Anyone have advice on buying a water softener?

[kazaam]

I'm not really sure what I should get. Unless someone tells me otherwise, I'll just buy the one available at Costco lol. Thanks!

 

[jd4320t]

I've seen this come up on here a few times.

Here are some good threads:
https://www.google.com/#hl=en&safe=...06,d.aWM&fp=d3000d3496cafff7&biw=1024&bih=571

 

[fallenangel1]

LOL .. Id never heave searched for this either .. Who'd have known that so many people would be asking about water softeners on INGO!? :P

 

[jd4320t]

LOL .. Id never heave searched for this either .. Who'd have known that so many people would be asking about water softeners on INGO!? :P

INGO is my first source for many things along with Google.

 

[lovemachine]

Go with a Puritan. I've been happy with mine. And they are made and serviced in Crawfordsvile IN.

Good bunch of guys.

 

[Stschil]

Softners arent always a one size fits all proposition. It really does make a differnce depending on your water quality, usage, size of family, etc.
If you are on city water, call your water company and ask for the Hardness (will be in grains per gallon (GPG)) and iron content (will be in Parts per Million (PPM) If on a well, I would have someone from one of the major water treatment companies come out and test your water.

These numbers, along with the number of people using the water will determine both the type of salt used (solar crystals vs Ironout) and the dosage in addition to the regeneration frequency.

The metered units are best. They will save you salt and water.

( I used to be the Svc Mgr for Culligan in Renesselaer. PM me if you have questions, ill help if I can.)

 

[Stschil]

Go with a Puritan. I've been happy with mine. And they are made and serviced in Crawfordsvile IN.

Good bunch of guys.

Puritans are good units. They use Fleck made control valves, which are very reliable.

 

[woodsie57]

I've been using a Morton [yeah-the table salt co.] from Menards for 5 yrs,still works-I'm on a well,even. Cost about $400 back then.

 

[kazaam]

Wow, thanks for the info guys! I think the water is 8 grains hardness when water use is low, so possibly during peak usage significantly higher. There are three of us in the house right now. I'm pretty much the only one that uses a lot of water. :P REALLY hoping I can get away with getting a cheap one.

 

[ATOMonkey]

I really like our Kinetico system. It was pretty expensive up front, but it's the only one we'll ever have to buy.

And yes, you do need to match the water conditioner to the water. I don't know where you are located, but there is a Kinetico store in Avon, that we use.

 

[Stschil]

8 GPG is easy to deal with. If no iron exists, you can get by with a small system. 3/4 cubic foot or 1 cube mineral tank using solar salt.

I advise against the "all in one" units that combine that salt tank and mineral tank, They can be problematic as far as salt bridging, and cleaning.

Spend a little extra and get one that measures your water usage. Most are electronic now making them easy to set. Plug in the hardness, set the salt dosage, and the regeneration time (go for late night when no water is being used)

Also, be prepared to cut back on the amount of soap, laundry detergent, shampoo quite a bit. You will not need nearly as much. And don't mistake that slick feeling you get for not being clean, it's actually the opposite. It's your bodies natural oils that have been previously covered by the Calcium in the hard water.

 

[dans4420]

If you have the room get a big brine tank I have a small one I I kick myself every month when we run outta salt

 

[hoosierdoc]

Get a digital head on the thing that cycles the system only when you need it. Join "direct plus" for $75 and save around 30% on your model from Lee Supply. We hardly used any salt, was awesome.

directplusfurniture.com - Home

 

[qwerty]

+1 for Kinetico. I don't have one, my parents do. Wish I would have when I replaced mine.

 

[Ripper]

Funny this came up... I'm having a Kinetico installed this afternoon!


I'm on Huntertown water that has tested at 30+ Grains??? (three independent tests) I'm just going to bite the bullet and get a Kinetico. How can the water be that hard??? Within one week of being in our brand new home the show heads were darn near plugged.

Six people, heavy water and a tankless water heater = I'm not going to risk it with a budget system.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

I'm not sure exactly what brand we had installed....

But I like it. It's the two-tank system (one just for salt, the other for the media). The media tank is around 4' tall. The salt tank is probably 3.5' tall and 20" diameter. Since installation 3.5 years ago, I've filled it 3 times. And our city water in Greenwood is HARD. Talking 21-22 GPG.

Original harness setting on the head unit was too low - but easy to increase. I bumped it up 3-4 gpg. I've since backed it down by 2. I think I've found the sweet spot.

No more build-up on the shower heads / faucets, but the humidifier wicks sure get all kinds of mineral deposits on them.

-J-

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

I'm on Huntertown water that has tested at 30+ Grains???

I hate it when I have to chew the water.

 

[Stschil]

but the humidifier wicks sure get all kinds of mineral deposits on them.

-J-

Are they trickle down systems? If so, they draw so very little water, it causes a channelling effect in the softners. If you reduce the salt dosage and increase the regen frequency, you can solve most of that.

 

[Ripper]

I hate it when I have to chew the water.

wait... that's not funny!

My Tankless Heater is NOT liking the water situation at the moment. I'm glad I had the rough-in for the softener installed during construction.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Are they trickle down systems? If so, they draw so very little water, it causes a channelling effect in the softners. If you reduce the salt dosage and increase the regen frequency, you can solve most of that.

We have two of these: Holmes® Humidifier Filters

Wick filter sits in the water - fan pulls / pushes air from under the unit, through the interior of the "barrel" filter - then out the top. The top edges of the filters get dry and crusty rather quickly, but the main zone of mineral deposit it in the center - horizontally around the exterior of the filter. I should just taste the deposits. If salty - I'll back down the softener a bit.