New cold water pipe for water softener

Wyj93

Hi I am planning to get a water softener installed in the storage where the water cylinder, washing machine and the main water valve are located. 

I know that people tend to get a unsoften water tap in the kitchen. However, there is a corridor sitting in between my kitchen and storage room. In my case, I guess an additional water pipe is needed to install from the storage to kitchen in order to get unsoften water. I am wondering if there is a cleaner solution as I don't want the pipes to be visible.

grumbler

What's "the main water valve"?

If it's a stopcock, then there has to be some pipe running from it to the kitchen. Why do you need a new one? Just connect the existing pipe before the softener, not after.

Wyj93

grumbler said:

What's "the main water valve"?

If it's a stopcock, then there has to be some pipe running from it to the kitchen. Why do you need a new one? Just connect the existing pipe before the softener, not after.

Yeah I do mean the stopcock. 
Ah sorry for not mentioning it clearly, I want both soften and unsoften water for my kitchen. I guess that would mean I have to get a new pipe, right? 

grumbler

In this case you do need a new pipe. The 'solutions' depend on what sort of floor and ceiling you have between the bathroom and the kitchen.

Why the balcony? Is it a flat?

Wyj93

Yeah it's a flat. I am not sure if I can have the new pipe well hidden. 
I think I can ignore the kitchen and just have soften water for the bathroom but it seems to be a bit overkill... 

Marmaduke123

I see your washing machine is in the storage area,  so no problem getting softened water to that. Do you have a dishwasher? If not, is there another reason you want softened water in the kitchen?

Wyj93

Yes I do have a dishwasher in the kitchen but I am okay using hard water for the dishes.

I am just wondering whether it is worth forking out £500 for softener + £200 for installation just having soften water in the bathroom 

Marmaduke123

Depends how hard your water actually is. We wouldn't  be without our water softener now - it's made such a difference in the bathroom especially, no more constant battle against limescale.  We had it installed when we had a new bathroom, as I think many people do. We live in a very hard water area. 

If you are happy with the dishwasher using hard water I cant see any reason to extend the softened water to the kitchen unless you have a major limescale problem with the taps and sink.

Wyj93

Marmaduke123 said:

Depends how hard your water actually is. We wouldn't  be without our water softener now - it's made such a difference in the bathroom especially, no more constant battle against limescale.  We had it installed when we had a new bathroom, as I think many people do. We live in a very hard water area. 

If you are happy with the dishwasher using hard water I cant see any reason to extend the softened water to the kitchen unless you have a major limescale problem with the taps and sink.

I have just checked on Thames water and my Calcium carbonate(CaCO3) level is 268 ppm.

Is it just the limescales or you actually can tell the difference when having a shower? The main reason we want to use the softener is that we feel like we have had more hair loss since we moved here..

southcoastrgi

What boiler have you got as that has to be taken into consideration