Water softeners - do it yourself systems

[rangerfredbob]

Just saw this... a couple years ago when my well pump went (impeller worn out from sand) out I went ahead and changed out my water softener setup (since the sand also took out the seals on the purge valve so it leaked constantly). Previously I had a two tank system installed by the company that did the well and I couldn't find anything similar in DIY so I went with the $650 setup from Home Depot, it's worked just fine, water quality same as two tank system as far as I can tell... Mine was all done with PVC before so we just redid that as it's simple enough, it's all in the pump house so out of sight...

 

[RayIN]

Take a look at: Budget Water Filters-Water Softeners-Iron Filters-Well Water Treatment Been several years since I dealt with them but they were helpful for the self-installer back then.

I found this statement on the website amazing.
quote:"

"Don't drink the water from ANY softener:​

You should not drink the water from ANY water softener as a rule, and should be wary of any sales people who say you can."

 

[buckeyefarmer]

We're building a new home and just priced a salt water softener. WOW, have prices jumped in 5 years around here. Sure, the two systems I had installed previously were before COVID but I feel they're just using that as an excuse to gouge us.
The other two salt systems to eliminate iron and hard water were about $2400 and the same system quoted today was double that. The systems at the box stores are about $650 and get fairly good reviews. I've done crimp on pex and I'd rather do the expansion way like the way the plumber did the rest of the house but I can't see buying ing a $500+ expansion tool set to use for this.

Professionals? Have you installed your own? Recommendations?

Installed mine. Original was Sears Kenmore, installed in 1997. This year it developed a leak in the resin tank, so replaced with a Whirlpool (under $700)(Which made the kenmore) and it was a direct fit to the existing bypass valve. If you can do any kind of plumbing, copper or pex, they are simple to install.

 

[rumwrks]

the sand also took out the seals on the purge valve so it leaked constantly

If you haven't already, it might be worth installing a sand filter between the well and the house. It won't save your pump of course but it can cut back on the damage to the rest of the system a bit at the cost of emptying a filter every so often.

 

[MattB4]

I found this statement on the website amazing.
quote:"

"Don't drink the water from ANY softener:​

You should not drink the water from ANY water softener as a rule, and should be wary of any sales people who say you can."

Yes there is concern about health risks of water softener salts in water. That is why you use Reverse Osmosis for your drinking water after a softener. Personally I think it is overdone but people get real funny about how pure of water they drink.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Do you really need "soft" water for the whole house? If it causes staining on plumbing fixtures or clothing after washing, pipe damage, etc., you probably do.

In our case, we were able to tolerate the minor effects of our hard water for most usage. For drinking & food prep, we installed a reverse osmosis under sink system. Cost $600 and I installed it myself in an afternoon.

Yes, the filters are expensive, probably more than softener salt, but we are still on our first set 6 months after installation. Mfgr. says they are good for a year with our projected use.

 

[MotorSeven]

Do you really need "soft" water for the whole house? If it causes staining on plumbing fixtures or clothing after washing, pipe damage, etc., you probably do.

In our case, we were able to tolerate the minor effects of our hard water for most usage. For drinking & food prep, we installed a reverse osmosis under sink system. Cost $600 and I installed it myself in an afternoon.

Yes, the filters are expensive, probably more than softener salt, but we are still on our first set 6 months after installation. Mfgr. says they are good for a year with our projected use.

We have been in the house 12 ish years and are going to have to replace the Moen kitchen faucet for the third time.....the metal is corroding making a mess. These faucets are around $250ea, so this will be 7-800$ "down the drain".

I cleaned out the shower diverter a month ago, the valve bodies were clogged. It's now back to a trickle, so I will disassemble it again today. I ordered a Lab water test kit this am, have to wait for it to get there, then fill and send it back. I wanted an independent lab to tell me exactly what is going on with my water before I buy anything. I think the water guy here on Sat said my hardness was a 15, but not sure what scale they are using. I am also going to pick up a DIY test kit from HD and see what it says.

This is what I think I need at this point:
A salt water softener, one that back flushes based on gallons used, not time.
A reverse Osmosis system....3-5 filter, for drinking water.
A UV light.
A sediment filter/Spin filter 50micron Spin filter

Looking at prices, this all should come in around $3500 for top tier stuff.

 

[MossRoad]

Our first water softener came with the house. It was installed directly after the expansion tank. ALL water in the house is softened. I bypassed the softener for drinking water and the outside faucets.

When it finally died, I bought a Morton softener for less than $500. It works fine.

Water softeners are very easy to install. Just cut the line, install two elbows, run some flex to the softener and use shark bite connectors, plug it in and you're good to go.

 

[rangerfredbob]

If you haven't already, it might be worth installing a sand filter between the well and the house. It won't save your pump of course but it can cut back on the damage to the rest of the system a bit at the cost of emptying a filter every so often.

My setup is pretty complex... was new when I moved in in '14 so I got almost 10 years out of the pump... it goes from the pump to a flow restrictor to a centrifugal sand separator with a timed drain valve (that is also sand damaged) to the pressure tank to a long sock type filter to a cartridge filter then to the softener then to another cartridge filter (another came with the new softener... wasn't going to not use it) then to the house... There's WAY less sand and silt than there was when I moved in, about once a year in the fall things will settle when it starts raining again and I'll go through a month where the filters will get plugged quicker but for the most part it's stable now...

 

[jyoutz]

Our well water isn’t exceptionally hard, so I installed this kit. It’s relatively easy to do with pvc pipe and valves. I chose a sediment filter, softening filter using citrus instead of salt, and a carbon filter. The trio lasts about a year between changes and cost about $275 for all three replacement filters. If your water is really hard, this might not do the trick , but it works for me.

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