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Posted by Nathan on February 17, 2007, 12:24 am
I can taste the difference.
When I use potassium, the water tastes sweeter then when I use plain salt or
no softener.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >> >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.
>
> The slippery feeling is because the pores of your skin are clean and
> that allows the natural oils to come to the surface. And if "It takes
> forever to wash off soap", their softener isn't set up correctly or
> you would never be able to "wash off the soap". Possibly you just
> think you washed it off because you get used to the feeling but your
> mind won't accept that, so you remain anti-water softener be damned.
>
> As far as taste, that's usually the mind at work too. The vast
> majority of people can not taste the difference between hard and
> softened waters but... good water has no taste, it's the things
> dissolved into water that gives it a good or bad taste.
>
> BTY, it takes 21 days to make or break a good or bad habit.
>
> Gary
> Quality Water Associates
>
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