Comments for Ask The Water Doctor http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com Professional answers to questions about water treatment and water problems Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:40:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 Comment on Do Salt-Free Water Softeners Really Work? by chad http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/salt-free-water-softeners/comment-page-4/#comment-948 chad Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:02:03 +0000 http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/25/salt-free-water-softeners/#comment-948 Thats the answer I was hoping for. Thanks again. Thats the answer I was hoping for. Thanks again.

]]> Comment on Do Salt-Free Water Softeners Really Work? by mark http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/salt-free-water-softeners/comment-page-4/#comment-947 mark Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:18:42 +0000 http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/25/salt-free-water-softeners/#comment-947 Chad, Your application is perfect for TAC system. The magnesium is no problem. Maybe you are confusing it with manganese. I think you would be very satisfied with a TAC system and the RO would work well with it. Chad,

Your application is perfect for TAC system. The magnesium is no problem. Maybe you are confusing it with manganese. I think you would be very satisfied with a TAC system and the RO would work well with it.

]]> Comment on Do Salt-Free Water Softeners Really Work? by mark http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/salt-free-water-softeners/comment-page-4/#comment-946 mark Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:47:17 +0000 http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/25/salt-free-water-softeners/#comment-946 Jami, Based upon your water analysis, I think even if it were me, I would use the salt-free TAC system. I think this would give you excellent quqlity water and require no salt in the process. By the way, that is a good report put out by your municipality. Jami,

Based upon your water analysis, I think even if it were me, I would use the salt-free TAC system. I think this would give you excellent quqlity water and require no salt in the process.

By the way, that is a good report put out by your municipality.

]]> Comment on Do Salt-Free Water Softeners Really Work? by chad http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/salt-free-water-softeners/comment-page-4/#comment-945 chad Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:05:50 +0000 http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/25/salt-free-water-softeners/#comment-945 Hello Mark, I have unconditioned/treated well water and I'm looking to install a system that can reduce or eliminate the hard water deposits and allow me to use a kitchen RO machine for drinking water. From what I was told my water hardness will not work well with an RO system (380) I'm looking at salt less mainly due the discharge from regeneration. I have an older septic system and would like to avoid the excess stress on the system from the softener and the RO combined, if possible. I thought possibly the GWP-1000 or GWP-2000 might work. I had my water tested and the results are below (Mg/l). Nothing other than what's below was detected. Calcium - 93 Copper - 0.018 Magnesium - 37 Sodium - 44 Zinc - 0.064 Alkalinity (Total as CaCO3) - 330 Chloride - 94 Nitrate as N - 0.9 Sulfate - 34 Hardness - 380 pH - 7.1 TDS - 500 As a side note, the water tastes great but I rarely drink it since it's unfiltered. No smell, no rust stains, just major hard water build up. From reading previous posts I may need something to remove the Magnesium first? Do you think TAC technology would be effective for my situation (2 bath house)? Thanks for your time and for the great resource. Hello Mark,

I have unconditioned/treated well water and I’m looking to install a system that can reduce or eliminate the hard water deposits and allow me to use a kitchen RO machine for drinking water. From what I was told my water hardness will not work well with an RO system (380)

I’m looking at salt less mainly due the discharge from regeneration. I have an older septic system and would like to avoid the excess stress on the system from the softener and the RO combined, if possible.

I thought possibly the GWP-1000 or GWP-2000 might work. I had my water tested and the results are below (Mg/l). Nothing other than what’s below was detected.

Calcium - 93
Copper - 0.018
Magnesium - 37
Sodium - 44
Zinc - 0.064
Alkalinity (Total as CaCO3) - 330
Chloride - 94
Nitrate as N - 0.9
Sulfate - 34
Hardness - 380
pH - 7.1
TDS - 500

As a side note, the water tastes great but I rarely drink it since it’s unfiltered. No smell, no rust stains, just major hard water build up.

From reading previous posts I may need something to remove the Magnesium first?

Do you think TAC technology would be effective for my situation (2 bath house)?

Thanks for your time and for the great resource.

]]> Comment on Do Salt-Free Water Softeners Really Work? by Jami http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/salt-free-water-softeners/comment-page-4/#comment-944 Jami Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:06:52 +0000 http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/25/salt-free-water-softeners/#comment-944 http://www.ntmwd.com/downloads/WaterQualityAnalysis/wqa1108.pdf or for the past few years. http://www.ntmwd.com/WaterQuality.html http://www.ntmwd.com/downloads/WaterQualityAnalysis/wqa1108.pdf

or for the past few years.

http://www.ntmwd.com/WaterQuality.html

]]> Comment on Do Salt-Free Water Softeners Really Work? by mark http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/salt-free-water-softeners/comment-page-4/#comment-943 mark Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:59:28 +0000 http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/25/salt-free-water-softeners/#comment-943 Jami, There is only 1 TAC and losts of "copycats" who are not certified. Jami,

There is only 1 TAC and losts of “copycats” who are not certified.

]]> Comment on Do Salt-Free Water Softeners Really Work? by mark http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/salt-free-water-softeners/comment-page-4/#comment-942 mark Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:58:23 +0000 http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/25/salt-free-water-softeners/#comment-942 Jami, I am not sure what the hardware stores are selling, but you can usually contact your municipality for a report or frequently it is already listed online. Insofar as the salt-based softeners verses salt-free conditioners, I have always said that there are no right answers. You will use loss soaps, chemicals and detergents with a salt system, but you will discharge chloride (which may or may not be bad, depending upon where you live). Some people love the "silky" feel of soft water and some people hate the "slimy" feel of soft water. Some people hate carrying salt. Others see it as an "Olympic Sport." I guess a lot of things depend upon your perspective and biases. We try to be as green as possible, but to this day, I cannot say that using a TAC system instead of salt and wasting more chemicals is "greener" or not - it may well be. The salt-based conditioners will not hurt the heaters - it will only help. I can't give you a right answer, if there isn't one. That's why we provide the best in both products. On the "other" TAC system - I have no idea which one you are looking at. There are some blatant falsehoods being told on the internet. NO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> :smile: Jami,

I am not sure what the hardware stores are selling, but you can usually contact your municipality for a report or frequently it is already listed online.

Insofar as the salt-based softeners verses salt-free conditioners, I have always said that there are no right answers. You will use loss soaps, chemicals and detergents with a salt system, but you will discharge chloride (which may or may not be bad, depending upon where you live).

Some people love the “silky” feel of soft water and some people hate the “slimy” feel of soft water. Some people hate carrying salt. Others see it as an “Olympic Sport.” I guess a lot of things depend upon your perspective and biases.

We try to be as green as possible, but to this day, I cannot say that using a TAC system instead of salt and wasting more chemicals is “greener” or not - it may well be. The salt-based conditioners will not hurt the heaters - it will only help.

I can’t give you a right answer, if there isn’t one. That’s why we provide the best in both products.

On the “other” TAC system - I have no idea which one you are looking at. There are some blatant falsehoods being told on the internet. NO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> :smile:

]]> Comment on Do Salt-Free Water Softeners Really Work? by Jami http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/salt-free-water-softeners/comment-page-4/#comment-941 Jami Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:02:03 +0000 http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/25/salt-free-water-softeners/#comment-941 I plan to install point of use water heaters at each tap in conjunction with a pex system through a manifold. With this system in place would there be any degredation or accelerated from the salt system? I'm trying to purchase uponor or rehau but they want to sell to licensed plumbers only. Uponor makes PEX-A versus PEX-B or C. These systems have residential fire systems that uses cold water supply in the loop to keep the fire system water fresh. I hear these type of systems may be mandated for new home construction and required by 2011 or something. This is real and not a joke and being fought by the builders, but becoming a reality. I had a fire suppression in my apartment prior to me moving in this house. Wouldn't that type of system, a growing number of diabetics and overall health concerns be of big consideration towards going more green? I know a water softener isn't replaced by a conditioner, but with the poor rap that conditioners get over softeners, it may be home owners are left in a pinch in the future with these changes mentioned above. Have you considered these issues in your recommendation and would you still recommend the salt over salt free? Please do not become typical and blow out a breath with the answer like, "Okay, go green and get a greenwave. End of discussion." Please give real thought to these things and give factual comments which would be honest and helpful. Also, I'm reviewing the competitors for pricing and I'm comparing pricing. You mentioned competition pricing and product is inferior to yours yet it boasts the same TAC system. Are there different TAC technologies or is it TAC is TAC? I'm sorry for my ignorance of the water technologies and studies. I'm not a chemist. Thanks for your help mate. I plan to install point of use water heaters at each tap in conjunction with a pex system through a manifold. With this system in place would there be any degredation or accelerated from the salt system? I’m trying to purchase uponor or rehau but they want to sell to licensed plumbers only. Uponor makes PEX-A versus PEX-B or C. These systems have residential fire systems that uses cold water supply in the loop to keep the fire system water fresh. I hear these type of systems may be mandated for new home construction and required by 2011 or something. This is real and not a joke and being fought by the builders, but becoming a reality. I had a fire suppression in my apartment prior to me moving in this house. Wouldn’t that type of system, a growing number of diabetics and overall health concerns be of big consideration towards going more green? I know a water softener isn’t replaced by a conditioner, but with the poor rap that conditioners get over softeners, it may be home owners are left in a pinch in the future with these changes mentioned above. Have you considered these issues in your recommendation and would you still recommend the salt over salt free? Please do not become typical and blow out a breath with the answer like, “Okay, go green and get a greenwave. End of discussion.” Please give real thought to these things and give factual comments which would be honest and helpful.

Also, I’m reviewing the competitors for pricing and I’m comparing pricing. You mentioned competition pricing and product is inferior to yours yet it boasts the same TAC system. Are there different TAC technologies or is it TAC is TAC? I’m sorry for my ignorance of the water technologies and studies. I’m not a chemist.
Thanks for your help mate.

]]> Comment on Do Salt-Free Water Softeners Really Work? by Jami http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/salt-free-water-softeners/comment-page-4/#comment-940 Jami Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:24:07 +0000 http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/25/salt-free-water-softeners/#comment-940 Do the water analysis kits in the local hardware store work well? Is there a true home test kit that is inexpensive but thorough enough to determine the system needed? Can the information on water quality and parts be provided by local water municipalities? Do the water analysis kits in the local hardware store work well? Is there a true home test kit that is inexpensive but thorough enough to determine the system needed? Can the information on water quality and parts be provided by local water municipalities?

]]> Comment on Do Salt-Free Water Softeners Really Work? by Roland http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/salt-free-water-softeners/comment-page-4/#comment-939 Roland Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:32:14 +0000 http://www.askthewaterdoctor.com/2007/12/25/salt-free-water-softeners/#comment-939 My TDS-3 tester arrived. Water out of the tap is 1150-1160 now and out of the Brita filter 1120-1130. That's down quite a bit from the 1400 it tested at a month after the well was put in. In another couple of months I should know where it is going to settle. You need to pump a lot of water out of a blue shale vein to get it cleaned up. I'm kind of wondering if the hardness hasn't changed with the TDS. Ivory soap does actually work in the shower and it shouldn't at 48 GPG. My TDS-3 tester arrived. Water out of the tap is 1150-1160 now and out of the Brita filter 1120-1130. That’s down quite a bit from the 1400 it tested at a month after the well was put in. In another couple of months I should know where it is going to settle. You need to pump a lot of water out of a blue shale vein to get it cleaned up. I’m kind of wondering if the hardness hasn’t changed with the TDS. Ivory soap does actually work in the shower and it shouldn’t at 48 GPG.

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