Should I get a water softener?

[Bananamanfan]

We live in a hard water area and have just ordered a new kettle & dishwasher. This has set me thinking about how nice it would be to have a cup of tea without limescale floating in it.
Shower heads get blocked really quickly & descaling is not one of my hobbies.
How much is a water softener (cannot find any prices online) & would you recommend getting one if you have one?

Would you use the softened water in the kettle though?

My parents have a water softener, and although they were told it is safe to drink, they didn't like the taste.

No idea, zero. I don't know anyone that has one, i don't know what the set up is. Ideally yes.

I don't have one - I'm lucky enough to live in one of the softest water areas in the UK - it would take a 100 years before anything needed descaling.

The setup is that it connected to you mains water supply at the point it comes into your house - there are many options available HERE is one site.

Whilst "soft" water doesn't have the "taste" harder water does, you will immediately notice the difference.

You will cut the amount of washing powder/shampoos, soaps etc you need in half (if not more). Your skin and hair will be much softer, and your bathroom and kitchen will stay much, much cleaner. Yout appliances will never need descaling and won't risk early breakdown from limescale build up.

We have one as live in an area of very hard water. It was roughly £600 plus fitting. Ours is a Highflow non electric Monarch Solo Ultra that takes block salt.

Our kitchen cold tap is on mains, the rest of the house is through the Water Softener.

I always fill the kettle and coffee machine up from the hot tap and haven't had any complaints, my husband is very fussy. Shower heads etc are lovely and clear, use less shampoo, washing powder etc and our hot water cylinder is protected.

They work by removing calcium and magnesium ions from hard water and replacing them with sodium which forms salts with much higher solubility. The reason you aren't supposed to drink it is because of the raised sodium level, not enough to taste salty but not good for your blood pressure etc. Whereas drinking from the hot tap is advised against because of the risk of bacterial contamination but boiling it should deal with that.