My new water softener is really confusing!

[stirling]

Couple of questions, would be great if anyone could shed light on :
Whether the salt blocks really need replacing every 2 weeks (was told at the sales meeting it lasts 3-4 weeks)? I don't have a dishwasher, we don't fill up baths. Just average water consumption family of 3...

1. When the salt is running out I know about it because I no longer have that slippery feeling when trying to wash off soap. However when I put the salt blocks in, it takes a couple of days before it gets to slippery stage again. Does that sound right?

Thanks in advance

Oh, and if anyone knows about the impact on eczema - how long till we see (or if) an improvement....

Have you got a hot water cylinder? What colour?

You shouldn't wait until the salt runs out.
The water is usually softened as soon as it enters the house (immediately after unsoftened feed to drinking tap)then so water in your cold and hot tanks (if you have them) is softened.
Bit pointless letting unsoftened water mix in your tanks. Even if you top up the salt, it will take a while for the soft water to dilute the hardmwater.
I admit to being rubbish at checking my salt so make it a Sunday thing to do. Which I will be doing today cos I forgot!

I seem to remember when I first had my water softener installed it got through the first set of salt blocks really quickly, and then it slowed down after that; I now replace them about once a month. I tend not to wait until the blocks have completely run out- you can put new salt blocks on top the old ones when its down to the dregs.

Hi thanks all,
Piglet John I don't have a cylinder. It's just a cuboid thing in the garden, Harvey's installed it....

If you have no hot water cylinder, then I would expect the soft water to come through your taps immediately after the next regeneration after you have refilled the salt. If it regenerates, say, every three days, and you actually let the salt run out, the gap until the next regeneration could be up to three days. If it regenerates every ten days, it could be up to ten. You are not supposed to let it run out.

OK thanks pigletjohn. Got it!

I don't know your model but it might have a "regenerate now" override button or setting you can use after putting the salt in. Have a look at the instructions or call the supplier.

OK great, thank you.
Also, does anyone know if it takes a long time to see the effect on eczema? So far, my sons skin has gotten worse. A lot worse. The whole point of investing £2000 was for his skin.

DP noticed it after a month or two, having had no prior expectations. As well as soft water for washing and showers, the towels and clothes also go softer (you need far less soap powder, no fabsoft, and can clean out the residue with a hot cycle in washing soda).

Less soap/shower gel/facewash is needed, so, again, there will be less residue on the skin.

We also use Persil (or Fairy) Non-bio, but apparently it's a myth that enzyme powders aggravatate it. It's probably the various scents used in different brands. I think the early bio powders used to be strongly scented, and anyway, the softened water rinses away more of the residue.

I notice wet shaves scrape the skin less immediately.

Thanks pigletjohn! Sounds encouraging... Maybe I'll keep it. Trial runs out in a month

have you washed out the towels yet?

A load of towels, a cup of washing soda crystals, no soap, no fabsoft, hot cotton wash.

Likely the water will foam up and go grey as it washes away the resident soap and scale trapped in the fibres. When you dry them you should notice they feel softer and are more absorbent.

Cut down your use of soap and detergent.

Hi piglet John my towels feel the same to be honest. Yes using less laundry detergent.
Haven't tried the protocol you mentioned will give it a go...
Thank you