Any uhhh... water softener guys?

[Kluge]

Our house came with one of those electricity-less water softeners. There are no knobs or anything on it to control what it does. It likes to randomly go into that "brine" mode. I have a general contractor who works on certain big projects with the house, but he didn't have any idea how these things work internally, either, and there are no "water softener people" in Bumfuck.

Anyway - so every week or two (probably more frequently, but we aren't up 24/7), there'll suddenly be a ton of softener salt in the water, for - Idunno, maybe 30 minutes. Then, everything goes back to normal. I cleaned out the brine tank pretty thoroughly, but don't have the tools to even look inside the uhh... black double-tank (it has what looks like an inverted torx head on the screws sealing it).

I can give some addt'l info, but have no idea what'd be useful. Any chance someone could help me out in this department?

[BitcoinFr34k]

Maybe post some pictures of the thing. We used to have one, so maybe I can help you out when I see it.

[Kluge]

Here we go (pardon the dust, please!):




Didn't realize they were standard bolts. Dunno why I thought they were something else, before... family usually dies of Alzheimer's complications... hmm....

[BitcoinFr34k]

I really wish I could help you, but the one we had looked totally different. I would probably make the situation worse if I gave you advice.

[Kluge]

I really wish I could help you, but the one we had looked totally different. I would probably make the situation worse if I gave you advice.

No worries. Thing looks like it belongs in a medieval castle. Thanks for offer!

[Kluge]

Hey Kluge,

This would be your best bet I guess: http://www.kinetico.com/customer-support/contact.aspx

Haha, good luck!

I'll give 'em a try. Thanks.

[MoonShadow]

Usually those kind of softeners operating on a timer, so they are set up with the assumption that the place will be occupied and water will be generally consumed while the salt is injected.  The point of the salt, is to inhibit the desolved minerals in the water from sticking to the insides of the pipes, water heater, etc.  Also, clothes and dishes, but living in one of the hardest water regions on Earth, I can say from experience that softener salts don't really do a whole lot for dishes or clothes.  I grew up on the taste of hard water, and anything else tastes weird to me, so I don't use salt based softeners.  I add TSP to my detergents, etc. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisodium_phosphate)

It's unlikely that the softener extends the life of your equiptment enough to justify it's own costs (for a whole house unit, anyway) since it's usually cheaper to replace the water heater, etc. a couple of years early than install and maintain the water softener equptment.  If I were you, I'd consider simply decommisioning the unit, and perhaps install an undersink unit for drinking water and ice.  The deposits of minerals on the insides of pipes is very, very slow.

[Kluge]

Usually those kind of softeners operating on a timer, so they are set up with the assumption that the place will be occupied and water will be generally consumed while the salt is injected.  The point of the salt, is to inhibit the desolved minerals in the water from sticking to the insides of the pipes, water heater, etc.  Also, clothes and dishes, but living in one of the hardest water regions on Earth, I can say from experience that softener salts don't really do a whole lot for dishes or clothes.  I grew up on the taste of hard water, and anything else tastes weird to me, so I don't use salt based softeners.  I add TSP to my detergents, etc. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisodium_phosphate)

It's unlikely that the softener extends the life of your equiptment enough to justify it's own costs (for a whole house unit, anyway) since it's usually cheaper to replace the water heater, etc. a couple of years early than install and maintain the water softener equptment.  If I were you, I'd consider simply decommisioning the unit, and perhaps install an undersink unit for drinking water and ice.  The deposits of minerals on the insides of pipes is very, very slow.

I was considering that, too. Having the softener occasionally give me a full pot of salted coffee or a salty shower is a pretty significant reason not to use it. Big issue with our setup is rust. It's like the "water" is literally 10% rust. Without the softener, the sulfur smell is quite pronounced (hot showers are unbearably smelly). However, whether the softener is on or off, there is still a significant amount of rust in the water (obvious by how quickly brown-orange rings form in the toilet bowls and the smell which still exists).

If the Kinetico people give me a load of nonsense, I think I'll just replace the macro and micro filters (which haven't been replaced in... way too long), bypass the softener, and see how that works out. Maybe it'd even be worth it to go full-retard on the filters and double the number of them (one for large, one medium-large, one medium, then the micro), but filter costs always give me sticker shock.

[SaltySpitoon]

If you are just worried about the drinking water, it may be worth your while to get an RODI machine. I've got an 8 stage one that I picked up for like $200, and it makes the most pure water that you will ever taste. However, make sure you eat a balanced diet as well, because completely pure water will leech minerals from your body.

[MoonShadow]

I was considering that, too. Having the softener occasionally give me a full pot of salted coffee or a salty shower is a pretty significant reason not to use it. Big issue with our setup is rust. It's like the "water" is literally 10% rust.

The salt in the water promotes rust in steel water pipes.  I've literally never lived in a home with steel water pipes, and didn't even consider that.  If you have rust, you're water softener has already destroyed your plumbing, and it should be replaced with PVC plastic water pipes, or copper lines if that scares you.

Without the softener, the sulfur smell is quite pronounced (hot showers are unbearably smelly). However, whether the softener is on or off, there is still a significant amount of rust in the water (obvious by how quickly brown-orange rings form in the toilet bowls and the smell which still exists).

We don't have sulfer issues here, mostly calcium in the water.  Which is actually good for you, and my tap water tastes very much like bottled water for the same reason.  Perhaps a filter system would work better for you?

If the Kinetico people give me a load of nonsense, I think I'll just replace the macro and micro filters (which haven't been replaced in... way too long), bypass the softener, and see how that works out. Maybe it'd even be worth it to go full-retard on the filters and double the number of them (one for large, one medium-large, one medium, then the micro), but filter costs always give me sticker shock.

If your primary concern is the smell of sulfer (it won't actually hurt you, BTW) then a single filter designed for that would be the most cost effective, perhaps an activated charcoal filter?