Is this a Proper Config for Kinetico 4040S OD/RO system?

[deeonline]

Hello,
We have a 2 story house in Los Angeles. I've just got a quote from a Kinetico dealer for the following Water Softener/RO configuration (see below). Could you please tell me if this looks OK? Did the dealer miss anything (like a prefilter or something)? Are there are any additional questions I should ask them? I am very new to these systems. Thank you very much in advance.

Kinetico 4040SOD Carbon/Softener with 18x35 Brine Tank
Sediment PreFilter with 20" BB Housing
Carbon/Sediment Filter 10 micron

40 lb. Solar Salt
Kinetico K5 Reverse Osmosis system with Water-on-Water Storage Tank
with Optional VOC Guard Filter
with Hi-Flow Shiny Chrome Faucet

[Andy CWS]

Everything looks good. You might waqnt a smaller brine tank (12x16x20) if space is an issue. It holds about 50lbs. I am not sure why there is a carbon/sediment filter before the softener when a plain sediment filter is all that is necessary.

The VOC filter is a fine option as it removes far more than a typical carbon filter. I don't recommend solar salt as it may not be as clean as 'evaporated' type salts. Definitely don't need any iron-out salt.

Andy Christensen

[deeonline]

Thank you very much, Andy. I will make sure to ask those questions.

[motwinsplus1g]

I'm curious if you'd want to share the quote he gave you? I just received a quote for the same system and wondering if it's fair. Thanks

[pawaterguy]

If space isn't an issue I never like using the 4040 units. From a service perspective they stink compared to a dechlor1060 and K2040 system. Also, any Kinetico softener will serve you better with the use of salt pellets over solar salt. Solar salt carries some impurities that will eventually cost you a service call where the pellets are cleaner and will avoid the issue. And, as Andy said...I wonder about the carbon filter as well.

[motwinsplus1g]

I am looking into the same systems, the K5 and 4040S units. I'm trying to decide if we need the K5, or if we can get by w/just the 4040. My main concern is whether or not the K5 takes out things we actually need, like calcium, etc. Besides things like arsenic and other chemicals, what does the K5 remove that the 4040 doesn't? Sorry, I don't have the literature in front of me at the moment to be more specific. I'm looking for solid information regarding the benefits of an RO vs not having one. Thanks

[pawaterguy]

A reverse osmosis unit will remove dissolved solids from the water. Things like Nitrates, sodium, lead, etc. The softener removes calcium, iron and manganese. The idea of not wanting to take the calcium out of the water "because it's good for you" is a bit of a misunderstanding of the calcium in hard water. Hard water calcium comes from limestone and is insoluble. Your body does little to nothing with it. It goes in and it goes out. Things like calcium and other minerals should be coming from your food intake and not your water. Water is used by the body to hydrate your cells and allow them to work properly. BUT, if you want a few minerals in your water that are actually going to be used in your body then add the Mineral Plus cartridge on to your K5 unit when you get it. It's the only one out there that I know of with the option for extra filters to customize your end product.

[motwinsplus1g]

Thank you. I was curious if anyone knows how much the replacement filters cost? I have been searching everywhere for this answer and can't find it. I even asked the Kinetico sales rep this question and he never answered me, which I thought was odd, although, we were talking about a lot of things. Again, this would be for the K5 and 4040s, which is what we're looking at. Do we order from "him" or where? And how often do they have to be changed? We have a family of 5 and do use quite a bit of water. I don't know how to start a new post, so hope it's okay that I'm asking here. Thanks again!

[Andy CWS]

K5 filters are metered to be changed every 500 gallons; how long would it take to drink 500 gallons? The 4040 should have a prefilter and that may changed about once a year or when pressure drops.
Costs depends on local dealer. Try to negotiate a spare set of filters at time of purchase. K5 has a wide variety of filters (color-coded) so cost will vary.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II

[motwinsplus1g]

Thanks, Andy. I just asked the question about the cost of filters on another thread as well, so if you see it, that was me ;-) The other questions I asked on the other thread pertained to whether or not we even need the RO or if the 4040s will suffice. In your experience, what have others done who are on city wells? We are on a city well that gets monitored, but the tests are drawn from one well. The Kinetico guy told us that we have a hardness of 8. I'm a bit concerned about taking all chlorine out and having bacteria grow.

Our water report shows arsenic as between 0-4.0. Nitrates range between 0 - 2.5 But again, without testing myself, nothing is certain. The Kinetico guy in our region said that he would pay have the tax if we ordered in April. So, I don't have a lot of time if I want to take advantage of that.

Thanks again!

[pawaterguy]

Don't sweat the bacteria issue. Once the chlorine is used in the water it has done it's job and is from there on a nuisance. The bacteria issue is long dealt with by the time the water gets to your home. The chlorine will at the very LEAST cut your softeners life in half (or, the resins life to be more specific but there are seals and other things to be considered as well). This depends on how hard they are dosing the water based on their bacteria/coliform counts but it's generally pretty safe to say half. I've rebedded softeners on city water as early as 4 to 6 years already due to the chlorine chewing up the resin beads. Invest in the dechlor and sleep soundly.

[motwinsplus1g]

Thanks again. You are both a huge help on these boards. One more question (okay, maybe not the last, but for now...) Is $4,740 too high of quote for the 4040s and K5? The 4040s is 3595 alone, which seems a little high to me. I know Kinetico is more expensive than most, but I want to at least know that it's fair compared to others.

Thank you so much again.

[pawaterguy]

I try to avoid stepping on toes and interfering with someones living so I won't be much help on the pricing. Kinetico's equipment comes with a price tag but is worth every penny over the competition is all I'll say.

[motwinsplus1g]

I understand. Thanks anyway.

[riceburner99]

Kinetico 4040 vs 2040

If space isn't an issue I never like using the 4040 units. From a service perspective they stink compared to a dechlor1060 and K2040 system. Also, any Kinetico softener will serve you better with the use of salt pellets over solar salt. Solar salt carries some impurities that will eventually cost you a service call where the pellets are cleaner and will avoid the issue. And, as Andy said...I wonder about the carbon filter as well.

I have been having problems with my Kinetico 4040 system installed 4 1/2 years ago. Getting periodic salty taste in water. I am assuming that something is going wrong during the backwash cycle and not completely flushing out the brine. The local distributor recently replaced the filters, made sure the drain pipe was clear, etc. When the unit was first installed, I remember that during the backwash, water was coming out of the drain pipe at a pretty decent pressure / rate. Now is it coming out much more slowly (even when I remove the drain pipe connection and just observe the water coming directly out of the head unit fitting).

The manager at the local distributor says he now wants to start taking the unit apart to troubleshoot. He also suggested that he might just end up swapping the 4040 out with a 2040? I am trying to understand the impact of that from af functional point of view (less capacity?). I saw your comment about preferring the 2040 over the 4040 and I am just trying to understand why, and what the cons may be of the 2040 vs the 4040.

I would appreciate any info you can provide!

Thanks,
Dave
Orlando, FL