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Salt free water softeners??? Please help me!!
4/8/2012 6:52:59 PM
So after realizing I have to replace 3 faucets I am tired of having hard water. I have made an appointment with Culligan but am curious what options there are for salt free. The problem I have is that I don't have room for a salt tank and the softener near the water main. They designed the house poorly and even getting a water heater in is difficult.
Are there any that aren't a gimmick? I am tired of the buildup and the PITA job of cleaning the sinks, showers, faucets, etc.
Thanks!!
Are there any that aren't a gimmick? I am tired of the buildup and the PITA job of cleaning the sinks, showers, faucets, etc.
Thanks!!
4/8/2012 7:37:41 PM
Most softeners are (at least around here) a standalone unit about the size of a trash barrel. But they all use salt...
We have iron and sulfur but no significant mineral content, and have a manganese-greensand filter. It's not a smaller footprint than a standard water softener but works a trick.
As far as "near the main" ... if worse comes to worst, just put it somewhere else and run the line to it.
We have iron and sulfur but no significant mineral content, and have a manganese-greensand filter. It's not a smaller footprint than a standard water softener but works a trick.
As far as "near the main" ... if worse comes to worst, just put it somewhere else and run the line to it.
4/8/2012 8:19:10 PM
Does anyone have any experience with the 3M Scale Reduction System?
Link
The only real problem with standard units is that while I can set it somewhere I believe I need to have a drain available correct?
Link
The only real problem with standard units is that while I can set it somewhere I believe I need to have a drain available correct?
4/8/2012 8:19:28 PM
Recently in a handyman magazine i get the same question was asked.. Basically the non-salt softeners dont work that well..
Also Culligan can and will do the job, for a premium cost.. There are other ppl out that that can do the same job for less money..
Also installing one isnt that difficult of a job if you have some basic plumbing skills - tap into your water supply going into the softener and when you come out of the softener connect back into the house lines..
Hopefully someone will be along shortly and point you toward some websites for good equipment for a lot less than culligan will want..
Brian
Also Culligan can and will do the job, for a premium cost.. There are other ppl out that that can do the same job for less money..
Also installing one isnt that difficult of a job if you have some basic plumbing skills - tap into your water supply going into the softener and when you come out of the softener connect back into the house lines..
Hopefully someone will be along shortly and point you toward some websites for good equipment for a lot less than culligan will want..
Brian
4/8/2012 8:27:41 PM
A softener basically works by replacing calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions (or potassium ions).
Reverse osmosis should remove calcium and magnesium, but generally is not feasible for a whole house (these are those small tanks under the sink with the small tap up top).
Culligan are thieves. Decent product, but nothing special, and grossly overpriced. Arfcommer waterpro1966 can probably get you a better system delivered for less than what the brigands at Culligan will charge.
Reverse osmosis should remove calcium and magnesium, but generally is not feasible for a whole house (these are those small tanks under the sink with the small tap up top).
Culligan are thieves. Decent product, but nothing special, and grossly overpriced. Arfcommer waterpro1966 can probably get you a better system delivered for less than what the brigands at Culligan will charge.
4/8/2012 8:54:45 PM
I have a conventional salt type water softener.
Recently received an e-mail from K&J Magnetic s,
they have a blog post about water treatment.
Magnetic Water Treatment
If I didn't have a water softener I would be inclined to to try it.
Recently received an e-mail from K&J Magnetic s,
they have a blog post about water treatment.
Magnetic Water Treatment
If I didn't have a water softener I would be inclined to to try it.
4/8/2012 9:04:10 PM
Yeah I remember you mentioned that Culligan was expensive but I wasn't sure who else to get in touch with in the area. As you know the area that I have to install it next to the shower is pretty small and it is the only area within 15ft of the floor drain that anything could go.
I am kind of interested in that 3M filter that I listed above. If nothing else I am hoping to at least get an idea of what I need to do. If Culligan is even in the ballpark ($200 or so) I am just at the point with the plumbing stuff I have had to do lately I would just let them do it. If it is $500 more then yeah I won't be doing that.
It looks like I could put that 3M system in by myself if I really wanted to and the filter is good for 6 months.
I just hate that I will have spent $300 on faucets now since I am replacing 3 of 4 now in the house in the last month to have them destroyed again in a few years.
I am kind of interested in that 3M filter that I listed above. If nothing else I am hoping to at least get an idea of what I need to do. If Culligan is even in the ballpark ($200 or so) I am just at the point with the plumbing stuff I have had to do lately I would just let them do it. If it is $500 more then yeah I won't be doing that.
It looks like I could put that 3M system in by myself if I really wanted to and the filter is good for 6 months.
I just hate that I will have spent $300 on faucets now since I am replacing 3 of 4 now in the house in the last month to have them destroyed again in a few years.
4/8/2012 9:07:32 PM
Originally Posted By Machinist:
I have a conventional salt type water softener.
Recently received an e-mail from K&J Magnetic s,
they have a blog post about water treatment.
Magnetic Water Treatment
If I didn't have a water softener I would be inclined to to try it.
I have a conventional salt type water softener.
Recently received an e-mail from K&J Magnetic s,
they have a blog post about water treatment.
Magnetic Water Treatment
If I didn't have a water softener I would be inclined to to try it.
I wonder if these are the same magnets that are supposed to give you better mileage
4/8/2012 11:28:26 PM
Originally Posted By jlficken:
Yeah I remember you mentioned that Culligan was expensive but I wasn't sure who else to get in touch with in the area. As you know the area that I have to install it next to the shower is pretty small and it is the only area within 15ft of the floor drain that anything could go.
I am kind of interested in that 3M filter that I listed above. If nothing else I am hoping to at least get an idea of what I need to do. If Culligan is even in the ballpark ($200 or so) I am just at the point with the plumbing stuff I have had to do lately I would just let them do it. If it is $500 more then yeah I won't be doing that.
It looks like I could put that 3M system in by myself if I really wanted to and the filter is good for 6 months.
I just hate that I will have spent $300 on faucets now since I am replacing 3 of 4 now in the house in the last month to have them destroyed again in a few years.
Yeah I remember you mentioned that Culligan was expensive but I wasn't sure who else to get in touch with in the area. As you know the area that I have to install it next to the shower is pretty small and it is the only area within 15ft of the floor drain that anything could go.
I am kind of interested in that 3M filter that I listed above. If nothing else I am hoping to at least get an idea of what I need to do. If Culligan is even in the ballpark ($200 or so) I am just at the point with the plumbing stuff I have had to do lately I would just let them do it. If it is $500 more then yeah I won't be doing that.
It looks like I could put that 3M system in by myself if I really wanted to and the filter is good for 6 months.
I just hate that I will have spent $300 on faucets now since I am replacing 3 of 4 now in the house in the last month to have them destroyed again in a few years.
Culligan wanted ~$1,800. I paid well under half that for a unit from waterpro1966.
4/8/2012 11:56:16 PM
Originally Posted By jlficken:
Does anyone have any experience with the 3M Scale Reduction System?
Link
The only real problem with standard units is that while I can set it somewhere I believe I need to have a drain available correct?
Does anyone have any experience with the 3M Scale Reduction System?
Link
The only real problem with standard units is that while I can set it somewhere I believe I need to have a drain available correct?
That is my understanding as well.
If someone could tell me otherwise, I am all ears. My wife and I would love to have a water softener - but we don't have a drain in our garage, or anywhere near, (no basement) where it would need to go.
4/9/2012 1:06:29 AM
The only problem I see with the scale reduction filter, is it is only rated at a max of 10gpm. A laundry tub faucet can flow 10 gpm,
The softener doesn't need to be in the same room as the drain, you just need to be able to get it there.
I've installed softeners in basements without access to drains, and ran the drain up into an laundry tub on the first floor.
The magnets, and electro-magnets, have come and gone over the years, I have yet to see and system that does any good.
The softener doesn't need to be in the same room as the drain, you just need to be able to get it there.
I've installed softeners in basements without access to drains, and ran the drain up into an laundry tub on the first floor.
The magnets, and electro-magnets, have come and gone over the years, I have yet to see and system that does any good.
4/9/2012 6:15:36 PM
Originally Posted By Machinist:
I have a conventional salt type water softener.
Recently received an e-mail from K&J Magnetic s,
they have a blog post about water treatment.
Magnetic Water Treatment
If I didn't have a water softener I would be inclined to to try it.
I have a conventional salt type water softener.
Recently received an e-mail from K&J Magnetic s,
they have a blog post about water treatment.
Magnetic Water Treatment
If I didn't have a water softener I would be inclined to to try it.
the article i read in the Handyman magazine said that the 'saltless' water softeners are magnet based..
Brian
