Off Topic - Water Softeners

rob · Post by **rob** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 9:32 pm

Does anyone here use a water softener or know anything about them.

I am fed up with limescale, especially when I clean the car. Any info would be appreciated

paul_y3k · Post by **paul_y3k** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 11:36 pm

Rob,
I know a little ... basically the inline filters you can fit to your standard spamspam sink tap .... rubbish. You end replacing the cartridge every 2 /3 months depenindg on how hard your water is.
Basically the only decent usefull ones are about the size of a midi tower and sit at the point the mains water leaves the ground thus softening the entire system; water, central heating etc etc.
They use big blocks of rock salt and are very heavy and i belive quite expensive. You also need a plumber who knows what he's doing to fit it.

rob · Post by **rob** » Sun Sep 15, 2002 12:10 am

thanks, I had seen those sort on http://www.plumbworld.co.uk , about Â£480.

Better sort it out before I plumb my hot water in for car washing

No more streaky limescale on the car windows

Thanks

Duncan · Post by **Duncan** » Sun Sep 15, 2002 12:54 am

There are electronic water softeners around no pluming require try

http://www.waterking.co.uk

I've no shares comission etc. Never realy be able to find a decent explanation of how they work. Science seems a bit dodgy to me. If you try it and it works let us know.

paul_y3k · Post by **paul_y3k** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 12:35 pm

Electric ones are worse than the inline ones. Basically they use electric to 'attact' the limescale polirsation etc etc (I can't remember my pyhsics nowadays). but they arnt very good.

ohh and if you wonder why I know so much .. i don't ... my brother in law's a plumber and he's the guy that knows what he's talking about I just listen.

and as i know he keeps an eye on my postings .... Hello Andy !

Craig Atkins · Post by **Craig Atkins** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 1:05 pm

Well, funny you should mention water softeners.
I have a friend who is a window cleaner, and uses the omnipole window cleaning system http://www.omnipole.com. The system in his van is a tank that gets filled with de-ionised water...
This is created using some sort of reverse osmosis system... using normal tap water... and takes forever to fill the tank.
Nice thing is, i can use the brush + water, clean the car in about 10 mins, and leave it to dry in the air. NO WATERMARKS at all!!!! No Chamois leather needed.... no shampoo needed.... perfect clean!

paul_y3k · Post by **paul_y3k** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 1:15 pm

guy at work just made in intresting commnet ..... Don't water softers use SALT to soften the water ?? Which the big ones certianly do !

SALT agghhh !!!