Water softener help

[bagofpucks]

Happy Thanksgiving All!

Well, it appears our water softener has kicked the bucket today. It has been behaving a bit strange lately and overflowed this afternoon. It is 20 years old, so it's done its job. Does anyone have recommendations of places to buy and people to install a new water softener? I know there are some salt less models out there...are they worth it? Also, any other info or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Fobby]

The saltless one is probably the nuvo? I would say that's a water conditioner rather then a water softener.

I went with a non electrical one from trial, the kinetico is pricey, but it works on metered rather then time.

Costco has a deal for them for give cards back. Otherwise any plumber like Pete ot knight can do any generic water softener install.

[puckedoff]

If you are just replacing one that was already plumbed in you will be able to install yourself in about 20 minutes. I wouldn't go saltless.
Costco sells them or you could get one at Home Depot (GE Series) and they are well reviewed and easy to instlal.

[OldDutch]

I had a Kenmore unit, and after the flood put in a Kinetico. It works fine, I guess I save electricity but really how much do those types of units use anyway?

I liked the Kenmore because it held 3 bags of salt so I filled it yearly. The Kenitico is small, about he size of a large PC tower from the 90's. However I have to fill it every few months, and it causes me to have to check on it. Plus is I have more room in my small furnace room for stuff. I wouldn't say it softens the water any better or quieter. The Kenmore was pretty cheap on sale.

I am happy with Kinetico but I don't know if I would spend a premium again to get it. The cheap softeners out there I believe do just as good a job, just have to make sure the salt regen level is turned down to Calgary hardness. Honestly at $5 a bag it isn't that expensive to begin with.

[Ace]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

I had a Kenmore unit, and after the flood put in a Kinetico. It works fine, I guess I save electricity but really how much do those types of units use anyway?

I liked the Kenmore because it held 3 bags of salt so I filled it yearly. The Kenitico is small, about he size of a large PC tower from the 90's. However I have to fill it every few months, and it causes me to have to check on it. Plus is I have more room in my small furnace room for stuff. I wouldn't say it softens the water any better or quieter. The Kenmore was pretty cheap on sale.

I am happy with Kinetico but I don't know if I would spend a premium again to get it. The cheap softeners out there I believe do just as good a job, just have to make sure the salt regen level is turned down to Calgary hardness. Honestly at $5 a bag it isn't that expensive to begin with.

I have a kinetico as well, and the salt tank size is also my biggest complaint...but I believe they have larger salt storage units you can get instead...sales guy talked me out of it because of how efficient the unit is, wish he hadn't. With how hard our water is here, this thing still eats salt at a good pace.

I primarily wanted the K5 drinking water system, so I bought everything together, but I liked my old culligan aqua-sense water softener. Only regenerated when needed. Added salt maybe twice a year, more likely once.

[DoubleK]

Bumping as I'm in the market for a softener for my new house.

Was leaning towards Kinetico, but am open to other brands.

[Inferno099]

With kinetico other than adding salt is there maintenance periodically required for the various tanks that needs to be done?

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Inferno099

With kinetico other than adding salt is there maintenance periodically required for the various tanks that needs to be done?

There is a filter on mine that needs to be replaced yearly. It will depend on how much water you use though.