[missypie]

We bought the water filter/ softener from Sears. It is a whole house system. We use potassium and not salt. It is terrific, at least up to today, 4 years later.

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

How much difference is there between a $500 softener and a $3,000 softener? The only thing I can figure out is the backwash control/timer systems.

No. A water softener is an ion exchange mechanism. All perform the same function.

[junction29]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

How much difference is there between a $500 softener and a $3,000 softener? The only thing I can figure out is the backwash control/timer systems.

We bought a whole house system from Nova Filtration a few years ago because we weren't happy with the water taste and it is a brilliant system.
Only cost about $500, but we think it has gone up a bit since.
Do not even consider these rip off merchants who come to your door when you move in.
Nova will call round and change the filters once a year or whenever you want them too and it is quite alarming the amount of sediment and stuff the old filters are full of.
Great product, great price and great people.
Andy

[Bay Kid]

A Nova water system gives me great water! I am a country boy and hate city water taste/smell, it is like being in a swimming pool. Now with Nova I have no smell or bad tasting water.

[ggnlars]

I had the Nova people in the last month. Great people and excellent product, very easy to work with.

Do you need a water treatment product in your home? “Need” probably no.

However, as Brad & Tom’s pic show the filters are picking up some junk.
Soft water leaves fewer deposits on what ever it touches. It takes less soap for any job. That is particularly true in the laundry. My wife is convinced that the cleaning jobs are easier.

Asking what is the difference between two good softeners of different cost is like asking the difference between a Chevy and a Lexus. They both do the same basic job. The more expensive model generally has more features to do a “better” job for you.
In the case of softeners, the cheaper models use a mechanical control and are set up to run on a fixed sequence, no matter the actual water use. This run uses water. The more expensive models use digital controls. They often sense the amount of water used since the last run, the implied hardness of the water and some other items. They often have variable run times. In addition they also know how much salt you have and have a means to tell you when it is low.
Do you need these features, no. However they do save both water and salt. The last softener I had up north was like the latter. Had it eleven years with no repairs. The last mechanical timed softener I had lasted around five years.

[CFrance]

I'm wondering who told you you need a water softener in Fenney. Was it a door-to-door salesman, a neighbor, a sales agent? The reason I ask is because perhaps Fenney is in a particularly hard water area that the rest of us living elsewhere in TV wouldn't know about.

I wouldn't trust the door-to-door salesman. But I probably would listen to a neighbor who has lived there and used the water for a while.

[villagetinker]

as a follow uo to my initial post, a previously poster mentioned having a Sears system, that is what we have, 2 separate units, softener and filter, the combined units came out shortly after. In any case, we have had sears water softeners for over 40 years, typically last 10 years, then throw away and replace. Great water, and my wife no longer buys bottled water. Soaps go farther with the softened water.
Also, as stated previously, the water here is well within legal limits (do not listen to the door to door sales people), the water company sends out yearly results, and does quarterly testing, so if you do not have any personal problems with the water, save your money. if you do not like the taste or hardness, you now have info for several options. (I would not recommend Sears only from the point that they may be going bankrupt... know idea what would happen for repairs, parts, etc.)
Hope this helps.

[vintageogauge]

We also live in Fenney and I got quotes all over the board for these systems. I ended up calling Nova and ordered the system over the phone, they installed the triple filter, softer, set for potassium 2 days ago. There price was excellent and there are lots of good referrals here and elsewhere. We noticed the difference in the water the next day. We had rust stains in the toilets, white deposits on the bronze faucet bases, couple clogged shower head holes already, it was time to get one after just a few months of owning down here.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

We also live in Fenney and I got quotes all over the board for these systems. I ended up calling Nova and ordered the system over the phone, they installed the triple filter, softer, set for potassium 2 days ago. There price was excellent and there are lots of good referrals here and elsewhere. We noticed the difference in the water the next day. We had rust stains in the toilets, white deposits on the bronze faucet bases, couple clogged shower head holes already, it was time to get one after just a few months of owning down here.

I would conclude from your experience with the water stains, especially the rust stains, that your water is a lot harder than in the more northern areas of TV. Are you on well or city water?

When we were on well water in MI, there was no question about whether a softener was needed. That was the first time we got a softener (late '80s), and we've never looked back. We can tell immediately when we need to replenish the softener tank. Our skin starts to itch. We never have a problem with water stains with the softener. Cleaning is a breeze.

Now if only I could soften our goldens sleep-drooling on the tile floors! (Sorry... TMI)