My wife and I are building a new house out in Delano. One of the things we are needing to take care of is getting a water softener. I don't know much about them though. Does anyone know alot about them, or have connections to get something like this reasonably priced? It seems as though there's salt, or salt-free. And from there, a whole list of variations. If anyone has some insight I would appreciate it.
OT: water softener, anyone in the biz or know about them? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter curlyq
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TwinCities Dan
Senior Member
I replaced my own, I didn't think there was a lot to know? I just picked up your run of the mill Menards unit though, I'm no expert. :2cents:
sleeri
Senior Member
Just call culligan or kinetico. They'll tell you more than you could ever want to know about water softners.
I got a Kinetico installed last fall. A bit pricey, but the best water softener I have used.
I replaced our ancient one last fall, just picked up a middle of the road unit from HD. real easy to install. First time I had used the SharkBite fittings. Those things will turn anyone into a master plumber.
But if you are building a new house chances are really high your builder already has someone he uses and he can recommend someone, and you can have it installed with the house build.
But if you are building a new house chances are really high your builder already has someone he uses and he can recommend someone, and you can have it installed with the house build.
chemsol
Senior Member
We purchased an iron filter and water softener from US Water Systems and had a plumber install when we built the new house. I had a number of conversations with the company prior to purchase to find the best solution for our well water and they were very knowledgeable and helpful. The iron filter and softener work fantastically. My RODI barely needs filter or DI changes and TDS input from the softener line reads near "0" all the time.
http://www.uswatersystems.com/
http://www.uswatersystems.com/
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- Mar 14, 2007
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I had a two tank water refiner from these guys: http://www.ecowater.com/water-refiners.html
I picked up a "last year's" model and installed it myself. Just have them rough in the hook ups. They aren't hard to install.
I picked up a "last year's" model and installed it myself. Just have them rough in the hook ups. They aren't hard to install.
I'm having the builder rough in the hookups, but I don't want the standard bottom-end water softener in my house. I'm also a little bit set against having to pay for the softener on my mortgage - nearly doubling the amount that it will "cost" over the life of loan repayment. I have a call into Kinetico, but they want to go to the house to discuss - that's tough when the hole isn't even started yet. I don't mind doing some work myself, so if I can get a "last year's" model, and install it myself that would be a bonus vs. having to hire someone to wrench for 15 minutes that I can do.
Thanks for the insight, I'll check into the names provided.
Thanks for the insight, I'll check into the names provided.
Why is it the best you have used? What separates this from the other Menards or HD ones?
My father was a water softener saleman for a company in Wisconsin before he passed away. He sold a generic brand for the company as well as the Kinetico line. The water softeners themselves aren't much different. The quality was in the build of the head unit and features that it had. Their main high end Kinetico products were in water filtration, not just softening. So it would remove iron, copper, phosphate, chlorine and even certain types of bacteria. I worked in the warehouse for a few years while I was in highschool. The bags of sediment and chemicals added to both the generic and kinetico tanks however was usually the same.
High quality build and long warranty. It has a couple features the others don't. The high end one had two tanks and uses already filtered water to run the recharge cycle. They also run the recharge cycle based on water usage rather than at a specific time. They use less salt for cleaner water.
Water softness are pretty much all the same like said above, it's just the quality of parts and the head units that vary. Best thing you can do is a water analysis. They should be able to tell you what's in the water and how hard it is. And then probably make a recommendation on a system that would work for you. Usually the water analysis is free (depending on how for into testing they go), just a way for them to give you a sales pitch.
Their are a lot of different systems that can be tailored to your specific water depending on how picky you are about your water.
Is it going to be city or well?
I grew up in Delano! I love that little town. Dave town club can get a little rowdy though. :beerchug:
Their are a lot of different systems that can be tailored to your specific water depending on how picky you are about your water.
Is it going to be city or well?
I grew up in Delano! I love that little town. Dave town club can get a little rowdy though. :beerchug:
sleeri
Senior Member
Does Kinetico also have models that don't use electricty?
It is city water, but from what I understand it is still pretty hard. I'll have the Kinetico guy tell me about the single tank vs. dual tank, etc. stuff when they come out to do a water test. I think that'll be in a few weeks, so I'm trying to learn a few things beforehand so I can ask good questions and weed out the information from the sales pitch.
Yes, they are powered by the water pressure.