water softner help in chosing and is this true

abb16ott

moonrakerz wrote: »

I would prefer to buy something with a name to it - and from a reputable/traceable supplier. I wanted one that would fit in my kitchen cupboard, if it didn't fit all I had to do was take it back to B & Q. I'm not sure that I would want to buy from a company that seemed to operating like a "charity", they'll soon go bust - they are in business to make a profit.
I daresay you could probably show me a softener equivalent to mine available over the internet from a nice little man in Mongolia for half the price - but I'll stick with my Permutuit from B & Q - thanks anyway !

I totally agree with your comments about regeneration which is why I raised the point. I've never actually timed my machine (don't usually have my head under the kitchen sink at 2 in the morning !), but it must take a good hour - which is why the 11 minute claim jarred with me.
I did raise your very valid point (in an earlier thread) about claims by some softener manufacturers that you would use less than a bag of salt a year in their machine - my comment was - if that was the case the water is already so soft that you don't need a softener in the first place !

Maybe their bags are 12 times larger than anyone else's

moonrakerz

Of course !

abb16ott

moonrakerz wrote: »

Of course !

- I'm not too sui

Quality :T - that must be the ones they were on about - hopfully free delivery as well .. I'm not too sure about storage thoug :cool:

Cobnut_2

Hi there all, I have been reading this thread with interest as it seems to be the only one out there on softeners.

I'm having our C/H & kitchen redone and believe now would be a good time to fit one! But as most of my money has gone towards over priced chipboard units and overpriced Bunsen burner in a can, I think I'll be going the B&Q route for the salt box. One thing I cant seem to find out is and hasn't been mentioned is the water pressure out of the softener? Is it still mains pressure???
Also I'm getting a 3way filter tap. Does one still have to be untouched mains or can the filtered drinking be mains and cold be softened. as what's the use of a softener if you cant use it for washing up!?:rolleyes:

Many thanks and look forward to your replies.

paulpa66

You can use softened water to drink, but most advise not to. I bought a twintec in the end, very pleased with it. Yes all softeners will reduce the water pressure a little, get 22mm flexi pipes from softener to pipe work

moonrakerz

There used to be a train of thought that you MUST NOT drink softened water, that was very much an over reaction. I did see somewhere that the sodium added to water by a softener is equal to one sixth of the legal limit allowed in fresh milk !

They do say that you shouldn't use it for mixing formula baby milk though - wouldn't argue with that.

Cobnut_2

I must have been misinformed by the chap in B&Q homes for the elderly. He stated that by law one tap should be unfiltered mains. How have poeple had them fitted on here?
Thanks for the replies.

Biffer

When we moved in to our current house the previous owner took his water softener with him. So all the pipework and electrical connections are already in place for a new softener. He also had a filtered drinking water tap installed and two external taps, a softened tap for washing cars and an un-softened tap for the garden.

I was looking at metered Aquadial units (to match the Aquadial drinking water filter), but from reading this thread I think a timed unit from B&Q would be just as good.

Does anybody have a source for the spec on these two Permutit units?
Permutit P-S 53 / Permutit P-ST 65, £345 & £398 at B&Q.

I'm wondering how much resin and salt they hold. I'd be willing to pay more for a unit that held more salt, as I wouldn't have to fill it so often. I've got enough jobs to do around the house as it is.

moonrakerz

Cobnut wrote: »

I must have been misinformed by the chap in B&Q homes for the elderly. He stated that by law one tap should be unfiltered mains. How have poeple had them fitted on here?
Thanks for the replies.

That's a new one ! He wasn't trying to sell you a bottled water cooler as well ?

moonrakerz

andrew-b wrote: »

Personally i'm getting a SESI electrolytic filter that is connected inline to the mains supply just after the main stopvalve. I can then just forget about it for a good few years. See http://www.salamander-engineering.co.uk/products/products_limescale.html and goto Domestic->Electrolytic in menus on the left. £39.99 from screwfix. Rather than eliminating limescale this is meant to convert the hard form of limescale that is such a problem into the softer form that isn't a prob.

If you want to waste £39.99 go to the pub !