Thinking of Buying a Water Softener (merged threads)

They are very effective. If you want nicer water then it's worth buying one.

It is safe to drink softened water but as it contains sodium (but as sodium carbonate, NOT sodium chloride so you cannot taste it) it is recommended that you don't, simply because it contributes to most people's excessive sodium (as salt) consumption (leading to high blood pressure). For this reason, water regs demand that you have a drinking water tap which isn't supplied with softened water. This can be an extra tap fitted at the kitchen sink.

Salt does not get into the softened water, and the sodium carbonate is harmless to plumbing.

You can get softeners cheaper than Harveys' although they all use electricity (but not much). The cheapest do not meter the water, so have to be set to regenerate at intervals corresponding to the highest anticipated demand, so are very wasteful of salt and water (softeners use up water themselves).

If it's not recommended for drinking, being a bit naive, I'm wondering why you would want a water softener (especially at that price!)?

You can buy water filters for drinking water.
I know your kettle gets yukky scale build up, but a solution of vinegar and water once a week is very effective.
Yup, it means you may need to use more washing powder, but a dose of washing soda crystals in with the wash load not only "softens" the water, but aids laundry cleaning therefore using less wash powder; (plus you can use a Tblsp of vinegar instead of fabric conditioner in the final rinse to make the clothing "soft" )
Same applies with your pipes/drains: a strong solution of soda crystals shwooshed down periodically gives them a good clean through.

So, back to my original query, what are the benefits of a water softening contraption?

Have you considered buying these electronic devices that plug into the mains, then wrap round the mains household water arrival pipe? These radiate "negative ions" that keeps all the hard water bits in suspension whilst the water goes around your house. It has even a retroactive action and is said to help remove scale etc. from existing systems. They come in various power sizes for bedroom rated users. I guess maximum cost is £300 and take no installation at all.

George, I add it by eye but basically, if it's a normal wash I add approx 2tbsp. If it's heavily soiled and I need the wash to go through quickly, probably double that amount. (Although, for heavily soiled items, I would usually soak them overnight in a bucket of water in which a a good couple of cupfuls had been diluted first)

Queenie wrote:

If it's not recommended for drinking, being a bit naive, I'm wondering why you would want a water softener (especially at that price!)?

It makes water feel so much nicer, and is much better for your skin than hard water. It prevents scale being deposited in your plumbing system, building up all over baths, basins, etc., and blocking shower heads. You don't have to use salt in the dishwasher (though I wish I could prevent mine doing the regeneration cycle anyway) and can use a lot less soap and washing powder.

You can buy water filters for drinking water.
I know your kettle gets yukky scale build up, but a solution of vinegar and water once a week is very effective.

Neither of these is solved by having a water softener, as you don't drink the softened water (and it doesn't taste any nicer than hard water anyway). Good point about vinegar - people are being ripped off buying special de-scaling products. Didn't know about it as a substitute for fabric conditioner though!