. The advanced water softening technology in the unit can treat any level of hard water with ease.

The control head ensures there is no wastage of salt or water. The intelligent regeneration system in the Fleck 5600 SXT regenerates the resin beads only when they are filled to their capacity. If you are looking for a high-performance, automated, and maintenance-free water softener, the Fleck 5600 SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener is the device you need.

It’s also an excellent choice for office buildings and small retail stores.

Note, however, that this model doesn’t help with sulfur, iron, chlorine or any other pollutants that might be present in your well or city water. This is for those with hard water issues only. Consider adding a specialty filter for other contaminants.

Our Opinion

If you are facing hard water related issues in your house, then getting this water softener is the best decision you can make. With the advanced technology used in the Fleck 5600 SXT, the unit can handle the water softening and water supply needs of your whole family.

Easy installation, coupled with almost no maintenance makes this water softener a must-have for any user with average water needs. The extensive warranty on the tanks and control valve ensures that in the rare case you do face any issues with this appliance, you can get it repaired or replaced at no cost to you.


Other Options Worth Looking At

If you feel that the Fleck 5600 SXT 48,000 Grain model won’t quite be able to meet your softening or water supply needs, you might want to read about the Fleck 9100 SXT Twin Tank 80,000 Grain Water Softener.

And if you do have iron or sulfur in your water, check out the Fleck 5600 SXT 48,000 Grain Iron & Sulfur Eradicator 2000. It softens water just as well as the base model, but has an added filter to take care of those extra problems. Also, read about Fleck 5600sxt 64000 or 7000sxt 48000.

For uses like home water softener, go to this page. For city water use, click on the link. If you want to see who wins between Fleck vs GE, check this article


About the Author

George Simms is a Salt Lake City based plumber and contractor, with a focus on aiding homes and businesses (particularly farm) solve problems with hard and contaminated water. Walter is here to share his wealth of job experience and a knowledge of both modern and antique plumbing.


Last Updated on December 9, 2021