Water Softeners and such

[Thunderbolt]

With the semi annual pilgrimage of the dreaded "love bugs" here in Florida we find it necessary to wash the Valkyrie or the 4 wheeled vehicles each and every outing.  Our water has quite a lot of lime/scale because we live on top of limestone caverns that contain our aquifer.  We have been researching water softeners.  It appears that the cures that have phrases like Wow and Magic and Magnetic are all a ruse.  Some research indicates that the newer offerings of TAC softeners don't perform as stated.  We can buy for less than $100 a small unit to wash the bike and car/truck that uses 2 boxes of common table salt and probably would suffice for the bike etc. attached to a water hose.  I would like some advice on buying a whole house unit that would keep the spots from occurring on the dishes and plumbing fixtures and cause decreased usage of soaps.  I have also read that the salt treated water is not good to drink especially for folks with high blood pressure.  Opinions please.

[Wizzard]

Have had a kinetico for 38 years and had no maint at all,, works like a champ. All my relatives have them also,,same experience. You get what you pay for.

[Patrick]

Well, when you make a decision I'd appreciate it if you tell us about it.
Up north our well water is fairly hard and we use a softener.  I'm now thinking about installing one here in Florida. The water seems to be even harder down here.  I was just going to buy any ole whole house unit, but, I'll wait a bit now.

[Ramie]

I replaced my whole house softener last year and went with an on demand type.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-30-400-Grain-Water-Softener-GXSF30V/203219771
I can't believe what little salt I use now, so far I'm pleased.

[Patrick]

I replaced my whole house softener last year and went with an on demand type.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-30-400-Grain-Water-Softener-GXSF30V/203219771
I can't believe what little salt I use now, so far I'm pleased.

No salt bridging ?

[Bonzo]

Find out what is making your water hard, research what works best. Our Problem in Chester NY is Manganese and calcium.  We needed to put a whole house filter in first to get the Manganese out then a regular  salt/resin bed water softener. Our water department installed a filter in our community well system and now I do not have to change the filter monthly.

[sandy]

Salt regenerated softeners replace the minerals with sodium. They will extend the life of appliances and piping. Clothes washers can use about half the soap. BUT; sodium is what docs say not to consume too much of for heart health. BUT; if you also install an RO system for drinking, you're good to go for drinking water.  (30 years in both municipal and industrial water treatment)

[hairyteeth]

I'm thinking my Kinetico only uses salt on the resin regenerative process. After so many gallons pass thru( a formula depending on softener size and water quality) a timer set at 3 am starts back flushing the resin with (brine)saltwater to clean it. Then it is back flushed again with clean water before it returns to the whole house use. Usually takes over an hour, and a lot of gallons. I don't taste the salt but can definitely tell the difference between softened and untreated water. HT