lorihokie asked:
I am trying to do my research before spending the big bucks on a whole house water filtration/softener system and I’m not sure what to focus on. It seems there really is a difference between “filtering” and “softening” and I’d like the benefits of both, but everything I’ve found out there so far that falls into the “both” category is multiple thousands of dollars. Yet when I search the one or the other options, buying both units would cost less than buying the dual-action unit.
Any advice from anyone who has purchased and used either or both of these systems?
November 14th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I don’t know where you live, but we had one that was from Culligan in Canada. It did both, but yes it was very expensive-but we felt it important and it saves on bottled water or a water cooler as well as hard water stains on everything! I haven’t seen them for less than 2 or 3 grand, but maybe try pricerunner or something similar.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
A FILTER – filters “stuff” out of the water like dirt, iron, copper, lead, minerals etc – there are different filters for different things. A silvered carbon filter is best unless u want to pay big bucks for a reverse osmosis unit. The carbon are generally advertised to remove all kinds of things including lead. HOWEVER, that is a bit of lie. Lead removal is efficient for only a short period of time – like the first 5-10 gallons.
filters are changed
A SOFTENER, runs the water thru a salt brine to precipitate out calcium which causes HARD water. softeners are reverse flushed – or replace salt or replace tank – (contract a la Calgon)
a filter is a health thing, Soft water is a cleaning thing – clothes and people come out cleaner because the soap rinses out easier – though it feels like it does not because the water is soft.
in order to make an informed decision u need to have ur water analyzed or base it on ur knowledge/experience and health concerns.
November 17th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
If you buy a softener, buy a volume-controlled one. This means that it will regenerate after a set volume of water flowing through it, as opposite to a time-based one which regenerates every x days, even if you were not home to use any water. Of even if you filled your swimming pool and it should have regenerated much sooner.
November 20th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I’ve had very good luck with a WaterBoss. It filters to 10 microns and is a demand based softener. Still working after 12 years and never have had an aerator clog on any of the sinks.
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:23 am
A water softener is the cheapest and simplest way to treat water and is good for equipment such as dishwashers and laundry machines. It adds a slight amount of salt to the water, which greatly reduces the amount of limescale released when water is heated in the machine. However, the water is not suitable for drinking.
Filtration removes contaminates, but not the minerals or salt, from your water. Water filters do nothing to solve hard water problems in your home. They primarily make you water taste better and healthier to drink. Filtration is also used to remove sediment from the water on well systems.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:12 am
we have well water and we setup a system with two whole house filters and a water softener. We have the separate systems, and it works good. The water comes in from our well pump, then goes into a whole house filter (approx 5 micron filter) then the water goes through our softener. when the water comes out of the softener it goes to another filter (3 micron with carbon) after that it goes to our hot water tank and the rest of the house. the setup works good for us and is easy to setup and use.