Advice : Water Softener / Heating System
Discussion
Hi all - bit of advice please on both these topics. The back story is we have just had a new kitchen and downstairs renovation, still going on, but almost there. It has been very stressful, initially I thought we were in big trouble but we do seem to have turned a corner and it looks like we will have a decent kitchen at the end. There are lots of reasons why but predominantly we have used builders rather than kitchen fitters to install (because nobody would entertain sorting our downstairs flooring at the same time which has needed a lot of work).
amongst many of the things that has happened is that apparently our central heating liquid is clear - they say it should be black. They say this is because it should be full of chemicals and anti freeze etc but it is clear which is a concern. We had a Worcester Bosch combi installed 8 years ago and it was power flushed at the time, an been serviced each year. It has never caused us issues. Is this true and if so what we are supposed to do to resolve this clear water issue?
Also we have been advised a water softener is essential. We have never had one. We live in one of the hardest water areas on the south east and we do have issues with limescale. Our pressure is reduced significantly as a result, our 80 year old house is running at around 10 litres per min from the tap (it is 60 out in the street). How essential is a water softener and is £1400 a reasonable price to pay? We wouldn't have even thought about one if it hadn't been said.
Thanks!
amongst many of the things that has happened is that apparently our central heating liquid is clear - they say it should be black. They say this is because it should be full of chemicals and anti freeze etc but it is clear which is a concern. We had a Worcester Bosch combi installed 8 years ago and it was power flushed at the time, an been serviced each year. It has never caused us issues. Is this true and if so what we are supposed to do to resolve this clear water issue?
Also we have been advised a water softener is essential. We have never had one. We live in one of the hardest water areas on the south east and we do have issues with limescale. Our pressure is reduced significantly as a result, our 80 year old house is running at around 10 litres per min from the tap (it is 60 out in the street). How essential is a water softener and is £1400 a reasonable price to pay? We wouldn't have even thought about one if it hadn't been said.
Thanks!
Ubiquitous2024 said:
Hi all - bit of advice please on both these topics. The back story is we have just had a new kitchen and downstairs renovation, still going on, but almost there. It has been very stressful, initially I thought we were in big trouble but we do seem to have turned a corner and it looks like we will have a decent kitchen at the end. There are lots of reasons why but predominantly we have used builders rather than kitchen fitters to install (because nobody would entertain sorting our downstairs flooring at the same time which has needed a lot of work).
amongst many of the things that has happened is that apparently our central heating liquid is clear - they say it should be black. They say this is because it should be full of chemicals and anti freeze etc but it is clear which is a concern. We had a Worcester Bosch combi installed 8 years ago and it was power flushed at the time, an been serviced each year. It has never caused us issues. Is this true and if so what we are supposed to do to resolve this clear water issue?
Also we have been advised a water softener is essential. We have never had one. We live in one of the hardest water areas on the south east and we do have issues with limescale. Our pressure is reduced significantly as a result, our 80 year old house is running at around 10 litres per min from the tap (it is 60 out in the street). How essential is a water softener and is £1400 a reasonable price to pay? We wouldn't have even thought about one if it hadn't been said.
Thanks!
Your heating system should have clear looking water containing inhibitor. Inhibitor is generally colourless. Dark water would suggest a lack of inhibitor resulting in corrosion/sludge and is bad. Now that they have drained it, you should add more inhibitor (you can't really have to much). amongst many of the things that has happened is that apparently our central heating liquid is clear - they say it should be black. They say this is because it should be full of chemicals and anti freeze etc but it is clear which is a concern. We had a Worcester Bosch combi installed 8 years ago and it was power flushed at the time, an been serviced each year. It has never caused us issues. Is this true and if so what we are supposed to do to resolve this clear water issue?
Also we have been advised a water softener is essential. We have never had one. We live in one of the hardest water areas on the south east and we do have issues with limescale. Our pressure is reduced significantly as a result, our 80 year old house is running at around 10 litres per min from the tap (it is 60 out in the street). How essential is a water softener and is £1400 a reasonable price to pay? We wouldn't have even thought about one if it hadn't been said.
Thanks!
Thanks - just spoke to firm who service our boiler yearly, they test for this and said in Nov 2025 when last serviced levels were fine and no additional recommended. Looks like builders talking nonsense then. There has been a bit of that during this install. They levelled the floor and made the walls good last - first thing they did was put the cabinets up.
Ubiquitous2024 said:
Hi all - bit of advice please on both these topics. The back story is we have just had a new kitchen and downstairs renovation, still going on, but almost there. It has been very stressful, initially I thought we were in big trouble but we do seem to have turned a corner and it looks like we will have a decent kitchen at the end. There are lots of reasons why but predominantly we have used builders rather than kitchen fitters to install (because nobody would entertain sorting our downstairs flooring at the same time which has needed a lot of work).
amongst many of the things that has happened is that apparently our central heating liquid is clear - they say it should be black. They say this is because it should be full of chemicals and anti freeze etc but it is clear which is a concern. We had a Worcester Bosch combi installed 8 years ago and it was power flushed at the time, an been serviced each year. It has never caused us issues. Is this true and if so what we are supposed to do to resolve this clear water issue?
Also we have been advised a water softener is essential. We have never had one. We live in one of the hardest water areas on the south east and we do have issues with limescale. Our pressure is reduced significantly as a result, our 80 year old house is running at around 10 litres per min from the tap (it is 60 out in the street). How essential is a water softener and is £1400 a reasonable price to pay? We wouldn't have even thought about one if it hadn't been said.
Thanks!
You absolutley do not want the central heating filled with water from a water softner. Just straight tap water with the correct inhibitor dose - with the filling loop bypassing any water softner if one is fitted.... amongst many of the things that has happened is that apparently our central heating liquid is clear - they say it should be black. They say this is because it should be full of chemicals and anti freeze etc but it is clear which is a concern. We had a Worcester Bosch combi installed 8 years ago and it was power flushed at the time, an been serviced each year. It has never caused us issues. Is this true and if so what we are supposed to do to resolve this clear water issue?
Also we have been advised a water softener is essential. We have never had one. We live in one of the hardest water areas on the south east and we do have issues with limescale. Our pressure is reduced significantly as a result, our 80 year old house is running at around 10 litres per min from the tap (it is 60 out in the street). How essential is a water softener and is £1400 a reasonable price to pay? We wouldn't have even thought about one if it hadn't been said.
Thanks!
With minimal air in the system, no leaks, no frequent top ups and with the correct dose of inhibitor you should hope for the water in the CH system to be clear.... Antifreeze/glycol is really only a heatpump additive and generally a poorly advised one at that.
No idea on the costing of watersofterns as im at the opposite end of the country to you but you will notice a difference washing/showering but certain outlets you will want bypassing it ie drinking water or boiler CH filling loop.
Water softeners are great - but much like bathrooms, kitchens and windows there are plenty of installers out there who want to charge an unjustified premium for them.
The unit itself costs about £500 to £1,000 depending on whether you go for a no-name brand or one of the "premium" offerings. Installation is pretty straighforward. You will want drinking water from an un-softened source, which usually means either the kitchen tap is connected to the un-softened supply or you either install either a dedicated drinking water tap or a 3-way tap with a drinking water option on it.
I DIY fitted ours (and its replacement) - any plumber could do it.
The unit itself costs about £500 to £1,000 depending on whether you go for a no-name brand or one of the "premium" offerings. Installation is pretty straighforward. You will want drinking water from an un-softened source, which usually means either the kitchen tap is connected to the un-softened supply or you either install either a dedicated drinking water tap or a 3-way tap with a drinking water option on it.
I DIY fitted ours (and its replacement) - any plumber could do it.
Ubiquitous2024 said:
Also we have been advised a water softener is essential. We have never had one. We live in one of the hardest water areas on the south east and we do have issues with limescale. Our pressure is reduced significantly as a result, our 80 year old house is running at around 10 litres per min from the tap (it is 60 out in the street). How essential is a water softener and is £1400 a reasonable price to pay? We wouldn't have even thought about one if it hadn't been said.
It's entirely up to you. If hard water annoys you and you have the space, get one, otherwise don't bother.Are you sure limescale is causing the water flow issue or is it the tap/s?
I fitted one 15 years ago when we replaced our kitchen (I made use of a bit of 'dead space' in a corner). I bought the same one that all the quotes had suggested. I think I paid about £400 for it back then and it regenerates only as required based on actual water use, so that saves wasting salt. We have very hard water here too (Thames Water area).
Easy enough to DIY, though my job used to be working with water systems, but it wasn't hard to do. The only issue is that I'll have to pull out our dishwasher if it ever needs work or eventual replacement. Well worth it in my humble opinion, though I think even back in 2010 I was quoted close to £1k for supply and fitting as part of the kitchen work.
I also agree about the clear heating water being a good thing. Black water and sludge wouldn't be a good sign...
Easy enough to DIY, though my job used to be working with water systems, but it wasn't hard to do. The only issue is that I'll have to pull out our dishwasher if it ever needs work or eventual replacement. Well worth it in my humble opinion, though I think even back in 2010 I was quoted close to £1k for supply and fitting as part of the kitchen work.
I also agree about the clear heating water being a good thing. Black water and sludge wouldn't be a good sign...
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