My response was to Grace regarding sediment filters preventing calcium deposits. They do not. A water softener can. Two different things.

We just moved in to a 6-yr-old house that had no water system previously. CLR is working somewhat to remove the water spots, but it is a struggle and will take awhile. Plus some of the spots have eroded the porcelain sinks.


I can compare prices of water filtration/softener systems because we have had them in every house since the 1980s. The Nova + softener is the least expensive we have ever had, and I believe the water is cleaner and tastes better than we have ever had.



Jimbo gave a good explanation over the phone, presented a couple of choices, and Brad did an excellent installation.

It can go both ways.

A softener only performs one task capturing calcium & magnesium it is not in any way a filter.


So the sediment just passes thru a softener to be filtered by the WHF.

However, a softener has tiny resin beads a few may flow out.
Having said that, I like the WHF after the softener to filter those out as well if present.

So doing in the reverse order WHF/softener has that one issue


An argument can be made placing the WHF after, that the chlorine will dissolve the salt faster or potassium chloride
I don't think there's any appreciable amount dissolved to concerned with.

Either way will work.

Oh sure, I agree

Exactly, that's why we included the softener in our system.

I recommend after the install using CLR, it works much better NOT diluted.

Be mindful the surface must be kept wet or immersed a full 2-5 minutes.

A plastic bag filled with CLR placed over faucets & shower heads held in place with a twisty tie for 2 minutes

https://www.twotwentyone.net/wp-cont...rom-faucet.jpg

We have the Nova filter system and are very satisfied. Our neighbors tell us there is definitely a difference in the taste of the water. My wife says she can feel the difference in showering and washing her hair. Highly recommended.

I guess that while we have plenty of sediment in our water as you can see from the photo in the OP we don't seem to have calcium problems here. We moved into a 9 yr old home 2 yrs ago and there were no signs of calcium on any fixtures (and they were obviously "originals") so we don't need a softener. The filter however made a major difference in water quality. Water smelled like a YMCA swimming pool when we moved in.

the water authority tests the water daily for bacteria counts and adds chlorine accordingly, so it varies in the intensity.

Although chlorine is a poison, and the safety of drinking it can be questioned, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared that chlorine in water is safe to drink in small amounts.

But then it's removal would be safer I would think,

Showering with chlorinated water likely leads to more chlorine absorption in the body than drinking water treated with chlorine (according to a study looking at the impact of chlorine byproducts on bodily organs in the case of swimming pool exposure). Additionally, warm water opens up your skin pores and hair follicles, leading to greater exposure when you take a hot shower.

Chlorine and its byproducts strip away the natural hair and skin oils that protect your body from over drying.

Looking at your annual report from the water company there are two "by-products of disinfection" .
It sounds perfectly normal and harmless (according FDA the levels are safe) but they vary the amount of chlorine daily???

TTHM & Haloacetic Acids, google those

The Nova filter removes those and a lot more

Well, the first 4 months we lived here (pre-filter) they must have accidentally put in too many tablets! LOL

I have never had a doctor tell me to buy a water filter or water softener for my house.

What about your cleaning lady?:)

It's amazing that Michael Phelps isn't dead from Chlorine. He must be Superman :)

Sometimes they have to "shock" the water with chlorine, so chlorine levels can vary greatly.
The county does yearly water purity tests and posts them online. TV water in pretty clean but filters make a big difference in taste and plumbing buildup. I set my water softener to 11 Grains.

FYI,
Calcium does not build up inside Cpvc or Pvc pipes which almost all homes here have

Thumbs up for filters but I am not a fan of soft water showering. Some call the feeling silky, some call it slimy. Seat me with group two.