Soft water users... I have a question

[RobertN]

We have a RO for our drinking water; the rest of the house water is soft. Our system is a little over ten years old. Compared to bottled water(which isn't necessarily that clean either), our RO has definitely payed for itself. In fact, we will buy bottled water by the case(0.5 and 1 liter bottles). Then, we will refill them a number of times from the RO... I'm confident our RO water is much cleaner and nicer than bottled water.

The only thing about our particular RO though, is volume. We work outside, and like to carry an iced down 5 gallon water cooler to work daily. Well, our RO hold about 2 gallons. And, it takes a little while to refill. If I forget, and fill the jug in the morning, I barely get it half full between ice and water. I have to fill some pitcher and put them in the fridge the night before if I want to get the water jug full in the morning...

Our RO is in the kitchen, for drinking water. It also supplies the ice maker...

 

[ByronBob]

True.

I think it's designed more for emergencies or maintainence than anything else.

 

[djradz]

Anthony, first let me say THANKS, for such well written, understandable - to us common folks, and informative posts. Second, a question: I too have outside faucets, and even a HOT water faucet. I often use it, (blended with cold) to wash the vehicles, dog, etc. Almost like steam-cleaning when I use just the hot (~130 deg F) on parts, engines, etc. Problem is, when using just the hot, or the hot mixed with unsoftened cold, I get lots of white spots if I don't towel dry. Seems like the hot water almost "bakes" the spots on. I notice this most on the car windows, but also on painted surfaces. I can see where maybe when I mix in the unsoftened cold, the calcium is precipitating out, but why if I just use strictly softened hot? Any ideas? The softener seems to be doing a good job, no spots on dishes in the dishwasher, spots on the shower doors, rings in the sink, etc. Lots, of that slippery feel!

 

[anthonyk]

So you're saying that the hot is completely soft but the cold is not? If that's the case, if you mix the two you will get spotting.
Also if the hot is soft, but at high temps it's still spotting, that I don't understand. Unless the old water heater had a lot of hardness baked into it before you put on the softener. As soft water runs through the heater it will very slowly dissolve the old sediment. If it's enough, sometimes the cold will test soft, but the hot can be half a grain or a grain hard. That could be part of the problem. The other solution is that there are compounds that a softener will NOT remove. Remember: these systems use a Cation Exchange Resin. There are other types of compounds, called Anionic, which will not be removed. Sometimes those can leave deposits.
I know that's an unsatisfactory answer, but unless I could test the hot water, I really can't tell specifically what the deposits might be. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
anthony

 

[Richard]

I'm in the beginning stages of looking for BRANDS of softeners.

I did the Home Depot "test your water" thing and found my water rated between 125/250. Only to THEN learn that the scale seems to be in "grains of hardness" like in 25 and not 250.

Sooooooo, either my water is concrete or the Home Depot test isn't really the right test for me.

that said, I'm 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths 2 occupants. Looking for a demand verses timed type (I think that's the better type?) and I'm trying to find various brands & pro's / con's of said brands.

 

[SLOBuds]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm in the beginning stages of looking for BRANDS of softeners.

that said, I'm 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths 2 occupants. Looking for a demand verses timed type (I think that's the better type?) and I'm trying to find various brands & pro's / con's of said brands. )</font>

Give Gary Slusser an EMail - gwasluss <at> ptd <dot> net

Or this web site:

www.qualitywaterassociates.com

I just did this process with Gary and his company. Gary will spend LOTS of time with you to go over your requirements, and will help you design a system which is 100% taylored to your needs and lifestyle. He services the DIY community with his systems.

The process starts with you getting a water test through a recognized LAB, which gives you hardness levels and other problems with the water. The little kits which you get for free don't give you the accuracy that you need.

As long as you are a little bit handy you will be able to install the system yourself with his help.

Good luck,
Martin

 

[coveredbridge]

I had an Ecowater softener installed about a year and a half ago. It is a 30,000 grain, demand type softener with the resin tank and brine tank all contained in a single cabinet.

So far, I have been very pleased and have had no problems with operation or performance.

I looked at a couple other brands as well, but chose Ecowater based upon the design (single cabinet) and comfort level with the dealer. Some of these guys make snake oil salesman look honest! Very, very unethical. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif