|
Posted by JoeSpareBedroom on February 15, 2007, 5:53 pm
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >I am looking for advice on water filters/softeners.
>>
>> > We live in Idaho. Our water isn't too bad. It is city water and has
>> > some slight taste to it. It is also somewhat hard (compared to our
>> > previous house in Colorado), but enough different that we can tell
>> > just in how our hair feels when it is washed.
>>
>> > Now we just bought a new house that is plumbed for a softener
>> > (probably just the hot water or water line that doesn't include the
>> > kitchen or refigerator lines). We would like to make the water taste
>> > better and perhaps be a little bit softer. Since we have been busy
>> > with other aspects of moving in, we haven't had a water test done yet.
>>
>> > I guess I am looking for advice on what we should be looking for and
>> > how to best go about it.
>>
>> > Thanks,
>>
>> > Jerry
>>
>> You might consider treating the two issues separately. For instance, a
>> charcoal-based filter just for drinking water may be enough to deal with
>> the
>> taste. You can experiment cheaply by first trying a Brita jug. If you
>> like
>> the results, go bigger.
>>
>> As far as water hardness, that can be divided into two issues:
>>
>> - Does its "feel" really matter that much? If not, do nothing.
>>
>> - Is the water hard enough to mess with the internal workings of faucets?
>> You probably haven't been there long enough to find out. Ask a neighbor.
>>
>> Here's an excerpt from my county's water quality report:
>> " Water hardness is a measure of the mineral content of water. Our water,
>> which has a Total Hardness of between 5.6 and 7.6 grains per gallon, is
>> considered "moderately hard". By way of comparison, before they switched
>> to
>> MCWA, many local communities used ground water supplies with Total
>> Hardness
>> values of more than 20 grains per gallon."
>>
>> Worst chore: I have to remove the shower head once or twice a year, soak
>> it
>> in hot vinegar, rinse it, and screw it back on. Based on how the faucets
>> feel, I may have to take them apart and soak & scrub the cartridges soon.
>> This is a once every two year thing.
>
> You are not aware of all the hidden costs of living with water with
> more than 3-4 gpg of hardness.
>
> The biggest cost is the water heater, the additional fuel it costs and
> premature failure of either electric elements or oil and gas fired
> heaters. All fabrics washed in hard water wear out much sooner than if
> softened water is used. You use much more detergent, softening agents,
> cleansers, hand soaps, shampoo, skin cream and oils while suffering
> dry itchy skin and it takes more time to clean the water using
> appliances. Coffee pots and all other water using appliances fail much
> sooner on hard water than on soft water. All that costs more than the
> right softener and to feed it some salt every month or two.
>
> To learn about correctly sizing a softener etc.
> www.qualitywaterassociates.com
>
> Gary
> Quality Water Associates
>
I've heard all this, Gary. It's odd, though:
- All fabrics? I have shirts that look new 10 years later. T-shirts, cotton
dress shirts, polo shirts, flannel shirts, all of them.
- My coffee maker's 5 years old. The previous one lasted 15 years.
- Previous house: Washing machine went 20 years, and was there for 10 before
we moved in.
(This house is in the same water district as the previous one.)
- 1/3 capful of laundry liquid works fine, not the 1/2 to full capful
recommended on the bottle.
- Previous house: Water heater lasted us 18 years, and 5 before we moved in.
As far as using a water softener, the main reason I've never considered one
is that any time I've experienced water in a home where one is used, it
feels like I'm washing with glycerine. It takes forever to wash off soap
(yes, I use less in these situations). And, it tastes like crap.
| 
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap