Water Softener query (sorry...)

[madge1]

Hi

We’re wanting to put in a Water Softener once we’ve extended the kitchen.

We live in the Chilterns, so have very hard water. There are the obligatory four of us in a four bed detached, with one bath and two separate showers. Water flow will be ~22 litres per minute (new 32mm pipe going in) and pressure about 3 bar. It’ll be a pressurised system, with the usual tank and normal Worcester Boiler.

Realising that Kinetico and Ecowater seem a little over priced compared with others. What about http://www.tapworks.co.uk/water-softener-ad11 or indeed http://www.fountainsofteners.co.uk/PBSCProduct.asp . Which would be best for us; the electric or non electric. Ideally it would go underneath the kitchen sink, wouldn’t need touching (except salt) for vast periods, would be cheap, reliable etc.

Not much then!

Many thanks

Madge

 

[Dan Robinson]

The AD11 is excellent, but might struggle to get it under the sink.

 

[madge1]

Yeah I saw the height - I'm guessing it'll be okay under a drainer, rather than a sink itself.

Course, the non electric ones are smaller; would that be the way forward? I'm sure we can make an electric one fit if necessary

ta

 

[Dan Robinson]

Never met a satisfied owner of the non electric units.

I have the Ultra installed at home and it copes with our own usage of 500 litres per day.

 

[madge1]

oh really? What's wrong with a non electric (as you can tell, I'm coming at this from knowing nothing!)

 

[Dan Robinson]

Various issues ranging from not working to little or no support from manufacturers.

 

[madge1]

oh right! Guess more research needed then, as I was kinda hoping for the non electric route (size really...)

Many thanks

 

[Dan Robinson]

The tapworks ultra (mine) is worth a look. Not cheap though.

Maybe Harveys.

 

[slapper]

Yeah I saw the height - I'm guessing it'll be okay under a drainer, rather than a sink itself.

Course, the non electric ones are smaller; would that be the way forward? I'm sure we can make an electric one fit if necessary

ta

When Ive fitted softners in sink units I cut the floor out where the softner sits so I can gain an extra 6/7 inches.

 

[JohnD]

I woul;d be reluctant to put one under a worktop or drainer. When full of salt it is extremely heavy; and you have to open the lid and tip a heavy sackful of salt in from time to time.,

The bigger they are the less often you have to fill them with salt.

Have you got a corner of the kitchen which has worktop over it but is pretty inaccessible? If so, consider a lift-off trap in the worktop; or maybe you have an appliance that you can roll out for access. My water main comes into the house through a corner in the garage floor, which is a very convenient place.

I got my last one, reconditioned, from a person in Ingatestone, Essex, who advertises on ebay, and have been very pleased with it. It was less than £200 with accessories.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I woul;d be reluctant to put one under a worktop or drainer. When full of salt it is extremely heavy; and you have to open the lid and tip a heavy sackful of salt in from time to time.,

The bigger they are the less often you have to fill them with salt.

Have you got a corner of the kitchen which has worktop over it but is pretty inaccessible? If so, consider a lift-off trap in the worktop.

Mine is in a regular cupboard. Acres of space for filling the salt.


Not sure what to think about your last sentence.

 

[mickyg]

non electric all day. Far superior. on the link you provided there is a Harveys Crown. Thats the same as regular harveys softener, they use the same valve technology as kinetico except its metered so you could say its better than a kinetico. Also its block salt, 2 blocks go in the front, far easier than pouring bags in.

 

[madge1]

So what's the difference between a Harvey's crown and a Harvey's homewater 300?

 

[JohnD]

Mine is in a regular cupboard. Acres of space for filling the salt.

Mine is too big to go under a worktop.

 

[Dan Robinson]

So what

The OP is looking at AD11 sized units.

For a reason, no doubt.