Water Softening Installation Price (how much, window, heater, bathrooms)

[johnlvs2run]

I put a 5 micron sediment filter and housing where the water comes into the house a couple of decades ago and change the filter once a year. This keeps the hardness off the appliances. The water heater had to be replaced a year ago, at 31 years. It was already 10 years old when I moved into this house.

I'm on my 4th reverse osmosis system, which is sitting under the sink in the kitchen. I fill up 2 one gallon plastic apple cider containers from the RO spigot every morning, and use the pure water from those through the days.

The reason for the containers is to save turning the spigot on and off, which could cause creep in some (but not all) RO membranes. A good RO membrane should reduce the TDS (total dissolved solids) in the water by 98 percent. Tap water here is ~400 TDS, which should be less than 8 tds after the prefilters and the membrane. I also use a passive permeate pump, which helps to keep the pressure on the membrane and improve the quality of the water.

A good RO system runs $150 to $200 on Ebay. Don't get one from filters direct as their membranes are only 90 percent though they advertise 97 percent. The 5 micron whole house filters are two for $10 and the housings less then $20, with a one time installation.

I have looked into soft water systems and see no reason to get one.

[nhmaster]

some equipment is better than others for sure. It is with anything you buy. A little homework on the web will help sort those issues out and remember that cost is always a factor. I like to buy local, from my supplier. I trust the equipment and the people selling it. I know where to track them down if there is a problem. i know that they will still be in business in 10 years because the company is corporate owned. Many of the internet companies are one man shows. Basically jobbers that drop ship product for a nominal fee which is why the price is often a bit lower, but the guy could fold up shop tomorrow or drop dead and leave you with a warranty nightmare.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by nhmaster

some equipment is better than others for sure. It is with anything you buy. A little homework on the web will help sort those issues out and remember that cost is always a factor. I like to buy local, from my supplier. I trust the equipment and the people selling it. I know where to track them down if there is a problem. i know that they will still be in business in 10 years because the company is corporate owned. Many of the internet companies are one man shows. Basically jobbers that drop ship product for a nominal fee which is why the price is often a bit lower, but the guy could fold up shop tomorrow or drop dead and leave you with a warranty nightmare.

Very true!!! I hear nightmare stories.

Remember, it is your local guy that will give your kid a job someday. Either by hiring them or, simply eating fast food.

[Gary Slusser]

Originally Posted by johnlvs2run

I put a 5 micron sediment filter and housing where the water comes into the house a couple of decades ago and change the filter once a year. This keeps the hardness off the appliances. The water heater had to be replaced a year ago, at 31 years. It was already 10 years old when I moved into this house.

I have looked into soft water systems and see no reason to get one.

There is no sediment filter that can remove hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium). You probably have low pH (acidic) water with low TDS (total dissolved solids) and no hardness.

That's why you see no reason for a softener. But the vast majority of people do have hard water and would lower their cost of living if they needed one and had one.

[Gary Slusser]

Originally Posted by nhmaster

some equipment is better than others for sure. It is with anything you buy. A little homework on the web will help sort those issues out and remember that cost is always a factor. I like to buy local, from my supplier. I trust the equipment and the people selling it. I know where to track them down if there is a problem. i know that they will still be in business in 10 years because the company is corporate owned. Many of the internet companies are one man shows. Basically jobbers that drop ship product for a nominal fee which is why the price is often a bit lower, but the guy could fold up shop tomorrow or drop dead and leave you with a warranty nightmare.

As a plumber you can buy local from your supplier and will pay less for 'it' than if a homeowner walked into the same place but...

You are responsible for the service and warranty if needed, not your supplier although they have the final say as to IF the part is covered under warranty. So you are just one guy like us online dealers.

The biggest difference is the retail price the customer pays you or the online dealer. As an online dealer I sell retail including delivery for less than you can usually buy the same thing for from your plumbing supply house or my type of suppliers that only sell water treatment equipment at wholesale.

As a water treatment dealer I sell much more product than a plumber and therefore I buy at a lower cost due to my volume. That and extremely low overhead expenses is how we online dealers sell at a 1/4 to a 1/3 of the retail price from a local dealer or plumber selling the same thing.

Out of over 1300 sales to DIYers across the US of just one specific control valve, a Clack WS-1, I have had 26 warranty problems over 5.75 years now. Actually many people here in these forums have bought from me. Some have compared prices to local dealers/plumbers selling the same thing and saved up to $3,000 by buying from me or other online dealers.

If I disappear my customers can buy a new part outright from another online dealer and still have saved thousands and the customer knows that before they buy. If you disappear, they will pay substantially more unless they buy online. That's probably why I sell more softeners in a month than you do in a year.

[Driller1]

Sorry about the deleted line. I was reporting Gary's ad to the mods and hit the wrong spot.

Who would buy from someone that can not follow simple forum rules???

[DKVA]

Getting 2 quotes from local guys this Wednesday.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by DKVA

Getting 2 quotes from local guys this Wednesday.

Great!! Ask them for references where the job do NOT go perfect. Those are the people you want to talk to. Did they stand behind their work? How easy where they to contact? How long before the problem was handled?

[nhmaster]

In deference to Mr Slusser who has absolutly no clue as to how many filter systems we sell in a year I would point out that my company has been in business continually since 1954 and employs 13 service technicians and three office personnel. We do not work out of a motor home. We stock and inventory parts for the equipment we sell. We personally service the equipment we sell. All of our treatment technicians are licensed (Mr. Slusser does not believe in licenses) We are insured and have never ever been taken to court by a customer in the entire time we have been in business. Yes It's going to cost you a couple dollars more to buy equipment from us and no we are not interested in selling anything to anybody online here or anywhere else. I will never ever PM you in an attempt to sell you something. I sell local to our local customers only. Oh and one last thing Mr. Slusser takes great satisfaction in smearing plumbers all over the web. His assertion that plumbers know nothing about pumps and filters is yet another arrogant claim made with absolutely no statistics at all to back it up.

[johnlvs2run]

Originally Posted by Gary Slusser

There is no sediment filter that can remove hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium).
You probably have low pH (acidic) water with low TDS (total dissolved solids) and no hardness.

The water here is alkaline, and 550 to 750 TDS, which is very hard water.

My water heater lasted 31 years, from year 10 to 31 with the 5 micon sediment filter in front.

Accumulation of buildup around fixtures stopped immediately with use of the 5 micron sediment filter.

Originally Posted by Gary Slusser

As a plumber.... like us online dealers.... as an online dealer I sell.... As a water treatment dealer....

A water softening system does not reduce the TDS of the water.
In fact, high TDS water tends to reduce the efficiency of water softeners.

A good RO system reduces the TDS of the water by 98 percent.

There are no monthly fees, there is nothing to add, and there is no reason to call anyone.