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Water Softeners

Yahoo Message Number: 30057
I have been thinking about getting a water softener for a long time.
At the FMCA this year they had a couple of different types. I'd like to get feedback and opinions from those that use them and have experience. Things like: do they help? which brand do you use? anything else you can think of. Thanks for the input.

Linda

Intrigue 10678

Re: Water Softeners

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30058
Linda, try on line at several marine sites' I think you will find a larger selection. Try West Matine, U.S. Boaters and more.

Max

98 Affinity #5487

Re: Water Softeners

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30060
The purpose for a 'water softener' is to fix 'hard water'. I'm not sure just what constitutes hard water, but I think a high iron content is one facet. Hard water apparently does not 'clean' as well as soft water.

Water softeners work by replacing the 'hard' ions with other ions, in particular from salt. My dad has a water softener at his place and whenever I visit I cannot drink the water. Tastes a bit like salty 'milk of magnesia' to me. No amount of filtration seems to make it palatable.

I would say that if you put one in, carry drinking water or see if a true 'water purifier' will get rid of the taste. Or you might find one which does not bother you. See if you can taste a sample of the water before buying.

John 04 Inspire 51078

Quote from: Linda Robey
I have been thinking about getting a water softener for a long

time.

Quote
At the FMCA this year they had a couple of different types. I'd

like

Re: Water Softeners

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30061
'Hard' water contains metal ions. Usually stuff like magnesiun and depending on the locale, iron, aluminum, manganese and other metals. Also calcium, carbonates, bicarbonates, and sulfates. In a water softener, these ions attach themselves to the mineral (resin) bed material as the water is passed through the resin and are held there until a brine solution is introduced, which detaches them and flushes them away. The water will not taste salty unless the flushing (back-flush) process is faulty or incomplete. Soft water does not make good drinking water. It's not really bad for you, but it just doesn't taste or feel right to most people. But it lets detergents work better, so it's best for washing.....not drinking or cooking. For that (drinking), a reverse osmosis filter or an activated carbon filter works the best. Hope this helps.

Dave Trotter

'01 Intrigue 11215

Quote from: seven_siamese_cats

> The purpose for a 'water softener' is to fix 'hard water'. I'm not > sure just what constitutes hard water, but I think a high iron > content is one facet. Hard water apparently does not 'clean' as

well

Quote
as soft water.

Water softeners work by replacing the 'hard' ions with other ions,

in

Quote
particular from salt. My dad has a water softener at his place and > whenever I visit I cannot drink the water. Tastes a bit like > salty 'milk of magnesia' to me. No amount of filtration seems to > make it palatable.

I would say that if you put one in, carry drinking water or see if

a

Quote
true 'water purifier' will get rid of the taste. Or you might find > one which does not bother you. See if you can taste a sample of

the

Quote
water before buying.

John 04 Inspire 51078

[quote author=Linda Robey"

>

> I have been thinking about getting a water softener for a long > time.

> At the FMCA this year they had a couple of different types.

I'd

Quote
like

> to get feedback and opinions from those that use them and have > > experience. Things like: do they help? which brand do you

use?

Re: Water Softeners

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30106
We have had a water softener for 10 years. We do NOT use salt as this will increase your blood pressure and/or water retention-despite the taking of Lasix. We use Morton Potassium Chloride 40 lbs. is $13.99. It can be found at Vons-Safeway or Home Depot. We use approximately 1 bag per month when we are home. The water softner comes with strips for testing the hardness. First call local water authority and ask them what the ppm grain hardness is and the water softner booklet will generally give a setting for softness, wait a few days and do another test strip to confirm your settings. During this period lower soap usage in dishwasher and wash machine. Caution- during installation make sure that it just softens house and that it doesn't also water outside. As for taste...next to the softner is a commercial ice machine-no taste difference. As for reverse osmosis, consider how many gallons of water to produce one gallon of drinking water...my last check was 13 gallons! If you really can detect a flavor difference, still cheaper to buy bottled water.

Christine Cross

2006 Allure CC 31417