Water Softeners?
Discussion
I live in a hard water area, got a leaflet today explaining the benefits of water softeners. The benefits are obvious but its a question of cost
How much am I looking at to get one fitted? Do they do it to the main feed of the house so it affects everything?
Will it affect the taste of water going from hard to soft? I do actually like the taste of the water and the way it comes out nice and cold, although that is prob more to do with the water pressure
I have been around to peoples houses where the water tastes quite a bit different - may be due to that?
How much am I looking at to get one fitted? Do they do it to the main feed of the house so it affects everything?
Will it affect the taste of water going from hard to soft? I do actually like the taste of the water and the way it comes out nice and cold, although that is prob more to do with the water pressure
I have been around to peoples houses where the water tastes quite a bit different - may be due to that?
We have an electro-magnetic softner, on the main water supply to the house. Does reduce limescale. Sorry, no idea on cost as it was put in when the house was extended 2nd time round.
It's a Bayhall Aquamate according to the casing. Water is still nice and cool, does affect taste, slightly softer, but we also use a Brita which is much more noticable difference in taste. Worth doing to prolong appliance life.
It's a Bayhall Aquamate according to the casing. Water is still nice and cool, does affect taste, slightly softer, but we also use a Brita which is much more noticable difference in taste. Worth doing to prolong appliance life.
Edited by JB! on Wednesday 17th February 23:34
I had a non electrical, resin based water softener installed before Christmas - expensive but it's not at the mercy of having to have a dead period when it flushes itself out as it has 2 filters so when one needs to be flushed with the salt, it switches to the other one.
On my installation I got a drinking water tap installed as well and this is taken from a mains feed prior to the softener, so tastes the same as it always did.
Also, the way they plumbed it in, I can close valves and remove the softener to take a new place if I want, and the pipework then means that the water is back to mains and hard again.
On my installation I got a drinking water tap installed as well and this is taken from a mains feed prior to the softener, so tastes the same as it always did.
Also, the way they plumbed it in, I can close valves and remove the softener to take a new place if I want, and the pipework then means that the water is back to mains and hard again.
Bayhall Aquamate are hocus pocus. They also claim they keep weed off ponds. If you wanted more weed in your ponds, I imagine their sales men would tell you they can encourage that too.
Hard water is caused by calcium ions in your water supply. Until you remove the calcium, your water will remain hard. Exposing calcium ions to an electro magentic field as provided by a Bayhall Aquamate or any of the other similar products is going to achieve nothing. They are up there with magnets on your fuel line or wearing healing crystals round your neck.
Proper water softeners use an ion exchange resin which swaps calcium for sodium ions. Whether or not that effects the taste, I couldn't say. If you figure out how much sodium ends up in the water, it is pretty minute.
editted to add a "duh" ... I'd forgotten the feed to the kitchen bypasses the softener
Hard water is caused by calcium ions in your water supply. Until you remove the calcium, your water will remain hard. Exposing calcium ions to an electro magentic field as provided by a Bayhall Aquamate or any of the other similar products is going to achieve nothing. They are up there with magnets on your fuel line or wearing healing crystals round your neck.
Proper water softeners use an ion exchange resin which swaps calcium for sodium ions. Whether or not that effects the taste, I couldn't say. If you figure out how much sodium ends up in the water, it is pretty minute.
editted to add a "duh" ... I'd forgotten the feed to the kitchen bypasses the softener
Edited by ATG on Wednesday 17th February 23:44
Tapwoerks units seem to be very popular with the trade .
The middle sized unit can be purchased for under £500 , then about 1/2 a days labour for a standard install .
http://www.tapworks.co.uk/Residential%20Products/u...
The middle sized unit can be purchased for under £500 , then about 1/2 a days labour for a standard install .
http://www.tapworks.co.uk/Residential%20Products/u...
This site has some good info.
http://www.fountainsofteners.co.uk/How_do_softener...
I just bought the 10L metered softener from there (£340), but not plumbed it in yet so can't give a review.
Kinetic make the best quality ones but they are expensive.
http://www.fountainsofteners.co.uk/How_do_softener...
I just bought the 10L metered softener from there (£340), but not plumbed it in yet so can't give a review.
Kinetic make the best quality ones but they are expensive.
I live in v hard water area, and installed a Culligan Waterside MC350 or 450 (can't remember which one & at work at present) about 2 years ago. It has worked faultlessly and completely eliminated limescale. We installed it in utility room under sink, but left the utility room cold tap (and the outside tap) as direct feed from incoming mains - we then then to use this for drinking water, as yes the softened water does taste different.
I'm a competent DIYer and installed myself - it's not complicated and came with flexible hoses, so if you're happy with basic plumbing connections then you'll manage it in say 3-6 hours.
As per one of the posts above, I have option to bypass it if necessary, more as a precaution against fault with unit rather than option to choose hard water supply to rest of house.
It does need an electrical feed just for the timer rather than anything mechanical I believe - via standard 3-pin socket.
Culligan have a depot local to me and do free delivery on 25kg bags of salt at about £8 each - they may do this nationwide. I haven't monitored it but would guess this only costs me about £5 per month.
I'm a competent DIYer and installed myself - it's not complicated and came with flexible hoses, so if you're happy with basic plumbing connections then you'll manage it in say 3-6 hours.
As per one of the posts above, I have option to bypass it if necessary, more as a precaution against fault with unit rather than option to choose hard water supply to rest of house.
It does need an electrical feed just for the timer rather than anything mechanical I believe - via standard 3-pin socket.
Culligan have a depot local to me and do free delivery on 25kg bags of salt at about £8 each - they may do this nationwide. I haven't monitored it but would guess this only costs me about £5 per month.
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