Softeners: Electronic or Mechanical Timer?

Which type of timer should you use on a water softener? After 10 years working on water softeners, I have seen the least problems with mechanical timers. You still need to weigh the pros and cons of each. Electronic timers seem to be much more efficient than mechanical timers since so many bells and whistles are in the software to eek as much soft water out of each pound of salt.

If there is a good amount of iron in your water (over 1 part per million), you may want to go with a standard non-metering timer to be sure the softener back washes at least twice a week to prevent iron fouling of the resin bed. An electronic timer may be a waste in that situation since a good technician would likely override the metering to make sure the softener regenerated every 3 days.

So what is the softener valve and timer I have had the least problems with? The Fleck 5600 standard or metering valve. Many manufacturers use these valves and put their own name on them. Here is a picture of one:

Not the most efficient, but the most reliable. Add metering for water without a lot of iron, and the efficiency can rival many electronic systems.