Water Softener - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

clavus · 11-05-2003, 10:50 AM

Not really a "how to" question, but it seemed appropriate here.

I need a new water softener. Should I buy the old pain-in-the-ass, fill-with-salt kind for $200-$300, or should I get one of those fancy-pants salt-free ones for over $600?

http://www.no-salt.com/

I live in a place that has HARD water. It's so hard it practically crunches when you bite down on it. What are your thoughts, my soft-water enlightened friends?

a_guy · 11-09-2003, 01:45 PM

We have a water softener....the salt is cheap, and the only downside is that soap is hard to get off your hands. and it's fairly cheap, only 3 dollars for a 20 lbs bag of salt.

yournamehere · 11-11-2003, 07:45 AM

I have become very cynical when it comes to the lies and half-truths of the advertizing world. I would beware of such catch-phrases as AMPLIFIED CATALYTIC POWER® and "never uses salt or electricity and never needs backwashing and practically lasts a lifetime.

Advertizers who use fancy sounding catch-phrases instead of explanations of how the product actually works are usually selling snake oil, IMO.

After all - I could be selling paper hand fans, and advertizing them as "Salinated hydro-oxygenic molecular phase-shifting, thermo-reduction devices" - it won't change the fact that it cools you off by evaporating your sweat.

I'd stick with the reliable, CHEM 101-proven salt water softeners.

As far as prices go, I don't think you'll find an adequate softener for $200. Plan on spending $400 or more, depending on the peak water usage at your home. You might find one for $200, but I would doubt its productivity, and you might be out there twice a week adding salt.

11-05-2003, 10:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
clavus pow! Location: NorCal	Water Softener Not really a "how to" question, but it seemed appropriate here. I need a new water softener. Should I buy the old pain-in-the-ass, fill-with-salt kind for $200-$300, or should I get one of those fancy-pants salt-free ones for over $600? http://www.no-salt.com/ I live in a place that has HARD water. It's so hard it practically crunches when you bite down on it. What are your thoughts, my soft-water enlightened friends? __________________ Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

11-11-2003, 07:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
yournamehere Invisible Location: tentative, at best	I have become very cynical when it comes to the lies and half-truths of the advertizing world. I would beware of such catch-phrases as <i> AMPLIFIED CATALYTIC POWER®</i> and <i>"never uses salt or electricity and never needs backwashing and <b>practically</b> lasts a lifetime</i>. Advertizers who use fancy sounding catch-phrases instead of explanations of <b>how</b> the product actually works are usually selling snake oil, IMO. After all - I could be selling paper hand fans, and advertizing them as "Salinated hydro-oxygenic molecular phase-shifting, thermo-reduction devices" - it won't change the fact that it cools you off by evaporating your sweat. I'd stick with the reliable, CHEM 101-proven salt water softeners. As far as prices go, I don't think you'll find an adequate softener for $200. Plan on spending $400 or more, depending on the peak water usage at your home. You might find one for $200, but I would doubt its productivity, and you might be out there twice a week adding salt. __________________ If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors: "If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too." It won't hurt your fashion sense, either. Last edited by yournamehere; 11-11-2003 at 07:55 AM..

11-09-2003, 01:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
a_guy Upright	We have a water softener....the salt is cheap, and the only downside is that soap is hard to get off your hands. and it's fairly cheap, only 3 dollars for a 20 lbs bag of salt.