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Whole House Water Softener
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- Newbie
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- Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 7:09 am
Whole House Water Softener
At one point there was a water softener in my basement, but for an unknown reason it was taken out. I am on a well and septic; water is fairly hard, measured at 250 ppm (15(gpg).
I would like to add a water softener again, but the choices and info at local stores such as Lowes, Menards, Sears, etc leaves something to be desired.
The house has a kitchen and three bathrooms, but at present only me living in it. Gas water heater. No dishwashers or whirlpools, though I do shower daily, sometimes more in summer.
Any comments from knowledgeable people about brands known for quality, features or other issues to look for are greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Bella
I would like to add a water softener again, but the choices and info at local stores such as Lowes, Menards, Sears, etc leaves something to be desired.
The house has a kitchen and three bathrooms, but at present only me living in it. Gas water heater. No dishwashers or whirlpools, though I do shower daily, sometimes more in summer.
Any comments from knowledgeable people about brands known for quality, features or other issues to look for are greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Bella
- dhobbs
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1621
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:33 pm
Whole House Water Softener
Do you still need a straight feed to a least one tap for drinking water?
All the data I've read states the amount of salt is far less than you get in food and bottled drinks anyway.
All the data I've read states the amount of salt is far less than you get in food and bottled drinks anyway.
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- PerryGunn
- Lifer
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Whole House Water Softener
We didn't bother with an untreated tap - the amount of salt in the water is minuscule and can't be tasted
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- pvr
- Legend
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Whole House Water Softener
We went for a three way tap, of which one lever is untreated and the other two (hot / cold) are treated. Use the untreated for watering plants and the water for the dog.
Just to give you an idea of running cost - family of 4 just cost me £195 for a year's worth of salt supplies.
Just to give you an idea of running cost - family of 4 just cost me £195 for a year's worth of salt supplies.
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- Senior Member
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Whole House Water Softener
Our 3 way tap has a filter on the drinking one, sort of like the inline Britta ones.
We've realised recently the same filter is still in place from new (many years ago) so the auto shut off when spent 'might' not be working properly, or we don't drink much water
its on my list to change.
We've got a kinetico one & if it broke tmrw I'd replace it instantly. I'd heard Harvey's came up,with the design etc & it was then backwards engineered by kinetico to make their one with enough changes to prevent lawsuits.
We've realised recently the same filter is still in place from new (many years ago) so the auto shut off when spent 'might' not be working properly, or we don't drink much water
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/laughing.gif)
We've got a kinetico one & if it broke tmrw I'd replace it instantly. I'd heard Harvey's came up,with the design etc & it was then backwards engineered by kinetico to make their one with enough changes to prevent lawsuits.
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- markeg
- Lifer
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Whole House Water Softener
We don't either - the point of the salt is to flush the calcium deposits out of the resin, and a minute amount is in the water afterwards. We also test it regularly and the amount of salt doesn't register.
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- dhobbs
- Senior Member
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Whole House Water Softener
That's exactly what i had read. I assume this is the same as your dishwasher and the salt that goes in it.
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![Driving :driving:](./images/smilies/smilie_driving.gif)
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![Thumbs Up :thumbsup:](./images/smilies/smilie_thumbsup.gif)
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
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- Location: North West Surrey
Whole House Water Softener
Yes, but if you have a softener you don't need to put salt in the dishwasher!
I had Harvey softeners for over 10 years and they do what they claim to do! But I'm still unimpressed with the smarmy photos of the local agent in my local paper every week.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/laughing.gif)
They do seem to work well despite that!
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- PerryGunn
- Lifer
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Whole House Water Softener
True, but the 'add salt' indicator light on ours annoys me so I still put salt in the dishwasher - I have it at the lowest possible water hardness setting so the dishwasher salt lasts for very long time between refills....
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* Intravee & KCA-420i * Mini 0806 * Cheetah C550 * Stubby *
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* Intravee & KCA-420i * Mini 0806 * Cheetah C550 * Stubby *
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- Senior Member
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Whole House Water Softener
Yup, I put it in too, just to avoid the light
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2016 F82 M4 Comp Pack, Mineral White
2016 F56 JCW - GONE
2007 ZMR, Titanium Silver for sunny days
2012 N18 JCW - GONE
2007 3.0si Z4C, Stratus Grey, Amarone Leather - GONE
2013 520d F10 - GONE
2007 3.0si Z4C, Stratus Grey, Amarone Leather - GONE
2016 F56 JCW - GONE
2007 ZMR, Titanium Silver for sunny days
2012 N18 JCW - GONE
2007 3.0si Z4C, Stratus Grey, Amarone Leather - GONE
2013 520d F10 - GONE
2007 3.0si Z4C, Stratus Grey, Amarone Leather - GONE
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
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Whole House Water Softener
Our dishwashers must have been pretty low spec. - they never had a "low salt" light.mj2k wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2017 6:49 pmTrue, but the 'add salt' indicator light on ours annoys me so I still put salt in the dishwasher - I have it at the lowest possible water hardness setting so the dishwasher salt lasts for very long time between refills....
Yup, I put it in too, just to avoid the light
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/sad.gif)
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
- Carol M
- Lifer
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- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:33 am
Whole House Water Softener
I've been told they rot the heat exchanger (or whatever it is) in the boiler due to the salt and only one manufacturer (Vaillant I think) are safe to use softened water with. This is why we never got one. Is this the case in your experience?
- markeg
- Lifer
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- Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:05 pm
- Location: Lincolnshire Wolds
Whole House Water Softener
Nope. The salt doesn't go through the boiler, it's flushed through the resin into a drainage pipe. No salt comes through the system into the boiler or pipes. This is our one; non-electric and twin tank - twin tank means the resin is flushed separately so you don't lose the soft water supply.
previous: Alpina Roadster S, #108: gone
current: MB C-class
"veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I stuck around..."
current: MB C-class
"veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I stuck around..."
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
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- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
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Whole House Water Softener
We had a "Harvey/Kinetico" one some time ago and never had a problem, even though our first was in a house with a Baxi back-boiler which worked fine for 4 years or so?
Just a thought, but did your advice come from a Vaillant salesman?
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
- Carol M
- Lifer
- Posts: 11089
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:33 am
Whole House Water Softener
No, from the Ideal engineer when he came to service the boiler. I'd love to have one fitted, limescale is the bane of my life.