Help & Questions - Home Team - Water Softening
A water softener works by passing hard water through a cylinder containing ion exchange resin. The resin consists of tiny beads that attract and retain the hardness minerals, allowing the new softened water into your household water supply. Periodically, these resin beds are automatically cleaned and regenerated by rinsing with a small amount of brine (a salt solution). The brine, with the accumulated hardness is then flushed away to the drain. All this takes place automatically, all that the user is required to do is occasionally top up the water softener with salt.
The sales agent asks the customer the following types of questions:
- Are you in a hard water area?
- Is there calcification on taps etc
- Difficulty in forming a lather?
- Clothes feel hard after washing?
- Spotting/Filming on crockery especially when using a dishwasher?
- Experienced scale formations on pipework, electrical and water appliances?
- Water marks on sinks, baths or toilets
Generally the units are located in close proximity to the water mains and associated pipework and a nearby power supply. This location is usually under the sink.
It's a 10l Aquadial Softlife supplied by Culligan. It's a compact unit which enables the unit to be installed below a standard 600mm kitchen sink.
The 10L softening unit is similar in size to a small domestic kitchen bin. Specific sizing: 532mm (H), 480mm (D), 270mm (W).
Yes. Generally if the chosen location is underneath the sink, a storage shelve will be removed as will the backboard of sink unit. In all instances we will do endeavour to reinstate both shelve and backboard of sink unit.
The cost of the installed water softening unit is €1,099 including VAT. Once the customer decides to proceed with installing a water softener after a technical visit is completed, a 10% to 20% prepayment is taken. The customer phones in to give this prepayment.
There are two options for the remaining payment. The customer can pay the whole amount straight away or pay the remainder over a period of 12 months.
The UK water regulations state that a minimum of one tap is left as a source of untreated water/ drinking water within the home.
It is recommended that individuals on a low sodium diet should follow HSE's advice that water from a domestic water softener should not be used for drinking or cooking. Softened water contains a small amount of sodium.
It depends on the volume of water used in the house but the manufacturer's recommend every 2 years.
A 10L water softening unit caters for a family of up to 8 people.
It will be billed through your home servicing bill which is separate from your gas/electricity bill.
If the customer specifies the direct debit payment option, they will only receive a paper bill for the first and last bill or if they take on a new product where the billable amount changes.
The product comes with a 12 month warranty.
It depends on the volume of water used once the unit is installed but generally it takes 7 days to achieve full circulation of the softened water throughout the system.
Keep the unit topped up with salt. It is essential that the salt levels do not fall lower than 150mm in depth when measured from the base of the brine cabinet.
You should only use salt specially made for water softeners which are available in tablet or granular form.
It is widely available in local hardwares and major DIY outlets An average bag of salt is €8 (25 kilo) which should last circa 6/8 weeks depending on hardness.
It is recommended to check the unit weekly. It is essential that the salt levels do not fall lower than 150mm in depth when measured from the base of the brine cabinet.
It can take anything from 2 to 4 hours depending on the site requirements.
This will be discussed during the technical visit. In certain installations, the back board of the kitchen press may need to be cut in order to allow pipe access. We will reinstate where possible the backboard or shelf. (this will be discussed pre removal etc).
Usually 2 visits, the technical visit and the installation appointment.
Hard water affects many areas throughout Ireland. Whether you experience hard water is dependent on where you live. You will know if you are in a hard water area if you are experiencing problems with the quality of clothes and dishes after using a washing machine or dishwasher, if you notice a build up of limescale on taps and if your boiler or radiators are operating less effectively.
