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water softener/filter question
My fiancé and I are looking at water softener and filter systems. We are on well water and get very hard water out of it. I did a home test kit on the water the other night. Not sure how accurate those can be, but I came up with about 450 ppm on the hardness test and the ph is about 8 or 9. Everything else looked OK to me. Of course, with the hard water, we are having problems with shower heads and sink faucets getting plugged up and white crusty buildup on everything. We are also concerned with the water heater getting buildup in it, especially since it's an electric WH. We buy filtered water for drinking and cooking. I installed a small water filter just ahead of the water heater which feeds everything in the house except the kitchen sink and dishwasher, but a filter doesn't really do anything for hard water. I'd like to install a water softener setup on the main line coming in to the house. Doing some research on line and thought I'd ask you all here for input, since we seem to have a pretty good group of folks here that have a wide range of experience.
She's been looking at the cabinet style water softeners at Home Depot and Lowes. I've read a few negative things about them, such as not lasting too long, hard to work on when they break etc. I'm also thinking it seems like a good idea to go with one that automatically senses the need to regenerate so it doesn't waste too much salt and water and so we can have it regenerate late at night or early morning when we don't need water. We do not want to lease one from a place like Culligan, as we plan to be at this house in the long run and we feel we would benefit from purchasing the equipment rather than paying every month for many years. But if yall have better thoughts on that, please let me know. Salt water softeners, no salt softeners, any other kind of softener. Her dad also mentioned something about a "sand filter." I'm not real educated on that. Our budget for this is going to be about $600-1000 and I plan to install it myself unless installation ends up being free with the purchase of the system.
She's been looking at the cabinet style water softeners at Home Depot and Lowes. I've read a few negative things about them, such as not lasting too long, hard to work on when they break etc. I'm also thinking it seems like a good idea to go with one that automatically senses the need to regenerate so it doesn't waste too much salt and water and so we can have it regenerate late at night or early morning when we don't need water. We do not want to lease one from a place like Culligan, as we plan to be at this house in the long run and we feel we would benefit from purchasing the equipment rather than paying every month for many years. But if yall have better thoughts on that, please let me know. Salt water softeners, no salt softeners, any other kind of softener. Her dad also mentioned something about a "sand filter." I'm not real educated on that. Our budget for this is going to be about $600-1000 and I plan to install it myself unless installation ends up being free with the purchase of the system.
Replies
Water here doesn't smell, but is full of minerals that will clog up everything, including you if you don't soften it. Plus, we have a reverse osmosis filter system under the sink with a small tap for drinking water.
Then again, I have no water bill, but you are talking about $2500-3000 to get one put in.
Some folks here use the different systems they install themselves or have a company or a Lowe's/Home Depot contractor do it. Big business and several companies claim theirs is the best, of course. Shop around.
I think it may be 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of the other.
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
I wouldn't filter all the water, and use Pex for the water lines and lifetime warranted fixtures filter the water lines to the water heaters and washing machines, ice makers and other appliances that require filtered water in order not void the warranty.
I really like those hot/cold water dispensers for drinking water, to make tea, cook etc, the farm I live on now has a great well and the water is not hard.
The dedicated point of use plumbed in water heaters I have installed don't last long and don't give you cold water.
There is a scheme to soften water that involves a cement cistern and sand etc that allows water to filter through the bed, pretty old fashioned, however works on any large contaminants, any smaller particulates such as bio contamination may require further filtration.
I like UV as a final stage to kill bio contamination as an alternative to chemicals such as is used in chlorinated water.
I was in your shoes 15 years ago; I went with this softner from Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-40-000-Grain-Water-Softener-GXSH40V/203219780
I installed it myself which was very easy, I had a filter system at first too but soon found I didn't really need it so I don't use it anymore. I completely understand the had water thing being a Texan as well and also using well water for my home. The system listed above is only $500, my first one lasted about 12 years and was replaced 3 years ago.
I have the hardness level cranked all the way up on mine! Your probably getting most of your faucet problems through the hot water side I don't have my softner on the cold water side, only hot, you don't want soft water going on your grass.
AKA: Former Founding Member
We also have a problem with rings around the toilets and crusty faucets but CLR takes care of that PDQ.
- George Orwell
Tim, the link you posted is similar to the ones she's been looking at. We found one that is wifi capable and is supposed to send information on your phone to let you know when it needs salt and provides usage information. We looked at that one last weekend. I was just concerned because I had seen some things on the interwebs about those things not lasting very long. Glad to hear yours made it 12 years. That's not bad. I could go for $500-$800 every 10-12 years....
The main water line comes in to the house in the back and comes in through the wall. We are running on the second well on that house and they apparently ran a new line coming in through the wall and did away with the original plumbing. It appears to be a PEX line coming in. I was thinking of putting a water softener there where the line comes in, which would soften the water through the whole house, but not the faucets outside, which come off the well. Was thinking if I built a small closet at the back of the house to put it in and keep it insulated.... Just brainstorming at this point.
In water flow order;
1. Water filter (Can't remember the brand, but it's a whole home filter I've already installed there)
2. Whirlpool 33,000 grain water softener
3. Whirlpool reverse osmosis system under the kitchen sink with filtered water faucet on the sink.
The boss lady was "concerned" about sodium in the water from the water softener as far as drinking water is concerned. So, the RO system is the cure for that. We shouldn't have to buy bottled water and filtered water any more, which suits me fine.
Now, what this has all led to for me.... I get to move the whole home water filter that I just installed a few months ago to where the water softener is going, and install a water softener. Those will be installed behind the house where the water line comes in to the house. There is a small building just outside the back door where the washing machine and dryer used to be. So, get to cut the water line, run it into that building, through the filter and water softener and run a new line back to the house where the water line enters....
Then, I get to install a new kitchen sink, kitchen faucet, reverse osmosis system and a new bathroom faucet. What started as a seemingly simple project, seems to now be an all day job that's gonna be close to $1000.....
Somebody remind me that, although I volunteered for this, I'm not married YET.....
AKA: Former Founding Member
"Will Reverse Osmosis remove sodium from water?
Yes. The initial application of the reverse osmosis process was removal of salt (desalinization) from sea water for use as drinking water aboard naval vessels. This application has been expanded to include large, land-based facilities supporting entire communities. This may prove to be very beneficial to someone on a low sodium diet."
http://thewholetruth.org/Res_WP_RO_FAQ.asp
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
Pretty much did what I outlined in my last post here. Got a 33,000 grain Whirlpool water softener and a reverse osmosis system. While we were at it, she wanted a new stainless steel kitchen sink and new faucet. And, she decided she wanted the backsplash redone. She took down all the old tile and backer, so all I had to do was put up new backer and put the new ledgestone tile in that she wanted.
As for the water system, I dug down to the pipe where it came to the house and re routed it to a small building right behind the house. Installed a whole home water filter inside the building, then ran the outlet from it to the inlet on the water softener. Then the filtered and softened water was routed back to the water line going in to the house. After installing all that, I put a hose on the water heater and ran it outside and let it drain and circulate a while to get it full of softened water and get some of the crud out of it, which quite a bit did come out. Once it was running clear, I closed it up. I installed the reverse osmosis system under the kitchen sink with the little filtered water faucet next to the regular faucet.
Everything's been working great so far. it's been about a month and a half since I got it done and no problems. Water softener is still full of salt. Hasn't needed to be topped off yet. The faucets in the house aren't clogging up any more and we can actually use the dishwasher without the dishes coming out looking worse than when they went in. The water does feel different. Feels like you can't get soap off when you wash your hands or take a shower. Other folks describe it as "slimy" feeling. I guess it kinda is. Just different. But we're enjoying the benefits of it so far.
Excuse the mess. We were still in the process, obviously. Needed to get the sink up and running.
One side, almost finished backsplash
And it never stops!!!
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
That's for sure. We were joking the other day. By the time we get the house "done," we'll be 80 and working on plans to remodel the house to accommodate our wheelchairs...:jester:
And all the work you put into the first house? The next wife will have the next husband rip it all out and put in what she wants. Even though no male could tell a difference between the changes and colors.
It is a vicious cycle, and keeps Home Depot and lowes in business
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
THAT, ain't happening here. As close as you can get to 100% impossible, so a nursery will not be needed....