Water Softener - Kinetico or BWT
Discussion
Hi
I have decided to get a water softener and having done my research I am struggling to understand the price difference between something like a BWT Perla Silk and a Kinetico Premier Compact.
I understand one isn't mains powered and is dual tank (Kinetico), and the other is a single tank and does require mains power and flushes itself overnight - I don't really understand the different sizes of he BWT (10 litre, 15litre). BWT seems to be sold by lots of merchants like Screwfix, and Kinetico seems to be sold by more specialist retailers. Both seem to have good warranties, both seem to get good reviews, but the Kinetico is almost double the price.
We have good incoming flow (32mm plastic supply to the street), reasonable pressure (2.2 bar) and a big 45kw Combi so have great showers - my only real requirement is that it works, doesn't affect the water pressure, and is reliable. The Kinetico is a slightly more compact unit which is a little helpful, but the unit is going into a utility room next to the water main and boiler so there is room for either one, and there is power should we need it.
I haven't had a water softener before so thought I would ask the PH brains trust as I am struggling to decide, so suspect there is something I am missing....
thanks for any pointers...
I have decided to get a water softener and having done my research I am struggling to understand the price difference between something like a BWT Perla Silk and a Kinetico Premier Compact.
I understand one isn't mains powered and is dual tank (Kinetico), and the other is a single tank and does require mains power and flushes itself overnight - I don't really understand the different sizes of he BWT (10 litre, 15litre). BWT seems to be sold by lots of merchants like Screwfix, and Kinetico seems to be sold by more specialist retailers. Both seem to have good warranties, both seem to get good reviews, but the Kinetico is almost double the price.
We have good incoming flow (32mm plastic supply to the street), reasonable pressure (2.2 bar) and a big 45kw Combi so have great showers - my only real requirement is that it works, doesn't affect the water pressure, and is reliable. The Kinetico is a slightly more compact unit which is a little helpful, but the unit is going into a utility room next to the water main and boiler so there is room for either one, and there is power should we need it.
I haven't had a water softener before so thought I would ask the PH brains trust as I am struggling to decide, so suspect there is something I am missing....
thanks for any pointers...
None will effect the water pressure as such, but all will, to some degree, effect the flow rate if only because in order to install it you're going to be putting extra bends in the pipe just after the rising main.
Regarding the differences - from what I remember the "size" is basically simply a measure of how often it will have to regenerate, which with a single-tank system will effect how much salt and waste water you get through. I can't see that it will make much difference with a dual-tank setup. A dual tank softener will be most efficient in operation, but when I looked at it the payback time for the extra purchase cost was decades.
We ultimately got the cheapest generic thing I could find with the specs I wanted and it's worked flawlessly for the 9 years its been in. The current equivalent seems to be this: https://fountainsofteners.co.uk/coral-15-litre-pre... with the 22mm installation kit. Many of the cheaper single-tank systems are identical "active" units from the same factory in China with a different plastic tub stuck on the bottom.
One thing to be aware of is how flexible they are with regards to what "format" of salt you use. I wouldn't want to be tied into using block salt because whilst it's not usually more expensive, it does limit your choice of supplier.
Regarding the differences - from what I remember the "size" is basically simply a measure of how often it will have to regenerate, which with a single-tank system will effect how much salt and waste water you get through. I can't see that it will make much difference with a dual-tank setup. A dual tank softener will be most efficient in operation, but when I looked at it the payback time for the extra purchase cost was decades.
We ultimately got the cheapest generic thing I could find with the specs I wanted and it's worked flawlessly for the 9 years its been in. The current equivalent seems to be this: https://fountainsofteners.co.uk/coral-15-litre-pre... with the 22mm installation kit. Many of the cheaper single-tank systems are identical "active" units from the same factory in China with a different plastic tub stuck on the bottom.
One thing to be aware of is how flexible they are with regards to what "format" of salt you use. I wouldn't want to be tied into using block salt because whilst it's not usually more expensive, it does limit your choice of supplier.
johnoz said:
As its something we sell, I would not get a BWT.
Kinetico are good as it the Harvey Innova.
Looking at your list of what you have in your house I would ay the Hague 410 would be an ideal softener for you.
If you want some advice then get in touch, details in profile.
Thanks for your thoughts, will drop you a line. Kinetico are good as it the Harvey Innova.
Looking at your list of what you have in your house I would ay the Hague 410 would be an ideal softener for you.
If you want some advice then get in touch, details in profile.
kambites said:
None will effect the water pressure as such, but all will, to some degree, effect the flow rate if only because in order to install it you're going to be putting extra bends in the pipe just after the rising main.
Regarding the differences - from what I remember the "size" is basically simply a measure of how often it will have to regenerate, which with a single-tank system will effect how much salt and waste water you get through. I can't see that it will make much difference with a dual-tank setup. A dual tank softener will be most efficient in operation, but when I looked at it the payback time for the extra purchase cost was decades.
We ultimately got the cheapest generic thing I could find with the specs I wanted and it's worked flawlessly for the 9 years its been in. The current equivalent seems to be this: https://fountainsofteners.co.uk/coral-15-litre-pre... with the 22mm installation kit. Many of the cheaper single-tank systems are identical "active" units from the same factory in China with a different plastic tub stuck on the bottom.
One thing to be aware of is how flexible they are with regards to what "format" of salt you use. I wouldn't want to be tied into using block salt because whilst it's not usually more expensive, it does limit your choice of supplier.
Really useful, thanks. Regarding the differences - from what I remember the "size" is basically simply a measure of how often it will have to regenerate, which with a single-tank system will effect how much salt and waste water you get through. I can't see that it will make much difference with a dual-tank setup. A dual tank softener will be most efficient in operation, but when I looked at it the payback time for the extra purchase cost was decades.
We ultimately got the cheapest generic thing I could find with the specs I wanted and it's worked flawlessly for the 9 years its been in. The current equivalent seems to be this: https://fountainsofteners.co.uk/coral-15-litre-pre... with the 22mm installation kit. Many of the cheaper single-tank systems are identical "active" units from the same factory in China with a different plastic tub stuck on the bottom.
One thing to be aware of is how flexible they are with regards to what "format" of salt you use. I wouldn't want to be tied into using block salt because whilst it's not usually more expensive, it does limit your choice of supplier.
We had a Kinetico that lasted over 20 years when it came to replace it I got a BWT one from Screwfix works fine. The only difference was the Kinetico was mechanical and the BWT needs a mains supply. The BWT was substantially cheaper.
With the BWT they send an engineer to check the installation (free), I jsut slotte dit into where the Kinetico had been.
With the BWT they send an engineer to check the installation (free), I jsut slotte dit into where the Kinetico had been.
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