Water Softener Review

Water Softener Review 2022

There are many water softeners out there and everyone says that their water softener is the best, so what I have done was to make a video and gave my experience with the various water softeners.  Now as a dealer and service man in the water softener industry I mentioned my favorite but the fact of my review is to help you as the consumer to choose the right one for you.  And though I do not sale the Fleck water softener I still recommend it for the consumer because you do not need a serviceman to repair your Fleck water softener and the parts are more inexpensive than the others.  Here is the Fleck water softener I recommend-http://amzn.to/2DiFcvr

https://www.facebook.com/Low-Cost-Water-Softeners-1490645221225279/

Do I Need A New Water Softener

Do I Need A New Water Softener

Over the past few years I have been called out to homes and the home owner asked me "Do I need a New Water Softener" because the guy that was here from the other company said that I need a new water softener.  It usually agitates me when I hear this because usually you never need a new water softener.  If there is a reason you need a new water softener they are far and few between.

 The Reason You Need a New Water Softener

I was called out to  a home and the home owner had another company at her home to see if there was a problem with her water softener.  It was a plumbing company and so I thought she had a plumbing company there because she had a plumbing problem.  Well, when he left she called me into her home and asked me to check here water softener.  I went outside and and ran it through its systems and found nothing to be wrong.  I then went into the house and tested the water and found it to be soft so that indicated to me that the water softener was working.  The home owner showed me the report and suggestions to her water softener problem,  the plumber said he "Pressed the button and the water softener didn't work" well that is a true statement, if you press the button it will not go into regeneration unless you press and hold the button.  He said she needed a new water softener and  quoted one that costs around $4,200.00 

Water Softener

The Real Truth About Water Softeners

As you are able to tell it only takes a few things to determine if the water softener is working, and if it is not then you most likely need some replacement parts but you will almost never need to buy a new one.  The most difficult thing is to find someone who will tell you the truth about the findings and not try and rip you off.  There are some things you can do to help.  Like get a water hardness test kit, watch a couple of videos on how to tell if your water softener is working, ask friends who they use for their water softener service and ask questions on forums or ask this guy on these videos, he seems to be honest and trustworthy and answers questions that people ask on his videos

She also asked me to check her reverse osmosis system, so I took my TDS tester and checked her water and did the numbers and found it to be fine though we did change the filters and membrane since she requested it.  I hope this article helps you to find the answers you need.

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https://www.facebook.com/Low-Cost-Water-Softeners-1490645221225279/

Why is my water softener using more salt

Why is my water softener using more salt

This is a question a lot of people ask after having their water softener for some time.  Why is my water softener using more salt?  Well that is a question that must be investigated depending on the type of water softener you have, sort of.  For one thing it is not the type of salt you are using and it is not how the hard water you have.

What's The Best Water Softener Salt

There are some people who are under the impression that the correct type of water softener salt makes a difference in how much salt is used.  In reality the type of salt that is used has nothing to do with how much salt is used.  There are two determining factors that make the, one being how much salt is used during regeneration and how often the water softener regenerates.  

How Much Salt Should I Use 

Essentially the amount of salt used depends on the size if the water softener, for instance if the water softener is a 1 cu ft then you will want to use 9 lbs of salt to regenerate and if it is a 1.5 cu ft then you will want to use 12 lbs of salt and a 2 cu ft then 15 lbs of salt or you can click here to see the recommendation. 

Am I using Too Much Water

The other reason a water softener uses salt is because of the amount of water that is being used.  Many people say they are not using any more water than what they have been using but there is a sneaky little critter that most don't catch and it may be what the culprit is.  The first thing you want to do is to ensure that all faucets are turned off and no water is running, then look at your water softener to see if any water is running, note you can only do this with some digital models, if you do not have a digital model then my next suggestion is to check all your toilets because 99% of the time the culprit is the toilet and no one notices it because they flush it and leave the room immediately.  If no toilets are running then you may have a leak somewhere and you'll need to find it and get it fixed as soon as possible.  I hope this helped, please subscribe for our other updates and information.

Which Kind of Salt Do I use for my Water Softener

Whats the Best Water Softener Salt

That is a commonly asked question because there are various types of water softener salt on the market.  Each on has its own price and different kind of bag not to mention potassium as well.  Many of us who have water softeners want the best water softener salt to put in our water softeners so we can have the cleanest and most effective water softener media possible.  Here is a video; https://youtu.be/ZkgGVCwHc2I

What Kind of Salt Should I Use in My Water Softener

I have had many customers as my that question over the years and in the beginning I used to tell them whatever the cheapest is but after gaining some experience over the years I've learned to ask some questions as to why they are inquiring about a certain brand or kind of water softener salt or why do they even want to know.  So I ask a couple of questions like; what size water softener do you have, how hard is your water.  The reason for this is that they may have a water softener that is too small for the hardness and will need to use more salt then I would say to buy the cheapest salt.  Another question is; do you have iron in your well water?

If so then they would need a larger dosage of salt or they can buy the salt in the green bag that is made for iron in the water, in either case they are going to spend more money on salt or they can just buy an iron filter and put up the money up front but then can use cheaper salt and save money in the long run.  Some people want to know which is better the salt crystals or the salt pellets and in either case they are both prone to making a salt bridge in the brine tank.  That is when the salt has bridged and the water never makes it up to the salt and the water softener is not cleansed with salt and you will have hard water in the house.  Really the best kind of salt is the one that works best in your softener or can be the cheapest brand.  The other thing is after about a year the water in your salt tank looks terrible because most salt is dirty with one exception.  It is Morton salt.  If you compare the salt pellets to one another you will find that the Morton brand pellets are the cleanest and leave the brine tank cleaner as well.

Now for the best answer for all cases is to use the cheapest salt and combined with this product you will safe money and time by shopping online.  The product is called Resup and it is a food grade phosphoric acid and is dripped inside the brine tank to help clean the media in the water softener.  This is the best alternative and the most inexpensive as an addition to your water softener salt.  A gallon of Resup should last up to about 6 months with the 1/2 oz per day dispenser, both can be seen below.  The 1/2 oz dispenser has the yellow tube.  https://youtu.be/ZkgGVCwHc2I

Whats the Best Water Softener Salt

Whats the Best Water Softener Salt

That is a commonly asked question because there are various types of water softener salt on the market.  Each on has its own price and different kind of bag not to mention potassium as well.  Many of us who have water softeners want the best water softener salt to put in our water softeners so we can have the cleanest and most effective water softener media possible.

What Kind of Salt Should I Use in My Water Softener

I have had many customers as my that question over the years and in the beginning I used to tell them whatever the cheapest is but after gaining some experience over the years I've learned to ask some questions as to why they are inquiring about a certain brand or kind of water softener salt or why do they even want to know.  So I ask a couple of questions like; what size water softener do you have, how hard is your water.  The reason for this is that they may have a water softener that is too small for the hardness and will need to use more salt then I would say to buy the cheapest salt.  Another question is; do you have iron in your well water?

If so then they would need a larger dosage of salt or they can buy the salt in the green bag that is made for iron in the water, in either case they are going to spend more money on salt or they can just buy an iron filter and put up the money up front but then can use cheaper salt and save money in the long run.  Some people want to know which is better the salt crystals or the salt pellets and in either case they are both prone to making a salt bridge in the brine tank.  That is when the salt has bridged and the water never makes it up to the salt and the water softener is not cleansed with salt and you will have hard water in the house.  Really the best kind of salt is the one that works best in your softener or can be the cheapest brand.  The other thing is after about a year the water in your salt tank looks terrible because most salt is dirty with one exception.  It is Morton salt.  If you compare the salt pellets to one another you will find that the Morton brand pellets are the cleanest and leave the brine tank cleaner as well.

Now for the best answer for all cases is to use the cheapest salt and combined with this product you will safe money and time by shopping online.  The product is called Resup and it is a food grade phosphoric acid and is dripped inside the brine tank to help clean the media in the water softener.  This is the best alternative and the most inexpensive as an addition to your water softener salt.  A gallon of Resup should last up to about 6 months with the 1/2 oz per day dispenser, both can be seen below.  The 1/2 oz dispenser has the yellow tube.

How to Determine Your Water Softener is Working Properly

What are the Signs a Softener isn’t Working Properly?

1. Seeing hard water spots: Generally, with softened water you shouldn’t be cleaning hard water spots off your shower door. If you’re fighting scale and mineral buildup, have your unit serviced to ensure it’s functioning properly and the settings are correct.
2. Water Doesn’t Feel Soft: If you’ve ever had a water softener in your home, you can immediately feel the difference when soft water stops flowing. You may feel dry and itchy after a shower or find you can hardly get a suds to form in the kitchen sink. First, check to make sure you have plenty of salt pellets in your brine tank. If there’s salt in the tank, this may be an indicator that your system has stopped softening and needs to be serviced.
3. Change in Water Pressure or Water Quality: If you notice a reduction in water pressure or even simply a change in the quality of your water (perhaps you’re suddenly seeing staining on your porcelain tub), you should immediately call for your water conditioner/softener to be serviced.

 What to do When Your Water Softener isn't Working

 

Call a Pro.

To ensure that your softener is working properly, we recommend that you have your softener inspected by a local plumber at least once each year. A professional will make sure the valve is functioning properly, all settings are optimized, and possibly even conduct a water test to make sure that your system is still the right match for your home’s water.
But aside from the annual service call, there may be other times when you’re not sure if your softener is functioning properly.

Weighing the Costs

Like all household appliances, water softeners eventually wear out. If you’re finding that you’re having to call to have your softener serviced often and the repair parts and labor are adding up, it may be time weigh the costs. Do you pay to have the unit serviced and repaired or is it time to upgrade to a new softening system? Here are a few things to consider over the lifetime of your unit:

Media – The grade of media used in softeners vary with each manufacturer. Most softeners utilize six, eight or ten-percent crosslink resins. The higher the resin percentage, the greater the resin durability.  Every time a softener regenerates, the resins wear down a little.  It also wears down from exposure to chlorine. With time, the media will need to be replaced which can cost up to $500. Check with your softener manufacturer to determine if media replacement is covered by their warranty.

Consumables – Some water softeners use both cation resins and carbon media in their resin tanks. The cation resin is there for the softening process and the carbon media is there to improve the taste and smell of the water by reducing chlorine and other chemicals/contaminants. The trouble is that carbon wears out and needs to be replaced about every two – three years (cation resins generally last longer). But because most softeners mix the media and carbon, both have to be disposed of and this can be very expensive.

Control Valve – the control valve is the “brain” of your softener. It tells the unit when to recharge or regenerate, rinse, and track water consumption. Like all machines with moving parts, parts of the valves eventually wear out and need replacing.

Lack of Efficiency – Old, outdated softeners can be inefficient and costly. This inefficiency can translate to hundreds of dollars spent each month on higher water bills (due to excess water being used), increased salt usage (system is isn’t working properly and is regenerating more often than needed), and higher energy bills.

Service Costs – Calling your local water treatment specialist all the time for service is like always having a car in the shop. Eventually you want to stop dumping money into the car and get a new one. Read your softener warranty carefully to determine what is covered for parts and labor.

Household Changes – Take into consideration how your household has changed in the past 10(?) years since you purchased your softener. Have the kids gone away to college? Do you now have three toddlers running around? Your softener may have originally been sized for the number of people in your home at the time of purchase. Most water softeners today are sized per the number of people in the household, but carefully monitor increases or decreases in water consumption to determine how often to regenerate. These features can save you a bundle.

Keep in mind that not all water softeners and conditioners are created equally. Less expensive softeners purchased from a Big Box Store are a great price up front, but tend to wear out more quickly and need to be serviced often and replaced earlier. If you purchase a premium softener from a water treatment professional, the system will often be manufactured with higher quality components and carry a stronger warranty.

Article by Watertech.com

Low Cost Water Softener Sales

 Low Cost Water Softener Sales

If you are like most consumers then you don't want to pay more than you should for a product of service and water softeners are no different.  With all the competition out there and the high pressure salesmen who wants to have to deal with all the fuss and never know if you really are getting a good deal to get soft water

I am here to tell you that you don't have to deal with all that.  You can get a quality water softener to soften your well water or city water and not have to pay for someones overhead, vehicle insurance, employees etc.  I will put a link on this page that will send you to the place that you can get the same quality water softener for hundreds if not thousands less.  Yes that is right, thousands less.  Many companies buy these water softeners for much less than the price listed here and sale them for as much as $7,000.00  I know that seems crazy but a good salesman will do that and you get the same system from him that you are able to buy here.

 

Fleck 5600 Best Water Softener

Now you don't want to buy a water softener system that is owned by only one company because you will have to use them the rest of your life and they can charge whatever they want and there is no way around that.  So that is why on here you will find Fleck brand water softeners because Fleck has been around for years and is quality, easy to get parts, the parts are not too expensive and you can find lots of videos to show you how to repair them if you are a do it yourselfer and you need to get rid of hard water stains

 So click the link below and get yourself a great water softener at a great price.

http://www.lowcostwatersoftenersales.com/p/low-cost-water-softener-sales.html

Drinking Water System Wise County Texas

Drinking Water System Wise County Texas

Well if you live in Wise County Texas you know that your drinking water can be very different from bottled water.  For instance if you live in Decatur Texas and drink the tap water there you will find that the water supply comes from Lake Bridgeport and is transferred to Decatur.  It smells like chlorine and tastes terrible.  Now if you have a water well your water doesn't smell like chlorine but with all the fracking and drilling going on you may be concerned about your drinking water.  Or how about those people who live in Runaway Bay Texas who have many times received a boiled water report but how much water was consumed before you got the report?

Well if you had a Reverse Osmosis drinking water system you would not have to worry about any of the above scenarios.  You see a reverse osmosis system will take out the chlorine in the Decatur and Bridgeport water and it will remove the chemicals and things in the well water from drilling or fracking and will also provide clean and pure water 24 hours a day so you do not have to worry about getting a boil water report because you always use your reverse osmosis system.

The reverse osmosis system will make your water 99% pure unadulterated water for pennies on the gallon.  It comes with its own faucet and it all goes under your sink and the replacement cartridges are inexpensive to purchase on your own.  

If you want to buy an inexpensive reverse osmosis water purifier you can get one HERE 

Now if you need someone who has experience installing your water purifier then you can find the plumber here http://www.wisecountybusinessdirectory.com/plumbers.html

If you want a Water Softener you can buy one on this page in the right side of the page.  It is a quality water softener and the most inexpensive  one you can find.  You can use the same plumber to install it since he has the experience in doing so.  You can go to this site   http://www.wisecountybusinessdirectory.com/home.html

For some chocolate go here

#watersoftener

#reverseosmosis

#waterpurifier

#wisecountytexas

#decaturtexas 

Drinking Water System Decatur TX-Wise County Business Directory

 Drinking Water System Decatur TX-Wise County Business Directory

If you live in Wise County Texas and are looking for drinking water or a drinking water system then you will want to go to this website and you will find what you are looking for at a low price.  Most of the water is Decatur Texas is ground water which comes from a water well and the remaining kind of water is surface water like what may come from Lake Bridgeport.  In either case you will want to get a water purifier so that you can have safe drinking water.  Runaway Bay Texas is a good example because over the years they have had to send out boiled water reports and by the time you get your report in the mail you may have already drank the contaminated water.  That is why it is recommended that you get a water purifier so you can have safe drinking water all the time and need not be afraid of what comes from your faucet.  To find a drinking water system then click HERE or you can go to http://www.wisecountybusinessdirectory.com/home.html

Water Purifier

#drinkingwater
#waterpurifier
#purewater

Water Softener Installation Decatur TX (940) 799-7066

 Plumber Decatur TX (940) 799-7066

If you are looking for someone to install your water softener then this is the company to call.  They are All Hours Plumbing and Remodeling located in Wise County TX more specifically Decatur TX.  They are a good company and do quality work.  Below is their video that can give you more information about them and if you are looking to buy a water softener then I recommend one of these; http://lowcostwatersofteners.com/products-page/

Boiled Water Report-The Villages Florida

Have you ever gotten a letter from the city in the mail and when you first looked at the envelope you see that it is from the city and wonder "Now what?"  Then you open it and are thinking that you have done something wrong and they want you to move something, mow something remove something etc.  However as you begin to read the letter enclosed you find that on the very top it says in big bold letters "Boil Water Report"   You think to yourself what in the world is this?  As you read it you now seeing clearly what they are talking about.  They have discovered that the purification process the city uses was not working and you now need to boil your water in order to make sure that the water is safe to drink. Great, how in the world does that happen?  What's worse is how long has this gone on before they found out about the problem?  How much water did I cook with, how much water did we use from the faucet to make our tea or lemonade or wash vegetables or worse yet either drink ourselves or give to our grand kids to drink?  Who wants to even have to worry about something like this to happen?  No one does but if you do not have the correct safeguards in place then you will have to have this worry.  Here are some safeguards to help give you peace of mind.  You can buy from amazon this reverse osmosis system that will give you purified water every time you get water from it for pennies on the dollar and it usually pays for itself within a year.

5 Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System

Now if you want to protect all the water that comes into your home then you will want to get a Whole House Carbon Filtration System.  This system will stop the chlorine and other bacteria that is in the water, not to mention the dead bacteria bodies that the chlorine kills.  That's right, chlorine kills the bacteria in the water but the dead bodies of the bacteria don't go away so you end up drinking them.  This carbon filter along with the reverse osmosis system will take care of all that for you.



You can purchase these items online which is much cheaper and then if you live in The Villages Florida you can go HERE to get a plumber to put them in for you and then you will be a Happy Villager

Drinking Water-The Villages Florida

Have you ever smelled your water?  Can you smell your water?  Should you be able to smell your water?  These may seem like silly questions but in reality if you can smell your water and I'm not talking about the actual act of lifting your glass of water to your nose but the act of just turning on your water and being able to smell your water.  The next question is what does it smell like if in fact you are able to smell it?  Does it smell like Chlorine or does it have an earthy smell, kind of like freshly turned soil?  If it smells like chlorine then you definitely don't want to drink it and you may ask why does my water smell like chlorine?  The answer for that is simple, chlorine is used to disinfect the public drinking water so it is potable and safe to drink.  Well at least there are no LIVE bacteria in the water.  The chlorine kills them but the bodies are still there.  Yes you are drinking dead bacteria bodies in your water.  If the thought of that is more that you can stand then your need a reverse osmosis drinking water system that will give you purified water at your sink and for pennies on the dollar with no plastic bottles to throw back into our environment and no need to buy and tote those heavy cases of water into the house.  You simply lift your lever and get healthy clean purified water into your glass.

Now if your water has the earthy smell that is called Geosmin. Is Geosmin toxic?  What is Geosmin? In short this is what Geosmin is; Geosmin is produced by the gram-positive bacteria Streptomyces, a genus of Actinobacteria in the order Actinomycetales, and released when these microorganisms die. Communities whose water supplies depend on surface water can periodically experience episodes of unpleasant-tasting water when a sharp drop in the population of these bacteria releases geosmin into the local water supply.  So in other words you are drinking dead bacteria once again and this is another reason to get a reverse osmosis drinking water system that fits under your sink and provides clean, healthy purified water at your sink.

Now if you don't want the odor of chlorine or Geosmin coming into your home then you will want to buy a whole house carbon filter, which will remove the odor and chlorine as well as the dead bodies of bacteria and prevent them from coming into your home.

Now that you have purchased these items to keep your water safe and clean how are you going to put it in?  Well you can go to HERE and get a plumber to install them for you so you can have save and odor free water in your home and you can be a Happy Villager

Use Less Soap with a Water Softener

When high-efficiency (HE) laundry washers were introduced a few years back, many consumers suddenly began paying more attention to the laundry soap they were buying. High efficiency machine manufacturers warned that using “regular” laundry soap rather than an “HE detergent” could void the machine’s warranty.
So what about a water softener system? Does it matter what type of soap is used after a water softener or conditioner is installed?

Why Hard Water Requires More Soap

Prior to the installation of a water softener, hard water probably made it difficult for you to get much of a suds. Hard water is known to complicate soap and detergent dissolving in water.
In fact, you may remember dumping a big scoop of laundry detergent into a top-loading washer and waiting…only to see very few suds form. That’s because nearly twice the amount of soap must be used with hard water to achieve the same results as when operating with softened water.
The minerals that make water “hard” (calcium and magnesium) interfere with the cleaning action of soap. Soap is attracted to these hardness minerals and that is why soap produces fewer suds and is less effective in hard water.
Hard water also makes it difficult to rinse soap from clothing. You may have noticed some of your clothes coming out of the laundry process feeling stiff or looking dingy. Yes, hard water limescale is clinging or adhering to that favorite pair of jeans!  Washing clothes in soft water means you’ll not only need less soap to get your clothes clean, but also will be able to completely rinse the soap out of your clothing.

What Type of Soap Should I Use with a Water Softener?

If you’ve recently installed a water softener (by the way, you’ve made a great choice—congratulations), you should try to use as pure a soap as possible. Softened water actually maximizes the effectiveness of soaps and detergents. We recommend you use clear liquid soaps that are free of perfumes and dyes.
Many soap manufacturers assume their products are being used with hard water and add water softening agents and fillers to soaps, shampoos and detergents. This means that you’re paying for a filler or additive that you don’t need–and you’ll get a lot more for your money by purchasing pure soaps. A variety of online sites sell pure soaps and detergents, or there are many soap making do-it-yourself sites, if you’re feeling ambitious.

Softened water has the ability to remedy “hard water” problems.

Claims such as “softened water can save you money” were put to the test in an independent study funded by the Water Quality Research Council.* The study found that consumers can cut back on laundry detergents by 50 percent and reduce dishwashing soap by 70 percent when washing with soft water.
And when it comes to laundry stain removal, the study showed significant cost savings in energy expenses as washing machine temperatures were lowered from hot to cold and still maintained the same stain removal efficacy–when washing with softened water.
You’ll also find that with softened water, you can use less shampoo to create even greater lather and there’s no longer a need to buy “rinsing agents” for spot-free glasses and dishes!

*The Detergent Savings Study was conducted in 2010 in conjunction with Scientific Services S/D, Inc. and funded by the Water Quality Research Foundation.
Article written by Brice Linton, Water Tech

How to Remove Iron From Your Water

Most people who live on city water never really have to deal with red iron in their water and the only iron they encounter is the iron or metal from the inside of the pipes that may be old.  Those people who have never had an iron problem who move into  home with a water well that has iron in it feel so frustrated because they have never had this problem and now with a new home they are faced with this terrible dilemma.

What dilemma you say, well the fact that the clothes that used to be white are not longer white but dingy brown, the toilet bowl has red stains on it and the beautiful home you have has red marks where the water from the sprinkler system hits it.  No one wants to drive into their driveway and have to see this unsightly red stain day after day.  So they venture to the internet to find out how to get rid of iron in the water.
There are a couple of different ways to remove iron from the water, one of which is not my favorite but is effective.  It's the use of chlorine, you do not need lots of chlorine to remove the iron but the reasons it is not my favorite is because it is a chemical and I really don't like putting chemicals in the water even though it can be removed.  You would need a chemical feed pump or chlorinator then you would need something to catch the iron in, I prefer another tank of filterag plus but you can use the small household filters though they may get clogged fast and the other filter I speak of is self back washing and removes the iron for you then you would need another filter of granular activated carbon or you could buy the household filters if you like to remove the chlorine.  You cannot save money and try and use the carbon filter for both because the iron will overwhelm your filter much sooner and you will have to change them more often which may lead to other problems like breaking pipes, leaks at the seals etc.  A self back washing is more money but worth it because of the time it saves.
Another way is to use air.  There are systems that use air injection which is okay but you still have to deal with an injector or another piece of equipment.  It injects air into the water and then you have a precipitation tank to get rid of the air and then another media tank to catch the iron that has been oxidized, once again filterag plus.
The third way is to use a similar set up but it has only one tank that does it all.  Some companies will sell it as an iron breaker.  The two types of valves I know of at the moment are the Fleck valve and the Clack valve that draws in air into the tank and traps it there and when the water enters the tank it mixes with air and then is oxidized and caught in the media in the tank.  A one stop shop system and my favorite because it is all natural.
A fourth way is to use potassium permanganate which is another chemical and not really toxic but kind of expensive and must be added to another tank that washes the main media tank with the potassium permanganate and cleans the iron off the media.  It is another mess to deal with because whatever is wet when it makes contact it stains purple to include the hands.

For me air is the best, its not a chemical and I always recommend the iron breaker any day of the week.
If you need filtration you can get some HERE or you can go HERE 

REFRIGERATOR WATER FILTERS

Below is a huge selection of refrigerator water filters. You cannot always find water filters for your refrigerator in the big box stores, but if you search you can find all the refrigerator water filters you will ever need for your refrigerator. You will also find water filters that not only go inside your refrigerator but you will find water filters that go outside in the back of your refrigerator.

My Water Softener Keeps Running Water to The Drain

Let's say you live in the city and you get your water bill and it is much higher than normal. You think to yourself that we are in winter months and people tend to use less water in the winter months than during any other time of the year. Where is the water going? Why can't I see it in my yard or anywhere else for that reason. What the heck is going on?
So the wife goes into the garage to do laundry and notices the sound of running water and thinks to herself that is odd, why is there water running in the garage? She looks around and sees nothing, she looks in the washer and nothing, she even looks by the hot water heater and still finds nothing but as she walks by the water softener she thinks she hears water there. I don't see any water running but I can barely hear it she says to herself. So she calls you out and you take a look at it and then you pull the little hose out of the pipe in the back of the water softener and baaammm you see water running from the hose into the pipe. So you ask yourself why it is doing that. The water softener is in the service position and there is salt in the salt tank so what is going on.
So you get online and find this blog that tells you what the problem may be. The first thing you want to ask yourself is; did someone do some plumbing before the water softener? The reason you ask this is because sometimes when work is done to the water line before the water softener either PVC glue or some other object has gotten in the piston or rotor disc area and water is bypassing the system because of the PVC glue or other object like solder or plumbers tape. So what do you do know? You can be a DIY and go online and find a video that shows you how to take out the piston, seals and spacers on your fleck or clack valve or how to remove the rotor disc on the sears, kenmore, whirlpool type water softeners.
So let's say you are not a DIY then you call your water softener service man (it is better to call someone who knows how to work on a water softener rather than a plumber who does not know what he is doing on a water softener)and he arrives and takes apart your water softener valve and finds the object in the piston, seals and spacers. He has to replace the seal kit and offers to replace the piston as well. The reason to replace the seal kit is because the rubber seals often tear and that is where the water bypasses. You may need to replace the piston especially if it is a Fleck 5600 or 2500 valve is because the piston is made of brass and has a teflon coating and sometimes the coating comes off or is rubbed off and water will bypass and go to drain as well. So you pay your service man his fee and no more problems. However as you watched him you noticed that you could have done that yourself so for the next time you take down this web address for water softener parts http://lowcostwatersofteners.com/products-page/ 
and click on any item and it will take you to the parts page for you to buy the correct part for your water softener. 
The next time you will be ready and after you subscribe to this blog you will get updates on blogs or if you go to http://www.lowcostwatersofteners.com and fill out the form you will get all the updates on blogs and equipment so you will be the informed guy who all he neighbors come to for help.

Water Softener and Filter Products

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You Need a New Water Softener

I was called to a ladies home to check her water softener and when I showed up I saw a plumbing company's truck parked across the street and thought nothing of it.  I knocked on the door and the lady came to the door and said the water softener is around the side and asked if I could check it out.  So I went around the side and checked it out and found nothing to be wrong with it. 

I went back to the door and knocked and she answered and told me to wait until she was done with the plumber, so I replied sure and went and sat in my truck.  I saw the plumber leave and as he did he made note of the company information on the side of my door.  So he went and sat in his truck and sat there doing paper work I guess.

I went and knocked again, the lady answered and had me come inside she directed me to the kitchen and when I got there I tested the water and checked her reverse osmosis system.  Her water was soft and the water that came from her reverse osmosis system had tested to be well above 85% pure water.  (You test RO water with a TDS meter by getting before and after results and then using a formula which will give you the results you need to determine if the reverse osmosis membrane needs to be replaced)  I tested the water and as I said above that is was good.

So she asked me the results and I told her that the water softener was doing okay and softening the water like it should, I pointed out that the reverse osmosis system was doing its job and that she was okay on both pieces of equipment and that all was good.

She said well tell me what you think of this, she pointed out an estimate from the plumber that said
"I pushed the button and the water softener did not work"  Well of course it is not going to work if you press the wrong button, then the estimate said that to replace that water softener it would cost over $4,000.00.  That is not to mention that this particular water softener had a lifetime warranty on the tank, PC board and media.  I even called the vendor for this particular piece of equipment and verified with them that this particular customer still had the warranty and sure enough they did.

The purpose of this post is that if you are told by someone that you need a new water softener, I would suggest that you get a second opinion or maybe even a third.  Have each technician to write down their findings and then compare.  If one is way of from the other one or two then you have your consistency and you may save a lot of money and or have spent very little to get a correct opinion.

My Water Softener Made my Coffee Taste Salty

Can you just imagine, you get up in the morning and start to get your coffee maker set up to start brewing your favorite coffee.  You throw away yesterdays filter, you pour out the unused coffee still in the pot, you rinse it out and from the tap you fill it to that level that makes perfect coffee every time, you get out a filter and put in just the right amount of coffee.  You push the brew button and go hop in the shower and get ready for work.  You return to the kitchen dressed and ready to grab that great tasting cup of coffee, you grab your favorite cup and pour that fresh coffee into the cup and take a sip of nice hot coffee when all of a sudden your taste buds discover a new taste of coffee and spin out of control and you spew that mouth full of coffee into the kitchen sink.

That cup of coffee tasted like salt and has ruined the entire day because you really needed that cup of coffee on that particular morning, actually you need your coffee every morning.  So not only did the day start off wrong but now you know that when you return home you want to figure out why your water tasted like salt

Perhaps this is the solution to the problem;
When the water softener regenerates it takes in all the salt water that is in the salt tank as you know, but what you probably didn't know was that if someone gets up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom while the water softener is drawing the salt water into the water softener tank as you flush the toilet you will bring salt water into the water lines, then you flush again in the morning bringing it even closer to the house or even the toilet.  Then when you rinse out the coffee from yesterdays pot you get salt water into the coffee pot and thus have salty water.  The way you will know if this happened is to go look at your water softener and if it indicates that the water softener regenerated the evening then you know that was the problem.  You will be able to tell if it is a Fleck water softener valve because the white arrow in the upper right side of the valve face on the little transparent dial will be 11 o'clock position under the words "Gallons to Regen"

Or perhaps this is the problem;
Over the past months you have had power outages and when you come home from work or get up in the morning you adjust the flashing clocks throughout the house to set the right time but because the water softener is in the garage or well house it is forgotten and life goes on until that special morning that salt and time collide.  What has happened is that the timer on the water softener has gotten out of time and you begin to draw water into the house in the morning when you use the bathroom and then run the water to wash out yesterdays coffee while at the same time the water softener is in the brine cycle drawing salt water into the water softener to clean the media and salt water is also drawn into the house water lines.

How to remedy the problems;
You can get yourself a Reverse Osmosis System which has its own faucet and gives you bottled water quality water at the sink and avoid the chance of getting up and using the bathroom at the same time as the water softener is drawing in the brine water not to mention having great tasting water for your coffee.
The other way to avoid this is to periodically check your water softener to see that the time is correct and a good time to do that is when you add salt.

There are water softener valves that have small batteries in them to keep the time for situations like these but not very many.  As far as I know the only one that does have one is a Clack valve and I really don't recall that the others have a battery for just such the occasion. 

So if you get salty water don't get mad at your water softener or water softener service man just check your timer on the water softener or follow the instructions above and you'll have your answer.  If what was described here does not match your scenario then perhaps you may want to call your water softener service man.

What is The Best Kind Of Water Softener Salt

When I had my water softener company many of my customers would ask what kind of salt should they use.  I always responded with what I used as a water softener service company which was the most inexpensive water softener salt.

What I should mention first perhaps is what kind of water softener salt should you not use, though it is not even water softener salt but swimming pool salt for the salt water pools.  It is a very granular almost like what you may serve at the table and to my knowledge and experience it does not work as I found it in a salt tank (brine tank) at a home and ended up dumping it out.  Though thinking about it now perhaps it can be used since it is salt but it really isn't designed to be used for water softeners.  Another type of salt I found at a home which is okay to use however you may spend hundreds of dollars more is rock salt.  It is okay to use but it comes in such small boxes you would have to fill your basket and who knows how much that salt would cost.

I have always used the most inexpensive water softener salt since for the most part it really doesn't make a difference.  Though let's say you used the tablet or pellet form and you had problems with it making a salt bridge then perhaps you may want to switch to the granular type which is usually found in the blue bag instead of the yellow bag.

There are cleaner forms of water softener salts on the market.  The Morton's salt is one of the cleanest I have seen.  If you pour it side by side you can see the difference and it comes in a pellet form.  Some people like this kind because after a year or so the water in the brine tank begins to look pretty yucky and at the bottom of the salt tank you can find lots of dirt and other nasty stuff there.  It is not found to be unsanitary but it may be a good idea to allow your salt to run out and then disconnect the small tube and clean out the brine tank, I do know once you do you will feel good about it.

The green bag of salt?  The one with the form of hydrochloric acid that helps clean the beads if you have iron.  The regular salt will work fine though I have never done a test to see which is better.  I do know the non green bag is cheaper than the green bag.  There is a product called Resup that can be bought online or your local water softener service company may have it, you will need to put it in a dispenser and you will want to get the 1/2 oz per day dispenser which is the one with the yellow wick.  The 1 oz per day will put more than enough Resup in the tank.  Resup is a food grade hydrochloric acid that does a great job at cleaning the beads for the cost.  If you find that your water is blue particularly in your toilet after purchasing this product it is likely that you used the toilet the same time the water softener was regenerating and thus got it in the lines.  If you run the water for a moment it will clear up and all will be well.

Potassium?  You may use this product though it is almost 5 times as expensive as salt and does a great job but the price really is not worth it.  It is mainly used for people who are environmentally conscious.  It is environmentally friendly and does not damage the vegetation that salt may destroy.

All in all the best water softener salt for you is the one that cleans like it needs to, fits your budget and does not keep creating salt bridges. https://www.facebook.com/Low-Cost-Water-Softeners-1490645221225279/