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I've been looking at buying a watersoftener, The only problem is most don't say how much they cost and want to come and pay you a visit. I'd rather just buy a decent one and install it myself.
I found a Tapworks AD11 for about £500 which looks interesting but it appears to be only a single tank system.
Anyone got one? If so what have you got and how do you find it?
I have an aquadial water softener - single tank with electronic control. They are excellent! Electronic controls monitor water use, and after setting water ghardness, only regenerates after so much water has been used. It regenerates at night and takes about 90 minutes - I think newer ones are a bit quicker.
Aquadial have been taken over by someone else, but IMHO, an ion exchange softener is the way to go.
It is recommended that you have one tap of untreated water for drinking, because the ion exchange process raises the sodium content of the water slightly, and this might be a slightly higher risk factor for people with high blood pressure.
It does use water during the regeneration process, so it will increase water consumption - and your water bill if you are on metered water. WAter (untreated) is still available while it is regenerating.
I have just moved house, and haven't plumbed the softener in yet (I brought it with me) but washing with hard water after using softened water feels odd.
That is just the kind of info I was looking for. :)
Is yours a Prismertec? I was reading the online info about them and they seem very good. I was a bit concerned as some I looked at stated a minimum of 1.7 bar pressure but, That Prismertec states about 1.35 bar minimum.
I've looked at the Harvey twin tanks but, I'm afraid to contact them incase they just keep hassling me.
Yes, a Prismertec. The only advantage of a twin tank is that softened water is still available while the system is regenerating - effectively it is two softeners in one. As it regenerates at night when water useage is minimal, I din't think the additional cost (or size) was worth it.
The operating pressure range is 1.4 to 4 bar, and I added a pressure regulator as my water pressure was quite high.
Aquadial have been taken over, so the specs of the new machines might be different. I have to use granular salt in mine, newer versions use block or tablet salt (which tends to be cheaper).
Mine is a single tank system, supplied by a firm in Bristol.
The salesman was quite annoying, banging on and on about crap I already know about even after I'd told him I wanted the system.
The stuff about drinking unsoftened water being better for you.. I don't buy that argument. A balanced diet gives you everything that you need. My system actually has an additional filtering system to provide extra clean drinking water that is pretty close to pure h2o.
Problems? It doesn't work very well in the very cold weather and the pressure is a bit low, but all in all, I'd sooner have one than not. If I were to move house, I'd get another system fitted in the new place.
Now that is something that might be a problem as I was going to fit it in the garage.Quote:
Originally Posted by pauleden
Garage should be OK if that is where your cold water main comes in. Low water pressure might be a problem, but provided the garage doiesn't drop below zero, should be OK.
As for softened water "being good for you" - it certainly feels better to wash in, but as for drinking, generally it is recommended to have one unsoftened tap for drinking water because of the raised sodium levels.
Unsoftened water is high in calcium, which can be good if you don't get much from other sources. Other than that and the increased sodium levels of softened water there's not much in it. Hard water probably tastes a bit nicer too.
I don't have a softener as we have naturally soft water here. I find it odd when visiting people in the south east with hard water though, soft water is way better for washing with.
I'm not bothered about drinking hard water and the house has a separate water supply of it's own. I'm mainly looking at using the soft water for the bathroom, Dishwasher and washing machine.
dishwashers have salt for that reason m8, you dont need to soften dishwasher water..
Yes but, If I have a water softener I won't have to put salt in the dishwasher anymore as well as not having a scaled up bathroom and saving on washing powder for the washing machine too.Quote:
Originally Posted by GoNz0
I'm trying to imagine how it feels better to wash in...can someone explain lol :D seeing that I can't have a test bath anytime soon.
QFT. Most (if not all) dishwashers have some adjustment for water hardness so you just adjust it for minimum and stop putting saltr in. You can cut down on the rinse aid too - and if you use one of the 3-in-one dishwasher tablets, you might be able to do without rinse aid at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sputnik
Some of the washing powders have softeners in their formulation. You can still use those (but use much less) or use one of the cheapoer ones that don't.
(Writes note to self - must plumb in my water softener :) )
You need less shampoo/shower gel/soap in the shower. You don't get streaky deposits on fittings. or scummy rings round the bath. TBH, that is less of a problem because bath and shower gels have additives that redyuce the effect, but you don't need to use so much.Quote:
Originally Posted by HSK
(Underlines note to self - above)
Imagine being able to put a small spot of soap on your hand and make a decent lather. Pretty much like that. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by HSK
Ahh right, bathing and showering is all new to me as it is, so this sounds interesting.
I jest.