purchasing a water softener? Advice or tips (sales, how much)

[azriverfan]

Has anyone recently purchased a water softener device for their home? My wife and I are considering purchasing one and we have been quoted $2400. Do you feel they are worth it and have you seen a noticeable difference in bathing or the way your laundry turns out? Also, do they require any real maintenance that could be costly?

[nitram]

We have a Sears Kenmore system. Cost $399.00 plus $75.00 installation. No maintenance involved, just add salt about every 60 days for our needs. Big difference influffy clothes, no water stains on dishes, glassware, silverware, bathtubs, showers, faucets etal. You use at least 50% less soap on everything.
In AZ you really need one because of the calcium buildup associated with the hard water here.

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by nitram

We have a Sears Kenmore system. Cost $399.00 plus $75.00 installation. No maintenance involved, just add salt about every 60 days for our needs. Big difference influffy clothes, no water stains on dishes, glassware, silverware, bathtubs, showers, faucets etal. You use at least 50% less soap on everything.
In AZ you really need one because of the calcium buildup associated with the hard water here.

What is the salt for? A substitute for chlorine (kind of like what some countries use sea salt to disinfect pools, etc.)?

[Ponderosa]

A water softener exchanges sodium ions for calcium ions in the water. Sodium ions make the water "soft". The water is not any saltier as sodium bicarbonate is produced in the place of calcium carbonate. Calcium salts are dumped into the sewer system. High sodium content water is implicated in high blood pressure so many installations use a reverse osmosis system in the sink area to remove the sodium after treatment.

[azriverfan]

Originally Posted by nitram

We have a Sears Kenmore system. Cost $399.00 plus $75.00 installation. No maintenance involved, just add salt about every 60 days for our needs. Big difference influffy clothes, no water stains on dishes, glassware, silverware, bathtubs, showers, faucets etal. You use at least 50% less soap on everything.
In AZ you really need one because of the calcium buildup associated with the hard water here.

$400 is a lot cheaper than the one I was quoted for but I should add, that particular quote came from a plumbing company.

I wasn't planning on drinking the water, I wanted the softener for bathing, laundry and reducing calcium buildup.

[Master Shake]

Check Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, etc. You should be able to get one for around $600 (or less on sale). Any plumber should be able to hook it up for around $100 using a simple water heater install kit, plus a $30 bypass valve -- assuming your house is pre-plumbed for a softener. If not, it could cost more for installation.

The softener works by filtering water through resin beads which attract the calcium & magnesium ions out of the water (these ions are what make the water hard). The softener then periodically runs a salt water solution through the resin beads which pull the calcium & magnesium ions back from the resin beads and flushes the waste water mix out the drain. All systems basically work on the same principles, but some include a $1000+ sales commission in the price.

You can also add a carbon pre-filter and/or anti-bacterial black light if you want really clean water -- or just add a reverse osmosis system to your kitchen (for drinking water & ice). You can pickup 40 lb bags of salt for around $5 from the grocery store.

[azriverfan]

Originally Posted by Master Shake

Check Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, etc. You should be able to get one for around $600 (or less on sale). Any plumber should be able to hook it up for around $100 using a simple water heater install kit, plus a $30 bypass valve -- assuming your house is pre-plumbed for a softener. If not, it could cost more for installation.

The softener works by filtering water through resin beads which attract the calcium & magnesium ions out of the water (these ions are what make the water hard). The softener then periodically runs a salt water solution through the resin beads which pull the calcium & magnesium ions back from the resin beads and flushes the waste water mix out the drain. All systems basically work on the same principles, but some include a $1000+ sales commission in the price.

You can also add a carbon pre-filter and/or anti-bacterial black light if you want really clean water -- or just add a reverse osmosis system to your kitchen (for drinking water & ice). You can pickup 40 lb bags of salt for around $5 from the grocery store.

Do you know how much more it would cost to add a carbon pre-filter and anti-bacterial black light?

[Master Shake]

Originally Posted by azriverfan

Do you know how much more it would cost to add a carbon pre-filter and anti-bacterial black light?

These items would be add-on items that are usually only needed if your water tests recommend them (especially if you use well water). I'm not sure about the carbon filter cost and I don't think either are very cheap, but I do know the anti-bacterial UV light kit can run an additional $500 and would probably need someone more experienced than just a regular plumber to set up properly. The UV light bulb also has to be changed out ever year or so. But you can get a good RO system for less than $300 (~$50 installation) which would cover your drinking water and can usually also be tied into your ice maker line.

Make sure you get a good water test done before you buy anything (usually around $20-40 for the kit & processing), and don't get it from the sales person or company that is trying to sell you the softener. This can help identify the hardness (measured in grains) as well as any other potential problems, such as excess iron.

[David Kennedy]

The systems capacity needs to be matched to the water quality...this water test is critical to get the right water softner system...at one time Sears did a water test...as for the water softner, some have plastic valve assemblies which are cheap and break after a year or two. The better units have bronze valve units...

[azriverfan]

Originally Posted by David Kennedy

The systems capacity needs to be matched to the water quality...this water test is critical to get the right water softner system...at one time Sears did a water test...as for the water softner, some have plastic valve assemblies which are cheap and break after a year or two. The better units have bronze valve units...

Good to know. I would rather pay more for a quality item but I'm not willing to pay more just for a higher commission