Are you interested in buying an Autotrol water softener?
Then you should read this article!
I’ll give you the best Autotrol water softener review, with a description of 5 models and their technical specifications, installation, functions and other features. You can compare them and decide which one is best for you. Read about the Autotrol softener parts, manual and general advantages of the brand.
Advantages Of Autotrol Softener Models
Where To Buy Them?
The best Autotrol water softener models can be found at online retailers such as Amazon or Walmart. I’ll recommend Amazon because of its wide offer, cheap prices and easy comparison of different models. You can also buy the models at the brand’s official websites, local or specialized stores.
Price Range?
The price depends on the material used, the type of microprocessor, a system of water softening, grain capacity, etc. The general price range for water softeners is from $400 up to $4000. Therefore, these brands offer models with great features and lower prices in range from $500 up to $800.
High Grain Capacity
Their models have high grain capacity, which means that they can circulate large amounts of water and soft it before the regeneration cycles are needed. This is user-friendly because it ensures the longevity of the device.
Automatic Regeneration Cycles
The regeneration cycles are started because of the low efficiency of the mineral tank that can’t soften the water enough. Their models can automatically measure the flow of water with the microprocessor controller and meter. So you don’t have to start regeneration manually.
Salt-Based System
Unlike some other models on the market, Autotrol water softeners are salt-based systems which are the most efficient system. They have a mineral tank with plastic beads that eliminate the hard ions from water by exchanging them with salt ions on plastic beans. Beans are negatively re-charged withing the regeneration cycle when the salt ions are drawn from high concentrated salt solution in the brain tank.
The Best 4 Autotrol Water Softener Reviews
The Best Osmonics Salt-Based System:
The Best Autotrol Series 255 Valve 460i Model
Osmonics Salt-Based System
This is a salt-based osmonics Autotrol 460i controller that is connected with Autotrol 255 valve. The Autotrol 255 water softener is a salt-based system that contains the other two parts besides the control valve: mineral tank and brine tank. The mineral tank has 48 000 grain of capacity.
Mineral And Brine Tank Functions
In the mineral tank of this Pentair Autrol 255 valve, the water is softened with the plastic beans that are charged negatively with the salt. When the water is flushed through the mineral tank, the magnesium and calcium are replaced by salt and taken away from the water which softens it.
8 Regeneration Cycles And Settings
The brine tank of this Autrol 460i water softener is filled with a highly concentrated solution of salt that regenerates the mineral tank in 8 regeneration cycles. On the Autotrol 460i setup control panel you have buttons for going up, down, set and start regeneration cycle. You can change settings of hardness, capacity and time.
Microprocessor-Based Metered Controller
Besides that, Autotrol 460i controlled is metered and based on the microprocessor which automatically sets the time to regenerate the mineral tank according to the flow rate of conditioned water through the meter that tells the microprocessor how much water is used.
Special Electronic Cheap For Memory Retaining
That’s very user-friendly because it ensures high-quality performance and 100% soft water. The special feature of this controller is memory retention during a power outage when all of the data in the microprocessor’s memory is stored in a special electronic chip called NOVRAM.
- 460i microprocessor programmed metered controller
- 8 regeneration cycles
- capacity, hardness and time settings
- NOVRAM cheap for memory retaining
- salt-based water softening system
The Best Lead-Free Water Softener:
Autotrol 260 Logix 760 Water Softener
Logix Series Suitable With Both 260 And 255 Valve
The construction is a salt-based water softening system that includes a brain tank, mineral tank, and a control valve. This Logix water softener is a series that contains an Autotrol 760 controller suitable with Autotrol 260 and 255 valve. The capacity is 48 000 grains.
Electronic-Metered Controlled With Calendar Override
According to other Logix 760 water softener reviews, the 760 controller is an electronic metered-demand type that regenerates the mineral tank based on the water usage of the installation site. Also, the calendar override is a standard feature on this controller.
LCD Display And Control Panel Of Autotrol 760 Controller
The controller has an LCD that shows you all useful settings which you also have to set up during the installation. For these procedures, you can use the dow
Steps For Installation Of Water Softening System
In the user manual, you can find instructions for setting this Autotrol Logix water softener. First, you need to set two programs: system size and time of the day. Then you must set the day of the week and regen time. Afterward, adjust calendar override, amount of regenerant used in regeneration, estimate system capacity and adjust default hardness settings.
The Automatic Regeneration Cycles
Like other models, this also has 8 regeneration cycles for mineral tank plastic beans. The regeneration is started automatically when the microprocessor calculates the amount of water that’s softened in a period. That’s great for ensuring longevity and high-performance of the unit.
- 48 000 grains system capacity
- calendar override feature
- 760 controller suitable with 260 and 255 valve
The Best Microprocessor-Based Water Softener:
Autotrol 762 Controller 255 Valve Water Softener
Certified Construction
This Autotrol 255 water softener is designed for a large home and commercial applications. It has 1” tube for in and out of conditioned water. This 255 valve is a suitable Autotrol 762 controller. Construction is lead-free and certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI Std 44, Std 61 and NSF/ANSI 372.
System Capacity And Included Features
The water softening system is also salt-based and consisted of a brain tank, mineral tank, and a control valve. The mineral tank has a capacity of 48 000 grain. The whole construction is delivered complete with bypass, tube adapters, and brine tank.
Drain Line Connection And Regeneration
The placement of this Autrol 255 valve should be above 20 feet from the drain. For installation, you’ll need an adapter fitting to connect 0.5” wide plastic tubing to the drain line connection of the control valve. The regeneration of the mineral tank has 8 cycles.
9 Step Installation
There are altogether 9 steps of installation explained in the user manual. First, you need to select a valve type, but that’s already done by the manufacturer. Then you should adjust the program system size and adjust the time of the day. The fourth step is to set time of the week and calendar override which is a standard feature on the 762 controllers.
Other Settings
Than set regen time which is several days between time-clock regeneration. The seventh step is to set salt amount, eight-step is to estimate the system capacity which is displayed in the total kilograins of hardness removed before regeneration is necessary. The last step is to adjust default hardness settings.
- lead-free and certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI
- 48 000 grain system capacity
- 5” wide drain line connection
- 762 controller with calendar override
The Best High Capacity Water Softener:
Autotrol 762 Controller 268 Valve Water Softener
Microprocessor-Based 762 Controller
Like the previous model, this water softening system is salt-based and it consisted of a brain tank, mineral tank, and control valve. It also has a 762 controller with the microprocessor which controls the regeneration and automatically starts it in regards to the flow rate of conditioned water through the included meter.
Suitable With 268 Valve
The controller has a special calendar override feature that must be set during the installation process. This Autotrol 762 controller is suitable for Autotrol 268 valve. In the installation process that’s also described in the user manual, you can find the steps described in detail. In general, you must set the system size, time of the day and time of a week, together with the calendar.
Adjust The Settings With User Manual
Then you must set default time of regeneration (regen time) and several days between time-clock regeneration (regen frequency). Adjust the regeneration amount of salt, estimate the system capacity displayed in total kilograins of hardness removed before the need to regenerate and adjust defaulted hardness settings.
Regeneration Settings And Three Modes
Regeneration has manual and advanced settings and 8 cycles. The operation of this control valve can be adjusted between three modes: high capacity, standard efficiency and high efficiency (low salt consumption).
Certification, Capacity And Memory Chip
The construction is lead-free so it’s certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI Std 44, and NSF/Ansi 372, while the 268 valves are certified by WQA to NSF/ANSI Std 61. The product is included bypass. The system has 48000 grains capacity and non-volatile memory to preserve programmed settings for up to 99 years.
- high capacity, standard efficiency, and high-efficiency modes
- non-volatile memory for long preservation of programmed settings
- automatic regeneration system of 8 cycles
- 268 valve
- microprocessor-based metered 760 controller
What Else Is In Autotrol Offer?
These models mentioned on the list are only a smaller part of models offered by this brand. So, for example, you can also buy Autotrol series 155 water conditioner control system, Autotrol 460tc model, Autotrol osmonics water softener 440i model, Autotrol 263 model, Logix 740 water softener, Autotrol 960 model, ge Autotrol water softener and Pentair Autotrol water softener.
Autotrol Replacement Parts
The main Autotrol water softener parts are the Autotrol valve and controller, mineral and brain tank, and tubes. These Autotrol parts are made specifically for certain models. So Autotrol 762 controlled is suitable with Autotrol 268 or Autotrol 255 valve. Autotrol Performa valve is suitable for Autotrol 440i timer parts. You can also find Autotrol brand 255 valves 400 series controls or Autotrol series 255 valve 440i controls. Depending on the combination, you must read the user manual and pick the right parts. For more information, read my review on Autotrol replacement parts.
Autotrol Water Softener Manual
There are many Autotrol water softener manuals considering the included type of controller suitable and connected with a certain type of valve. For example, there are Autotrol 268 440i manual, Autotrol 760 Logix control time manual, osmonics Autotrol 440i manual, etc. There you can find a description of valve and controller, step-by-step installation process, maintaining and operating advice, etc. If you interested in reading one user manual right now, check out this online ge Autotrol 255 460i water softener manual.
Conclusion: Which Two Best Autotrol Water Softener You Should Buy?
In my opinion and according to other Autotrol water softener reviews, the two best Autotrol water softeners are Autotrol 255 valve 460i controller and Autotrol 268 valve 762 controllers because they have high-tech memory chips for preserving programmed settings. Also, they have high grain capacity.
I’ll recommend reading this review on the best-rated water softener on sale, to read about the wide offer of models, and there’s the buying guide which will help you to find the best model for you. If you’re interested in different water softeners, read this article on saltless water softener systems. In this post on the best portable water softener for rv, you can find useful info on portable and compact models.