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Water Softener Help & Advice
Water drinking kit
The UK water authorities provide us with one of the best drinking
water in the world but it still contains the contaminants that cause
hardness. The chlorine that is added to the water to eliminate bacteria
affects the taste and smell of the water.
To get rid of this smell and taste, have a look at our water drinking
kit page as a simple device is on hand to provide clean, clear and
odour free water all day every day.
Drinking water filter
Water supply companies maintain a low level of chlorine in mains
water to inhibit bacterial growth in the distribution network. Unfortunately,
chlorine and other naturally-occurring organic materials create
a taste and smell that many people dislike.
Jug filters are a relatively cheap way to improve the taste and
appearance of water which is the reason many people buy them. Water
jugs can only treat a small amount of water at a time, the cartridges
have to be replaced frequently, and water that is not used immediately
needs to be refrigerated. The plumbed-in filters that we supply
provide delicious drinking water and the supply is constant.
Bacterial growth can occur in filters if they are left unused for
a long period of time. All filter cartridges should be changed regularly
in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The maximum
filter cartridge life for most makes is six months, as recommended
by BRITISH WATER.
Water softeners
When you have a water softener installed, your bath, and shower
experience will feel completely different. Soap and shampoo will
create bubbles that last until you have finished your bath. When
you dry yourself, your skin will be soft and smooth, not like it
was with hard water when it felt as though your whole body was covered
with a flaky, itchy residue. Your hair will be softer and easier
to manage. You won't even have to clean away the scum line round
your bath as there won’t be one!
In the kitchen, the water you use to wash dishes will have far more
suds, yet you will use less washing up liquid. The sparkle will
return to your taps, sink and draining board. Cleaning will be easier
as work surfaces will no longer have a dull, smeary film after you
wipe them over. Your laundry will feel softer and last longer once
the damaging effects of hard water have been removed.
These are the things you will notice a few days after installation.
They are probably enough to make you wonder why you didn't buy a
water softener earlier but the changes you can't see are equally
important. The internal surfaces in your boiler, washing machine,
dishwasher, electric shower and hot water storage tank will all
be cleaner and will remain free from scale build up. The water feed
pipes leading to and from your appliances will also become cleaner.
And less scale means water heats more efficiently and therefore
costs less.
Once you have experienced the benefits of softened water, you will
never want to be without it. When you notice the beneficial effect
on your wallet, you will be even more convinced.
So which water softener is best for you?
We supply a wide range of water softeners to suit all domestic and
commercial environments. Contact us and tell us about your existing
hot water system so that we can advise you. With over 19 years experience,
we are sure to recommend the riht system for you
Installation
Our engineers carry out domestic and commercial installations throughout
the south of England. We can always travel further field at the
customer's expense, give us a call and discuss your requirements.
Self-installation
Another option available to you is self installation.
Installing a water softener is similar to plumbing in a washing
machine so if you have DIY skills we can supply full installation
instructions and kits with each softener. All that remains is to
establish what size and type of softener you require, order it from
us and then it can be delivered to your door ready for you to install.
How water softeners work
All water softeners work on the same basic principle: water from
the rising main goes straight into the water softener and passes
through a resin filter bed which removes mineral deposits like magnesium
and calcium. The water that reaches your storage tanks and taps
is free of these contaminants.
When the filtration material starts to lose its efficiency, a brine
(saltwater) solution is used to back-flush the trapped deposits
harmlessly down the drain. This re-energises the resin beds and
the soft water cycle recommences.
The recharge frequency is either based on a time cycle set manually
according to the number of people in the household (timed softener);
or the amount of water passing through the unit is measured by a
built-in water meter (metered softener).
Choosing the right water softener
Although the operating principle is always the same, the degree
of sophistication varies between the different models and the capacity
of each will be designed to meet specific criteria in terms of usage.
For example, the requirements of a commercial installation in a
shop or factory are dramatically different to those of a domestic
household so some manufacturers produce ranges to cater for the
whole spectrum.
Your choice largely depends on the number of people the softener
will handle but other considerations may be the space you have available
in the chosen location and your budget. Water softeners represent
a considerable investment but this always has to be weighed against
the damage that hard water can cause. Money spent on a water softener
may, in the long term, more than compensate for early replacement
of boilers and other equipment that uses hot water.
There is also the luxurious quality that soft water provides - the
different feel of the water and everything it touches, not to mention
the reduced cleaning chores. Some people think this factor alone
fully justifies the expense.
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