A Guide To Domestic Water Softeners

What is soft water?
Soft water is water that has a low concentration of dissolved minerals – mostly calcium and magnesium. It feels softer to the touch and using soft water has many benefits including:

- Great to wash with, leaving your skin feeling soft and hair silky
- Eliminates scale build-up on domestic appliances like shower heads and kettles
- Improves the efficiency of heating systems by eliminating the build-up of scale on pipes
- Makes clothes and towels feel fluffy and soft
- Eliminates splash and tide marks on baths, sink and showers
- Leaves dishes and glasses sparkling clean
- Prolongs the life of domestic appliances like washing machines
- Eliminates the need to buy softening products like Calgon
- Softened water can help certain dry skin conditions such as eczema

What does a water softener do?
It will remove the hard minerals in water and make it soft by passing the water through resin. The minerals are attracted to the resin and are left behind on the resin when the water passes through the water softener, leaving the water coming out free of hardness. The resin is then washed clean by a “regeneration” process whereby a salty, brine solution is passed through it, which flushes the hard minerals to the drain leaving the resin refreshed and ready to attract more hard minerals.

Where would I put a water softener?
A water softener in a home is normally located under the kitchen sink and is attached to the incoming mains water pipe. All the water coming into the house goes through the water softener before continuing through the water pipes to the rest of the house. It also needs a drain as the hard minerals the softener collects need to be flushed away during the regeneration process. This drain is normally the same drain as the kitchen sink uses. Lastly an overflow outlet is also required for safety reasons. The sink drain can also be used for this.

Does a water softener need electricity to operate?
Yes, it will need to be plugged in to a standard three pin domestic plug. Our water softeners are either timer controlled or have Smart regeneration and require power to operate.  In the event of a power failure the water softener will continue to provide soft water but will not regenerate until the timer has power again. However, the timer will keep accurate time for up to eight hours before resetting.

Is a water softener easy to install?
Installation of a water softener is normally carried out by a professional plumber and can take around two hours and cost around £120. However someone who is very competent in DIY should be able to install one. If you have bought your water softener from us you will be able to take advantage of our telephone helpline for anyone wanting advice on installing a water softener. Simply call 01279 780250 (regular call rates apply), ask for the installation helpdesk and an expert will answer any technical queries you may have concerning your installation.

Can I drink soft water?
It is not recommended that you use softened water for drinking or food preparation. During the installation of your water softener you should also install a drinking water tap on the sink which takes water from the mains pipe before it reaches the water softener. These are easy to install and we’d recommend the use of one like the Water Gem, which costs just £39.95inc vat and will provide you with a continuous supply of fresh, pure water for drinking and food preparation.

Will my water become salty?
No, salt is not added to the water. The salt is used to create a brine solution and flush the resin through to get rid of the hard minerals that have been removed from the water.

Will a water softener affect my water pressure?
Yes, a water softener will reduce your water pressure by approximately 1/2bar, however, this is not a great amount. If you are using the water softener to feed a combi boiler or some other appliance that requires a large flow we recommend the use of our mega flow install kit, as it has large bore pipes. A water softener will require a minimum operating pressure of 1.5bar to work.

Where can I buy salt for my water softener?
Salt for water softeners is available from many DIY shops and builders merchants. However, if you would like to have your salt delivered to your door we recommend Salt Direct. They will deliver 25kg bags of salt at a £6 each anywhere in the UK with a minimum order quantity of five bags. Call Salt Direct on 0845 603 0444.

How much do water softeners cost to run?
The running costs of a water softener will include the salt it needs to operate and the water it flushes to drain (only applicable if you are on a water meter). The power required to run the timer is minimal so not included in these calculations.

The amount of salt required will depend on the size of water softener but our medium sized unit for up to 4 people will require 1.5kg of salt per regeneration costing roughly 36p per regeneration. It will regenerate once every two days on average.

One regeneration will use approximately 90 litres of water to flush out the build-up of minerals. At a metered rate of 76p per cubic metre (Southern Water metered rate 8/8/06), 90 litres would cost £0.0684p.

Based on 15 regenerations per month, this would equate to a running cost of £5.40 on salt and £1.03 on water per month. This is around £77 per year. However this is far outweighed by the savings on fuel efficiency and the other financial advantages that a water softener will provide, which are estimated at around £200 savings per year.

What’s the difference between a timer controlled and meter (Smart Regeneration) controlled water softener?
A timer controlled water softener will regenerate at a set time every day, independent of the amount of water that has been put through the unit. A meter controlled or “Smart Regeneration” type water softener will measure the amount of water that has been used and only regenerate when required. The timer models are cheaper and if water use is consistent, make good financial sense. Bars and restaurant usually use this type. However, if water use is inconsistent, a metered or “Smart Regeneration” type model will quickly pay for itself as it will use less salt and water by only regenerating when required.

What size water softener do I need?
Our domestic water softeners are sized for either 1-2 people, up to 4 people or up to 9 people using the water supply. This is estimated on the average person using 160 litres of water per day, the water hardness prior to softening being 20Clark or 286PPM (a measurement of water hardness) and each unit regenerating every other day. Oversizing a water softener becomes more important when using a timer controlled version, as more salt than necessary will be used and wasted. If you have a metered or “Smart Regeneration” type water softener, if the unit is not used it will not regenerate so you only ever use the amount of salt required. Oversizing a "Smart Regeneration" unit will not waste salt or water.

If a unit's capacity is exceeded in a day, will my water stop?
No, the water softener will still provide water but it will not be soft until the unit has regenerated. Once it has, it will again provide softened water.

Can a water softener be used with lead pipes?
Some of the lead pipework may have to be replaced first. Although lead pipework in hard water areas may not cause a problem it is advisable to replace it. However, soft water (natural rainwater or artificially softened water) in lead pipework systems may cause the pick-up of lead. If your lead pipework has not already been replaced, any pipes that carry softened water must be changed. Grants may be available for such renovation of pipework for households with low income. Further information may be obtained from your local authority.

Do plants like hard or softened water?
It is worth checking with your local garden centre. The level of sodium in softened water may be harmful to some plants. Most indoor plants usually prefer rainwater to tap water. It is an unnecessary waste of softened water to use it to supply a garden hose. We would recommend that any external taps are fed from the water supply prior to it entering the water softener.

Can softened water be used in an aquarium?
Softened water may be acceptable. If in doubt, check with your local aquatic supplier.

Can softened water be used in car batteries and steam irons?
No, only distilled or deionised waters should be used in car batteries. Many modern steam irons can use hard and/or softened water. The guidance given in the manufacturer's instructions should be followed.