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Fleck 5600SXT Water Softener Review
The Fleck 5600SXT water softener from Quality Water Treatment is a metered salt-based system on Pentair's 5600SXT valve, sold at 24,000 to 64,000 grains from $1,189 as of October 2026.
Disclosure: watersofteners.reviews is owned by the team behind SoftPro Water Systems and Quality Water Treatment, and we rank their products first. We compare published specifications, certifications, warranties and prices (as of October 2026). We did not lab-test these units. How we rank
On this page
- What is our verdict on the Fleck 5600SXT?
- What are the Fleck 5600SXT specifications?
- How does the Fleck 5600SXT softener work?
- Is the Fleck 5600SXT efficient enough?
- Which Fleck 5600SXT size do you need?
- How much does the Fleck 5600SXT cost, and what is the warranty?
- Fleck 5600SXT pros and cons
- How does the Fleck 5600SXT compare?
- Common questions
Key takeaways
- Quality Water Treatment (sold by Quality Water Treatment, our store) sells the Fleck 5600SXT system in five sizes, 24,000 to 64,000 grains, from $1,189 to $1,523.96 as of October 2026.
- The Pentair Fleck 5600SXT valve meters water with a paddle wheel, shows a backlit LCD, and keeps time for 48 hours in an outage.
- QWT states the system uses about 12 gallons of water per regeneration; the EPA WaterSense guide puts a typical softener at 20 to 70 gallons.
- QWT fills it with 10% crosslink resin, which it calls more chlorine resistant, and offers an SST-60 resin upgrade.
- Warranty: 5 years on the 5600SXT control valve and 10 years on the tanks, from the manufacturer, plus QWT's 6-month money-back guarantee.
- QWT itself says the 5600SXT uses more salt than high-efficiency upflow systems.
What is our verdict on the Fleck 5600SXT?
The Fleck 5600SXT is a sound, plain metered softener on a widely used brand-name valve, and it ranks second in our best water softeners list behind the SoftPro Elite. QWT ships the valve pre-programmed and packs the tank with 10% crosslink resin aimed at chlorinated city water.
It loses ground on salt efficiency and valve warranty length. Its 24,000-grain size is the smallest among our top picks, which suits one- and two-person homes.
5600SXT verdict
Worth buying if
You are on hard city water, want a familiar Fleck valve rather than a private-label control, and are comfortable with an afternoon DIY install.
Look elsewhere if
Salt efficiency is your top priority, your well has iron or sulfur, or you want valve coverage past 5 years.
What are the Fleck 5600SXT specifications?
QWT's listing gives sizes, valve features, resin, warranty and water use, but shows peak flow only inside an image, so flow is left out here.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sizes sold | 24k, 32k, 40k, 48k and 64k grains |
| Valve | Pentair Fleck 5600SXT, on-demand digital meter with paddle wheel |
| Display / backup | Backlit LCD; 48-hour capacitor time backup |
| Resin | 10% cross-linked ("more chlorine resistant"); SST-60 upgrade optional |
| Bypass | 3/4" plastic |
| Water per regeneration | about 12 gallons (QWT) |
| Iron / manganese limits | Not published |
| Certification | Not published |
| Warranty | Valve 5 years; tanks 10 years (manufacturer) |
| Price | from $1,189 |
How does the Fleck 5600SXT softener work?
The 5600SXT is a metered valve: its paddle wheel counts gallons, and once the programmed capacity is nearly used it schedules a regeneration. During that cycle the resin is backwashed, brine is drawn through it, the bed is rinsed and the brine tank refills. Nebraska Extension says 60 to 120 minutes generally pass before soft water is available again on a typical unit. Our softener basics guide explains each stage.
QWT ships the valve pre-programmed, so setup is mostly entering hardness and the time of day. The included list covers the valve, a mineral tank pre-loaded with resin (QWT's wording is "up to 48,000 grain capacity"), a brine tank with brine line, safety float and brine well, the bypass and install items. Check how the 64,000-grain size ships before planning the job.
QWT is candid about efficiency. It claims salt savings of up to 40% against outdated systems, then says the 5600SXT still burns more salt than high-efficiency upflow units, and its in-house review lists "Not the most efficient system out there" as a drawback. The optional SST-60 resin is pitched as saving up to 40% on salt and 60% on waste water; that is QWT's claim, not a published rating.
Fleck 5600SXT by the numbers
- 12 galWater per regeneration, as QWT states for the 5600SXTQuality Water Treatment (our store)
- 20–70 galTypical per-cycle water use the EPA gives for home softenersU.S. EPA WaterSense
- 48 hrTime the valve's capacitor keeps the clock running in a power outageQuality Water Treatment (our store)
- 3,350Grains per pound of salt, the NSF/ANSI 44 efficiency floorPNNL Building America Solution Center
Is the Fleck 5600SXT efficient enough?
On water, yes by QWT's figure; on salt, it is middling by QWT's own admission. About 12 gallons per cycle sits well under the EPA's typical 20 to 70 gallons, and metering already beats the timer units the EPA tells buyers to avoid.
What QWT does not publish is grains removed per pound of salt. The PNNL Building America Solution Center describes the NSF/ANSI 44 efficiency rating as at least 3,350 grains per pound and no more than 5 gallons per 1,000 grains. Without that number, compare the 5600SXT's salt use against makers that publish it, and set the salt dose lean when you program it.
Which Fleck 5600SXT size do you need?
Pick the size that lasts about a week between regenerations at a moderate salt setting. Penn State Extension plans on 75 gallons per person per day, so a family of four on 10 gpg removes about 3,000 grains a day, or 21,000 a week.
| Size | Price (Oct 2026) | Days at rated capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 24,000 grains | $1,189.00 | 8 |
| 32,000 grains | $1,265.73 | about 10.7 |
| 40,000 grains | $1,327.55 | about 13.3 |
| 48,000 grains | $1,373.15 | 16 |
| 64,000 grains | $1,523.96 | about 21.3 |
Rated capacity assumes the maximum salt dose; efficient settings deliver less, so leave headroom, and move up for harder water. For clear-water iron, NDSU Extension says some softeners remove up to 10 ppm, but QWT publishes no iron limit for this system. Our sizing guide has a worksheet, and for a well with iron, the Fleck 2510SXT in our well water picks is the closer match.
How much does the Fleck 5600SXT cost, and what is the warranty?
QWT prices the system from $1,189.00 (24,000 grains) to $1,523.96 (64,000 grains) as of October 2026, with free shipping tagged and orders processed within 1 day. A free 3/4-inch quick-connect hose kit (not for PVC) comes with a ticked upgrade box while supplies last; QWT says a handy owner can install it in about 2 hours. Budget for a plumber otherwise; our cost guide covers typical install pricing.
Manufacturer coverage is 5 years on the 5600SXT control valve and 10 years on the tanks. On top of that, QWT allows six months to return it for a refund and sells a separate $195 lifetime warranty extension, covered in our Quality Water Treatment review.
Fleck 5600SXT pros and cons
The 5600SXT's strengths are the valve, the size range and the resin; its gaps are salt efficiency and warranty.
5600SXT pros and cons
Pro: brand-name Fleck valve
Pentair's metered 5600SXT, shipped pre-programmed by an authorized dealer.
Pro: five sizes
From 24,000 grains for small homes up to 64,000.
Pro: low water per cycle
About 12 gallons per regeneration, by QWT's figure.
Con: not the most efficient on salt
QWT says it uses more salt than high-efficiency upflow systems.
Con: 5-year valve warranty
Shorter than the lifetime valve terms some rivals offer.
Con: flow rate only in an image
No text gpm figure on the listing.
How does the Fleck 5600SXT compare?
Against the city-water SoftPro Elite, the 5600SXT costs a little less at most sizes and offers a 24,000-grain option, while the Elite adds upflow brining, a 30% salt claim and lifetime limited valve coverage.
| Product | Size | Published flow | Notable spec | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleck 5600SXT (QWT) | 24k–64k grains | Image only | 12 gal per regeneration | from $1,189 |
| GE GXSH45W | 45,000 grains | 9.5 gpm | Rated 5,090 grains per pound of salt | $799 |
| Rheem Preferred RHS32 | 32,000 grains | 8 gpm | 105 gpg max hardness | $489, listed at Home Depot |
| US Water Systems Matrixx | 35,000–70,000 grains | 10, 15 or 20 gpm service | Bluetooth app, 10-year valve | from $1,295.95 |
GE publishes salt efficiency and rates the GXSH45W to 165 gpg hardness and 3 ppm clear-water iron; see Fleck vs GE. Rheem's RHS32 is the lowest-priced option here and carries a 10-year tank warranty. The Matrixx adds app monitoring and larger sizes.
How we put this page together
The 5600SXT facts here come solely from Quality Water Treatment's listing for the system, captured October 22, 2026; GE, Rheem and US Water Systems figures come from those makers' pages (Rheem's via its Home Depot listing). Water-use, efficiency and sizing context comes from the EPA WaterSense guide (May 2026), PNNL, and the Penn State, Nebraska and NDSU extension services, re-read in October 2026. Nothing was lab-tested, no review scores are cited, and the peak flow QWT shows only inside an image was left out.
Common questions
Is the Fleck 5600SXT good for city water?
Yes. QWT positions this package for city water and uses 10% crosslink resin, which it calls more chlorine resistant than standard resin. On chloraminated supplies, a carbon pre-filter adds protection.
Is the 48,000-grain Fleck 5600SXT still sold?
Yes. QWT lists it at $1,373.15 as of October 2026, alongside 24,000, 32,000, 40,000 and 64,000-grain sizes.
How much water does a 5600SXT regeneration use?
QWT states about 12 gallons per cycle, below the 20 to 70 gallons the EPA gives for a typical softener.
Does the Fleck 5600SXT remove iron?
QWT publishes no iron or manganese limit for this system. With iron on a well, put an iron filter ahead of it or choose a well package with fine mesh resin.
What happens to the 5600SXT in a power outage?
The capacitor keeps the clock running for 48 hours, so the valve keeps the correct time through a short outage.
Can you install the 5600SXT yourself?
QWT calls it a simple DIY job of about 2 hours with the included bypass and install items. Our installation guide covers drain and code points.
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Our pick
Fleck 5600SXT
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