Hard water solutions - London

[Woolysock]

Hi, getting a bit fed up of the hard water in London. Lots of options when I Google, shower heads, shampoos, hard water systems... so looking for any tried and tested recommendations please? Thanks

an ion-exchange softener working on the Permutit principle, that uses salt to recharge the resin when saturated.

I hated SE water when I lived there. I used workarounds all the time - jug water filters for drinking water, fancy shower heads, metal wire balls in my kettle to deal with the limescale etc.... How I wished I'd fitted a filter system to the mains water though!!

I use a Harveys Water Softner Minimax M2 but its not cheap. Cost around £1,600 installed but its definately worth it! You also have to buy sale blocks to keep it running.

Yes Yes Yes to salt-based water softeners, most other contraptions are snake oil.

I haven't tried the hard water shampoo but I find the more intense conditioners (meant for weekly use) work well used every other day.

As Piglet John says, we've a Kinetico, Harveys are similar but a bit cheaper I think

I have a Twintec water softener with a RO filter for the drinking water tap. Installed 15 years ago and I love it. The only thing I'd do differently is to have an unsoftened feed for the dishwasher, as soft water is especially hard on dishes.

All dishwashers contain a miniature water softener, because hard water leaves limescale which reduces the efficience of the machine and accumulates on dishes. Salt is poured into the reservoir at the bottom of the machine.

When you have a whole-house softener, you no longer need the internal one, or can adjust it to minimum.

Thanks all very helpful.

I'll look into salt based water softeners, the Harvey's sounds good. Really pleased to hear they work I have family in Edinburgh and miss visiting and having clean soft hair for a few days!

Loved my water softener when I had Thames Water, even got a black kitchen sink!

Isn't a water softener bad for small children to drink from though?

We have a water softener. Kitchen tap and bathroom tap cold supply aren’t softened so safe to drink. Drinking salt softened water all the time isn’t great but I don’t think it’ll kill anyone!

@PigletJohn how much was the unit and install? I'm looking for a hard water solution too

This is the one we had took up half a kitchen cupboard

www.tradeplumbing.co.uk/atlantis-at210-hi-flow-water-softener-14-litre.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAyJOBBhDCARIsAJG2h5dB8j-JosNynNYGyDQ0uvelMIAR5XOf4DkCcjJP8HTCXAvd8QDjPSoaAj-JEALw_wcB&sel=25986

Had it fitted when we had the kitchen done.

can't remember what mine cost. Might have been around a thousand, but I have since found out that the technology is quite simple, and the parts and materials are commercially available. I got my current one as a reconditioned exchange from a company in Essex I used to drive past.

I'd now suggest that you contact your local water softener company (there will be one) and ask if they repair softeners. If yes, ask if they deliver salt. If yes, ask what softeners they sell. Some local specialists assemble their own (my window cleaners built a big one in his shed) and some will not repair softeners they did not supply.

Get your salt delivered, don't carry it in your own car as a single spilled grain can corrode a hole through the bodywork. Look inside the delivery van and you will be shocked at the rust. I get mine delivered in 10kg bags and stack them in the garage . 25kg are a bit cheaper but harder to carry around and tip in. Blocks are more expensive.

IME the softeners with the "Fleck" (brand) valve and control head seem reliable and very easy to get parts or service for. It may be an industry standard, I don't know.