Good value water softener, please ?

[Bargeman]

Hello,

Can anybody recommend a good value water softener (rather than a water conditioner) ? My impression has always been that they are all much of  muchness,  but I could be wrong.

regards

[rob26440]

I'm using a Twintec - very much like a Kinetico.  Twin cylinder/block salt.  I've not seen many Twintecs around (based in Surrey).  Both makes are expensive new but used twin cylinder Kinetico's seem to go for about £200 to £300 on eBay.  One good point is they don't use any electricity just use water power.  Less to go wrong and 0 running costs - other than salt.  Only one cylinder at a time regenerates so soft water is always available.  Works a treat.  No more chipping the chalk off the taps.  No more salt for the dishwasher.  Only need half as much detergent in the washing machine.

Rob.

[Tigger]

Bargeman,

Like Rob, we've got a twin cylinder model, a 'Kinetico' that we've had for around ten years now.  I even moved it from our last house to this one, I wouldn't be without it.

All I can do is echo what Rob said, no running costs, reduced use of detergent, washing up liquid, shower gel, shampoo (OK, that one doesn't apply to me) and of course, the shower stills sprays the way the manufacturer intended it and we haven't had to replace a heating element in the kettle, washing machine or dishwasher.

Ours is fitted under the kitchen sink next to the incoming main.  It's set up so that we have a 'direct/unsoftened' feed to the cold water tap in the kitchen and the outside tap and then all other supplies are softened.  We've also got a feed going through an in-line 'drinking water' filter that we use to fill the kettle and make cold drinks with.  Tea tastes so much better with softened water although if you have a heart condition or are on a low sodium diet apparently you're not supposed to drink softened water due to it's higher than normal sodium content.

I know they don't have the greatest green credentials however, we use less energy heating the hot water cylinder since there's no scale in it and the same goes for the dishwasher and washing machine.  The payback period is very long but I fitted it to stop things breaking rather than save money directly.

If you live in an area with hard water then I can't recomend them enough (we're near Chippenham, Wiltshire).  One of the best household improvments we've ever made.

Ian.

[dhaslam]

Is the salt more expensive,  having to buy individual blocks ?

[rob26440]

We are in Berkshire where the mains water is v. hard and chalky.

I pay £3.80 for 2 x 4Kilo Harvey's block salt from the local hardware store.  It can be delivered in bulk for about the same price.  We are what I would call heavy reasonably heavy users of water.  8 Kilos of salt lasts about a month.  The 2 blocks just drop into the front of the unit.  Nothing else to do.  No controls. You can adjust the level of softness by allowing a small amount of unsoftened water to bypass the softener using the isolation valves.   

We have also installed the softener under the sink.  There is a drain from the softener which is used when the softener is regenerating the cylinders and that is attached to the normal under-sink waste pipework and there is a small overflow pipe that passes through the outside wall.

Similar to Ian, we have the cold tap in the kitchen supplied with unsoftened mains water (also the outside tap).  We have installed a Brita 3 way Titanium tap in the kitchen which delivers filtered water mains through a third outlet.  No need to drill the sink/worksurface to install one of those little separate taps for drinking water.  Not had to descale the kettle or coffee machine since installing the Brita tap even thoguh it is on the unsoftened supply.

Rob.

[dlozuk]

Happy Kinetico user for over  13 years.
Just got the local hardware store to deliver today 25 bags of block salt (2 x 4kg) at a cost of £3.50 per bag.
Got same delivery in 2007 when it cost £3.20 per bag.

We have hard water to downstairs sink tap/ outside and the dishwasher ~ the instructions with the Bosch dishwasher stated that it wanted hard water :-(

Before the kinetico  we would have to acid flush the hot water system every 1 1/2 years!!!

The repair man was so impressed with our Zanussi washer dryer condition and becuase only had softened water!

[PhatBob]

Another vote for Kinetico but...
We had a salt build-up around the area at the top of the water line, and the blocks failed to fall down to the waterline, its a simple job to ensure that the salt crust doesn't build up but its something to remember.

[KLD]

Don't these ion-exchange water softeners also need water for backflushing? Any idea what sort of volume that is? Might be important when you're on a metered supply, and should be part of the green-ness assessment 

Klaus

[rob26440]

Klaus,

Not sure of the volume of water used when my Twintec (Kinetico type, twin cylinder) softener regenerates.  It is on a metered water supply and the meter turns very slowly for about 20mins.  Can't be more than 20 litres every 24 hrs or so.  I'll try to catch it one time and post the result.  Good news is it only uses water - no electricity required.

I also had a problem with the salt blocks catching on a crusty salt build up at the base of the container.  But as PhatBob writes, it's easy to shift and has only happened once.  I usually just run my hand down the inside of the salt holder to remove any build-up before dropping in new blocks once a month or so (3 adults in this house and we - well one in particular - are quite heavy users of water.  About 500 litres per day average over the past year).

One thing to be careful about.... wash your hands after handling the salt blocks.  I made the mistake once of rubbing an eye before washing my hands.  Had a very itchy eye for about 4 days after.

Rob.

[kris]

I saw a medical publication that indicated an increased risk of hart disease when water softeners are used because of residual salts.  Maybe a consideration?

[Tigger]

Kris,

It is suggested in the info that came with the softener that you should ensure at least one tap within the house (usually the kitchen sink) has an unsoftened feed to allow for people who are identified as high risk from increased salt intake (babies and those with certain health issues).

Our kitchen tap has a two-way cold tap.  One way is softened water, the other way is direct from the mains.

Ian.

[KLD]

Kris, Do you perchance have a literature reference for the study you mentioned? Klaus

[Taffyboy]

Bunch of softies...Pfft.

You'll have Frotter here in a sec declaring his man love for all things soft, but he ain't gay or owt...

[Cal]

I'm using a -spam link removed- which I purchased from -spam link removed-  I have been using it for 5 years without problems.  Very easy to use and refill.

Cal

[martin]

first post - company link.......... would that be spam perchance?