Water Softeners

[jaynana]

Guys, could do with some advise pls.

water in our area (north london) is more limescale than water!

so where else to go than to my favorite forum..  )

having extended my house a couple of years back along with a brand new kitchen, bathroom, i can see the new taps and showers etc on the verge of getting permanently damaged due to limescale, despite constant cleaning.  :wall:

so i'm considering whether fixing a limescale remover/water softener is the way forward?

did a bit of reading on the subject..

first question then is, salt based or .. whatever?

second question - anybody has experience with Aqua Bion. any other known recommendable products?

[sramsay]

I had a "Atlantis AT 210" installed about 7 years ago and it does the trick.  Not sure how it compares to the one you're looking at?  I'm in Hertfordshire and had the same problem with limescale ruining everything beforehand.  After filling up with salt, it probably lasts for about 4 weeks.

[Imy]

I'm in nw London, we have a salt water softener. Does work a treat.
I think we have a Brita one, not sure as its not my department!

[AW8]

We had one in past.......a block salt softener.

They get through blocks at a fair rate depending on where you source them from. Ladies like the softness of the water on the skin, shampoo & soap bubbles need far less product & limescaling will be a past occurence. 

[jaynana]

i was inspired by my mate's last night. his new bathroom looks brand new with no cleaning, compared to mine, which looks brand new only right after cleaning!

he uses a Brita something, gets through one packet of salt in 10 days!! :crazy1:

which is why i'm wondering whether the alternative 'water conditioners' like Aqua Bion will actually work.

[sramsay]

How big is the packet??  I think the bags I get are 5kg and I reckon one of them lasts me at least a couple of months - I need to have mine set on the 3rd highest setting (out of 4) so the water is pretty bad round here.

[jaynana]

Said 10 days is 2x4kg blocks

[sramsay]

My mistake, the bags of salt tablets I get are 25kg!  This wouldn't be so far off...

[X5msd]

We used this fella in our area
Total soft water solutions
He installed a Kinetico 2020C,very good unit
Never looked back
Excellent service

[jaynana]

thanks for the help and advise all

after some research (including joining a diy forum and seeking advise ) i have installed a Kinetico 2020HF today. installed by CApital Softeners.

impressive service from teh sales person who came to visit  to the guy who came to fit teh unit. friendly and professional.

i have been warned though - the HF is for high-flow systems whereas i have a traditional tank in teh loft and a gravity fed system. combination am told is a sucker for salt! but that's teh way i wanted it cos i have plans

lets see how it goes..

[briankerrys47]

Feel sorry for you Southerners  ;)move up North 'joking' when I visit family in Wanstead/ Chelmsford always des ale Kettles never seen so much scale

[jaynana]

its our own way of leak-proofing our plumbing networks lol

eventually water stops flowing even inside the plumbing  )

[sramsay]

I just booked mine in for a service.  Apparently you're supposed to do this every 2-3 years but I've never done it and mine must be 7 years old now.  Still seems to work so will be interesting to see if there's much improvement afterwards.

[nickyboy2013]

I read something about those electric current wire around the pipes system about £100 i think do not know if they work but for £100 i might give it a go it's a start i have a house in Bristol Hard Water :'(

[jaynana]

not sure what that is.. check this out. i've seen recommendations..

although i've had feedback about these methods like 'They are effective in the same way that wearing a copper bracelet will cure rheumatism, or wearing a tinfoil hat will prevent satellites from stealing thought-waves from  your brain' lol.. see here..