Brochure Download

March 02, 2011

Please download our latest domestic water softener brochure.

Discover the benefits of soft water in your home.

View our range of water softeners and choose one to match your requirements.

Contains details of our Sirocco, Levanto, Diablo and Mistral softener cabinets.

Includes full softener and valve dimensions and specifications.

Download our latest Water Softener Brochure.

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The Benefits of a Water Softener

November 12, 2010

The question asked by nearly every person or household that thinks about buying a water softener is it really worth it? This cannot be easily answered unless you have already tasted the good life benefits it can bring or have had the virtues extolled by a reliable friend or family member who already has one installed in their home.

A water softener should be looked at as an investment rather that an ‘impulse purchase’. Many people think about buying a water softener for some time before actually doing so. However within a few weeks of experiencing softened water. most people can’t believe why they hadn’t taken the plunge before.

Once installed most households will never be without one and will either take it with them when moving or ensure one is fitted to their new home if it does not already have one.

Domestic water softeners have been around for a lot longer than people realise and were originally viewed as an expensive product appealing to the rich. With the focus on the luxury silky soft bathing water. As with a lot of products the cost of a water softener has now reduced to a level where it is affordable to the majority of households. The message widened to promote not only the softness of the water and its benefits to clothes and skin, but also the potentially large cost saving aspects it can deliver. 

The cost savings softened water can be greater than people expect and the unit can pay for itself within a few years, making them more cost efficient than most other products and second only to cavity wall insulation. The reduction in household cleaning products alone can be around 50% and an average family of four can save around £200 per annum.

The benefits of a water softener will mean different things to different members of the household. To people who pay the bills the scale reduction in the hot water pipes and subsequent energy saving will be paramount. No scale means longer lasting heating elements in washing machines and immersion heaters.

The household budget will benefit from the reduction in cleaning products, shower and shampoo and washing powder. All family members will notice the luxury when showering, the possible improvement of skin complaints such as eczema.  (The National Eczema Society now recognises that softened water can be of benefit to eczema sufferers) and the softness of skin, hair, towels and clothing.

Soft water is a joy to live with, scale marks on draining boards, worktops and shower screens will disappear. Soft water will over time dissolve away existing scale deposits. Sinks, baths and basins will slowly regain their original shine and the scale around taps and blocked shower heads will disappear. Cleaning time in the kitchen and bathroom will be dramatically reduced.

Another advantage of having a water softener is the choice of returning to more traditional soaps and cleaning products. Modern detergents, rinse aids, etc have had to incorporate chemicals to combat the effects of hard water. Scale inhibitors such as polyphosphates are used to suspend the scale elements in the water to stop the forming of scale. In today’s environment some of these could be viewed as environmentally unfriendly. Soft water means that many of these become unnecessary.
This leaves the consumer with the option to use more delicate washing powders and simple soaps. Maybe enjoy the extra lather from their favourite shower products, the improved feel of clothing, the better protection of their washing machine and heating and of course the financial saving.

Choosing The Correct Softener for your Home

August 13, 2010

When choosing a water softener for your home it is important to make sure that you select the correct size to accommodate your family’s needs.

A water softener should ideally be sized based on the size of the property and the maximum potential number of occupants. This will ensure that there will always be soft water available and that the softener will not become exhausted before a regeneration is initiated.

Sizing a softener to the dwelling also allows for the softener to be a selling point should you move home and choose to leave the softener in situ. (A great many people become so used to soft water that if their new house does not have a softener they will fit the existing one in the new house). Having a water softener with a larger than needed capacity will not cost any extra in running costs as it can adjusted to regenerate based on the water usage.

The average person will use approximately 160 litres per day of water so by knowing the capacity of the softener it is possible to work out how many people it will cope with or size of dwelling and if it is sufficient.

The usual minimum time between regenerations should be 2 days. In the UK a typical water hardness is 20 degrees Clarke, based on this a 10 litre softener would have a capacity of approx 1500 litres and therefore be suitable for a family of 4.

An 18 litre softener with a capacity of approx 2900 litres would therefore be adequate for up to 8 people or suit a 4 bedroom house.

When a domestic water softener reaches its capacity it has to go through a regeneration. This is where the resin is flushed through with a salt water solution and the hardness minerals (calcium, magnesium etc) removed by the resin from the supply water are flushed to drain. The frequency of regeneration is determined in one of two ways and is another factor to consider when choosing the correct softener for your home.

A timer controlled valve is the least expensive option. The softener is programmed by the user to go through a regeneration at set intervals, i.e. every 2nd or 3rd day, regardless of the amount of water that has passed through. Timer control is best used when the number of residents and water usage is reasonably constant and the time between regenerations can be fairly accurately calculated.
The disadvantage to this is if the water usage increases sharply the resin may become exhausted and the water become hard or, if the house is left unattended, say for holidays, the unit will still regenerate at the pre set time unless re programmed. This will result in unnecessary over use of salt although it will not have any adverse affect on the softener itself. 

The second option and most commonly preferred in the domestic market is a meter controlled valve. This type of unit has a preset capacity and reserve which will activate a regeneration when reached regardless of the time elapsed since the last one. These units are best when the water usage is variable or if there are prolonged periods of little or no use i.e. holiday home. A meter controlled softener offers more flexibility and can give the most cost effective use of salt.

The installation of a water softener in your home is an investment that delivers economic benefits plus the pleasure of softened water and is rarely regretted. However to get the best out of this investment it is important to ensure the unit is the correct size and fitted with the appropriate control valve. If in doubt consult a local supplier or manufacturer for advice.

Why Should You Purchase A Water Softener

August 13, 2010

Hard water is something that is an inconvenience to a vast majority of households in the UK, but for various reasons is tolerated. More and more people are taking the decision to filter their drinking water to improve the taste but far fewer are bothering to improve the quality of water throughout the rest of the house.

A domestic water softener need not be an expensive outlay. Indeed it can be an investment. Any person that that has a home water softener will tell you that they would not go back to ‘hard water’ living.

The science part of a water softener is the resin which removes the hardness from the water and replaces it with sodium. There are many variations to take into account, such as non electric softeners or electric softeners , block salt or pebble salt, timer controlled or meter controlled, the fact is that they will all if properly looked after and maintained do the same job. The less expensive electric softeners are ideal those families wanting the benefits of soft water at an affordable price.

Soft water means that the use of shampoo, washing powder, shower gel etc is greatly reduced as you will require less to obtain the level of soap suds or foam required. Soft water also will have an effect on the feel of clothing ,towels etc leaving them softer to touch and ‘fluffier’. Hair and skin will also feel softer and there are reasons to show that soft water has a beneficial effect on skin conditions such as eczema.  With no scale in the water showers and bath tubs stay cleaner and easier to clean with no ‘water marks’ or ‘scum ring’ Kitchen sinks and worktops will also benefit from the soft water provided by a softener

Perhaps the greatest asset of installing a home water softener is the effect it has on the heating elements on your hot water system and pipes and appliances such as your washing machine. A water softener will over time remove existing scale from hot water pipes and heaters increasing their efficiency and ultimately reducing heating costs, washing machines last longer with soft water as the elements will not fail due to scale build up.

Overall the reasons and advantages of installing a domestic water softener in your home far outweigh the reasons not to and will over a period of time pay back the initial cost.