Which Softener System?

[MTN54]

My mothers house needs a hard water softner system in her house. I've consulted with a few plumbers and they all suggest different systems and crazy prices. I've read many articles and youtube videos and I'm lost and don't know where to start. I do know for sure I have hard water in the house, because my apartment's water is soo much better. Below I posted a picture of a pool and spa water harness checker. The house is hooked up to county water (not well). The house is 1,300 square feet, has 2 bathrooms and 2 people are currently living in it.If someone can suggest a good reasonable system please let me know. Thank you.

 

[ditttohead]

Are you going to do the installation yourself? A pool hardness checker... get a Hach 5B if you are going to DIY.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[MTN54]

Are you going to do the installation yourself? A pool hardness checker... get a Hach 5B if you are going to DIY.

Ditto,
With all due respect, if I know for sure I have hard water, then why would I need to buy a water testing kit? Not trying to be rude just would like to know what the kit will tell me? How hard the water is? Also, I won't be doing the install myself I have no experience with plumbing. Your website is under construction, tried looking at the systems.
Myles

 

[Reach4]

Where in Florida? Villages area?

You can buy from a local water treatment specialist who will sell and install, or you can have a plumber who is not a specialist install. If you were looking for a water treatment specialist, you should have said so. In that case, he can tell you. You can also consider a cabinet type softner, if the system is probably only going to need to last another 10 years. They tend to be less maintainable than the ones with the separate brine tank.

The reason for knowing the hardness is to get the right size and maybe other considerations. The local water company may provide a hardness number, in which case you should usually use the max rather than their average. The testing kit is also useful after the softener is installed to know how the softener is performing.

 

[MTN54]

Where in Florida? Villages area?

You can buy from a local water treatment specialist who will sell and install, or you can have a plumber who is not a specialist install. If you were looking for a water treatment specialist, you should have said so. In that case, he can tell you. You can also consider a cabinet type softner, if the system is probably only going to need to last another 10 years. They tend to be less maintainable than the ones with the separate brine tank.

The reason for knowing the hardness is to get the right size and maybe other considerations. The local water company may provide a hardness number, in which case you should usually use the max rather than their average. The testing kit is also useful after the softener is installed to know how the softener is performing.

I'm 1 hour north of Miami, Boca Raton, FL. You know of a local water treatment near me? I ordered the kit online. Thank you guys for your support and information.
Myles

 

[ditttohead]

DIY benefits from some very basic tools. With a water softener the most important is a simple hardness test kit. They are simple, inexpensive and the first tool needed to do the basics.

Try calling SWS water systems. Skip is a great guy, been doing it since dirt was invented and I have had great feedback from the companies that use him in Florida.

www.swssystem.com

 

[MTN54]

<a href="https://ibb.co/f88cCa"><img src="https://thumb.ibb.co/f88cCa/IMG_1179.jpg" alt="IMG_1179" border="0"></a>

So, today I tested with the suggested 5B Hardness Test Kit. It took me 5 drops to get me to a blue sample. 85.5ppm. I'll call a local plumber on Monday and go from there. Anything I should know before I make any decisions? Thank you all.

 

[Bannerman]

Five grains per gallon is not all that hard. As it is supplied by the county, iron should not be creating an issue since the water will be chlorinated but perhaps there are other minerals, contaminants or conditions which are affecting the water's quality. A water quality report can likely be obtained from the county's web site.

Ditttohead had recommended a water treatment specialist in your area. I anticipate an experienced specialist will be best qualified to establish the most effective treatment method for the water conditions in that area.

 

[ditttohead]

Thanks for getting the test kit. With only 5 grains, do you really need a softener? It would be more of a luxury item, and yes... if I had 5 grains I would still have a softener. It is certainly not a necessity but you will enjoy the benefits. The system will also use very little salt. I suspect your system will use a couple bags of salt per year if it set properly.