Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [water-softener]

For questions regarding the installation and maintenance of devices that remove "hardness" from mains water and thus prevent the formation of limescale.

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How much water do water softeners waste?

I'm considering buying a water softener, but I heard that they waste a lot of water, and I don't really want my water bill to skyrocket. I haven't been able to find any clear indication of how much water water softeners waste. They generally have…
Eric
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What sort of things should one look for in a water-softener?

Hard water (from a well) at the house, and I was wondering what to look for in terms of getting a water-softener, or things to avoid.
caseyboardman
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what is the brown foam and sludge in my water softener brine tank?

My water softener's brine tank has a brown foam on top of the water. the water itself has brown particles in it. My plumber said this is brown "iron" algae and it will not harm the system. but he also said the crud can clog the inlet filter to…
user21298
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When do tankless water heaters need to be descaled?

I had a Bosch tankless natural gas water heater that stopped working with C7 and EA error codes and the plumber indicated that the unit had failed due to water getting into the internals like the fan an circuit board. The plumber said this was due…
WilliamKF
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Why am I getting water scaling even with a softener installed?

I have a problem with higher levels of scaling around sinks and toilets and I'm wondering if someone can help. We recently purchased an older home (35 years old), which did not have a water softener in use, at least for some time (there was an old…
KP.
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Unsure what these water softener dials are for

I have a Rainsoft water softener with a mechanical timer with 3 knobs I can turn. The first (the small one with the arrows) turns a large wheel to adjust the time. This time, I assume, is supposed to be the current time. The second is a dial that…
Nathan Merrill
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How can I prevent mineral build-up from my water?

I'm not sure whether my house receives really hard water, or water that has a lot of junk or sediment in it, but I am constantly having to soak my faucet spreaders and shower heads. Recently, I noticed that a number of the jets in my dishwasher are…
Eric
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Can I use a zero-waste reverse osmosis filter with a water softener?

I have a zero-waste reverse osmosis system under my kitchen sink (a Watts ZRO-4 specifically, though there are other systems to which this applies) and my house is also pre-plumbed for a softener in my garage. From what I've read, the "zero waste"…
SqlRyan
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What kind of chlorine solution do I use in water treatment system?

We recently bought a house in which the previous owner had installed a Culligan softener system with not only brine and resin tanks but also a chlorine tank with a pump. There isn't a Culligan representative remaining within a 50 mile radius of the…
JackT
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How can I be sure my water softener is working?

I recently purchased a 12 year old home in Central Indiana that came with a water softener (waterboss model). The owners claimed it to be working during the closing. When we moved into the house, we filled the softener with salt and allowed the…
Prete
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How does a two-piece water softener work and what maintenance does it require?

I've read that there are single units and conditioners with reservoirs. I've gathered that they both need to be replenished with conditioning salt. I have a two piece (below) unit and am wondering how exactly it works and what kind of maintenance I…
Kermit
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What are my options for installing a water softener on the opposite side of the house from the main water supply?

Background Info My main water supply on my home is located on the east wall of the home, whereas my garage is located on the west side of the home. There is no water softener loop in the home, and in Arizona most water softeners are put in the…
NDBoost
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How do you access the Rainsoft water softener "advanced" settings, such as hardness?

The user manual says that this setting is setup "by your Rainsoft dealer" when the softener is installed. Well, I bought mine off of Craigslist and I don't know how to verify if the settings are correct. Does anybody know how to access the hidden…
Jim
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My water softener has a setting for KCl (Potassium) / NaCl (Sodium), what does it do exactly?

I'm having some trouble with a relatively new water softener (<2 years). It seems like it is cycling when it should as the salt level is definitely going down, but the water is still hard. While troubleshooting I came across a toggle setting that…
JohnFx
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How do I prevent white film forming on utensils in dishwashers?

I've installed a Bosch SMS60L18IN dishwasher, best in its latest series. We were very satisfied with its first wash when it gave us clean utensils without any problems. We put a 3 in 1 tablet then. Now, I use a special salt, detergent and rinse aid,…
Netizen
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