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I need a water softener but I am not made of money. (vanity, home talk)
9/15/2012 | myself

Posted on 09/15/2012 4:57:47 PM PDT by cableguymn

We recently bought a home knowing the missing water softener needed to be replaced. We had a chain softener company stop by and pitch us on a 3000 dollar setup.

I said thanks for stopping.

Our water has so much iron it has scrap value. 9 PPM if I remember right. With in a week the toilets are orange in the bowl from rust.

Hardness was a 9.

At our local "guns allowed" hardware store they suggested a unit sold under their name built by waterboss (basically a model 900) however, the reviews on it are anything but good. They are made in the USA but seem to fail and have rude customer service.

What do you suggest?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: watersoftener
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1 posted on 09/15/2012 4:57:55 PM PDT by cableguymn
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To: cableguymn

In other news.. my wife just yelled at me for putting the seat down..


2 posted on 09/15/2012 4:59:38 PM PDT by cableguymn
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To: cableguymn

don’t bother calling culligan unless you win the lottery.

You might try a different hardware store. I know Lowes carries some for about $500 but I’m not sure about quality.


3 posted on 09/15/2012 4:59:54 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: cableguymn

Maybe a whole house water filter tapped into your incoming water supply line...
Won’t “soften” the water but might get the gunk out.
Not too expensive, I think...good luck.


4 posted on 09/15/2012 5:02:32 PM PDT by matginzac
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To: cableguymn

My toilets are orange, no kidding. Is it rust? Who knew?


5 posted on 09/15/2012 5:03:16 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong!)
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To: cableguymn

You mean for NOT putting the seat down


6 posted on 09/15/2012 5:04:42 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: cableguymn

We bit the bullet on the three grand one. Paid it off over two years, no interest. Some things you don’t want to skimp on. Over eight years later it’s working well - knock wood.


7 posted on 09/15/2012 5:05:06 PM PDT by mplsconservative (Impeach Obama Now!)
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To: cableguymn
Pretend that you are on Mars. Iron oxide is everywhere there.

Embrace the red.

Besides, it won't look quite so bad in the sink when you cut yourself shaving.

Me? I'm scraping calcium deposits out of pans.

/johnny

8 posted on 09/15/2012 5:05:06 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: cableguymn

9 posted on 09/15/2012 5:06:23 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong!)
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To: cableguymn

Look up Addie Systems. A no frill softener sold through Farm and Fleet - if you have those where you are. If not, they may ship one to you.

I replaced a Culligan with an Addie and it is excellent. $400. Good components. Christian company. We are very pleased.

Don’t fall for the big box brands or magnets or RO or some other malarkey.


10 posted on 09/15/2012 5:07:37 PM PDT by arkady_renko
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To: Revolting cat!
Yep .. iron water.

Use those cheapo cakes that make the water blue.


Scrub the bowl clean ... I've used a utility knife blade, on edge, successfully.

Buy a bathroom brush and brush the bowl after every use .. piss too.

The blue stuff and the swish of a bowl brush works wonders.
MY wife taught me all this.


(There is no greater expert on bathrooms than a woman)

11 posted on 09/15/2012 5:09:21 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: cableguymn

Just put some magnets on your pipes.

My dad has a Whirlpool (Ecodyne) water softener at his house that I helped him install. It seemed kind of junky to me.

I’ve heard good things about Kinetico, but I think they’re fairly expensive. They may save you money in the long run though.


12 posted on 09/15/2012 5:09:44 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: cableguymn

Did you check out a nuvoH20 system?
http://www.nuvoh2o.com/?source=gg-branded&gclid=COOpy6rnuLICFQTznAodBl4A7w


13 posted on 09/15/2012 5:11:03 PM PDT by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: cableguymn

I assume you are not on a municipal water system...


14 posted on 09/15/2012 5:11:08 PM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, Democrats believe every day is April 15th.)
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To: cableguymn

Here in the mountains of NE PA we have high Iron so we are on our third Culligan unit. We found the best thing was the rent it and I’m glad we did because they had to change it over twice to get it working. It seems good now the water is much better. We don’t smell like iron. YUCK


15 posted on 09/15/2012 5:14:02 PM PDT by angcat (ROMNEY/RYAN 2012)
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To: cableguymn

I had to put in a new water softner. My son and I bought one at Home depot and he hooked it up himself...not easy but can be done....I wouldn’t pay that amount of money for one.


16 posted on 09/15/2012 5:17:23 PM PDT by goat granny
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To: cableguymn

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=water%20softener&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=SEARCH+ALL


17 posted on 09/15/2012 5:20:15 PM PDT by Clint N. Suhks (EAT MOR CHIKIN)
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To: cableguymn

Go to a local independent.

Ask neighbors or yellow pages.

A good system from generic parts should be about half that quote. About $1500.

A whole house RO system is useless for getting the iron out.

So are attaching magnets to your pipes.

Below is a good forum for your problem.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/plumbing/


18 posted on 09/15/2012 5:20:22 PM PDT by Reaganez
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To: knarf; Revolting cat!

A 5 gallon bucket works fine for all human waste. A little sawdust for filler and a compost pile at the corner of the yard and you’re good to go. Literally.


19 posted on 09/15/2012 5:21:10 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Biden: "HOPE and CHAINS for all 57 states".)
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To: cableguymn

dude- buy a unit from Leowe’s and install it yourself

I am glad you tossed out the $3000 salesman - I LOVE tossing salesmen out of my house

I had one a$$ hole try to sell me wondows doe $70 grand- yes my house DOES look like a rich person owns it- but i just got lucky

After I let him think I was going for it I told him “Ok well I am going to get a few more estimates” - he said “Oh well if you order tonight you can get the ‘mamager discount’ at $35K

I let him have it for trying to sell them at 70K and kept hammering him until he was down to $17K at which point I physically picked up his demo unit and told him I was throwing it out the door if he did not leave my house right that second

If the dumbell had started with a reasonable estimate I would have considered it too- it was a great window.


20 posted on 09/15/2012 5:21:10 PM PDT by Mr. K (Reagan: “Washington is where good ideas go to die.”)
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