Whole Home Water GuideFleck, a Pentair brand, is documented here through its most widely deployed residential control valve, the 5600SXT, using facts from the Fleck Systems product page. Unlike all-in-one consumer softeners, the 5600SXT is a valve that mounts on a resin and brine tank, so the cited evidence centers on how the valve decides to regenerate and how it is programmed rather than on a single appliance. Read the grain figures as the sizes offered on the cited page, since the same valve is sold on tanks of different capacities.
Metered, on-demand regeneration
The 5600SXT is a metered valve, which means it regenerates based on water actually used rather than a fixed clock. Fleck's page states the valve utilizes a compact turbine-electronic meter and offers an immediate meter regeneration option. Metering the water lets the valve delay regeneration until the resin is near exhaustion, which conserves salt and water compared with a pure time-clock softener.
The digital head reports the state of the system directly. Fleck states the display shows the time of day and gallons of soft water remaining, so an owner can see how much treated water is left before the next cycle. That visibility is part of why the 5600SXT is a common choice for build-your-own and dealer-assembled softeners.
Capacity builds and programming modes
Because the 5600SXT is a valve sold on different tanks, capacity is a matter of the build. Fleck's page lists four sizes: 26,000, 35,000, 53,000, and 70,000 grains maximum capacity. A buyer sizes the tank to household hardness and demand, then mounts the same valve on top.
Programming is flexible. Fleck states the valve offers four operating modes: (1) immediate meter regeneration, (2) delayed meter regeneration, (3) delayed time clock regeneration, or (4) day of week regeneration. Delayed meter regeneration is the common residential setting, holding a needed regeneration until a preset early-morning time so hard water is not delivered during daytime use.
Power-outage memory and warranty
The 5600SXT is built to survive power interruptions without reprogramming. Fleck states a built-in capacitor keeps memory up to 48 hours and programming will not be lost if power is lost. That capacitor holds the settings and time so a short outage does not force the owner to re-enter hardness and regeneration parameters.
On coverage, Fleck states a 5-year valve warranty and 10-year tank warranty. That split is typical for component softeners, where the electronic valve carries a shorter term than the fiberglass-lined resin and brine tanks. A buyer assembling a system from separate parts should confirm the warranty applies to the specific tank and valve combination purchased.
Unresolved unknowns
The 5600SXT is a control valve, so the cited page centers on valve behavior rather than a fixed service flow rate or resin type, which depend on the tank and media the valve is paired with. A buyer should confirm the resin volume, media type, and rated service flow of the assembled system, not just the valve.
The cited page does not state an NSF/ANSI 44 whole-system certification for a specific assembled build, and grain capacity is a maximum tied to salt dosage rather than a guaranteed per-cycle figure. Confirm the exact tank size, salt setting, and any certification listing for the finished softener before purchase.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Fleck 5600SXT?
It is a metered water softener control valve from Fleck, a Pentair brand, that mounts on a resin and brine tank and regenerates based on measured water use.
What grain sizes does it come in?
The cited page lists 26,000, 35,000, 53,000, and 70,000 grain maximum-capacity builds.
Will it lose its settings in a power outage?
Fleck states a built-in capacitor keeps memory up to 48 hours so programming is not lost if power is lost.
What regeneration modes does it support?
Four: immediate meter, delayed meter, delayed time clock, and day of week regeneration.
What is the warranty?
Fleck states a 5-year valve warranty and a 10-year tank warranty.