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#1
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Cost of water filter & softner system
My wife and I just built a house in the Orlando, FL area. We have a
well (that we never had before) and the water has a rotten-egg smell. We had an independant water guy come out and he said for a chlorinator, tank, charchole filter, water softner, and under-sink reverse-osmosis filter we'd need to pay $3,500. Does this seem right? Thanks |
#2
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Cost of water filter & softner system
"tryz" wrote:
My wife and I just built a house in the Orlando, FL area. We have a well (that we never had before) and the water has a rotten-egg smell. We had an independant water guy come out and he said for a chlorinator, tank, charchole filter, water softner, and under-sink reverse-osmosis filter we'd need to pay $3,500. Does this seem right? You need to know what the problem is before you solve it. It sounds like your "water guy" suggested everything he sells. Chlorinators are used when the water has high bacteria. They shouldn't be needed for a new well that was installed properly. The rotten egg odor is hydrogen sulfide and would be cleared up by a charcoal filter. You could buy a whole house one of these for less than $100 at Home Depot or Lowes. When your well was installed, you should have received a well report that will show both of the above and more. If not ask your builder or the county for a copy. Water softners take care of high mineral (calcium or magnesium) content. Hardness test are free or very low cost and will tell you if you need a softener. Installed should be less than $1000 for a decent mid grade unit. Don't get sucked up into getting magic magnets, super kinetic boxes or anything other than a standard resin tank softner. Reverse osmosis systems at the kitchen sink take care of all of the above problems for small quantities of water. Keep in mind that they remove *all* minerals which is not a good thing as far as taste is concerned. Look at the contents of AquaFina or any other bottled water... |
#3
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Cost of water filter & softner system
tryz wrote:
My wife and I just built a house in the Orlando, FL area. We have a well (that we never had before) and the water has a rotten-egg smell. We had an independant water guy come out and he said for a chlorinator, tank, charchole filter, water softner, and under-sink reverse-osmosis filter we'd need to pay $3,500. Does this seem right? Thanks That's quite high for a local dealer and way high compared to an internet dealer. There are a number of types of equipment to remove H2S, but most will not disinfect the water if there is bacteria in the water. Bacteria like IRB/SRB or MRB can cause your odor and can not be identified with a Coliform bacteria test. I don't like using a solution feeder and retention tank for H2S due to the ongoing baby sitting they require but they do oxidize and disinfect. I use an erosion pellet chlorinator and special mixing tank that is much smaller than a normal retention tank. The chlorinator and mixing tank has no moving parts. Then I use a special carbon in a backwashed filter. That removes H2S iron, manganese and any odor or taste in the water. I see no reason for the RO. I suggest you wait until after you experience the water after getting rid of the odor, hardness and any iron and/or bacteria etc.. Disposable cartridge type "whole house" filters are not the right choice for your problem. H2S is very common in well water, especially in FL, so there is nothing wrong with your well. Gary Quality Water Associates |
#4
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Cost of water filter & softner system
Be sure and check out all your options. I don't have well water but the water here in FL is very hard and has lots of calcium and other minerals that causes water spots and shortens the life of appliances that use water. We have a water softener that we bought at Home Depot. I don't know what the initial cost of installing one of these is because there was already one here when we bought the house. We replaced it recently and my husband was able to do that himself. The water softener cost a little under one thousand. It won't solve the rotten egg smell problem ,caused I've been told, by sulfur. Our neighbors with wells for lawn irrigation also get rust problems .... it's in the water, too, It causes rusty looking spots on the concrete sidewalks. We have been mostly buying drinking water since moving to FL. Softened water is fine for showers and laundry. |
#5
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Cost of water filter & softner system
Thanks Gary (and everyone else).
I've noticed your posts around and you always seem quite knowledgable. I head to your site. Do you think that installing a pellet chlorinator & water softner is something a mere mortal can do? I'm fairly handy and wouldn't mind saving a grand. Thanks. Gary Slusser wrote: tryz wrote: My wife and I just built a house in the Orlando, FL area. We have a well (that we never had before) and the water has a rotten-egg smell. We had an independant water guy come out and he said for a chlorinator, tank, charchole filter, water softner, and under-sink reverse-osmosis filter we'd need to pay $3,500. Does this seem right? Thanks That's quite high for a local dealer and way high compared to an internet dealer. There are a number of types of equipment to remove H2S, but most will not disinfect the water if there is bacteria in the water. Bacteria like IRB/SRB or MRB can cause your odor and can not be identified with a Coliform bacteria test. I don't like using a solution feeder and retention tank for H2S due to the ongoing baby sitting they require but they do oxidize and disinfect. I use an erosion pellet chlorinator and special mixing tank that is much smaller than a normal retention tank. The chlorinator and mixing tank has no moving parts. Then I use a special carbon in a backwashed filter. That removes H2S iron, manganese and any odor or taste in the water. I see no reason for the RO. I suggest you wait until after you experience the water after getting rid of the odor, hardness and any iron and/or bacteria etc.. Disposable cartridge type "whole house" filters are not the right choice for your problem. H2S is very common in well water, especially in FL, so there is nothing wrong with your well. Gary Quality Water Associates |
#6
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Cost of water filter & softner system
tryz wrote: Thanks Gary (and everyone else). I've noticed your posts around and you always seem quite knowledgable. I head to your site. Do you think that installing a pellet chlorinator & water softner is something a mere mortal can do? I'm fairly handy and wouldn't mind saving a grand. Thanks. Absolutely. About 90-95% of all my sales are to DIY customers that install the equipment themselves. I've sold many of the pellet chlorinator systems (13 this year alone) and so far, all were installed by the homeowner. It's regular/normal water line plumbing with 5-10' of total tubing. With both a softener and chlorinator system, you'll save more than a grand.... Gary Quality Water Associates |
#7
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Cost of water filter & softner system
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#8
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Cost of water filter & softner system
How do you choose a water filter? What does the filter actually reduce
or remove? And finally what does it cost? These answers are found by doing a little research or home work will call it. Doing such will save you a lot of money and provide you with pure "healthy" drinking water. The bottom line is you must get a Data Performance Sheet by the NSF national sanitation foundation to compare filters. These "proof of performance" sheets show exactly what the filter does and for how many gallons. If you can't get one from the manufacturer or from who ever is trying to sell you one, simply say no thanks! NSF International, The Public Health and Safety Company™, a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, is the world leader in standards development, product certification, education, and risk-management for public health and safety. For more than 59 years, NSF has been committed to public health, safety, and protection of the environment. While focusing on food, water, indoor air, and the environment, NSF develops national standards, provides learning opportunities through its Center for Public Health Education, and provides third-party conformity assessment services while representing the interests of all stakeholders. The primary stakeholder groups include industry, the regulatory community, and the public at large. Do your home work! Make a good choice for your drinking water needs. Visit NSF below: http://www.nsf.org/consumer/drinking...ogram=WaterTre The Importance of Certification In the last decade, interest in home water treatment products has grown tremendously. Unfortunately, it isn't always easy for consumers to know whether or not a particular product will actually be as safe and effective as the manufacturer claims at reducing various contaminants from your water supply. NSF has a long history of developing and running independent product testing programs. In fact, we are the leading independent tester of home water treatment products on the market today. With our state-of-the-art laboratories and highly skilled staff, we have the knowledge and expertise to effectively evaluate water treatment products, including: Adsorption filters (i.e. carbon, charcoal, KDF, ceramic) Reverse osmosis systems Water softeners Distillation systems Ultraviolet disinfection products. As an added assurance for consumers, NSF requires that all products meet annual re-certification requirements. Unannounced plant inspections and periodic retesting of all certified products are required of all NSF-listed companies. This unique requirement allows us to ensure that the products we certify continue to meet all stated requirements year after year. Note: NSF has tested & certified over 4000 different filters. It's important to understand we have 400 plus manufacturers of water filters alone world wide. Having said this "why" would you purchase a water filter that is NOT tested & certified by NSF. It all comes down to this: Talk is cheap and facts are hard to find in the drinking water filtration industry! NSF is were you will get the facts. Ultimately it comes down to this: What does the filter do & how much does it cost? NSF Data performance sheets is were to find "what it does". Price: For a $1.00 a week you can have pure healthy drinking water. If you are spending "more" it's costing you too much. Sincerely, Chris |
#9
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Cost of water filter & softner system
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#10
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Cost of water filter & softner system
The Fact is NSF is for the consumer. Since 1944, NSF International, an
independent, not-for-profit organization, has been committed to making the world a safer place for consumers. Explore the consumer website to learn more about NSF, our programs and services, and the many ways we help consumers Live safer® every day. http://www.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/ NSF walks a fine line as there are over 500 manufacturers of water filters, that do not like each other! NSF has to tell the truth or they would be sued for loss of business and misrepresentaion to the consumers. You mention the Government has some role in all of this. Well they do. The EPA does not set protocol for driniking water systems. In fact (they) refer consumers to the NSF. |
#12
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Cost of water filter & softner system
Gary Slusser wrote:
The fact is that most people don't know that 99% of all 'filters' are not "certified" due to the high prices the NSF charges for certification BUT, those non-certified filters use the same components as the certified 'filter'. And usually work just as well, kinda like generic drugs. NSF certification is a bit like the BBB, or Consumer Reports. People rely on their 'service' without knowing that the vast majority of companies and products are never included. Gary Quality Water Associates "And usually work just as well, kinda like generic drugs". Generic drugs undergo stringent certification and must adhere to rigid parameters before being certified for sale to the public ... unlike "plain wrapper" filters made by who knows who in who knows where that may or may not do what the sellers would have you believe they do. Seems like you still do get what you pay for and a dollar's worth for a dollar is still the best deal around. |
#13
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Cost of water filter & softner system
subeluvr wrote: Gary Slusser wrote: The fact is that most people don't know that 99% of all 'filters' are not "certified" due to the high prices the NSF charges for certification BUT, those non-certified filters use the same components as the certified 'filter'. And usually work just as well, kinda like generic drugs. NSF certification is a bit like the BBB, or Consumer Reports. People rely on their 'service' without knowing that the vast majority of companies and products are never included. Gary Quality Water Associates "And usually work just as well, kinda like generic drugs". Generic drugs undergo stringent certification and must adhere to rigid parameters before being certified for sale to the public ... unlike "plain wrapper" filters made by who knows who in who knows where that may or may not do what the sellers would have you believe they do. Seems like you still do get what you pay for and a dollar's worth for a dollar is still the best deal around. It seems like you may know something about generic drugs. It also seems that your knowledge doesn't extend to knowing much about water treatment equipment, the manufacturers of it or the quality of that equipment; including the government regulations on both. It also seems you've fallen prey to the anti business scare tactics of consumer groups and their supporters, but I may be wrong so if possible, show some proof of your position. Gary Quality Water Associates |
#14
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Cost of water filter & softner system
Gary Slusser wrote:
subeluvr wrote: Gary Slusser wrote: The fact is that most people don't know that 99% of all 'filters' are not "certified" due to the high prices the NSF charges for certification BUT, those non-certified filters use the same components as the certified 'filter'. And usually work just as well, kinda like generic drugs. NSF certification is a bit like the BBB, or Consumer Reports. People rely on their 'service' without knowing that the vast majority of companies and products are never included. Gary Quality Water Associates "And usually work just as well, kinda like generic drugs". Generic drugs undergo stringent certification and must adhere to rigid parameters before being certified for sale to the public ... unlike "plain wrapper" filters made by who knows who in who knows where that may or may not do what the sellers would have you believe they do. Seems like you still do get what you pay for and a dollar's worth for a dollar is still the best deal around. It seems like you may know something about generic drugs. It also seems that your knowledge doesn't extend to knowing much about water treatment equipment, the manufacturers of it or the quality of that equipment; including the government regulations on both. It also seems you've fallen prey to the anti business scare tactics of consumer groups and their supporters, but I may be wrong so if possible, show some proof of your position. Gary Quality Water Associates The reality of testing a product, ANY product, to certify that it does what it is portrayed, designed, and sold to do is not restricted to any industry. It isn't limited to generic or patented drugs and applies universally to ANYTHING. Sure, an untested product may do it's job as well as the tested product but how do we know without testing? Without testing and certfication the buying public is left to the spiel of the salesperson. How about you show some proof that generic plain wrapper water treatment products that are not tested or certified in any way do anything that they are portrayed to do by whomever is printing whatever they like on a label in some third world country and shipping them to the US to be sold by "water treatement experts" with no credentials and no certifications themselves. That a filter says "5 micron" on it only matters if someone has tested it to do so and then certifies those testing results. That you say the generic filter does so is your unsubstantiated opinion UNLESS you have untaken testing these filters and can provide the results of those tests by an independent testing facility or failing that ... NSF cetification, but that gets us back to the meat of the thread. While you may accept less than expected performance from generic filters and generic drugs I prefer them to do as advertised ... especially my generic drugs. There isn't anything in the marketplace that someone won't sell you a similar product cheaper and that's OK as long as it does the same job as the more expensive tested and certified competing product OR you are aware that it doesn't. That YOU say it does the same job without hard data or testing to back your opinion up is well ... just the spiel of a salesperson.. |
#15
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Cost of water filter & softner system
subeluvr wrote: The reality of testing a product, ANY product, to certify that it does what it is portrayed, designed, and sold to do is not restricted to any industry. It isn't limited to generic or patented drugs and applies universally to ANYTHING. Sure, an untested product may do it's job as well as the tested product but how do we know without testing? Without testing and certfication the buying public is left to the spiel of the salesperson. How about you show some proof that generic plain wrapper water treatment products that are not tested or certified in any way do anything that they are portrayed to do by whomever is printing whatever they like on a label in some third world country and shipping them to the US to be sold by "water treatement experts" with no credentials and no certifications themselves. That a filter says "5 micron" on it only matters if someone has tested it to do so and then certifies those testing results. That you say the generic filter does so is your unsubstantiated opinion UNLESS you have untaken testing these filters and can provide the results of those tests by an independent testing facility or failing that ... NSF cetification, but that gets us back to the meat of the thread. While you may accept less than expected performance from generic filters and generic drugs I prefer them to do as advertised ... especially my generic drugs. There isn't anything in the marketplace that someone won't sell you a similar product cheaper and that's OK as long as it does the same job as the more expensive tested and certified competing product OR you are aware that it doesn't. That YOU say it does the same job without hard data or testing to back your opinion up is well ... just the spiel of a salesperson.. Five micron.... I seriously doubt that any cartridge filter manufacturer has any sediment cartridge filter certified by the NSF or any other test center; there are 2-3 others. So we aren't talking about sediment filters, we are talking about THMs, arsenic, lead, copper, MTBE etc., IOWs, health related contaminates. So I suggest that the best certification test is done at a local lab by the owner/user/consumer for whatever the filter is supposed to remove/reduce from their drinking water. That's a novel idea and yet many independent thinking people do just that. Doing so will cost them next to nothing and that certification will be done in real time on their water and they will spend much less money on the filter if they don't buy the much more expensive NSF or other certified filter which is tested on spiked water in a pristine lab setting but... you seem to skip over the government regulations all filters and their manufacturers must meet. That is a certification done by the NSF and it is called Standard 61 which applies to all products that come in contact with "potable" water. It is not a serviceability certification but it does prevent someone selling junk as you allude to. And if you think about it, no one selling or manufacturing a health related filter could survive the liability if the filter didn't do as 'advertised'. So, how about you showing where any non-certified filter anywhere in the US has been shown to not do as advertised. I pay specific attention to these things and for may years have received daily email on any mention of anything to do with drinking water issues and the water treatment industry, and I've never heard of what you are afraid of ever having happened. And I doubt that you have you either, so in effect, we are talking about a test facility selling/marketing their services that end up costing the consumer much more money than they would have to spend while having a very limited number of certified products to choose from. Gary Quality Water Associates |
#16
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Cost of water filter & softner system
Gary Slusser wrote:
subeluvr wrote: The reality of testing a product, ANY product, to certify that it does what it is portrayed, designed, and sold to do is not restricted to any industry. It isn't limited to generic or patented drugs and applies universally to ANYTHING. Sure, an untested product may do it's job as well as the tested product but how do we know without testing? Without testing and certfication the buying public is left to the spiel of the salesperson. How about you show some proof that generic plain wrapper water treatment products that are not tested or certified in any way do anything that they are portrayed to do by whomever is printing whatever they like on a label in some third world country and shipping them to the US to be sold by "water treatement experts" with no credentials and no certifications themselves. That a filter says "5 micron" on it only matters if someone has tested it to do so and then certifies those testing results. That you say the generic filter does so is your unsubstantiated opinion UNLESS you have untaken testing these filters and can provide the results of those tests by an independent testing facility or failing that ... NSF cetification, but that gets us back to the meat of the thread. While you may accept less than expected performance from generic filters and generic drugs I prefer them to do as advertised ... especially my generic drugs. There isn't anything in the marketplace that someone won't sell you a similar product cheaper and that's OK as long as it does the same job as the more expensive tested and certified competing product OR you are aware that it doesn't. That YOU say it does the same job without hard data or testing to back your opinion up is well ... just the spiel of a salesperson.. Five micron.... I seriously doubt that any cartridge filter manufacturer has any sediment cartridge filter certified by the NSF or any other test center; there are 2-3 others. So we aren't talking about sediment filters, we are talking about THMs, arsenic, lead, copper, MTBE etc., IOWs, health related contaminates. So I suggest that the best certification test is done at a local lab by the owner/user/consumer for whatever the filter is supposed to remove/reduce from their drinking water. That's a novel idea and yet many independent thinking people do just that. Doing so will cost them next to nothing and that certification will be done in real time on their water and they will spend much less money on the filter if they don't buy the much more expensive NSF or other certified filter which is tested on spiked water in a pristine lab setting but... you seem to skip over the government regulations all filters and their manufacturers must meet. That is a certification done by the NSF and it is called Standard 61 which applies to all products that come in contact with "potable" water. It is not a serviceability certification but it does prevent someone selling junk as you allude to. And if you think about it, no one selling or manufacturing a health related filter could survive the liability if the filter didn't do as 'advertised'. So, how about you showing where any non-certified filter anywhere in the US has been shown to not do as advertised. I pay specific attention to these things and for may years have received daily email on any mention of anything to do with drinking water issues and the water treatment industry, and I've never heard of what you are afraid of ever having happened. And I doubt that you have you either, so in effect, we are talking about a test facility selling/marketing their services that end up costing the consumer much more money than they would have to spend while having a very limited number of certified products to choose from. Gary Quality Water Associates So, it is up to the consumer to pay for testing to sustain that the product does as it is advertised to do? Not for this consumer. Consumers in the US have the right to expect that the product, any product, does the job or meets the purpose for which it is intended and offered for sale by a manufacturer or retailer AND it is not the responsibility of the consumer to do or pay for testing the product to see that it does. Now you, selling uncertified and untested product, may get away with telling that to your customers and they may believe you, but I will continue to buy product(s) that are certified and tested by independent organizations or government agencies where applicable rather than blindly believe the self-serving statements of salespeople. Thank you for your opinion. |
#17
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Cost of water filter & softner system
subeluvr wrote: Gary Slusser wrote: subeluvr wrote: The reality of testing a product, ANY product, to certify that it does what it is portrayed, designed, and sold to do is not restricted to any industry. It isn't limited to generic or patented drugs and applies universally to ANYTHING. Sure, an untested product may do it's job as well as the tested product but how do we know without testing? Without testing and certfication the buying public is left to the spiel of the salesperson. How about you show some proof that generic plain wrapper water treatment products that are not tested or certified in any way do anything that they are portrayed to do by whomever is printing whatever they like on a label in some third world country and shipping them to the US to be sold by "water treatement experts" with no credentials and no certifications themselves. That a filter says "5 micron" on it only matters if someone has tested it to do so and then certifies those testing results. That you say the generic filter does so is your unsubstantiated opinion UNLESS you have untaken testing these filters and can provide the results of those tests by an independent testing facility or failing that ... NSF cetification, but that gets us back to the meat of the thread. While you may accept less than expected performance from generic filters and generic drugs I prefer them to do as advertised ... especially my generic drugs. There isn't anything in the marketplace that someone won't sell you a similar product cheaper and that's OK as long as it does the same job as the more expensive tested and certified competing product OR you are aware that it doesn't. That YOU say it does the same job without hard data or testing to back your opinion up is well ... just the spiel of a salesperson.. Five micron.... I seriously doubt that any cartridge filter manufacturer has any sediment cartridge filter certified by the NSF or any other test center; there are 2-3 others. So we aren't talking about sediment filters, we are talking about THMs, arsenic, lead, copper, MTBE etc., IOWs, health related contaminates. So I suggest that the best certification test is done at a local lab by the owner/user/consumer for whatever the filter is supposed to remove/reduce from their drinking water. That's a novel idea and yet many independent thinking people do just that. Doing so will cost them next to nothing and that certification will be done in real time on their water and they will spend much less money on the filter if they don't buy the much more expensive NSF or other certified filter which is tested on spiked water in a pristine lab setting but... you seem to skip over the government regulations all filters and their manufacturers must meet. That is a certification done by the NSF and it is called Standard 61 which applies to all products that come in contact with "potable" water. It is not a serviceability certification but it does prevent someone selling junk as you allude to. And if you think about it, no one selling or manufacturing a health related filter could survive the liability if the filter didn't do as 'advertised'. So, how about you showing where any non-certified filter anywhere in the US has been shown to not do as advertised. I pay specific attention to these things and for may years have received daily email on any mention of anything to do with drinking water issues and the water treatment industry, and I've never heard of what you are afraid of ever having happened. And I doubt that you have you either, so in effect, we are talking about a test facility selling/marketing their services that end up costing the consumer much more money than they would have to spend while having a very limited number of certified products to choose from. Gary Quality Water Associates So, it is up to the consumer to pay for testing to sustain that the product does as it is advertised to do? Not for this consumer. Consumers in the US have the right to expect that the product, any product, does the job or meets the purpose for which it is intended and offered for sale by a manufacturer or retailer AND it is not the responsibility of the consumer to do or pay for testing the product to see that it does. Now you, selling uncertified and untested product, may get away with telling that to your customers and they may believe you, but I will continue to buy product(s) that are certified and tested by independent organizations or government agencies where applicable rather than blindly believe the self-serving statements of salespeople. Thank you for your opinion. Anyone relying on a water filter to remediate health related contaminates in their water that then does not test the water (periodically) to ensure proper removal or adequate reduction of those contaminates, is a fool. So are those people that tell them that testing is not needed due to the filter being "certified". As to me being a self serving salesman... I've helped untold thousands of people in these newsgroups for many years with my free no obligation advice, which happens to be accurate, and logical. IMO, you (while being an anonymous poster) sound like an anti saleperson anti business, agenda driven supporter of testing facilities that SELL water testing services and the government agencies that make many people dumber, dependent and unable to think for themselves. Gary Quality Water Associates |
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