| Water Softeners (genuine post!) 12:35 - Jul 30 with 4714 views | WarkTheWark |
Need some advice...
Just had Patmore round for a quote on a softener for our new house. Whilst the cost was as expected, it is still a helluva lot of money to chuck about.
I did a bit of digging on internet forums to get an idea of what else is out there & I've found electric softeners (which look altogether flimsy) and non-salt filtration systems which appear to be alright - both well under the £500 mark.
Wanted to know if the combined wisdom of TWTD had any advice or experience of their own in this field. |  | | |  |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 12:39 - Jul 30 with 4690 views | wkj |
I had a similar sitruation like this, and chose the cheaper self help option, and regretted it. Now, I could have picked the wrong self instalation option- but Patmore generally have a good reputation. |  |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 12:41 - Jul 30 with 4681 views | slump |
It really depends on what you want the softener to do? Yeah soften the water, but; all of it (except your drinking tap), heating, heating and hot water? |  |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 12:44 - Jul 30 with 4661 views | slump |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 12:39 - Jul 30 by wkj |
I had a similar sitruation like this, and chose the cheaper self help option, and regretted it. Now, I could have picked the wrong self instalation option- but Patmore generally have a good reputation. |
Patmore do a good reputation, but I've seen the odd install that has fouled up other fittings and for such a simple system (gravity) you are tied into them servicing and repairing them and their relatively expensive post care costs. | |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 12:45 - Jul 30 with 4660 views | WarkTheWark |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 12:41 - Jul 30 by slump |
It really depends on what you want the softener to do? Yeah soften the water, but; all of it (except your drinking tap), heating, heating and hot water? |
Hot and Cold water yeah, not sure about the heating system itself (figured these were sealed systems?) The house is a new build with very hard water if that helps at all. | | | |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 12:54 - Jul 30 with 4628 views | slump |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 12:45 - Jul 30 by WarkTheWark |
Hot and Cold water yeah, not sure about the heating system itself (figured these were sealed systems?) The house is a new build with very hard water if that helps at all. |
Depends on what type of heating arrangement was installed.
Anyhoo ... Fitted one of these, last year and the customer is raving about it. Iv'e not been back yet either so can't be bad.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009SOYMTE?tag=watersystemexperts-21 | |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 12:58 - Jul 30 with 4618 views | BlueWharf |
I rented off this company think it was £22 a month. You then get the option to buy it at a reduced cost after a year.
https://www.kindwater.co.uk/ |  | | |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 12:59 - Jul 30 with 4607 views | homer_123 |
Bought a WS 2 years ago, does hot, cold (not drinking obviously), installed by our local plumber and we top up with salt as and when.
No issues at all - all in was £800 (give or take). |  |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:00 - Jul 30 with 4609 views | Portwoman |
Just get one! We've had a Monarch for 9 years and it makes life so much easier. Yes, they're not cheap, but much less money spent on cleaning products in the kitchen and bathroom (as well as soap, shower gel, etc). Don't know how they affect heating systems. We use tablet salt and the 25kg bags are just that - heavy! However, you can now get softeners that use salt blocks (12.5kg I think) and they would be much easier to handle. |  | | |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:07 - Jul 30 with 4585 views | WarkTheWark |
How much does fitting generally cost for something like this? | | | |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:13 - Jul 30 with 4568 views | MedwayTractor |
We've got one of these:
https://www.twintec.com/
Very neat and silent little unit, recycles when necessary, uses solid salt bricks, not tablets, not so much mess. The salt cost is about 10 to 12 pence per day, but I don't know if that is based on the number of people (2 in our case) in the house.
With soft water, you don't need to worry about your pipes getting clogged up with calcium deposits. We had ours fitted after a year in a new house, the hard water had left everything, bath, shower, etc coated with a white film. In a few weeks, the soft water had removed all of it.
If you are a gardener, don't forget that the softened water will be alkaline, so you can't use it on ericaceous plants, you will need to use rainwater. |  |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:19 - Jul 30 with 4535 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:00 - Jul 30 by Portwoman |
Just get one! We've had a Monarch for 9 years and it makes life so much easier. Yes, they're not cheap, but much less money spent on cleaning products in the kitchen and bathroom (as well as soap, shower gel, etc). Don't know how they affect heating systems. We use tablet salt and the 25kg bags are just that - heavy! However, you can now get softeners that use salt blocks (12.5kg I think) and they would be much easier to handle. |
Are you looking for a system for the whole house?
Could be cheaper to get a water softener attached to just the shower for example? |  |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:20 - Jul 30 with 4531 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:13 - Jul 30 by MedwayTractor |
We've got one of these:
https://www.twintec.com/
Very neat and silent little unit, recycles when necessary, uses solid salt bricks, not tablets, not so much mess. The salt cost is about 10 to 12 pence per day, but I don't know if that is based on the number of people (2 in our case) in the house.
With soft water, you don't need to worry about your pipes getting clogged up with calcium deposits. We had ours fitted after a year in a new house, the hard water had left everything, bath, shower, etc coated with a white film. In a few weeks, the soft water had removed all of it.
If you are a gardener, don't forget that the softened water will be alkaline, so you can't use it on ericaceous plants, you will need to use rainwater. |
What sort of cost? | |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:20 - Jul 30 with 4532 views | Bluespeed225 |
if you've seen Patmores house at the end of Purdis farm Lane, you'll see where the money goes! | | | |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:29 - Jul 30 with 4517 views | slump |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:07 - Jul 30 by WarkTheWark |
How much does fitting generally cost for something like this? |
Depends on your plumbing arrangement but assuming that it's reasonably simple it can be done in less than a day. You should get change from £300 unless there are loads of alterations to the pipework and/or cupboards. It'll also need power. | |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:34 - Jul 30 with 4503 views | No9 |
I recommend avoiding water softeners - I've had several and all were cr@p. despite the high cost and visits from manufacturers.
Not only are they expensive but they can cost a lot to run, allow at least £125.00 a year for salt in hard water areas.
Better to consult with someone like AQUABION technical department for alternatives. | | | |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 14:19 - Jul 30 with 4431 views | MedwayTractor |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:20 - Jul 30 by Marshalls_Mullet |
What sort of cost? |
It was supplied and fitted by a local small specialist company about 6 or 7 years ago, I can't remember how much it cost, but it was around a grand. As far as we are concerned, the cost (within reason) is not that important, it's more of a lifestyle choice, we had a house built with as many energy saving features as we could afford at the time. The water softener means that we use far less washing chemicals and water as well.
Our original (tablet based unit) was fitted by the same people, it lasted for about 15 years. Like all appliances, eventually it wore out, although we were told that it had lasted much longer than we should have expected. The original cost, IIRC, was about the same as the replacement, which probably is a result of advances in technology making things cheaper.
At the time the house was built, metered water had just become compulsory for new builds, but water charges were based on Rateable Value for those without meters. Because we paid for what we used, less than a fixed RV based charge, we recouped more of our initial outlay that way as well.
If you end up with a salt tablet, rather than brick unit, I found that the cheapest source, by a long way, is Costco, if you have access. | |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 14:23 - Jul 30 with 4420 views | Portwoman |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:34 - Jul 30 by No9 |
I recommend avoiding water softeners - I've had several and all were cr@p. despite the high cost and visits from manufacturers.
Not only are they expensive but they can cost a lot to run, allow at least £125.00 a year for salt in hard water areas.
Better to consult with someone like AQUABION technical department for alternatives. |
Don't know how big your softener is or what sort of salt it uses but our small one costs no more than £35 a year in salt (at £7 a bag, although you can pay more - shop around).
I believe softeners lose their effectiveness over time so maybe a replacement is needed after 10-12 years?
Our one softens all the water with the exception of the cold tap in the kitchen so OK for drinking and cooking. Just means I have to descale the kettle from time to time, but that's no hardship compared to trying to keep the limescale down in the bathroom. | | | |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 15:11 - Jul 30 with 4365 views | MedwayTractor |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 13:29 - Jul 30 by slump |
Depends on your plumbing arrangement but assuming that it's reasonably simple it can be done in less than a day. You should get change from £300 unless there are loads of alterations to the pipework and/or cupboards. It'll also need power. |
Our Twintec unit doesn't need power. | |
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| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 16:04 - Jul 30 with 4323 views | slump |
| Water Softeners (genuine post!) on 15:11 - Jul 30 by MedwayTractor |
Our Twintec unit doesn't need power. |
There are plenty that don't. However the twink tanks need more maintenance that's all.
The power is to feed the digital control nothing more. | |
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