Water softeners
Posted by: Mick P on 11 February 2006
Chaps
I live in a hard water area and for instance, have to replace my hot water cylinder every 8 years because it gets bunged up with scale.
Does anyone use water softeners, any problems or disadvantages etc etc.
Regards
Mick
I live in a hard water area and for instance, have to replace my hot water cylinder every 8 years because it gets bunged up with scale.
Does anyone use water softeners, any problems or disadvantages etc etc.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 11 February 2006 by HTK
Yes.
If the hot water cylinder gets in a bad state, just imagine what the inside of your pipes look like. The install cost isn't back breaking and the running costs are £50 over 6-7 months. Other than finding somewhere to position it there are few down sides.
Initially you may perceive a slight taste to the water that some describe as salty. Sodium levels don't shoot up although the mineral balance does change - you might want to do some research on this. Bottom line – there is no health hazard. After five days you will no longer notice it – if you did in the first place.
You will have to adjust to using so little soap and detergents that at first you may wonder if you’re using enough. When bathing or showering you may find it difficult to get all the soap off but again, you get used to using less and placing more emphasis on rinsing than scrubbing.
Kettles and appliances will have a longer life span. Your house will heat more efficiently and sinks and baths will require less cleaning. Limescale in the pipes will over time dissolve back in, giving you a more efficient system. While you’re at it you may want to consider the additional small cost of having a water filter fitted. You wouldn’t think that water without impurities could taste so good because it doesn't actually taste of anything. The filters last about six months and cost in the region of £35 including fitting.
After lengthy research (we had a water softener when we lived in Kent so we knew a bit about the subject) we found a company in Somerton who provide good installations at reasonable cost. On Tap Water Treatment 01458274789. Website www.on-tap.co.uk – not always up – could be it’s being rebuilt at the moment. The best news of all is that we can’t fault their after sales service. Had them in for a leak only yesterday on our 10 year old equipment. Fixed in 15 min at no charge. Highly recommended.
Cheers
Harry
If the hot water cylinder gets in a bad state, just imagine what the inside of your pipes look like. The install cost isn't back breaking and the running costs are £50 over 6-7 months. Other than finding somewhere to position it there are few down sides.
Initially you may perceive a slight taste to the water that some describe as salty. Sodium levels don't shoot up although the mineral balance does change - you might want to do some research on this. Bottom line – there is no health hazard. After five days you will no longer notice it – if you did in the first place.
You will have to adjust to using so little soap and detergents that at first you may wonder if you’re using enough. When bathing or showering you may find it difficult to get all the soap off but again, you get used to using less and placing more emphasis on rinsing than scrubbing.
Kettles and appliances will have a longer life span. Your house will heat more efficiently and sinks and baths will require less cleaning. Limescale in the pipes will over time dissolve back in, giving you a more efficient system. While you’re at it you may want to consider the additional small cost of having a water filter fitted. You wouldn’t think that water without impurities could taste so good because it doesn't actually taste of anything. The filters last about six months and cost in the region of £35 including fitting.
After lengthy research (we had a water softener when we lived in Kent so we knew a bit about the subject) we found a company in Somerton who provide good installations at reasonable cost. On Tap Water Treatment 01458274789. Website www.on-tap.co.uk – not always up – could be it’s being rebuilt at the moment. The best news of all is that we can’t fault their after sales service. Had them in for a leak only yesterday on our 10 year old equipment. Fixed in 15 min at no charge. Highly recommended.
Cheers
Harry
Posted on: 11 February 2006 by Mick P
Harry
Thanks for the reply.
My central heating system is protected by Fernox so that should be ok.
I will probably install a softener but had no idea on running costs and reliability.
Regards
Mick
Thanks for the reply.
My central heating system is protected by Fernox so that should be ok.
I will probably install a softener but had no idea on running costs and reliability.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 11 February 2006 by Steveandkate
Mick - Take a look on PFM - I have just replied to a post by GaryI entitled 'Any electricians out there', in the 'off topic' room, which might help too - no time to re-write it at present - sorry...
Steve
Steve
Posted on: 11 February 2006 by Derek Wright
The water hardness in our region is 21 degrees Clarke - ie quite hard.
Had a Water softener installed in 2002 - biggest improvement is the lack of need to clean out the nozzles omn the shower heads.
Interestingly never had a problem with the immersion heater - probably because we do not make the hot water tank scalding hot - which does increase the scale build up.
Placing the device is a challenge - you need to have some free top access to pour in the salt pebbles or crystals or place in the blocks of salt into the device. There is some advice about not using softened water for consumption due to the increase unwelcome chemicals in the water.
See here
Info on hardness
and
more info
We get through 25kg of salt lumps every 11 or 12 weeksdepending on how many visitors or holidays we have. WE have all drinking water supplies directly off the rising main.
It is well worth doing a Google on Water Softeners, lots of information.
Had a Water softener installed in 2002 - biggest improvement is the lack of need to clean out the nozzles omn the shower heads.
Interestingly never had a problem with the immersion heater - probably because we do not make the hot water tank scalding hot - which does increase the scale build up.
Placing the device is a challenge - you need to have some free top access to pour in the salt pebbles or crystals or place in the blocks of salt into the device. There is some advice about not using softened water for consumption due to the increase unwelcome chemicals in the water.
See here
Info on hardness
and
more info
We get through 25kg of salt lumps every 11 or 12 weeksdepending on how many visitors or holidays we have. WE have all drinking water supplies directly off the rising main.
It is well worth doing a Google on Water Softeners, lots of information.
Posted on: 11 February 2006 by Martin D
Derek
I think its a requirement that there is a hard water feed as well, soft water should never be used for the young - like making up baby food / milk etc and FWIW we are still noticing benefits 12 months on from our install, no need to put salt in the dish washer and the washing machine is a clean as a whistle and we save by not using those calgon tablets which were costing us about £6 a month
I think its a requirement that there is a hard water feed as well, soft water should never be used for the young - like making up baby food / milk etc and FWIW we are still noticing benefits 12 months on from our install, no need to put salt in the dish washer and the washing machine is a clean as a whistle and we save by not using those calgon tablets which were costing us about £6 a month
Posted on: 11 February 2006 by Martin D
BTW Mick got it trade at Dewson in Devizes through a mate as it was about £570 "list" as we know nothing has a proper RRP any more!
Posted on: 11 February 2006 by HTK
Yes Martin good point. Our untreated mains feed goes through the filter - a simple and worthwhile arrangement.
Cheers
Harry
Cheers
Harry
Posted on: 11 February 2006 by David Sutton
In our London home we have fitted one of those electric devices for iradicating limescale. This does not soften the water, but certainly stops any limescale from developing. Easy to fit (it clamps around the water feed pipe) and costs about GBP85.
David
David
Posted on: 12 February 2006 by neil w
mick
look into a combi-mate about £100 ,siliphos crystals top up bottles about £20 ( yearly ,if doing whole house)
best to get it sited after your incoming stop tap about a 8"cube box 15mm pipe in & out
these work , ive used a few in my line of buisness that dont
as for your fernox, it should be checked yearly with a kit readily available from plumbers merchants
ie if you system is open vented you will periodically introduce fresh water into the system hence diluting the mix
neil
look into a combi-mate about £100 ,siliphos crystals top up bottles about £20 ( yearly ,if doing whole house)
best to get it sited after your incoming stop tap about a 8"cube box 15mm pipe in & out
these work , ive used a few in my line of buisness that dont
as for your fernox, it should be checked yearly with a kit readily available from plumbers merchants
ie if you system is open vented you will periodically introduce fresh water into the system hence diluting the mix
neil
Posted on: 12 February 2006 by Milan
Mick,
The Fernox is protecting the inside of your heating system. It will not stop limescale on the heater element as this is the fresh side whearas the Fernox is in a closed system.
We have a water softener using salt blocks and it works very well. It cost a fair bit to get and install as we needed one to fit inside a kitchen cupboard. The comments above on using less soap and detergent are right. Also it is a requirement to have a mains fed drinking water supply.
The brand we have is a Kinetico with twin cylinders so it can clean itself even when we are using water.
Regards
Milan
The Fernox is protecting the inside of your heating system. It will not stop limescale on the heater element as this is the fresh side whearas the Fernox is in a closed system.
We have a water softener using salt blocks and it works very well. It cost a fair bit to get and install as we needed one to fit inside a kitchen cupboard. The comments above on using less soap and detergent are right. Also it is a requirement to have a mains fed drinking water supply.
The brand we have is a Kinetico with twin cylinders so it can clean itself even when we are using water.
Regards
Milan