Choosing a Water Softener at Wadswick Green (mid 2022 prices)
The very hard water in this area is likely to cause problems with limescale build-up in items such as kettles, taps, shower heads, washing machines etc. Chrome surfaces, shower room tiles, baths and hand basins become dull, soap products don’t lather very well and more cleaning products are needed. The answer is to fit a water softener. These are normally fitted under the kitchen sink on the incoming cold water supply pipe. However, in our apartment this is at the opposite end to the kitchen sink, so the softener has to be located in the meter room by the front door. This means that all the water used in the apartment is softened.
After doing several hours of research, I found these supplier options:
Harvey Water Softeners, the leading UK manufacturer, can fit using their own plumbers
Bath and West Water Softeners will fit a Harvey softener
West of England Water Softeners will fit either a Harvey or Kinetico softener at your choice
Dan Saunders, the Life of Riley plumber who is frequently on site, suggested a Monarch Solo Ultra High Flow, a cheaper system.
The map of the UK on the Harvey website showed our area’s typical reading is 308. On a sales visit, suppliers are supposed to test the water hardness. The Harveys sales guy was the only one who did this test - he was very good and the test of our water showed our calcium level at 361ppm. A softener is recommended when water is above 200ppm (per Building Regulations) - and when above 400 the water is not recommended for drinking. He told me that the softener is calibrated during assembly to our water hardness and cannot be altered when being fitted.
Harveys supply their fifth generation softener, a HarveyArc, for £1,995 including vat.
Bath and West Water Softeners offered the Harvey TwinTec Cobalt at £1,790 incl. I eventually got confirmation from Harveys that the ARC and the TwinTec are identical mechanically, both made by Harveys but with slightly different casing on the front for different distribution channels.
West of England Water Softeners offered to fit the Harvey Gemini at £1980 incl, which they state is the same machine as the other Harveys but is, I understand, a fourth generation machine. They also offer Kinetico Premier Compact, imported from USA, also costing £1980.
Dan Saunders, the Life of Riley local plumber, offered a Monarch Solo Ultra High Flow at £585 plus vat plus fitting - probably in total about £1000. Tempting, but on web searches this does look a lesser system.
Finally, I found an online merchant who would supply Harveys and Kinetico softeners at a discounted price, leaving you to find a plumber to do the fitting.
I decided a HarveyArc was the best solution - to last our lifetime! - and paid £1,995. With negotiation, I obtained an improved deal which will be available to all Wadswick Green residents (subject to the Note below).
How can we get the best drinking water? Some people notice the slight salty taste when drinking softened water but this is perfectly safe and healthy. It is claimed that a glass of softened water contains
a) less than 1% of the NHS recommended daily salt intake, and
b) less salt than in a slice of bread.
Apparently most people do not notice a salty taste, and neither did we when sampling a neighbour’s Harvey softener water, nor do I notice it now in our softened water whether in a glass of cold water or in tea and coffee. It is likely that, for example, that coffee shops fit water softeners as the likelihood of limescale problems is so much greater - and no-one notices. Some options:
Harveys offer a free Drinking Water Filter to be fitted under the kitchen sink which will filter the soft water (though sodium will not be removed) free of charge - worth £168 with a small tap included. This filter has a coconut carbon cartridge to be replaced annually at a cost of £55 incl postage, and this is the solution I recommend
When we ordered our system, Harveys offered free voucher for a £30 ZeroWater jug (similar to Brita’s). ZeroWater filters remove all totally dissolved solids (“TDS”). We took up this offer but, on reflection, I think the under-sink filter would have been adequate and easier to deal with. We find the ZeroWater filters (costing nearly £5) need replacing after about three weeks, so the annual cost is likely to be about £85
Brita jugs and filters will remove most but not all of the TDS and may be a lower annual cost
Harveys fitted a mains water tap in our meter cupboard, so mains water is available though has only been used to water indoor and patio plants (as recommended).
NOTE. To take advantage of the negotiated Harvey offer, you must contact Mike Pitucha direct - mobile 07460 948489 or email: michael.pitucha@harvey.co.uk and mention “Wadswick Green Retirement Village offer”. This should elicit:
a free drinking water filter which will filter soft water free of charge worth £168 with a small tap included
20 bags of salt also free of charge worth additional £92.
Website: harveywatersoftener.co.uk
In conclusion, we are very pleased with our installation!
David Little
3 Ash Lane
Feb23