Which softener?

[Chris]

The man wants a good water softener which is easy to use. Conventional heating, Megaflo + 3 showers, not a particularly hard water area.

I'm aware some use easier-handling blocks of salt but that's about all! What features should I be looking for? Any preferred makes? Do some manufacturers have a service scheme?

Same questions really for a water filter for drinking water. I've used the Liff under-sink kits where the cartridge filter looks like it would hold a couple of pints. Those seem okay if the tap is decent quality (Tri-flow ones can be £400 though). Any comments?

[getreg]

waterside make reasonably priced units which take the tablet form of salt you would need a high flow rate model to cope with 3 showers plus all the other outlets. If you want block salt then you are looking at kenitko softners which are expensive and sold through small outlets if you go to your local plumbers merchants and ask what they sell and recommend.

if your water is not that hard you could always fit point of use units like salamander which use magnetic force to change the structure of the scale and are cheaper and do not need changing.

Also hard water is good for you. I used to live in the cotswolds where a kettle lasted 12-18 months if you were lucky, but now live in cornwall and do not have a problem any more.[email=YourName@YourDomain.com]Your Name[/email][email=YourName@YourDomain.com]Your Name[/email][email=YourName@YourDomain.com]Your Name[/email]

[stafford]

I'm installing a waterside softener at the end of the week. The service schemes seem a little overpriced for what you get. I can offer to do a 'service' on the unit when I service their boiler.