3 Way Tap for Softened Water

Jakg

My house has a water softener fitted, all cold water outlets are softened (e.g. other taps, dishwasher etc) except for the kitchen tap.

I live in a hard water area, so my kettle is full of limescale. I thought it would be handy if I could fill it with softened water so try to reduce the problem.

I could fit two taps, one softened and one not, but that seems a bit of a faff - I wondered if there's a tap that takes 3 inputs that would allow me to do this instead. I've looked online but all I can find is a regular two input tap that has a softening or filtering cartridge pre-installed, which isn't quite what I'm after.

Does such a thing exist?

Waterlily24

We've got one that has a filter (?) under the sink, it should last a long time but didn't (we got little specs of something out of it but it was out of guarantee). You get 'normal' water when you push the tap forward and the filtered water when you push it back. They are quite expensive to replace.

Our system was the same as yours water softener water everywhere except the kitchen not sure about the utility room.

27col

I've lived in a hard water area for 77 years. Never found the need for water softening.

Head_The_Ball

Jakg wrote: »

My house has a water softener fitted, all cold water outlets are softened (e.g. other taps, dishwasher etc) except for the kitchen tap.

I live in a hard water area, so my kettle is full of limescale. I thought it would be handy if I could fill it with softened water so try to reduce the problem.

I could fit two taps, one softened and one not, but that seems a bit of a faff - I wondered if there's a tap that takes 3 inputs that would allow me to do this instead. I've looked online but all I can find is a regular two input tap that has a softening or filtering cartridge pre-installed, which isn't quite what I'm after.

Does such a thing exist?

Yes, there are plenty available.

We are currently planning a kitchen refit and such a tap is on our list of requirements.

Search for 3 way kitchen tap on google, eBay etc.

eBay.

Try to get one that takes standard filters rather than Brita that ties you into Brita cartridges, unless you want Brita of course.


Be aware that a tiny number of people are sensitive to the extra sodium in softened water used for drinking and soft water is not recommended for making up baby formula milk.

Also, the tea may taste different or blander with soft water, Try it and see.

We have both soft and filtered water and use the filtered for tea and coffee. I clean out the scale in the kettle every few months with citric acid at a cost of a few pence a time. Proprietary descalers also work but are far more expensive than citric acid.

Jakg

Head_The_Ball wrote: »

Yes, there are plenty available.

We are currently planning a kitchen refit and such a tap is on our list of requirements.

Search for 3 way kitchen tap on google, eBay etc.

eBay.

Try to get one that takes standard filters rather than Brita that ties you into Brita cartridges, unless you want Brita of course.


Be aware that a tiny number of people are sensitive to the extra sodium in softened water used for drinking and soft water is not recommended for making up baby formula milk.

Also, the tea may taste different or blander with soft water, Try it and see.

We have both soft and filtered water and use the filtered for tea and coffee. I clean out the scale in the kettle every few months with citric acid at a cost of a few pence a time. Proprietary descalers also work but are far more expensive than citric acid.

I might not of explained it very well - I already have a water softener, I don't want to buy a tap that does this for me - especially if I have to keep replacing the cartridge every few months at £££.

27col wrote: »

I've lived in a hard water area for 77 years. Never found the need for water softening.

I wouldn't of fitted one, but it came with the house - I don't begrudge paying a small amount of money a month to keep it topped up with salt, in exchange for keeping all of the grunge out of the dishwasher / washing machine / boiler.

Head_The_Ball

Jakg wrote: »

I might not of explained it very well - I already have a water softener, I don't want to buy a tap that does this for me - especially if I have to keep replacing the cartridge every few months at £££.

I wouldn't of fitted one, but it came with the house - I don't begrudge paying a small amount of money a month to keep it topped up with salt, in exchange for keeping all of the grunge out of the dishwasher / washing machine / boiler.

The taps I described don't soften water.

They allow for 3 connections. These are usually:

1) Softened Hot Water
2) Softened Cold Water
3) Unsoftened cold water.

The 3rd option of unsoftened cold water can be fitted with an in line filter. This filters chlorine and other impurities from the incoming mains water. It doesn't soften it. The filters can cost from a few pounds upwards.

Those taps I suggested will allow you to have the three options you want ( as I understood your OP) at your kitchen sink and you don't have to fit an inline filter if you don't want to.

All you need to spend is money on the new tap and arrange to have the plumbing amended as you require. If you have basic plumbing skills that is an easy diy job.

If you are happy to have only softened water at your kitchen sink then you don't even need a new tap. Just connect the existing cold water side of the existing tap to the softened water supply and not the unsoftened supply.

Waterlily24

This is the one we've got.

http://www.eastmidlandswater.com/Details.asp?ProductID=69