Don't like the adverts?  Click here to remove them

Water Softeners

TonyP

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Joined
Feb 25, 2010
Messages
3,638
Country Flag
uk
Ok, so not LC related, but hopefully one/some of you clever folk know something about this.

So I live in a hard water area, and after 10 years all my taps etc look like they are a 100 years old :thumbdown: Just started looking at water softeners, but it's a bloody minefield. A Google search only really returns results that are spam from suppliers.

So have any of you folk got one and are they worth it? Which are the ones to avoid, and which are the better ones?

Cheers
Tony
 
You get a few different types. The best types to go far are Part L approved, all new buildings going up these days have to have some sort of water softener. Reason being if your appliances scale up they become less energy efficient. Part L covers conservation of energy, hence certain water softeners will meet the requirements of the Part L regs and be approved.

The different types are:

1. Electromagnetic like a waterking - http://www.waterking.co.uk/domestic_home.htm. This is a good unit but the water will only be treated for a certain amount of time and it requires a power supply. Advantage is that you don't need to alter or cut into any pipework. Just wrap the leads around the pipe and plug into a power source and jobs done.

2. Electrolytic life the Liff limefighter - http://www.waterfiltersuk.com/liff-...beater-22mm-electrolytic-scale-inhibitor.html. This type you would have to cut into your main incoming water supply pipe. Plus side is it doesn't need apower supply and once the water is treated it stays treated.

3. Magnetic like the Liff Shortest - [urlhttp://www.waterfiltersuk.com/liff-water-filters/scale-inhibitors/liff-shortest-22mm-magnetic-scale-inhibitor.html][/url]

There is a good summary of the different types here - http://www.liffwaterfilters.co.uk/liff-scale-inhibitors.html

All of the above work well and should take care of the side effects of hard water.
 
Thanks for those links Ryan, will look at those in detail.

What's your view on the salt based units?
 
I would stay away from them. They are on the verge of being banned in the US. The UK will no doubt follow suite soon enough. Can't remember the exact reason why...
 
Reason from them being banned is because they release too much salt into sewer system which makes it harder to recycle the water.
 
Thanks for the tips Ryan. I've been thinking about this for a while. What's the deal with the "coil over pipe" types? Are they much like the fuel magnets of the 80s?
 
Don't like the adverts?  Click here to remove them
You'd have to google them to find out exactly how they work, but they do. The waterkings have a good reputation. Only downside is the fact that they need a dedicated power supply.
 
Ryan Thomson said:
Only downside is the fact that they need a dedicated power supply.

Water, electricity and I - what could go wrong? :think:
 
Just looked at these and compared to the salt based ones which start from around £500 plus the regular requirement to replace the salt and the size factor, it seems that the £100 odd for the LifeScience Waterking Sentry seems a good deal....

Might just give this a punt and see what happens.
 
Kettles used to last maybe 6 months in Hertfordshire - moved to the soft Southwest in 2001 - still have the same kettle!

So the easy answer, move to Devon....

Pete
 
wobbly said:
Kettles used to last maybe 6 months in Hertfordshire - moved to the soft Southwest in 2001 - still have the same kettle!

So the easy answer, move to Devon....

Pete
If I could work down there I would be there in a flash!!!!
 
Back
Top