"Fred" wrote in message
...
Hello,

Has anyone used water "softeners" like the one screwfix sell, part no.
20315 or in conjunction with a sediment filter as part no. 72063

If so, what are your opinions?

I put "softener" in quote because I am not sure whether they actually
soften. I notice screwfix do not mention "softening" and choose the
phrase "scale reduction" instead.

We are in hard water area and getting bored of having to de scale the
kettle! I also wonder what the inside of the washing machine must look
like but perhaps I have been made paranoid by those calgon adverts?

Do these make a big difference; are they worth it; and if so, is it
worth paying more for the one with the sediment filter?

I notice that in the same section screwfix sell "magnetic scale
reducers" and "electronic scale reducers" which I thought were snake
oil? Perhaps you will tell me if I am wrong?

AIUI; 'hard' water has dissolved 'bit's in it that you can't see but deposit
themselves on the insides of kettles / taps / irons / everywhere.

I 'looked' at these 'We can't tell you why it works, but grease our palms
with silver and we'll let you take one away with you' devices and basically
couldn't comprehend what they were supposed to do nor get overwhelmed by a
desire to part with hard-earned money.

Eventually after much reading of the DIY groups webpages and reading the
discussions, I purchased a 'proper' Resin cartridge cum Salt 'Water
Softener'. It's brilliant! I can pretend to 'understand' how it works; put
Salt IN and the nasty bits go OUT. No magnetic fields, pulsing or static,
doing something 'magic' to the water .... just plain old Sodium IN, Calcium
OUT.

Astoundingly- everything that water comes into contact with; my little body,
my hair, the bath, toilet, sink surfaces; handbasins, worktops, oven
fascias, clothes, etc. etc. become easy to clean.
No more rinse-aid, no battery of cleansing products, the saving on
detergents etc. is impressive.
I can't quantify it because I never kept financial records to that level of
granularity - but we hardly ever buy such cleansers anymore; bath bubble
stuff, perhaps purchased weekly now lasts for several months ; ....

Although my opinion is biased but I wouldn't 'trust' any of the devices that
didn't have a Calcium~Sodium Ion exchange mechanism .

But as they say; a fool and his money are soon parted and these vendors
haven't gone bankrupt overestimating the gullibility or intelligence of
their market.

--

Brian