On Feb 26, 11:01 pm, wrote:
On Feb 26, 3:46 pm, cj wrote:

i would like to purchase a watersoftenerand after a bit of research i
see that there are lots of choices. should i have my water tested and
then use that info to make a choice? we do not use a ton of water ( just
two of us) so i should probably make my choice based on that also..right?
thanks, cj

First, a water test. Then, there are other factors that determine what
you should be shopping for. Number of people in the house, number of
bathrooms, and appliances that are huge water users (hot tub,
jacuzzi).

As Edwin pointed out, you can and should call at least two local water
treatment pros. They'll come out and test the water, inspect the
installation possibilities along with your plumbing, and make
recommendations. You are not obligated to buy but can accumulate data,
info, and options with your only expense being some of your time.

You can shop locally or buy online if you are a DIYer but buying long
distance means no service unless "move it closer to the phone so I can
see it suits you". Local will cost more but you get more.

Regardless, the best choices are industry standard softeners and not
pre-built box store brands like GE, Sears, Morton, and such. Industry
standard softeners are built with higher quality components and last a
lot longer than the not always less expensive box store models.

The heart and brain of asofteneris the control valve. Fleck is the
largest manufacturer ofsoftenercontrol valves and sells more than
all the other control valve companies combined worldwide. There is
always someone everywhere that services Fleck based water softeners.

I'm not in the water treatment business but have been royally screwed
by self-proclaimed water treatment professionals so take care that the
person giving you advice doesn't have an ulterior motive and their
hand in your pocket.

In real estate it's location, location, location and with water
treatment it's DEALER, DEALER, DEALER.

Justalurker was/is a customer of mine. He bought a 1.5 cuft softener
from me Jul 15 2004. As far as I know he still is using it and he has
never said it wasn't working. Anyone can search for Justalurker and
read for themselves.

He installed the softener himself. For the next 13 months he couldn't
tell enough people how great his softener was and how I was the best
dealer he ever came in contact with and how much I knew; he heaped a
lot of praise on me on my forum etc..

Then about Aug 20 2005 he and I parted company after he disrupted my
forum and refused to say "sorry Gary". We had a disagreement about the
use of potassium chloride on my forum and the thread is still there.
At that time he called me numerous times and he threatened to do his
best to prevent me from making any sales that he could.

That is the basis and obvious agenda in this post here. He does the
same thing in all the other newsgroups and forums that I have ever
posted in since Feb 1997.

He couldn't get along with the previous dealers and the manufacturers
of softeners he had owned, and now me. I helped him many times to
attempt to fix his Braswell twin tank softener from Oct 2003 until he
bought from me in Jul 2004. He has only paid me $650, that was the
delivered price to his home in Edgewood NM.From OCt to teh next Jul I
charged him nothing and paid for the phone calls on my 800 number
while donating many hours and a lot of knowledge. IMO he is dishonest,
selfish and self absorbed and if I can not satisfy him, no one can.

You all can see that Ed suggested me by name. Justalurker never
mentioned me by name yet he is a customer of mine, Ed is not, and
justalurker did not buy a softener with a Fleck control valve. Yet he
didn't mention what he bought; a softener with a Clack WS-1 control
valve.

Clack is the latest improved version of the Fleck seals, spacers and
piston design and much better than Fleck. Many companies and dealers
that historically over the last 30 years used nothing but Fleck have
gone to Clack.

So I must ask, why would a person tell people to buy something
different than he bought and has had no problems with over the last
3.5+/- years and to buy from another DEALER DEALER DEALER? And why
would he see himself as "royally screwed" by me?

Gary Slusser
Quality Water Associates