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.

[crispy_wafer]

6 hours ago, MortarThePoint said:

 

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

Same here, but I’ve added utility sink too just because rising main is under there and I couldn’t think of a compelling reason to soften the utility cold.

[Andeh]

We have a Monarch midi system, which 3 years in... Just works well! Id recommend it 

[Bornagain]

7 hours ago, Tony L said:

 

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.

We collect rainwater from the garage roof into some old IBCs and use this for all outside uses - garden watering and car washing.

 

[Dreadnaught]

I have been very happy with this one …

 

[dpmiller]

Kineticos are great.

[MortarThePoint]

3 hours ago, Dreadnaught said:

I have been very happy with this one …

 

 

I just gave them a call and got some really useful answers abut the AT350:

• Learns your usage patterns and does the regen at a suitable time based on that
• Has a button for manual regen
• Full regen takes about an hour but they water bypasses (so gives you hard water) for about 20 minutes of that
• Regen output is at mains pressure
• Happily used with a 6 person house
• Low flow rates not likely to be an issue

They are local(ish) to me which I like the thought of.

[Bancroft]

17 hours ago, Gone West said:

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

When we were on an old-style septic tank system it was fine but when we replaced it with a package plant it was recommended we stopped using it.

 

Chances are it might have been ok but if the manufacturer advises against it and then there's an issue...