Water Softeners / Filters

[jwstewar]

When we built the house last year we installed Whirlpool Water Filter and a Whirlpool Softener. No problems with them. They seem to work and work well. I haven't had the water tested to see if the filter is doing anything, but it supposedly never needs anything, so it just kinda does its thing. The softener works, but man does it go through the salt. We are probably going through 200 - 240 lbs of salt a MONTH. That seems like a lot. This is a 48,000 grain unit that we purchased at Lowes. I know we use a lot of water (5 of us). Kids use a fair amount of water w/ baths. Monica typically does 2 showers a day and I'll do 2 about half the time.

I may be asking for trouble, but I just called a local water treatment company. They will do the typical free water test, so I guess I'll see what they say. That much salt is a PITA and injesting that much sodium can't be good - and at that rate can't afford the potasium chloride version. The treatment company did say the Whirlpools are known as salt eaters.

I know in the past a lot of people have recommended the Kenmore, but I believe Whirlpool makes the Kenmore verison.

Any thoughts?

 

[bczoom]

Whats the regeneration frequency? Is it based on days or gallons?

 

[Erik]

what he said - are you regenerating daily, evey 50 gallons, or what?
$20+ a month in salt is an impressive bite.

 

[muleman]

I am thinking of installing an Easywater system since sodium is a big no no in my diet. Anyone ever use them?

 

[Melensdad]

I am thinking of installing an Easywater system since sodium is a big no no in my diet. Anyone ever use them?

I use a Kenmore water softener, the traditional type that uses salt. From what I understand the softened water is not appreciably higher in sodium. There is something like a 2 to 3 percent uptake in sodium but that is actually very little. This will vary by the level of hardness in your water, if very hard then you may find a bit more sodium but I'm under the impression this is not a health concern for 99.95% of us and is more of a scare tactic used by sales people. You may want to do some googling on this?

 

[rlk]

Jim, find an independent lab to do your water analysis. The independent lab does not try to sell you anything, they will just analyze your water, and give you recommendations on treatment.

Don't know about in your area, but in Central NC, you can do this yourself. You pick up a test kit from the lab (some of the labs will ship the kit to you), take samples of your water, take it or ship it back for analysis. The total bill is less than $100.

This is a much more reliable way of getting a true analysis of your water.

Bob

 

[jwstewar]

Whats the regeneration frequency? Is it based on days or gallons?

It is based on usage. Not sure how many gallons it does it, but it does it when it thinks it needs it.

Jim, find an independent lab to do your water analysis. The independent lab does not try to sell you anything, they will just analyze your water, and give you recommendations on treatment.

Don't know about in your area, but in Central NC, you can do this yourself. You pick up a test kit from the lab (some of the labs will ship the kit to you), take samples of your water, take it or ship it back for analysis. The total bill is less than $100.

This is a much more reliable way of getting a true analysis of your water.

Bob

Thanks Bob. I'll look into that when I get back from vacation. We leave tomorrow. It'll be the second trip out in the new camper.

I'm wondering if I've got the hardness level set to high? Actually the water place I called yesterday said that they could help me get it set up correctly. I should be able to take their numbers and recalibrate my softner if that is what it is. Hopefully that is all it is.

 

[cj7]

Does your outside water hose bypass the softener? If not it may lead to some of your extra salt usage.

This is a good thread as I would like to get a new unit sometime myself.

 

[bczoom]

The salt isn't used when you run your water.

It's only used when you regenerate (clean) your filtration tank(s).

Your drinking water never touches the salt.

When the system says it's time to regenerate, it pumps some water into the salt tank to make a brine mixture. Then it sucks it into the filtration tanks and the brine removes whatever crud has been accumulated. Then it flushes that brine/crud mix out via that hose that goes to some drain nearby. Rinses a couple more times and it's set to go again until the next cleaning is needed.

You may get a little residual salt if it's left in the filtration tank. This varies by the quality of the unit.

What's the real NO-NO is to use the water when this regeneration process is going on (which may be several hours). If you use the water, you're sucking that salt water into your pipes (and hot water tank if you use the hot water). That's not good for the plumbing or your body.

Rick - maybe you can be the guinea pig if you're going to get a unit. I'd like to see something developed that when the regeneration process is going on, a small light (as small as a little LED Christmas tree bulb or similar) lights up somewhere upstairs, preferable in a hall or near the bathroom. If you get up in the night (when your unit is supposed to be timed for regeneration), and that light is on, don't use the water. Flush in the morning...

 

[muleman]

All you would need is a SPST relay to a night light.

 

[bczoom]

But I don't have a schematic of my system (and mine is all on circuit cards).

 

[OhioTC18]

What's the real NO-NO is to use the water when this regeneration process is going on (which may be several hours). If you use the water, you're sucking that salt water into your pipes (and hot water tank if you use the hot water). That's not good for the plumbing or your body.

My softner and iron filter both go into bypass while they regenerate. If you use water during that time, you're getting straight well water. I thought most systems work that way.

 

[muleman]

But I don't have a schematic of my system (and mine is all on circuit cards).

Find the output to your solenoid and pick up line feed for relay from it. when solenoid energizes it will pull in relay and send power to light.

 

[jwstewar]

Does your outside water hose bypass the softener? If not it may lead to some of your extra salt usage.

This is a good thread as I would like to get a new unit sometime myself.

They don't by-pass it - at least the ones on the house. We use very little water out of these. Most of our hose use is from hose on the barn or the one in Monica's flower garden. These don't go through the house at all.