Water softeners

Awlknottedup · Jul 19, 2013

Next question is about water softeners. What are the criteria for selection and what are some good brands?

PJH · Jul 19, 2013

I've only owned one - bought it about 12-15 years ago. It's a Sears, made by who knows. It was expensive - seems like around $900 - but it has been trouble free - just have to keep salt in it and it does it's thing. I'm certainly no expert on them.

Russ from MN · Jul 19, 2013

At our last house we needed one, so we let rain soft come and give us a sales pitch. They convinced us that we needed one, but I decided not theirs! We got one installed by a independent plumber for about 1/3 the cost and it worked well for 27 years. I don't really think there is much difference from one brand to the other, they all basically use the same components. One thing I highly recommend is putting a good filter in ahead of the softener, most problems are caused by dirt getting in the small orifices.

Dick2 · Jul 19, 2013

Waterboss.

OliLt · Jul 19, 2013

They all work on the same principle-ion exchange. The system needs to be sized according to the typical gallon usage per day, and hardness of the water. Iron in the water may require more capacity, or a separate filter depending on the concentration. The control head is probably the most important component. A demand type control head that recharges the system only when necessary will minimize salt usage. The control head should be serviceable and replaceable without having to scrap the tanks and plumbing. I have a Kinetico primarily because it is non-electric. Getting the unit from a professional plumber is good advice. Check CL for used systems, but be sure to know what you are getting.

Chuck Heck · Jul 19, 2013

For the money, I have had good luck with Water Boss.

Dean Olson · Jul 19, 2013

Determine the needed flow rate of your home, how many gallons per minute. How many people are in the home and your water hardness is in grains per gallon. That information will get you the correct size machine. You do not want to lose any water pressure or run out of soft water.

The best water softener is one you can get parts and service on from a local dealer. Rainsoft, Culligan,Kinetico, Eco are all good brands but also stupid expensive.

Eco is the worlds largest manufacturer and makes Eco,Sears,General Electric,Whirlpool, Rayne, and North Star. North Star is typically marketed to plumbing contractors and the one I like the best. I've installed thousands over the years.

Water Boss has a bad reputation around the Houston area, No service support. The fact that they were sold by Home depot, Builders Square, Lowes etc. with no service support didn't help them.

Eric in IL · Jul 19, 2013

I have had good luck with softeners branded Star Water Systems.

The valve is one of the simplest I have seen and used to be made by Flint & Walling. Should there be a problem, the valve is easy to rebuild and parts have not been a problem for me.

MarkB_MI · Jul 19, 2013

The bigger the water softener, the more it will flow for a given pressure drop. That, to me, is more important than the grains rating. You can regenerate a small softener more often to handle harder water, but there's no way to improve its flow rate without upgrading the tank.

You definitely want a demand softener; otherwise you're wasting salt. The supplier should set up the valve to only regenerate about 50 percent of the tanks capacity; that ensures that no salt goes to waste.

Take a water sample to any water conditioning supplier and have it tested for hardness and iron. That will tell you what capacity you need and help you adjust the softener you buy.

Several years ago I bought a system from Ohio Pure Water. It uses a Fleck demand control valve and has been pretty much trouble-free.
Ohio Pure Water

johnlobb · Jul 20, 2013

Marlo out of Racine, WI. They have an engineer named James Ticchone that is brilliant on diagnosing problem water and solutions for it. One can buy from a Yugo to a Rolls Royce in water conditioning but these people offer a good value between price and performance.

WGM · Jul 21, 2013

My Kinetico is 37 years old and have had at most 2 service calls. They are pricey but will outlast anything any other softener.

showcrop · Jul 21, 2013

(reply to post at 09:55:50 07/19/13)

Get whatever your trusted local plumber carries. A third the cost of the big names and comes with service.

Water softeners

Awlknottedup

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PJH

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Russ from MN

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Dick2

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OliLt

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Chuck Heck

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Dean Olson

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Eric in IL

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MarkB_MI

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johnlobb

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WGM

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showcrop

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