Thinking of Buying a Water Softener (merged threads)

Queenie

Thank you for taking the time and exlaining that to me, gromituk

Vinegar in your kettle = distilled white vinegar and you would use a solution of 50/50 water/vinegar. Soak overnight (or for a couple of hours min) and obviously rinse well before using for your cuppa!!
Denture tablets work too (plop 2 in, leave overnight - this loosens the limescale; give it a wipe around, rinse out and enjoy your cuppa as you reflect on the money you've saved

anskills

very very cheap water softeners here under the optional extra's bit

http://www.mrcentralheating.com/mr-central-heating.htm

gromituk

Yes that is cheap, and it looks like it uses block salt, which is more convenient and more efficient than tablet salt (because the brine quantity for regeneration is metered by level, which can be done more predictably when you don't have solids in the brine chamber) but might still be more expensive (as this format tends to be).

It's electric; knowing its power consumption would be useful, bearing in mind it's on all the time, so adds up.

The other thing about it is it's got a single resin bed. This means that during regeneration (which takes 20 mins or so) it can't provide any water. This problem is overcome by timing the regenerations for the middle of the night, but the disadvantage with this is that sometimes it must regenerate prematurely to avoid regenerating too late the next evening. This increases salt consumption.

mhuk

As an aside, I used to work in an office that had a water softener somewhere and the water was disgusting (in coffee).

gromituk

...which is why you don't use it for drinking (although I can't taste the difference).

economiser

I thought for 20 years about water softeners before getting one. I wish I had done it 20 years ago! Wonderful! Cleaning the bathroom is a dream now, no more rubbing deposits off taps and shower cubicles and no gunge in the washing machine no scum on the water.

You do really need though to divide the incoming supply keeping the hard water for drinking, the heating system and outside taps for watering the garden.

Ted_Hutchinson

I had to buy some more Water Softener Salt Pellets yesterday and found the cheapest (£5.50 25kg inc vat) at Chandlers Farm Equipmentthey are an East Midlands firm but you may find a similar farm supplies store near you is worth a phone call. Definitely cheaper than the plumbers merchant (£6.75) I last used.

loulou41

Does anybody have one of ths cadget in their home to soften the water? Hubby suffers from skin irritation, very itchy skin, he says when he goes on holiday and he is using soft water, his skin does not itch. One of ths cadget kinetico costs about £1000 + £200 for plumbing and an average £60 a year for salt. I am wondering whether it is worthy having and would like some advice from any of you who uses this product. Thanks.

Nile

Hello loulou41


This thread has some information which may help:

Thinking of buying a Water Softener

Regards

Nile

economiser

Having only recently been converted to having a water softener I wouldn't be without one. You certainly don't need to pay as much as £1000 for one although like all things I suppose you get what you pay for. I think your £60/year for salt is about right.