Need water filter recommendations...

[ruirui]

where we live, we have hard water. so i'm in the process of finding a water softener, probably from Sears. but we would like to also purchase a water filter, like those that is installed under the sink.

one brand we were looking at was the Watts Premier 5 Stage Reverse Osmosis System (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Productgroup.aspx?Prodid=11070710&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=4715&hierPath=103*4715*). is that a good one to go with? or any other recommendations?

[reubanks]

My mom bought a Kenmore water softener from Sears about 3 years ago and purchased the 5 year extended warranty. It works GREAT actually and I installed it outside since there was one there already that was about 10 years old and didn't work anymore. She covers it up with a grill cover that she cut a slit in the back so it will go over the plumbing on the back. So far she's had to call a service tech 2 times since it wasn't regenerating properly. It turned out that she had a salt bridge the first time and the second time it was a routine maintenance thing that she could've done herself if she read the manual. Most of the time with the Kenmore softeners all it takes is a little extra maintenance as in making sure it does it's regeneration, backwash, and clean on a regular basis.

She has one of the bigger models like the 800 or 880. But it works great.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=APPL&pid=04238818000


She then bought one of the Sears reverse osmosis units
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=APPL&pid=04238575000

and I installed that also and it works great. I then ran a line to her fridge after connecting a Y connector and one branch of the Y goes to her fridge for ICE/Water and the other branch went to the little faucet that installs on the sink. This RO unit works like a champ.



I just bought the Kenmore Ultrasoft 180 http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=APPL&pid=04238818000&subcat=Water+Softeners
and will be installing it this weekend. It was $399..$150 off regular price and there is was a 10% mail in rebate which is $40 and I had a $30 coupon. They are also advertising 12 free bags of salt plus you get 3 bags free at the time of purchase which you may have to print out from the Sears site. I then purchased the 3 year contract for $140. The only reason I went with the Kenmore was because I know a few people that have them and like them and also the price was right. I almost went with a $2000 system whole house purifier/softener that doesn't use electricity but decided against that.

Now I just need to figure out how to run the pipes and get electricity to it.

I already have a 5 state RO unit from Sams Club http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&n=0&mt=a&coe=0&oidPath=0:-23542:-43701:-43703:-43647:656894
that I've been using for about 6 months and it is also a Watts Premier just like the one you saw at Costco. So far this unit works pretty good. I am finding that about 2 times a month I have to remove the cover for the little faucet and clean the little water jet that shoots the discarded water down the drain pipe. Algea keeps building up on it and clogs the little jet and causes the discarded water to drain out of the actual faucet base instead of going out of the drain tube to the sink pipe. The reason to install an RO after a Softner is to remove the extra sodium that is put in to the water from the Softener...it might not be that much but I don't need anymore sodium in my diet due to high blood pressures issues I have.

Remember that for every gallon of water that a RO unit makes it will discard about 8 to 9 gallons down the drain. 8:1 to 9:1. However I haven't seen much of an increase in my water bill but if you hook it up to an ice maker or plan to drink gallons per day then you might see a $10-$30 increase. I posted an idea in another thread http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=216347 about how to recycle the discarded water for use in watering your yard or plants...

You are on the right track and think that your plan is a good one. I hope this information helped.


EDIT - the old softener my mom had was an off brand of a kinetic type of $2000 unit. But it was old and weathered but the good part was that they had installed a small septic system for the brine backwash from the unit so when it backwashed it put the brine water in to a tank under the ground that had a small drainfield. So the Kenmore has the drainpipe going to that also. LOL.

[ruirui]

thanks for your detail info. i think we will go with the kenmore brand of water softener. also, did you get the inline whole house filter that's an additional unit to the water softener?

[reubanks]

No I didn't purchase the whole house filter but thought about it. I'll see how this installation process goes and then make a decision. I heard that some people are installing these before the input of the softener and after the output. Since I have the RO unit I think I'll be safe without one unless for some reason the softener keeps getting clogged up with sediment.

I think this (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=APPL&pid=04238440000&tab=des#tab) is what you are talking about

[ruirui]

No I didn't purchase the whole house filter but thought about it. I'll see how this installation process goes and then make a decision. I heard that some people are installing these before the input of the softener and after the output. Since I have the RO unit I think I'll be safe without one unless for some reason the softener keeps getting clogged up with sediment.

I think this (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=APPL&pid=04238440000&tab=des#tab) is what you are talking about

yup.. that's the exact one i was refering to. i heard the sales rep in sears said that this unit goes after the water softener and can help filter out the water so it's safer to drink.

[ruirui]

also, how much does it normally cost for installation, i've heard some of them cost up to $700+. plus i need to find a good installation contractor. although sears has their own guys.. but i think it's better to find someone else maybe?

[reubanks]

Sears wants to charge around 400 bucks to install it and that is the starting price. You can actually get a ballpark quote on the Sears site if you add it to your cart and act like you are going to buy it.

I'd go with an independent contractor or a friend that does or used to do plumbing.

[ruirui]

Sears wants to charge around 400 bucks to install it and that is the starting price. You can actually get a ballpark quote on the Sears site if you add it to your cart and act like you are going to buy it.

I'd go with an independent contractor or a friend that does or used to do plumbing.

yeah that's what they told me too.. starting at $400+ to install it. too bad i don't have friends that does plumbing. :(