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Author Topic: Water Softeners-what do ya know?  (Read 191 times)

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Offline Blue

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Re: Water Softeners-what do ya know?
« Reply #15 on: March 19, 2016, 12:33:16 PM »
Being on city water has nothing to do with "hardness". The city filters out "stuff" but not the minerals. At least every city I've lived in three states didn't.
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Online chornbe

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Re: Water Softeners-what do ya know?
« Reply #16 on: March 19, 2016, 12:35:56 PM »
I can't add much to the discussion, only to say a friend of mine had to use it because of some weird skin sensitivity with his daughter. I don't know the specifics, but he said the salt canisters had to be changed pretty frequently, and that they were stupid expensive. :\

I don't have hard numbers to back that up, just his comments that you're getting second hand from a few years ago. :shrug:
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Online viffergyrl

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Re: Water Softeners-what do ya know?
« Reply #17 on: March 19, 2016, 01:31:45 PM »
I don't have much to add except analyze the water going into your suspect water softener and analyze it after it comes through. The weird color kind of bothers me. A change in color indicates a chemical reaction has occurred or the color of your water coming into the system has changed.

I agree with Blue in that city water is not necessarily soft; our 'city' water is pretty hard and we don't have a softener but our neighbors do. We don't have a dishwasher so when I wash dishes, I have a spray bottle of distilled water to rinse the glassware. Works fine. Also using those fabric softeners to wipe down the shower plus a squeegee keeps the deposits under control. Lastly, we have a Brita water filter pitcher to treat the water that goes into the coffee maker and I clean the coffee maker every 2-3 months to keep it working well.

I'm pretty sure Mrs. Wedge would prefer a water softener.  :)
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Online CLAY

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Re: Water Softeners-what do ya know?
« Reply #18 on: March 19, 2016, 03:50:59 PM »
Quote from: Blue on March 19, 2016, 12:33:16 PM
Being on city water has nothing to do with "hardness". The city filters out "stuff" but not the minerals. At least every city I've lived in three states didn't.

Around here it does.  In Michigan city water comes from one of the ever-so-soft great lakes.  NO problems with hardness there.  I WISH we had a city line- our city water is awesome.  Our well water is hard, requiring a softner.  There is something to be said for being surrounded with one of the greatest sources of freshwater on the planety.   :bigok:
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Online viffergyrl

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Re: Water Softeners-what do ya know?
« Reply #19 on: March 19, 2016, 04:04:33 PM »
My aunt lives in Paw Paw, MI. The city water is well water. And it smells like sulfur because of the iron in the water.

It most probably pays to review your local water quality report if you are on 'city' water. And get your own report if you are on well water.
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Online Max Wedge

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Re: Water Softeners-what do ya know?
« Reply #20 on: March 19, 2016, 04:44:45 PM »
I am on my own well, and I think I am going to go with the rebed-new pellets route. The color is partially the pellets disintegrating and minerals, so I am told.
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Online CLAY

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Re: Water Softeners-what do ya know?
« Reply #21 on: March 19, 2016, 04:56:35 PM »
Quote from: viffergyrl on March 19, 2016, 04:04:33 PM
My aunt lives in Paw Paw, MI. The city water is well water. And it smells like sulfur because of the iron in the water.

It most probably pays to review your local water quality report if you are on 'city' water. And get your own report if you are on well water.


Wow.  I thought all of us pulled from the lakes.  Huh- learn something new every day!   :thumbsup:
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Offline Bounce

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Re: Water Softeners-what do ya know?
« Reply #22 on: March 19, 2016, 04:57:37 PM »
We put one in when we built the house in '92. The city water tests hard but tastes awful. The whole house system has needed the pellet canister replaced twice (they compact down over time). We upgraded the head unit from a mechanical unit to a digital one (computer) about 10 years ago.  Much easier to set and change as needed.

Buy the salt pellets from Home Despot as needed. I usually add a 60# bag every 2 or 3 months. Run the backwash for about 15 minutes every month.

Longevity of the electric elements in the water heater are improved as are the dishwasher, clothes washer, etc.

With the HE washer and dishwasher, we use less soap per wash as well.
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