[Snowbird13]

I purchased a pre-owned home in The Villages this spring. I have a water softener in the front corner of the garage (with the dials facing the wall!). The previous owner gave me the paperwork for the unit. It was purchased from Smartway Water Treatment in Belleview. They paid $1500 for it in 2008. It was warrantied for 1 year. I found a receipt for $824 for repairs in 2009 and 3 other receipts 2 - for maintenance at $184.95 and one to fix a GFI switch. I cannot see the make of the unit on it nor do I find it in the paperwork that I have. (It is just called a Smartway Water Treatment Activated Carbon Chemical Intrusion System on the sales receipt.) I have had several calls from the company wanting to come out and do a tune up for $180 (possibly to maintain the 10 year warranty). Since I have never had any maintenance done to my water softener system previously in Ohio for 20 years, I am very skeptical of this company. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I am not sure if I even need a softener. I have read the info on the Nova filter and that sounds like a better choice. Anyway, your thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[HTing]

Call Kiley & Sons Plumbing - 352-245-3508 and visit their showroom. We purchased a preowned and it had a water softener system. After talking to Kiley & Sons and seeing the different systems we went with a whole house filter system that I can maintain and took out the water softener system.

[Bogie Shooter]

A new softner can be purchased at Lowe's or HD for less the $500.
The $180 service call most likley will become much larger....................based on the information you found.

[Bogie Shooter]

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[Nova Filtration]

Originally Posted by Snowbird13

I have read the info on the Nova filter and that sounds like a better choice.

We truly believe it is is, because it cleans contaminants out of the water.

Water softeners do nothing to remove them.

I would like to add that I advocate the use of a whole house

water filtration system rather or in addition to a water softener.

The manufacturer I get our filters from "Axeon" makes both so

it's not a matter of offering one over the other, but why spend the

additional money if not needed.

The World Health Organization says that "there does not

appear to be any convincing evidence that water hardness causes

adverse health effects in humans". In fact, the National Research

Council has found that hard water can actually serve as a dietary

supplement for calcium and magnesium

Myths
MYTH #1 - Water Softeners Are Safe For The Environment

Fact: Water Softeners Cause Considerable Damage to the Environment


According to Ann Heil, a Supervising Engineer of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, automatic water softeners waste

water and put a salty brine into the waste stream. High salts in the waste stream can harm aquatic life and can damage crops
irrigated with downstream waters.

There are many simple solutions you can take to fix any mineral spotting - and none of them require a water softener. A teaspoon
of Sour Salt will handle mineral residue in the dishwasher. Rain-X or furniture wax will minimize water spots on shower doors.
Finally, a whole-house water filter, that retains healthy minerals, will work great for bathing, cooking, cleaning and drinking.

MYTH #2 - Hard Water Is Harsh, Fades Clothes and Dries Skin and Hair

Fact: Hard Water Does Not Fade Colors or Dry Skin and Hair Chlorine in tap water does the damage, just as chlorine bleach.

Water softeners do not remove chlorine or chlorine disinfection byproducts

MYTH #3 - Water Softeners Filter Water

Fact: Water Softeners Do Not Filter Water;

They Only Exchange Sodium for Minerals In other words, water softeners convert dirty, chlorinated tap
water into dirty, chlorinated, salty water. There is still a need to use a secondary filter system to remove salt,
sediment and chlorine to produce a palatable water for drinking and cooking - but only at the kitchen tap. Dirty chlorinated, salty water still
runs throughout the rest of the home.

MYTH #4 - Minerals In Water Are Contaminants

Fact: Hardness Minerals Are Not Contaminants, Minerals are Nutrients


Scientific findings supported by research at the World Health Organization (www.WHO.int) have shown that drinking water
rich with essential minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium, protects good health and leads to lower instances of heart disease and stroke.

MYTH #5 - Hard Water Clogs Pipes

Fact: Calcium and Magnesium Do Not Build Up and Clog Pipes

Between the mid 1940s and the late 1970s, most homes were built using steel (galvanized) pipes. Minerals, such as calcium
and magnesium, will stick to steel pipes. New and re-piped homes built after 1975 have pipes made of copper or cpvc (plastic).

Here the homes are built with CPVC.


.

[Love2cruise]

What is "sour salt"?

[Bogie Shooter]

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[Snowbird13]

Thanks to all for your replies. I will handle this in January when I return. Take care.

[capecodbob]

Try this link for sour salt (another name for citric acid). If you read down far enough it talks about adding it to your dishwasher.

http://soursalt.com/