Water softener 1 January at 6:23PM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 8 replies 246 views

longwalks1

We’re currently fitting a new kitchen indoors and are going to fit a Qettle boiling water tap (with water filter). 

We live in a very hard water area and I’m now wondering about fitting an under sink water softener as well, while we are doing the install.  Have found the Water2Buy W2B200, seems to be quite popular, the kind you add salt too.

would you guys recommend fitting a water softener to prolong the life of our combi boiler, Qettle tap, shower etc?
And is the type you add salt to the best option? 

Mutton_Geoff

The osmosis (salt based) systems are not intended to feed drinking water taps.

Grumpy_chap

Mutton_Geoff said:

The osmosis  ion exchange (salt based) systems are not intended to feed drinking water taps.

Corrected that for you.
The osmosis type use a membrane.

Drinking water taps are best fed with mains water.

The best type of domestic water softener to use is the ion exchange type.

Dolor

Mutton_Geoff said:

The osmosis (salt based) systems are not intended to feed drinking water taps.

This is what Harvey Water Softeners has to say on the matter:

‘Harvey water softeners can soften water with up to 435ppm calcium carbonate. Hard water has over 200ppm calcium carbonate. This means that only the very hardest water (400-435ppm calcium carbonate) would exceed the recommended sodium level. In this case, we recommend you to use a filtered drinking water tap alongside your softener, to supply you with unsoftened water to drink. We install one as standard with our water softeners. 

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) position on drinking softened water is: “There are no firm conclusions on whether it poses long-term health risks so no health-based guidelines are proposed.” In over 90 years, there has never been a reported health-related problem associated with a water softener. However, using softened drinking water isn’t recommended for mixing baby feeds or for those on a low-sodium diet prescribed by a medical practitioner. ‘

longwalks1

Mutton_Geoff said:

The osmosis (salt based) systems are not intended to feed drinking water taps.

Thanks gentlemen.  Geoff would the salt based system be ok feeding a drinking water tap if after softening, it passes through a carbon filter as part of the Qettle drinking water system?

we don’t currently drink mains tap water at present due to the ancient lead pipes in our area, so it’s usually distilled water with minerals added.  I saw the muck that’s left behind in the water distiller after one use (4 litres) and it’s enough to put you off 

Rodders53

Our home had a 'whole house' softener fitted.  No hard water tap in kitchen.  It'd need a very long extra pipe threaded from garage all along the house under floorboards / through a loft space to the kitchen at the very other end of the house.

Almost all softener installers recommend having a hard water tap feed (often filtered) in the installation.  Maybe ask Quettle or the installer/supplier for advice on this issue?

SWMBO (and granddaughter, maybe others) don't like the taste of the softened water, even in tea.  So I have to fill bottles of water for drinking (in fridge) and making tea/coffee from a tap in the garage (weekly).

All other cooking uses the softened water hasn't done us any harm since being here.  I happily drink the softened water.  It certainly reduces use of detergents/soaps and limescale on shower screens etc.,.

Cirrus1

Hi,
It’s a long shot question - does anyone have experience of a Harvey Twin Tec S4 softener? 

I’m thinking of getting one fitted to keep the new bathroom nice and gleaming. I’ve looked at other models, but this one seems to be economical on salt and water use. It also has a 10 year guarantee.

ispookie666

I have had Ecowater softeners both in my old home and current one.
We have an RO system from Osmotics for drinking water and the garden tap is the only one which does not have softened water. I store the waste RO water for watering the veg patch and lawn 

Mutton_Geoff

longwalks1 said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

The osmosis (salt based) systems are not intended to feed drinking water taps.

Thanks gentlemen.  Geoff would the salt based system be ok feeding a drinking water tap if after softening, it passes through a carbon filter as part of the Qettle drinking water system?

we don’t currently drink mains tap water at present due to the ancient lead pipes in our area, so it’s usually distilled water with minerals added.  I saw the muck that’s left behind in the water distiller after one use (4 litres) and it’s enough to put you off 

I can't answer your question as I haven't used a salt based system for years since switching to the scale stop type used by restaurants and hotels but available in house sized packages too.