Do it Yourself: Re: [DIY] Water Softener necessary?

05 January 2016

Re: [DIY] Water Softener necessary?

Here in Central Texas the water is pretty hard. While designing my new house I did a lot of checking on water softening; finally decided to skip it, Britta the drinking water, expect to replace the plumbing in 15 years or so, and I laid out the design to have the most compact possible piping 'core' so that when that time comes, it won't be too difficult or expensive.

On 1/2/2016 7:59 PM, ray dataman@daeo.net [DoIt_Yourself] wrote:

We installed a Hague Quality Water whole house system. It has 2 tanks -
one with the filtering layers that is loaded based on the stuff in your
water and a brine tank that we fill with salt. I'd say that we average
6 to 8 weeks on one bag of salt and a couple times a year we add the
iron salt formula.
If our water changes (and it has) the filter components can be added to
or changed without adding another tank.
Some of our friends have a house system that has large tanks hanging on
the wall and as things change they have to add additional tanks plus the
filtration tanks do wear out so they have to be replaced obviously at
additional costs too.
We probably paid a bit more up front but it has been a real solid system
for us even when our well water did change.
I believe that the Hague system is sold by independent distributors so
do a search on Hague and your location to find a representative.
We have been very pleased with the system!
Ray

On 1/2/2016 5:08 PM, 'oakridgefarm@gmail.com' oakridgefarm@gmail.com
[DoIt_Yourself] wrote:
> [Attachment(s) <#TopText> from oakridgefarm@gmail.com included below]
>
> Ray, is this a filter system similar to the ones you put on a faucet?
> Just installed on the whole house?
>
>
> Jan Flood
> oakridgefarm@gmail.com <mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com>
>
>
> On Jan 2, 2016, at 3:32 PM, ray dataman@daeo.net
> <mailto:dataman@daeo.net> [DoIt_Yourself] <DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com>> wrote:
>
> A good alternative to a water softener is a filter. We installed a
> whole house filter system and it does not have the slicker-y feeling of
> softened water. It cleans the iron and other materials out of our well
> water. Each system should be set up based on your water conditions.
> We are very please3d with our filter system!
> Ray
>
> On 1/2/2016 1:19 PM, 'oakridgefarm@gmail.com
> <mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com>'oakridgefarm@gmail.com
> <mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com>
> [DoIt_Yourself] wrote:
> > Wasn't what I wanted to hear :) Aside from the expense to purchase and
> > maintain ——how is the feel? What does it do to your hair? Is it slimy
> > feeling? Any difference in the taste of the water? Any other pros/cons
> > to just having one?? A spot for it might present a problem, I'll have
> > to do some looking at the actual size, then the pricing
> >
> >
> > Jan Flood
> >oakridgefarm@gmail.com
> <mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com><mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com>
> >
> >
> > On Jan 2, 2016, at 10:02 AM, Joyce Otheoldhen@gmail.com
> <mailto:theoldhen@gmail.com>
> > <mailto:theoldhen@gmail.com> [DoIt_Yourself]
> > <DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com><mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com>>
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> > If you have 'hard' water or a lot of iron in it, you should get a water
> > softner. Our first home had a lot of iron. Even with the water softner
> > we still had some iron come through. In the house we have lived in for
> > 30 years now, if we didnt have a water softner we would have a real
> > problem with our faucets.
> >
> > When my kids were younger, we had a problem with the softner. I could
> > not afford to have a service man come out for about 8 months. Finally
> > had to get him out here because 3 or 4 of our faucets had corroded
> > because of the white lime.
> >
> > The hardness can be tested 'in home.' Around here. there are stores that
> > offer free testing.
> >
> > Our softnener was installed in the 70's by the previous owners.Maybe
> > even before that. I have had a softner repairman here at least 3 times
> > to replace parts. He also sells new ones and rebuilt ones. He recently
> > quoted me $650 for a rebuilt softner...they are less than that in
> > stores. His new one is about $1,300 and I am not going to pay that when
> > I can buy one at Farm and Fleet for less than $500.
> >
> > A water softner salesman told me many years ago that we could use salt
> > blocks. The 50 pound blocks and have good results. I have used blocks
> > since then even thought other softner sales people say my system wont
> > work right. A large block breaks down slower than the bagged chips.Just
> > like large chlorine tablets break down slower in a swimming pool thank
> > the small ones.
> >
> > Good luck
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Joyce aka Mom aka Nana
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Jan 2, 2016 at 8:58 AM, 'oakridgefarm@gmail.com
> <mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com>
> > <mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com>'oakridgefarm@gmail.com
> <mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com>
> >
> <mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com>[DoIt_Yourself]<DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com>
> > <mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com>>wrote:
> >
> > __
> > [Attachment(s)
> > <x-msg://9/#15202da82908bbba_TopText>fromoakridgefarm@gmail.com
> <mailto:fromoakridgefarm@gmail.com>
> > <mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com>included below]
> >
> > We have hard water here, the new hot water heater already had a
> > deposit on the elements. Of course the plumber recommended a water
> > softener, $2000. But I've never had one, and never had a real
> > problem even when we did live in a place with hard water. So what's
> > the solution? I don't want to spend another $2000 if it's not
> > necessary. Is it worth it to buy a test kit to determine just how
> > hard the water is??
> >
> >
> > I envisioned all types of problems in rebuilding our barn - but
> > didn't anticipate all this. We've not even started on the barn yet!!
> >
> >
> > <PastedGraphic-4.tiff>
> > Jan Flood
> >oakridgefarm@gmail.com
> <mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com><mailto:oakridgefarm@gmail.com>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>