Have had a new boiler fitted recently, and going to be going for an extension in the near future which will entail replacing all the bathroom fittings
and the kitchen.
In preparation for the extension, I want to fit a water softener as the water round here is hard as nails. I'm guessing a metered softener would
be better than timed but have no idea what I'm looking for really.
Will be fitting myself, and the boiler was specifically checked to make sure it would be OK with a softener fitted (apparently Worcester Bosch, which
was my first choice, aren't as they use aluminium heat exchangers)
Can anyone recommend a supplier and make / model?
Cheers
Stephen
My understanding is there is the water in the boiler to heat your house and there is the water being heated for hot water bother separate paths. The alloy heat exchanger (condensing heat exchanger) is in the heating path so is not used in the production of your hot water. Therefore it is the main heat exchanger, which is your point of focus, which is usually made of stainless steel that produces your hot water. Please correct me if I am wrong?
quote:
Originally posted by theprisioner
My understanding is there is the water in the boiler to heat your house and there is the water being heated for hot water bother separate paths. The alloy heat exchanger (condensing heat exchanger) is in the heating path so is not used in the production of your hot water. Therefore it is the main heat exchanger, which is your point of focus, which is usually made of stainless steel that produces your hot water. Please correct me if I am wrong?
Use an electronic one connected to the electric, they use magnetism and work quite well and it wouldn't matter what boiler you use.
quote:
Originally posted by big-vee-twin
Use an electronic one connected to the electric, they use magnetism and work quite well and it wouldn't matter what boiler you use.
Checkout the range offered by East Midlands Water, I fitted the EML10
which has given me around 3 years problem free service so far.
For just me a fill of salt lasts several months (very hard water) but for a larger family the EML15 might be a better option.
I second Geoff's post. Fitted a Wickes timed one, after considerable research, for myself a few years back. It's good, but a bit wasteful on
salt. After considerably more research I fitted the above metered one for my mum a year ago and it has been faultless and very efficient on salt.
You can pay silly money for the brand names and the ones sold at shows or by doorstep salesmen, but in the end they all work on the same pronciple and
the above model is great value.
Don't forget to leave a drinking tap or dispenser fridge on an untreated supply (although softened water is drinkable, some don't like the
taste and although the residual salt leftover from regeneration is minimal, there is enough to affect people who are on a low sodium diet). Also, if
you use a hosepipe more than occaisionally, make sure the outside tap is unsoftened too else it'll get expensive.
ETA: fitting a softener was probably the best bit of DIY I've done on the house. You don't realise quite how much of a pain in the arse
limescale is until it's gone. You can also halve the amount of powder/tablets you use in the washing machine, use much less soap, shampoo, etc,
and don't need to put expensive salt in the dishwasher. These things, plus the saving on time / products spent cleaning water residue off things
easily pay for the machine and the running costs.
[Edited on 27/8/13 by matt_claydon]
quote:
Originally posted by matt_claydon]
ETA: fitting a softener was probably the best bit of DIY I've done on the house. You don't realise quite how much of a pain in the arse limescale is until it's gone. You can also halve the amount of powder/tablets you use in the washing machine, use much less soap, shampoo, etc, and don't need to put expensive salt in the dishwasher. These things, plus the saving on time / products spent cleaning water residue off things easily pay for the machine and the running costs.
one thing when I researched was that we wanted two softener parts in the unit. this means one can work whilst the other is being recharged and thus
you always get soft water through it.
the one we went for was a http://www.uk-water-softeners.co.uk/product (we have the older model being a s2) No electricity needed, just recharges when
enough water has been through, so no excessive recharging.
we have had it running for 9+ years and it hasn't missed a beat. the guy who runs the above is a decent bloke too. He is based in Frimley,
Camberley and thus will no doubt deal with you. I've been buying salt from him since day one (the blocks are far far easier to deal with than
the pellets) and I'm in New Malden.
If you do go to him mention my name - Chris Young in New Malden as he will maybe donate me some salt !
ps I am just a happy customer.
pps no idea if he will sell the unit without fitting
ppps! I have used it with 15 and now 22mm connections.. it is pretty much non blocking in flow. thing what size you need before you buy a cheaper one
I would say.
[Edited on 27/8/13 by Chris_Xtreme]
Thanks, Chris