A question for the collective wisdom of TBN regarding water softeners ...
I have a deep well (600ft) at my house - and the water is neutral pH, only slightly hard, but has quite high iron content. The upshot is that we really don't have a problem with hardness - but we have a big problem with the iron. Everything we have that comes in contact with water seems to be turning rusty brown (no-one is anaemic in this house)!
I've been waiting this one out for a year - we've only just been here that long - in the hopes that the well might 'settle down'. Now it's time to get the problem fixed. I've been told that I can either use an iron filter ($1500 - $2000) or a water softener (these also remove iron). A couple of questions ...
1. Any of you guys have any experience with iron filters (including costs)? Apparently they use an air pump that oxidizes the iron in the water - this makes it come out of solution so it gets trapped in the filter. Any maintenance issues other than emptying the filter?
2. I have been given two sets of quotes for the softener. One is for a 'timed' system (about $1000) - this washes out the softener on a pre-set timed basis. The other is for 'on demand' regeneration (about $2500). There is a big difference in cost as you can see. Which is best and is the cost justified?
Supposedly the 'on demand' water softener is the best of the two softener types. The big downfall for the 'timed' one being that it is only good for a certain volume of water between automatic regenerations. Once you get past that volume you are just using the water as it was before - iron and all. Supposedly this is a big problem on wash day - the first load will be fine, but later loads will be stained.
The 'on demand' regeneration gets around this by automatically cleaning itself when you use a certain volume of water (instead of having to wait until the next timed cycle). You could use a shorter timer cycle on the 'timed' water softener - but then I'm told you end dumping large amounts of water in the drain field for no good reason each time it regenerates.
Sorry for all the detail there - just want to know what you guys experience is with all this. I don't have a good handle on what is snake-oil and what is not. I need to take care of this soon or else I will be having to shell out major $$$ for new bathroom fixtures and clothes for my dear wife!!!
Thanks,
Patrick
I have a deep well (600ft) at my house - and the water is neutral pH, only slightly hard, but has quite high iron content. The upshot is that we really don't have a problem with hardness - but we have a big problem with the iron. Everything we have that comes in contact with water seems to be turning rusty brown (no-one is anaemic in this house)!
I've been waiting this one out for a year - we've only just been here that long - in the hopes that the well might 'settle down'. Now it's time to get the problem fixed. I've been told that I can either use an iron filter ($1500 - $2000) or a water softener (these also remove iron). A couple of questions ...
1. Any of you guys have any experience with iron filters (including costs)? Apparently they use an air pump that oxidizes the iron in the water - this makes it come out of solution so it gets trapped in the filter. Any maintenance issues other than emptying the filter?
2. I have been given two sets of quotes for the softener. One is for a 'timed' system (about $1000) - this washes out the softener on a pre-set timed basis. The other is for 'on demand' regeneration (about $2500). There is a big difference in cost as you can see. Which is best and is the cost justified?
Supposedly the 'on demand' water softener is the best of the two softener types. The big downfall for the 'timed' one being that it is only good for a certain volume of water between automatic regenerations. Once you get past that volume you are just using the water as it was before - iron and all. Supposedly this is a big problem on wash day - the first load will be fine, but later loads will be stained.
The 'on demand' regeneration gets around this by automatically cleaning itself when you use a certain volume of water (instead of having to wait until the next timed cycle). You could use a shorter timer cycle on the 'timed' water softener - but then I'm told you end dumping large amounts of water in the drain field for no good reason each time it regenerates.
Sorry for all the detail there - just want to know what you guys experience is with all this. I don't have a good handle on what is snake-oil and what is not. I need to take care of this soon or else I will be having to shell out major $$$ for new bathroom fixtures and clothes for my dear wife!!!
Thanks,
Patrick