Help with water softener

[caughtacase73]

The house I currently live in does not have a water softener. We did not feel we needed one. We are moving to a house that has much harder city water and I am told we will want to have one. I took the opportunity to check with local ventors at the fair (Benton County Fair)to see what they have to offer. Of course everyone said their system is the best, has the best warranty, has the best equipment and varied in price greatly. Does anyone have any advice on water softeners and what I should be looking for. I am moving to Sartell and I am told the water hardness varies from 13 - 20 grains (what ever that means). Are the water companies (ecowater, rainsoft, and the like) going to be better that a system I can purchase at a big box store for a third of the price. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

[Eric Wettschreck]

A grain of hardness equals roughly 19 PPM total hardness. (Calcium and Magensium)

The 2 most important things are the head, and the resin.

For the head, I would recommend one that has a flow regulated/on demand regeneration over a standard timer. For the resin I highly recommend one with Purlite resin.

I know of many people who have purchased their softeners from Fleet Farm and they have been problem free units for them.

[fastkaw]

I rent one. When it quits working I call them and they come out the next day.

The company also comes out every couple of years and rebuilds the head.

Had it about 15 yr. So far I think it's bin a good deal for me.

First and foremost I don't have to ---- with it, Other then to add salt.

[BobT]

Until about a month ago I was using a rental unit from ECO water for the past 20 years. The same unit served me for that entire time. It worked fine but I found to purchase that particular unit was beyond my budget. But then, if you add up the monthly payments I made ($20) over the 20 years, I guess I paid for that unit a couple times.

Anyway, I recently decided to buy a unit to save some money. The first three colleagues I talked with at my place of employment said they used Water Boss and they liked them. That was what I decided to try. The unit in my home cost me about $400. It monitors the water use and regenerates as needed. Although I've only had it in use for about a month, so far it seems to be working fine. My water hardness level was measured at 27 grains, which is quite hard. Fortunately my iron content is virtually nill but this unit is designed to handle some.

Bob

[Jim Almquist]

We have the Waterboss 900 up at the cabin and it works great and is not to hard to install if you can do minor plumbing. All I had to do was to bring in a gallon of water to L&M and they tested it and told me what to set it at once I installed it. We use it to remove some iron and it will do a decent job even though it is not the right way to remove iron for us it was the cheapest route.

[LwnmwnMan2]

We bought a new one at Sears last year.

You just bring in a sample of your water (8 oz) and they'll test it for you and recommend a softner.

This one was replacing one that my parents put in when they built the house 30 years ago.

We use 1/8 the salt we used to, because the new one only cycles when it needs to, not every night or every other night "just because".

[DTro]

I will also say that the Water Boss unit I bought has been trouble free for the past 8 yrs I've had it.

The reason I purchased a water boss was the small compact design.

[backlash 1]

13 - 20 grains is not bad. City water in this area is about the same, so most any softner will work for you.

I believe you're just throwing away money if you buy a top of the line softner, because you do not need it. On the other hand, Water Boss is about as cheap as they come, and not easy to work on. Although some people get along fine with them, there is a quality issue there, and if you are unable to do the repair job yourself, they are basically what I call a throw away.

I would recomend going up the ladder just a couple more notches to a "Kenmore" or a "GE" These seem to be very trouble free units. I think they are still in the 5 - $600 range.

[18 inch Crappie]

Fleck water softners are the best out there, many use there head and put there name on it. Only 1 moving part. They sell them at Fleet Farm, Commers water softner uses one of the Fleck heads under there name also. Most places are all hype trying to get you to spend $2000 if you spend any more then $500 for the unit you are getting riped off.

[MuleShack]

Most Plumbers will sell softeners as well as install them too. a lot of times when you go to the specialty places that only sell softners or water purifying stuff they will charge more.

If your going to "do it yourselt" you could do the box store brands, but if you go thru a plumber you will get an estimate from the guy who will install it also...not a contracted 3rd party from the box store.