Water Softener Recommendations

[MortarThePoint]

I've been looking at the various different water softeners on the market and see some of the key features. I consider on demand (metered) regeneration a must, rather than a timer based system. However, I don't really consider a double chamber system a must since a single chamber system with a clock would regenerate in the early hours (about 10 minutes at 2am) and have no real impact.

 

Although we are a family of four, our water usage it limited by planning to 110/person/day, so the demand isn't very high.

 

The Twintec S4 looks to be somewhat of a benchmark and I like the 10 year warranty, but it's not very self build friendly since few suppliers offer it for self installation. Costs about £1200 and only uses blocks so limit supply choices there too.

 

BWT offer a cheaper range and you can pick them up at ScrewFix. Some of the reviews make me a little nervous though, despite a claimed 5 year warranty. The BWT WS555 looks like the best fit for my needs, but I have been put off by the following statement in their installation manual:

Does anyone have experience with these units? Are they cheap and cheerful but not a good long term investment? YGWYPF?

 

[Gone West]

3 hours ago, MortarThePoint said:

The Twintec S4 looks to be somewhat of a benchmark and I like the 10 year warranty, but it's not very self build friendly since few suppliers offer it for self installation.

I've fitted several of the Harvey type twin cylinder softeners over the years, including the Twintec. If you Google 'Twintec' there are several suppliers offering softeners with long guarantees.

 

https://newatersofteners.co.uk/products/harvey-twintec-s4

 

[Alan Ambrose]

@MortarThePoint - can I ask (as I'll hit this subject soon) what you plan to soften and what you don't?

[Bancroft]

Are you on mains drainage or a private sewage system?  Most private sewage systems won't work with salt water softener systems, I believe.

 

Had a Twintec system in the past.  Ok, but paying for the salt blocks started to get weary after a few years.

[MortarThePoint]

1 hour ago, Alan Ambrose said:

@MortarThePoint - can I ask (as I'll hit this subject soon) what you plan to soften and what you don't?

 

My current thinking is to soften everything except the kitchen sink and the outside tap.

[MortarThePoint]

1 hour ago, Bancroft said:

Are you on mains drainage or a private sewage system?  Most private sewage systems won't work with salt water softener systems, I believe.

 

Had a Twintec system in the past.  Ok, but paying for the salt blocks started to get weary after a few years.

 

Package STP (Solido Smart). I have seen some other systems say they shouldn't receive water softener regeneration waste, but need to check my one. It has already occurred to me that I might be able to bypass the treatment plant with the regeneration drain. My thinking is there shouldn't be anything inherently 'nasty' about the regeneration drain except a high concentration of what has been removed from the hard water. those minerals would have ended up in the STP output anyway so it doesn't seem questionable to put that into the ground.

 

[MortarThePoint]

1 hour ago, Gone West said:

I've fitted several of the Harvey type twin cylinder softeners over the years, including the Twintec. If you Google 'Twintec' there are several suppliers offering softeners with long guarantees.

 

https://newatersofteners.co.uk/products/harvey-twintec-s4

 

 

Thanks and you clearly rate them highly then. I have seen NE Water Softeners but they are just about it in terms of choice/competition

[Tony L]

31 minutes ago, MortarThePoint said:

 

My current thinking is to soften everything except the kitchen sink and the outside tap.

 

I was thinking I would do the same (assuming I ever get that far with my build, which is not going well) although I am also intending to have a soft outside tap for car washing.  The water is very hard in my area.

[Gone West]

1 hour ago, MortarThePoint said:

I have seen NE Water Softeners but they are just about it in terms of choice/competition

https://wrekinwatertreatment.co.uk/collections/non-electric-water-softeners

 

https://aquasofsoftenersandsalt.co.uk/products/copy-of-minimax-innova

[Gone West]

3 hours ago, Bancroft said:

Most private sewage systems won't work with salt water softener systems, I believe.

All the houses I lived in with water softeners, had septic tanks or sewage treatment plants. We never had any problems.