Water hardness - water softener system (insurance, Home Depot, live)

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Hi there mojo101, all... do not be discouraged about the amount of sodium (not salt) that is added to your water, it is miniscule, and not worth measuring. Tap water will have about 20-25 milligrams of sodium in an 8 oz glass, and that is with what residue that makes it into the water. To compare that, an 8 oz glass of milk has about 200mg. The maximum allowed that is considered safe is 2300mg/day. A can of Coca-Cola has about 45mg. Even one slice of bread has about 130-150mg. You get the point.

The purpose of the sodium is only to recharge the beads in the reactor, and that happens only when the unit is recharging, the reactor is flushed with fresh water to get all the sodium out of the reactor once the recharge cycle completes. Once the beads are recharged, water flows over them, and the beads hold onto the calcium, iron, and other compounds, and you end up with great, soft water.

Since this is a new house, you can also ask them to plumb it so that the water spigots and kitchen get regular tap water, and use soft water everywhere else if you have any concerns. I've had water softeners since the mid 80's, starting with a Montgomery Ward model! I went through Sears, GE models. I finally purchased a dual tank system so that one is giving the house soft water while the other one is recharged. When the system recharges, it switches to the standby tank, and the other tank cycles, and repeats, so I am never without soft water.

I do my own refills of sodium pellets, it is not a hassle to me... yet. There is a service that you can sign up for where someone will come and do it for you, and also maintain your unit, but I do my own maintenance as well... I am a DIY guy. Anyway, good luck!

[mojo101]

thanks for the information on sodium chloride,I was using potassium chloride,once I stopped using it,I dont feel drowsy anymore.
How much did you pay for your latest water softener ,the co which I bought from quoted me latest model for $1845 plus 350 NS3000.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by mojo101

thanks for the information on sodium chloride,I was using potassium chloride,once I stopped using it,I dont feel drowsy anymore.
How much did you pay for your latest water softener ,the co which I bought from quoted me latest model for $1845 plus 350 NS3000.

Well, 'latest' for me is almost 18 years ago! 'Purchased it right before our first born. It was about 1K, maybe $1200 back then. It is a manual type, and uses a Fleck controller. I had digital before, and I have never had as much reliability as with my manual Fleck. Even the digital ones use a manual flow meter. I love the simplicity of it, well, once you calculate the granules needed. But I set it up, and maybe tweaked it a couple of times, but it has been the same for at least 15 years. Flawless operation. I should probably order the resin beads, it's about time, but I still have soft water, so have not done it. Anyone who has not had soft water does not know what they are missing!

[kreeyax]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

Well, 'latest' for me is almost 18 years ago! 'Purchased it right before our first born. It was about 1K, maybe $1200 back then. It is a manual type, and uses a Fleck controller. I had digital before, and I have never had as much reliability as with my manual Fleck. Even the digital ones use a manual flow meter. I love the simplicity of it, well, once you calculate the granules needed. But I set it up, and maybe tweaked it a couple of times, but it has been the same for at least 15 years. Flawless operation. I should probably order the resin beads, it's about time, but I still have soft water, so have not done it. Anyone who has not had soft water does not know what they are missing!

Amazing you've gone 18 years on the original resin. I always assumed it would only last 10 years or so. We have a Fleck 7000 that's about 10 years old now, so I've been wondering when it's time to change out the resin, or just replace the system since that might be cheaper. I should probably buy a test kit just to make sure the water is still soft enough.

[ByWayofNYC]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

Hi there mojo101, all... do not be discouraged about the amount of sodium (not salt) that is added to your water, it is miniscule, and not worth measuring. Tap water will have about 20-25 milligrams of sodium in an 8 oz glass, and that is with what residue that makes it into the water. To compare that, an 8 oz glass of milk has about 200mg. The maximum allowed that is considered safe is 2300mg/day. A can of Coca-Cola has about 45mg. Even one slice of bread has about 130-150mg. You get the point.

The purpose of the sodium is only to recharge the beads in the reactor, and that happens only when the unit is recharging, the reactor is flushed with fresh water to get all the sodium out of the reactor once the recharge cycle completes. Once the beads are recharged, water flows over them, and the beads hold onto the calcium, iron, and other compounds, and you end up with great, soft water.

Since this is a new house, you can also ask them to plumb it so that the water spigots and kitchen get regular tap water, and use soft water everywhere else if you have any concerns. I've had water softeners since the mid 80's, starting with a Montgomery Ward model! I went through Sears, GE models. I finally purchased a dual tank system so that one is giving the house soft water while the other one is recharged. When the system recharges, it switches to the standby tank, and the other tank cycles, and repeats, so I am never without soft water.

I do my own refills of sodium pellets, it is not a hassle to me... yet. There is a service that you can sign up for where someone will come and do it for you, and also maintain your unit, but I do my own maintenance as well... I am a DIY guy. Anyway, good luck!

Great info, thank you!

Question regarding the pre-plumbing, do most plumb the water softener to laundry?

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by kreeyax

Amazing you've gone 18 years on the original resin. I always assumed it would only last 10 years or so. We have a Fleck 7000 that's about 10 years old now, so I've been wondering when it's time to change out the resin, or just replace the system since that might be cheaper. I should probably buy a test kit just to make sure the water is still soft enough.

I know mine needs to be replaced, but the unit still gives soft water, and well, I'm leaving the country in a few months. I looked into doing it once, it is not too bad of a procedure, especially since I have two tanks. Would you believe the only reason I did not order was because I did not have a large funnel at that time?! I still don't. 'Just one of those things, at the keyboard, ready to purchase, then changed my mind.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by ByWayofNYC

Great info, thank you!

Question regarding the pre-plumbing, do most plumb the water softener to laundry?

If it is a new home, then they can plumb it however you ask. In my house, the only thing not on soft water are the water spigots outside, and sprinkler system. Though I did wish I had two spigots outside, one to water bushes, clean driveway, etc., and the other, soft, only for washing vehicles. Nice not to have hard water marks on black vehicles.

[ByWayofNYC]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

If it is a new home, then they can plumb it however you ask. In my house, the only thing not on soft water are the water spigots outside, and sprinkler system. Though I did wish I had two spigots outside, one to water bushes, clean driveway, etc., and the other, soft, only for washing vehicles. Nice not to have hard water marks on black vehicles.

Thanks again!

[resonator]

The "loop" for the water softener at my house is plastic pipe, I easily added a soft water hose valve to the units output. Hacksaw, couple pieces of plastic pipe fittings, metal hose bib, pvc glue.

[TexasRedneck]

Originally Posted by resonator

The "loop" for the water softener at my house is plastic pipe, I easily added a soft water hose valve to the units output. Hacksaw, couple pieces of plastic pipe fittings, metal hose bib, pvc glue.

Is that plastic pipe, or PVC? If it's PEX, you can't glue it.