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Original poster

would you choose a Water Softener (Harvey/ Kinetico) or an Instant Boiling Water tap in kitchen?

28 replies

Newhere2 · 30/04/2015 11:49

Coming down to cost I can only choose one of the products.

so a few questions:

  • do the water softeners work and which is best?
  • will I use the instant hot water tap all the time?

What would you do for the greatest benefit ?

I love the idea of both and just can't decide....

OP posts:
ouryve · 30/04/2015 11:54

No matter what reassurances are given, the idea of an instant hot water tap, with kids, terrifies me.

Pigletjohn is probably your best bet for water softeners. We have one which uses siliphos beads, which was already installed when we moved in, to protect the boiler. We still need to use a filter jug for drinking water and descale the draining board with vinegar, regularly.

OwlBeeBack · 30/04/2015 12:35

Neither, but if I had to have one it would be the water softener (even though we don't live in a hard water area).

I really wouldn't want the boiling water tap.

Theknacktoflying · 30/04/2015 12:39

We live in a hard water area and have a Kinetico water softener - it certainly helps with the limescale issue.

However - the salt costs about £100 a year on salt. If we. Ove we can take it with us.

Theknacktoflying · 30/04/2015 12:40

Sorry - if we move we can take it with us.

SqueezyCheeseWeasel · 30/04/2015 12:40

The softener. We recently redid our kitchen and actively chose NOT to get a boiling water tap.

SqueezyCheeseWeasel · 30/04/2015 12:42

I don't think £100 a year on salt is that bad, tbh. My dishwasher probably gets through a good £25-£35 worth per year, so to keep the shower heads free of scale and all that, £100 seems fair.

SqueezyCheeseWeasel · 30/04/2015 12:44

(Dishwasher is a 3yr old Bosch integrated, so not some ancient clanking beast)

BL00CowWonders · 30/04/2015 13:01

Agree with Squeezy. Decided against boiling water tap

Original poster
Newhere2 · 30/04/2015 13:11

thats interesting. I get the idea of being afraid of turning on the hot tap by mistake, but on the ones i've seen they have a special way of turning them on etc.

Theknacktoflying do you think it eliminates the limescale totally? Do you have to descale the shower heads or get limescale build up around taps etc?
I hate limescale! and trying to remove it constantly is such a chore....

OP posts:
BL00CowWonders · 30/04/2015 13:35

For me it was the wasted energy, not safety. A kettle and an induction hob are fast enough I think.

BL00CowWonders · 30/04/2015 13:45

Energy and cost actually Grin. How much???

Original poster
Newhere2 · 30/04/2015 14:31

ok, yes energy is another consideration to think about too.

Maybe i'm leaning towards the water softener now.

Though the thought of being able to quickly make tea and sterilise knifes and cutting boards etc would be great too.

OP posts:
Mrsladybirdface · 30/04/2015 16:55

I have a boiling tap but no water softener. just to clarify boiling taps are:
-a luxury item so don't consider if you want to save the planet. (though I've had mine a year and my electric bills have not gone up

  • childproof and very safe..much safer than a kettle
-amazing time savers ...love mine!
Original poster
Newhere2 · 01/05/2015 06:53

Thanks Mrslady what brand do you have?

OP posts:
Thistledew · 01/05/2015 07:08

I'm going for option C in my new kitchen - an integrated water filter for drinking water. It fits under the sink and provides filtered drinking water quite literally on tap. It saves faffing around with filter jugs and will work out comparable in price for the filters.

Original poster
Newhere2 · 01/05/2015 08:43

Hi Thistledew I also love that idea but not as much as the hot water tap or the Water Softner option.

Though perhaps I should research the filter more as well, thanks.

OP posts:
Theknacktoflying · 01/05/2015 11:28

I don't think it completely eliminates the limescale but it is easier to shift. Kilrok is my friend

Also, if your area also has hard water wouldn't the boiling tap have a big issue with limescale?

There is also a reverse osmosis water softening technique - no salt or additives - just need the space and filters?

Mrsladybirdface · 01/05/2015 18:04

We have a Franke Minevra...It has cartridges to deal with hard waterSmile

Original poster
Newhere2 · 02/05/2015 17:53

thanks Theknack, the hot water has a limescale filter method, so would just do that as needed like for a nespresso

I haven't heard of Franke Minerva, i'll have a look.

OP posts:
18yearsoftrying · 02/05/2015 21:11

I've got a Quooker boiling water tap (now 5 yrs old) & is fab for instant boiling water. More so now than before due to weaning DD.

However, we did say that next time we would remove the bin from under the kitchen sink to make room for a softener.

Not sure that helps at all, but if I had to choose between bin & softener, the softener would win.

I guess the question is about how much time you have waiting for the kettle to boil (as well as installation & running cost) My DH is out at 4am every day for work & he didn't want to hang around for his caffeine shot.

ChopOrNot · 03/05/2015 17:40

How often do you currently use boiling water (for us it is one or two cups of tea a day and maybe a pot for pasta/veg). Was a luxury we were not that bothered about so did not fit when we did the kitchen (whole house refurbed so although we spent thousands in all the extra £500 for boiling water tap was not worth it.

Water softener was an absolute must. We live in a very hard water area and it has saved a lot of scrubbing and limescale removing. Less soap and DD's dry skin better (probably due to less soap?). It broke for a bit and really noticed the difference. I was very glad when it was fixed again.

We got a re-furbished Twin-Tec one from our local water-softener shop. Kinetico are, I think, rated slightly more than Twin-Tec - but they are in essence the same technology - just Kinetico broke off from Twin Tec, tweaked a few things and set up a new company.

I would recommend either from what I have heard. And if you can get a refurbed one they are much less expensive.

If you are in the Herts area try Total Soft Water - they are in Hitchin and Harpended - they were very good (and when we had a glitch - which is very rare - with the refurbed one sorted it for free).

Wave a flag for PigletJohn to come by too....

Apatite1 · 03/05/2015 21:11

I can't be convinced of the safety of a boiling water tap with children in the house (irrational but there we are) so softener for us.

Original poster
Newhere2 · 04/05/2015 08:15

Thanks CHoporNot very interesting. I too suffer from very dry skin and notice when in areas that are not affected by limescale my skin is much better.

I hadn't considered a refurbished one. That must help wight he cost. Shall investigate!

OP posts:
thereinmadnesslies · 04/05/2015 08:21

I love my kinetico softener. It's made such a difference, previously washing machines were dying from lime scale every 2-3 yrs. A £100 delivery of salt lasted 18 months for us.

Original poster
Newhere2 · 04/05/2015 08:40

Does anyone know where to find refurbished softeners in the Richmond / Surrey areas?

OP posts: