Have you got a water softener?

[NewName73]

And if so, would you recommend one?

What sort do you have? We are in a very hard water area & seem to spend a lot of money fixing glitches in plumbing. Is it worth the cost? Are there any downsides?

Thanks

We have a very basic one because we live in a very hard water area. We spend about £5 a month on salt I think. Personally I wouldn’t be without one now. DH doesn’t feel the same but then he has never had to clean limescale off anything either so he has no idea. You use less detergent, showers are nicer and cleaning is easier. What’s not to like.

Oh and you don’t get that scum on top of hot drinks and that alone makes it worth it for me.

We have one and have had for almost 20 years. It is one that takes block salt (bricks of salt).

We have found it good because we too are in a very hard water area. Kettles last years rather than just a few months. Our power shower keeps working and the hot water cylinder does not fur up.

The washing machine and dishwasher don't accumulate much in the way of limescale either.

The slight drawback is perhaps the cost of the salt, which is £45 for 10 packs of block salt (two bricks of salt in each pack, and each pack lasts just under a fortnight for a family of five).

Overall, I like ours.

We have quite a large one built into a cupboard in the kitchen. We too have hard water. It minimises cleaning. Nothing gets lime scale. I have dark tiles in my shower. No limescale. Perfect after 10 years. Machines and showers last longer.

Yes, it’s worth it. DH buys the salt. We have it in large granules. Not sure of cost but it’s not massive. Even at £5 a month: that’s a couple of coffees in Costa!

Yes absolutely recommend it. We live in a part of Dorset where the water is incredibly hard, and we have one of the TwinTec S3 softener. We also have a dark tile in our bathroom and it looks pristine.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. seems like a good idea.

How much did you pay for installation?

Following, I desperately need one myself!

I really can't remember in detail the cost of having it installed as it was a long time ago now. I think it was a few hundred, but remember that they are not cheap machines so you need to take the long term view - soft water is so much easier on your major household appliances, especially the dishwasher (which won't need dishwasher salt anymore either), washing machine and kettle. Shower and hot water system will continue to be more efficient once you have finally got rid of any limescale that has built up in the toilet it should stay clearer and look much better.

Ours is twintec one too. It is still our original one, so just short of 20 years old I would guess. Still going strong. Just a couple of minor repairs in that time, but one of those was when my labrador (then a few weeks old puppy) chewed the overflow spout off on the outside wall, so not the fault of the manufacturer or installer - mine for having taken my eye of him. Easily repaired.

Also do people have salt-based or cartridge type?

Any views on which is better?

Ours is a Harvey. Salt based for all washing purposes. Cartridge with separate tap for drinking (non softened but filtered water). The filtered water tastes divine. We mainly got it for skin - went too dry/eczema like with the hard water.

The ion-exchange ones, which are regenerated using salt (it does not get into the tapwater) work.

There are a few phosphate-dosing systems still used, I believe they reduce scale.

You occasionally see magnetic "water conditioners." For details of the science, see here

Salt blocks are convenient to handle, but much more expensive. I have it delivered in sacks about once a year. If you are not burly, order the 10kg bags, not the 20kg. Never carry salt in your own car. A single dropped granule can eat through the floor.