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Can anyone recommend a water softener? *UPDATE*

M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
So we wanna get a water softener and I have no idea at all where to start. Any tips? Thanks atot! :awe:

Update: called my water company, and they say they're the only company in the state (I think it was state) that softens the water. They say in the winter its 8 ppm and in the summer when water use is high and the softener is overloaded its at 28-35 ppm I think.

Does this sound legit? Should I not get one? They had no testing info so...should I buy a kit? I can't understand why I'd need a kit since it seems all the softeners are the same.
 
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I think most of the softeners on the market are the same. There's not really much to them, as you go up in cost you get a fancier display, more programming, more capacity, and larger water lines. The bottom end ones run around 350 and go up to about 700. Salt or potassium runs around 5-8 dollars a bag, a bag should last you a while depending on how much softened water you use.

If you want to do it right run the water softener only on the hot line of your water, it will help your water heater a lot. You really don't need softened cold water in most cases but some people will run soft water through the entire house to make plumbing easier.

Also, get your water tested before you go through all the hassle. Most places who sell softeners will test it for free. If your water is less than 60 or so mg/L it's probably not worth it.
 
http://www.ohiopurewater.com/shop/customer/home.php

They'll want a sample of your water and from that they will make a recommendation on what you need. About half the price or less of buying a pre-assembled unit. Plumbing skills will be required. Only you will know if you need to farm that out. The actual assembly of the water softener I would think almost anyone can handle.

I went this way when the original softener in the house needed replacement. I also added a filter before the softener at the same time. I'm amazed how much that thing traps. I expect this softener to last much, much longer with the filter. I'm on a well btw.

The valve is the critical part of a softener. Fleck valves are widely considered to be the best in the industry. I would suggest a dual tank setup. When one tank is going through the regeneration cycle, the other tank is softening your water. No more of the hot water tank full of unsoftened water. This type of valve will regenerate the tanks based on water usage not the time of day. No having to reset the clock if there is a power failure with the potential of the softener running during a time of the day of peak water usage if you forget because there is no clock. The softener won't be running when you're out of town and no water is being used. You'll save on salt too.

The dual tank setup is the way to go.
 
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mike-tyson-11.jpg
 
I bought a Whirlpool 30000 Grain last year and installed it myself. I have one of those homes that's built in 2011 so its really easy. The pipings are already set up for that.
 
Do a lot of research. Have your water tested so you know just exactly what kind of hardness you're trying to chase down. Buy your equipment on the internet from a place that actually knows what they're doing - the people at Sears and similar stores have no clue.

I followed the above advice and for $500 have a softening system that's way better than the big box store setups.
 
Wow, thank you for the information guys! Is it difficult to self install? How much is this gonna cost me if i "do it right?" Our house isnt new, its like...30-35 years old. If i do it myself, should i just test our water? Any kits or anything i should get?

So many questions lol...thanks again!
 
If you're in the NW burbs of Chicago lemme know, you're welcome to have a free water softener.

My house came with one but my house has been converted from a well to the city's water supply which is pretty good on it's own.
 
BurnItDwn said:
If you're in the NW burbs of Chicago lemme know, you're welcome to have a free water softener.

My house came with one but my house has been converted from a well to the city's water supply which is pretty good on it's own.
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Damn, im in central indiana. Maybe i should drive up there. :awe: Thanks for the offer!
 
kazaam said:
Damn, im in central indiana. Maybe i should drive up there. :awe: Thanks for the offer!
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Well, with no knowledge of what I've got, or what exactly meets your needs, it's probably not worth the drive .... I'll see if I can remember to take a picture or 2 or find the model number when I'm at home, just in case.
 
kazaam said:
Wow, thank you for the information guys! Is it difficult to self install? How much is this gonna cost me if i "do it right?" Our house isnt new, its like...30-35 years old. If i do it myself, should i just test our water? Any kits or anything i should get?

So many questions lol...thanks again!
Click to expand...

You can do self-install but your house may need more pipings. Lowes and Home Depot provides installation with purchase.
 
Consider getting one with dual resin beds. On a single bed system, when the resin is exhausted, during a regeneration cycle the softener will be bypassed, and you will get hard water. On a dual bed system, when one bed is exhausted, the system will switch to the other bed, while regenerating the first.

In terms of plumbing, all hot water should be softened. For optimal water heater life and energy efficiency, hard water should not be allowed into the water heater. Softened cold water is recommended for washing (i.e. bathrooms, washing machine, dishwasher). Softened cold water should not be used in the kitchen to avoid introducing excessive sodium into drinking water/cooking water.
 
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kazaam said:
It seems like the dual water softener models are like $1000 starting. Is this correct?
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I'm seeing them for less at the site I linked earlier. Get your water tested before you price anything as the price will vary depending on how much capacity you need. More grains of hardness will require larger tanks and larger tanks require more resin. Iron will affect how much capacity you need. The list goes on...

Testing your water is the only way to know what you need. You don't just guess at this stuff.

http://www.ohiopurewater.com/shop/customer/home.php?cat=293

Test kits linked above although you can find them for a lot less locally. Our county has them available for $10.
 
boomerang said:
I'm seeing them for less at the site I linked earlier. Get your water tested before you price anything as the price will vary depending on how much capacity you need. More grains of hardness will require larger tanks and larger tanks require more resin. Iron will affect how much capacity you need. The list goes on...

Testing your water is the only way to know what you need. You don't just guess at this stuff.

http://www.ohiopurewater.com/shop/customer/home.php?cat=293

Test kits linked above although you can find them for a lot less locally. Our county has them available for $10.
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I'll get on it, thanks a lot for the advice. Are these available at most stores, or do i have to go to our water utility company for them? I dismissed that site earlier since i thought it was for ohio only! 😀 Appreciate your help!
 
kazaam said:
I'll get on it, thanks a lot for the advice. Are these available at most stores, or do i have to go to our water utility company for them? I dismissed that site earlier since i thought it was for ohio only! 😀 Appreciate your help!
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Yeah, they're just based in Ohio.

I have never looked at the hardware store or Home Depot / Lowe's / Menards for one so I don't know. I just picked mine up at the county. The one I got tested for Hardness, Iron, Nitrates, and other stuff I can't remember. 🙂 You actually get the results yourself, no sending it away or anything like that.
 
Considering some of your past threads, it MIGHT make more sense for you to call one of the companies and have them come to your house and give you a proper estimate.
They can usually do a "quick water test" on the spot that will tell you some of the basics about your water quality...and will have a lab test available if you decide to become a customer.
They can give you advice on what kind of system will be the best for your particular application, costs of the system, costs of install, and costs of maintenance. (even if you do most of the maintenance yourself, they can cost out media for the system.)
 
goto your local lowes and they should have some free test strips next to their water softeners that they are selling. It should give you some idea what you are dealing with.
 
SO, here's where I am now: called my water company, and they say they're the only company in the state (I think it was state) that softens the water. They say in the winter its 8 ppm and in the summer when water use is high and the softener is overloaded its at 28-35 ppm I think.

Does this sound legit? Should I not get one? They had no testing info so...should I buy a kit? I can't understand why I'd need a kit since it seems all the softeners are the same.
 
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