Water softeners - worth it?

[goodolddaze]

We live in a v hard water area and I have very bad eczema. A few neighbours have water softeners fitted and I know they can be helpful for eczema (as well as for keeping appliances/ surfaces clear etc). But they are so expensive! Just been quoted £1600 for one to be fitted. Is it worth it?!

Yes! Single best modification we've made to our house.

Thank you for replying! Can I ask why?

If it is just for showering, you can get shower heads from Amazon that soften water. I got one for about £10, and was very sceptical. It has certainly made a difference. Might be worth a try?

oh that's very interesting, thank you. I'll have a look.

Well, to start with we got fed up with having to replace the inner workings of the shower dial every time it seized up with calcium deposits. Also, all my taps had nasty sharp rock like build up around them so bad I used to cut my hands cleaning them. The shower screens were always opaque.

Now we have the softener the shower stays see-through with only a squeegee blade thing wiped over it, as do the tiles. I've replaced all the taps that were the worst and they now look as good as the day they were installed (3 years ago).

My skin doesn't feel as rough and dry after baths and showers like it did before. My hair is softer and shinier too. Also use about half the amount of shower gel, shampoo, Persil, washing up liquid etc.

We have kept a little cold tap on the side of the sink for water for tea. Tea is the only drink I don't like the taste of with softened water.

*I live in one of the hardest water areas in the country.