Talk to me about water softners

[Warstud]

ANYONE HERE EVER EMPTY OUT THE MINERAL TANK AND REPLACE THE GRAVEL AND BEADS?

Currently having problems with my meter not working..which I'll try fixing this weekend. But am also wondering if I should empty out the mineral tank and replace the beads and gravel or just reuse them.

 

[levi]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
We installed a whole house Water Softener about 10 years ago and its still working like new.

My parents have the same house less than a block away and did not install one.

I've used the large tank "traditional" units before and they use a LOT more salt and water for the back-flush and recharging. They also don't last as long on a charge.

Check out this brand. Waterboss

Made in the USA! Easy to install.

Uses about 17 gallons total water per cycle, lasts 1000 gallons (it measures water used) and I go through 40 lb bag of salt in 2-3 months. Much smaller unit in size over the older style ones.

Proof that a water softener is necessary? My Parents hot water heater outlet was blocked up by deposits, their toilet valves gunk'd up (all 3 of them) and every facet has limed up to a point where water flow is all but gone.

None of those issues have happened at our home. Add in the cleaner bathrooms, better feeling after showers and better tasting water and I'm sold.

Take care, bill






Installed a Waterboss in our home about a year ago. We love it!

 

[Virtuoso]

I stand corrected.

And the amount of salt some of you guys use is amazing! Makes me wish our Aqua Magic "smart" softener would break soon so I can replace it with a WaterBoss..

We use about 10-12,000 gallons a month (most of it softened), and I'd say I probably add 150lbs every 3 months?

 

[benjamming]

The amount of salt used will depend upon the hardness of the water assuming the softener is programmed correctly & is actually programmable. There are also settings for how long to regenerate, etc.

How do you average 300-400 gal/day of water? That's a lot. Leak somewhere?

 

[Virtuoso]

The softener is set correctly according to the manual & how hard the city says our water is (22 grams). It uses about 9 lbs of salt per regeneration cycle IIRC. It says it measures how much water is used and regnerates accordingly. Not really sure how often it does this, though.

We do have a leaky shower and bath sink faucet. We measured the shower to leak about 50-75 gals/month..but it does vary. There is also an original 1930's toilet in the basement that does not want to stop filling on occasion. It's pretty well jerry-fixed now, but it's been just one of thoes things.

We're a family of six and we eat 98% of our meals at home. We run our dishwasher (older model) 2-3 times daily; and lots and lots of laundry (traditional top-loader Maytag). Four to six showers daily depending how dirty the little ones get; plus whatever other chores need to get done.

I always thought it sounded a bit high, but I really didn't have anything to base it off of.

 

[benjamming]

Dishwasher 2-3 times daily? Wow. We've run ours 3 times this week but she's cooking for the next 3 or so weeks & there is only two of us. We eat virtually all our meals at home as well. In any case, the leaks help explain it.

Anyway, any real differences in brands of salt?

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: benjamming

Anyway, any real differences in brands of salt?
I've found the pellets last longer and are cleaner in the tank.

Not found ANY difference in brands.

Bill

 

[dishdude]

Thanks guys, as usual a ton of great info! I checked out the WaterBoss and will likely go with one of their models, they look to have everything I am looking for.

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: Virtuoso
I stand corrected.

And the amount of salt some of you guys use is amazing! Makes me wish our Aqua Magic "smart" softener would break soon so I can replace it with a WaterBoss..

We use about 10-12,000 gallons a month (most of it softened), and I'd say I probably add 150lbs every 3 months?


wow that's a lot of water. we average 180 gallons a day and our use is pretty scandalous in australia. it doesn't bother me because our regional water supply is pretty darn good... always raining here.

we are 5 people, but unlike you ours are very young and share a bath... i guess when they get older i'm going to drain the water supply dam LOL.