Slow water from Frigidaire FRS23H5AS

[madkiwi]

Hi all,

We have a Frigidaire side-by-side (frs23h5as) that has some issues with slow water dispensing. Like 26 seconds to fill a 14 oz glass.

I replaced the filter, no change. I disconnected the water supply and checked the supply and it was very "robust" (but some rusty sand was expelled, see attached picture).

We are on well water, and the raw water is very high in iron (like 6-10 ppm depending on the season). The house has a Rustmaster iron filter, and when tested our faucet water is less than 0.05 ppm when dialed in. For a while the Rustmaster's air-injection venturi was not working properly and this affected the performance of the iron filter (now fixed). Also the previous owners did not bother with a particulate filter (we had a 2501 polishing filter added after the iron filter).

I am thinking the primary (brown) valve is partially blocked with debris and was wondering if it is possible to clean out. Another option might be to disconnect the hose at the water filter base and check if we have strong flow there, perhaps having unrestricted flow will blow out anything in the primary valve.

Any other ideas? Is it likely that debris would have gotten through the water filter and now be blocking one of the secondary valves?

Thanks for any help.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zkQJbTViwxPoxHqPA

[LearningTech]

Not likely that it got through the filter. The primary valve should have a inlet screen that may be able to be cleaned out. May not. Look there if it looks lie it just slides out clean it and return. If not  id blow through the lines to make sure they are all clear and then replace the valve. 

Some of these had issues with the water filter houseing ( usually leak), but. Some had restriction issues.

 Something about they made a small change in the filters that made them incompatible. You had to update the filter houseing. 

[darren412]

I don't think your water dispensing time is really all that bad to be concerned about.  26 seconds to fill a glass of water is not all that bad.  I suggest you leave it be and live with 26 seconds to fill a  14 ounce glass.     As far as cleaning out your inlet water valve. Consider just changing it out for a new valve if you feel it has a clogged screen.  Don't tamper with its screens as you may get debris into the water valves diaphragm  and then come home to find a pool of water on your nice wood kitchen floor if you have one.  Change the valve out completely if you find it all bunged up with iron deposits.  

[madkiwi]

Took the valve assembly out today. There are two filter screens, one on the inlet, one on the return from the carbon filter.

The primary screen was caked in brown rust flakes. On the filter return it was black slime.

I know that the black slime is iron oxide, a byproduct of iron loving bacteria. That's a direct result of having iron in our water, and no chlorination. I shock the well with chlorine twice a year, but it hides in nooks and crannies.

I left the filter screens and the valve bodies soaking overnight in Iron Out,  which dissolves iron deposits. I will put it all back tomorrow and try again, will find out if it fixed everything. Push comes to shove, I will replace the valves.

Thanks,

Mark

[16345Ed]

Safer to replace the valve, than risk failure and flooding as Darren pointed out. 

[LearningTech]

Results?

and yes it it safer to replace valve