Water Softener

[smartsexystylish]

Hello Everyone,

As most of you are aware, Cambridge has hard water.

I was just curious as to what you guys are going to do about it?

We have been looking into water softeners from Culligan and a couple other places when we were at the home show.

I'm not familiar at all with water softeners, so I will have to do my research!

[justmed]

We went to see our nephews in Cambridge last week and were driving through the Preston area and saw a few shops with it on the window 999.99 installed for a water softener... not sure the make or model but we're definitely getting one, just not sure where or what kind but that gave us an idea.

I think they are like 5-600 right from Sears if you can install it yourself, from what I hear they are pretty simple

[smartsexystylish]

Hmmmm,
I wonder how easy it is to install yourself.
At least that is a starting price to keep in mind!

[Style]

I dunno nothing about them either! But considering the builder wanted 2400 bucks to install one I decided to pass! When I grab my first shower and need to use a hardhat then i will look for one! :)

[fletcher]

I plan to get a water softener when I move into the house. Has anyone checked out Home Depot?

[smartsexystylish]

Went on the Home Depot website and they have 2 on there:

GE Smartwater 18K Softener $598.99
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=941784&Ntt=941784&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

GE Smartwater 40K Softener $1068.99
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=941783&Ntt=941783&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

Sears (www.sears.com) has alot on their website too. The cheapest they have is $699 ($100 off sale right now) and it goes up to $999 I think.

[smartsexystylish]

Found this online:

How does the water softener works?
The body of a water softener is a tank filled with resin beads covered with sodium ions. As hard water passes through, the resin beads act like a magnet, attracting the calcium and magnesium ions (hardness) in exchange for the sodium ions.
Eventually the resins beads become saturated with mineral ions and have to be “re-charge”. This process is called regeneration and is conducted by the control valve on the top of the tank.
During regeneration, a strong brine solution is flushed through the resin tank, bathing the resin beads in a stream of sodium ions which replace the accumulated calcium and magnesium ions(hardness).
The brine solution, carrying the displaced calcium and magnesium ions, is then flushed down the drain by fresh water. The regenerated resin beads can be used again and again.

What are the general specifications of water softener and what do they indicate?
System Regeneration Initiation: The brain of a water softener system is the control valve which does the regeneration process. There are two types of control valve, Metered and Clock or Timer valves. Often the type of valve is refer to as System Regeneration Initiation.The Metered On Demand System has a previously preset water volume that will indicate when the system will be generated. The clock or timer Valve allows you to set how often the system will generated based on the days of the week giving you the alternative to regenerate the equipment more often when visitors come over. nResin Quantity: How many cubic feet of resin is put inside the mineral tank nSystem Capacity: Measures the capacity of the system in grain. E.g 32,000 grain capacity system should be able to remove 32,000 grains of hardness before a system regeneration is needed.

Other Systems Specifications often listed in water softener product:
Approximated Salt Usage: How much salt the system will need each time it regenerates.
Inlet/Outlet Size: Connection Pipe size of the system
EST Peak GPM: Gallons per minutes at the system peak performance.
REC or SVC Max GPM: Gallons per minutes when the system is on service or recycling.
Max STD GPM: Gallons per minutes when the system is in standard performance.
Backwash Flow: The minimum flow rate require during back wash cycle.

What factors should be consider when selecting a water softener?
To choose the right water softener for your application, please follow the steps below to determine the minimum water softener capacity you will need.

Step1 - Determining Water Hardness in grains per gallons: First, test your water for hardness. The hardness is usually measured in ppm (parts per millions). Take this figure and divided it by 17.1 to determined the corresponded hardness in grains per gallons.
Hardness (grains/gallons) = Hardness (ppm) / 17.1
Please note, in special conditions, water softeners are capable of removing iron and manganese. If there has being detected iron or manganese presence in the water, please adjust the hardness as follows:
1 grain of hardness per 0.5 ppm of iron detected
1 gain of hardness per 1.0 ppm of manganese detected.

Factors to be considered … ContinuationnExample: If you have the following results from your water test:
Total Hardness = 17 grains
Iron Level = 1.7 ppm
Manganese = 1.2 ppm
Add 4 grains per Iron presence (rounded off = 2 ppm)
Add 3 grains per Manganese Presence (rounded off = 2 ppm)
Total Hardness = 17 + 4 + 3 = 24 grains per gallon

Step 2 - Daily average gallons use per person: Under normal conditions a person uses approximately 80 gallons a day. 100 to 120 in hot climates.

Step 3 - Total average gallons use in household. Multiply number of people in the household per the average gallons use per person.

Step4 - Determine water hardness to be remove daily by multiplying the water hardness in grain per gallons calculated in step one by the total average gallons use in household calculated in step 4.

Step5 - Multiply the water hardness to be remove daily for the number of days you would like the water softener to function without regeneration. Typically the water softener does not regenerate more than once within 2 or 3 days.
The result in step 5 is the minimum softener capacity needed to handle your household water demand.

Step 1 - A household with 171 ppm of hardness has 10 grain per gallons of hardness.
Hardness = 291 ppm / 17.1 = 17 grains/gallons

Step 2 and 3 - Assuming there are 5 people living in the house and the average water use per person is 85 gallons per day, the total average gallons used in the household is 100 * 5 = 500 gallons per day.

Step 4 - Water Hardness to be removed daily = 17 * 500 = 8500 grains of hardness per day.

Step 5 – 8500 * 3 = 25000 minimum grains capacity water softener.

(Source: http://yourwaterneeds.com/ChooseWSPres_files/frame.htm)

[BrianNSara]

Here is some in from Gov of Can......


http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/pdf/62946.pdf

[DanielleandCody]

Hello everyone! I don't know too much about water softeners but I did have them growing up as I'm from Guelph. If you are installing them yourself you might want to keep in mind that you will want to by-pass certain taps. For instance the kitchen sink as the water may be used for drinking water or if you have a line going to your fridge for water and ice you would want that line by-passed as well. Other than that it is a very good idea to install one as you will find you will save money by simply using less soap ie. for laudry, shapoo etc. Hard water you tend to need to use more and soft water you definitely can get away with less. I know Culligan is a very reputable dealer but do shop around as there is always a deal to be had. However if you decide to go with somewhere like Culligan they might perhaps give you group pricing. Anyway I hope everyone is enjoying all the excitement and choices!:)

[Gary]

If you have had your water tested could you please post your results, ie.
Total Hardness, Iron Level and Manganese

Thanks

[Style]

Ours was 32 or 36 grains I think! Somewhere around there and we ended up going with a ecowater unit from Hearth and Home! Mike the sales guy is terrific!

[baldwinCoronation]

We got ours from the Water Warehouse on Sheldon in Cambridge. $945.00 including taxes and install. Works great! Highly recommended.

[Porter Nines]

We got ours from the Water Warehouse on Sheldon in Cambridge. $945.00 including taxes and install. Works great! Highly recommended.

Do you know what make it is and how many grains? There is one on sale at Sears right now....Kenmore and I think it's 45,000 it's on sale for $929, regular $1500. That doesn't include install. I know ZERO about water softeners so just trying to make sense out of what would be considered a "good deal".

[Porter Nines]

Okay - here are the specs on the kenmore softener that is on sale. If someone who knows anything about water softeners can tell me if this is a good deal it would be very helpful!!! It's $929.


Kenmore®/MD Ultra Soft 800* Water Softener with Ultra Cleanse Feature
See more products by Kenmore


tank size: 18 1/2" diam. x 46" h.
controller: electronic demand-initiated regenerator
max. capacity (grains of hardness removed/regeneration): 45,100
max. salt efficiency (grains of hardness removed/lb. of salt): 13,300@2.6 lb.
clear water iron removal (max. parts per million): 5.0
rated service flow (gallons per minute): 9.5
accessories included: complete installation kit
Ultra Cleanse feature helps keep large sediment particles from entering household plumbing and provides added protection for water-using appliances
helps eliminate mineral content
10-year warranty on leakage from brine or resin tank, 3 years on all electronics and 1 year on the complete unit

[gagnon777]

Okay - here are the specs on the kenmore softener that is on sale. If someone who knows anything about water softeners can tell me if this is a good deal it would be very helpful!!! It's $929.


Kenmore®/MD Ultra Soft 800* Water Softener with Ultra Cleanse Feature
See more products by Kenmore


tank size: 18 1/2" diam. x 46" h.
controller: electronic demand-initiated regenerator
max. capacity (grains of hardness removed/regeneration): 45,100
max. salt efficiency (grains of hardness removed/lb. of salt): 13,300@2.6 lb.
clear water iron removal (max. parts per million): 5.0
rated service flow (gallons per minute): 9.5
accessories included: complete installation kit
Ultra Cleanse feature helps keep large sediment particles from entering household plumbing and provides added protection for water-using appliances
helps eliminate mineral content
10-year warranty on leakage from brine or resin tank, 3 years on all electronics and 1 year on the complete unit

Porter Nines - we got one from Sears that covers 33K grains for $729. It's just the 2 of us and a smaller house, so I think the one you noted above is a great deal!!! Installation I think was like $100. Steve installed ours.

[K.C.]

If someone who knows anything about water softeners can tell me if this is a good deal it would be very helpful!!! It's $929

That's even less than what we paid for ours from Sears ... it's a great price ... the specs are similar. I think ours was $999, regular $1500. Installation for our house was quite expensive ... about $400. They said Mattamy made it difficult to install a water softener in our house ... something about not wanting to soften the water that you would use to water your lawn.

Also we got no interest, equal payments over 3 years. We're also getting garage door openers and a Carrier air conditioner from them on the no interest plan ... there's a minimum purchase requirement of $1500.

[Porter Nines]

Thanks "Guys",

We are going to go and pick it up this week! Simon will do the install, hopefully it's not too tricky.

N

[dvar]

Thanks "Guys",

We are going to go and pick it up this week! Simon will do the install, hopefully it's not too tricky.

N

Hey Porter, let us know how Simon made out...

I ordered the 33000grain one from Sears today ($723.44 taxes in) and am going to be installing it myself. I would like advanced warning as to whether I will have my hands full or if it's a cinch. I have never worked with the PEX piping....

If it's a bit tricky I am sure Colleen will appreciate the warning so she can make plans to leave my swearing, knuckle bleeding ass alone for the day...hehehe...

[trainboy]

I have ordered an Excalibur Superior Series water softener from JC Waterworks in Orangeville. They quoted $1095 incl. standard installation. They said they can do it in 2 - 3 hours in a new house with the basement ceiling accessible.

These guys were recommended to me by a friend in Waterloo. We'll see how it goes after they install it.

If you're interested, their number is 519-894-4005.

These guys will also install a water line to the fridge for me at the same time for an additional fee.

FYI, the Excalibur website is http://www.excaliburwater.com/index.htm

Trainboy
(I don't have any vested interest in JC Waterworks or Excalibur :) )

[newhomeowner]

so what do we REALLY need when it comes to water softeners? how many grains is enough? I have a 1500 sq ft hillcrest with just myself and my boyfriend. the guy at sears said each water appliance accounts for 1 person. I'm confused....he said to get the top of the line water softener (45000 grains) but I'm worried that it may use up a lot of energy (even though its energy star)...does it really affect your bills a lot? thanks!

[Style]

so what do we REALLY need when it comes to water softeners? how many grains is enough? I have a 1500 sq ft hillcrest with just myself and my boyfriend. the guy at sears said each water appliance accounts for 1 person. I'm confused....he said to get the top of the line water softener (45000 grains) but I'm worried that it may use up a lot of energy (even though its energy star)...does it really affect your bills a lot? thanks!
Trying to upsell you on the unit. I suggest getting one thats a minimum of 32,000 grains and you will be fine. The hydro and water bills are paid every 2 months here so take that into account. But you definately need a water softener or your water heater and appliances will need to be replaced within a few years and your lines will get all filled up with calcium etc. We went with a Ecowater system and we love it plus we have no issues with it and it does a great job. Good luck!

[babymaeby]

We're two people, we have an 18,000 grains, and have never run out of soft water. Not saying you want to go that low, but that gives you an idea of what's out there.

[newhomeowner]

thanks for your responses, that helps a lot!

[jenniegarth]

We got our softener for our last house from Water Warehouse and I think it was $1100 installed incl taxes.