Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - Some more Questions
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fearthewopr
07-10-08, 08:44 PM
Thanks to everyone by the way. You've all been really helpful.
I bought sodium chloride initially for my install.
I have 27gpg hardness. City water. I've configured my Fleck 7000SE system as the directions stated for my water and system capacity.
I've never really tasted softened water before so i don't know if the salt-like taste is normal or not. I really wouldn't call it salty, but it sure tastes different than the hard water, sort of salty-like. I made some koolaid with it today and it tasted horrible. Tried again with water filtered through the fridge (still softened) and its better, but not great.
i have a 5micron whole-house carbon filter before the softener (thought it would help extend the life of the softener). It helped alot with the chlorine taste before i got the softener. Would a simple under-the-sink carbon filter help with the softened water taste?
Installation manual called for me to add 5gal of water to the salt tank before i added the salt. Does this tank refill when the water evaporates? i assume thats why the overflow float is in there... Just thought it was weird that i had to add water to it.
Does KCL softened water taste different? i wouldn't mind paying more for better taste. Guy at work told me he switched to Potassium Chloride and it ruined his hot water heater, or thats what he was told. Something about an anode...should i worry about this? I seen a few places now that its good to drain your water heater after adding a softener. Any recommendations?
My dishes are looking WAY better just after one load in the dishwasher! I also felt cleaner after my shower this morning.
I bought sodium chloride initially for my install.
I have 27gpg hardness. City water. I've configured my Fleck 7000SE system as the directions stated for my water and system capacity.
I've never really tasted softened water before so i don't know if the salt-like taste is normal or not. I really wouldn't call it salty, but it sure tastes different than the hard water, sort of salty-like. I made some koolaid with it today and it tasted horrible. Tried again with water filtered through the fridge (still softened) and its better, but not great.
i have a 5micron whole-house carbon filter before the softener (thought it would help extend the life of the softener). It helped alot with the chlorine taste before i got the softener. Would a simple under-the-sink carbon filter help with the softened water taste?
Installation manual called for me to add 5gal of water to the salt tank before i added the salt. Does this tank refill when the water evaporates? i assume thats why the overflow float is in there... Just thought it was weird that i had to add water to it.
Does KCL softened water taste different? i wouldn't mind paying more for better taste. Guy at work told me he switched to Potassium Chloride and it ruined his hot water heater, or thats what he was told. Something about an anode...should i worry about this? I seen a few places now that its good to drain your water heater after adding a softener. Any recommendations?
My dishes are looking WAY better just after one load in the dishwasher! I also felt cleaner after my shower this morning.
AndyC
07-11-08, 05:04 AM
I've never really tasted softened water before so i don't know if the salt-like taste is normal or not. I really wouldn't call it salty, but it sure tastes different than the hard water, sort of salty-like. I made some koolaid with it today and it tasted horrible. Tried again with water filtered through the fridge (still softened) and its better, but not great.
Softened water will taste different from untreated water. It is a matter of preference and becomoing accustomed to it. I would suggest an RO to remove the sodium and a host of other elements from your drinking water. Depednding on how you set it up and your backflow rate, your water can taste very salty. Normally, it should not.
i have a 5micron whole-house carbon filter before the softener (thought it would help extend the life of the softener). It helped alot with the chlorine taste before i got the softener. Would a simple under-the-sink carbon filter help with the softened water taste?
That filter will treat chlorined water snf thast will protect your softener resins. Becareful as after time the filter may become dirty and restrict flow. An carbon filter under the sink will do nothing significant to remove 'salty' tastes; an RO will.
Installation manual called for me to add 5gal of water to the salt tank before i added the salt. Does this tank refill when the water evaporates? i assume thats why the overflow float is in there... Just thought it was weird that i had to add water to it.
If your brine solution evaporates that would be over a long period of time and is usually not an issue that would affect functions. Some softeners have a metered refill and some have float level refill, which will refill if they get low.
Does KCL softened water taste different? i wouldn't mind paying more for better taste. Guy at work told me he switched to Potassium Chloride and it ruined his hot water heater, or thats what he was told. Something about an anode...should i worry about this? I seen a few places now that its good to drain your water heater after adding a softener. Any recommendations?
I would avoid KCl at this time unless ou have a very special need for it. The cost is becoming very high due to biodiesel plants' use and other agricultural uses. It may make the water taste different but an RO will provide better value. I have never heard of KCl damaging water heaters, but some remove the rods after the softener is installed.
You can drain your softener after the softener is installed but some precautions must be taken.
Andy Christensen, CWS-II
Softened water will taste different from untreated water. It is a matter of preference and becomoing accustomed to it. I would suggest an RO to remove the sodium and a host of other elements from your drinking water. Depednding on how you set it up and your backflow rate, your water can taste very salty. Normally, it should not.
i have a 5micron whole-house carbon filter before the softener (thought it would help extend the life of the softener). It helped alot with the chlorine taste before i got the softener. Would a simple under-the-sink carbon filter help with the softened water taste?
That filter will treat chlorined water snf thast will protect your softener resins. Becareful as after time the filter may become dirty and restrict flow. An carbon filter under the sink will do nothing significant to remove 'salty' tastes; an RO will.
Installation manual called for me to add 5gal of water to the salt tank before i added the salt. Does this tank refill when the water evaporates? i assume thats why the overflow float is in there... Just thought it was weird that i had to add water to it.
If your brine solution evaporates that would be over a long period of time and is usually not an issue that would affect functions. Some softeners have a metered refill and some have float level refill, which will refill if they get low.
Does KCL softened water taste different? i wouldn't mind paying more for better taste. Guy at work told me he switched to Potassium Chloride and it ruined his hot water heater, or thats what he was told. Something about an anode...should i worry about this? I seen a few places now that its good to drain your water heater after adding a softener. Any recommendations?
I would avoid KCl at this time unless ou have a very special need for it. The cost is becoming very high due to biodiesel plants' use and other agricultural uses. It may make the water taste different but an RO will provide better value. I have never heard of KCl damaging water heaters, but some remove the rods after the softener is installed.
You can drain your softener after the softener is installed but some precautions must be taken.
Andy Christensen, CWS-II
fearthewopr
07-11-08, 06:59 AM
Softened water will taste different from untreated water. It is a matter of preference and becomoing accustomed to it. I would suggest an RO to remove the sodium and a host of other elements from your drinking water. Depednding on how you set it up and your backflow rate, your water can taste very salty. Normally, it should not.
Andy Christensen, CWS-II
Is there i way i can test this to make sure i have things setup correctly?
Andy Christensen, CWS-II
Is there i way i can test this to make sure i have things setup correctly?
fearthewopr
07-11-08, 08:36 PM
One more question...
would softened water cause any harm to my hot water heater?
I ask this because our hot water has a foul odor to it today. It is pretty strong especially taking a shower, but still noticeable if i run it from the kitchen sink.
city water > 5micron carbon filter > fleck7000se > water heater
i can't find much about this anywhere online. Just a few things about it possibly being an issue with an anode... The heater is only 12mos old.
would softened water cause any harm to my hot water heater?
I ask this because our hot water has a foul odor to it today. It is pretty strong especially taking a shower, but still noticeable if i run it from the kitchen sink.
city water > 5micron carbon filter > fleck7000se > water heater
i can't find much about this anywhere online. Just a few things about it possibly being an issue with an anode... The heater is only 12mos old.