water softener

[haley1]

There are systems that don't regenerate by back washing. Instead of exchanging salt or potassium ions for the calcium or mag in the water they convert the cl and mag so it stay in suspension and won't build up on you faucets etc.

I am just looking for people who have used both systems and what they liked better

My salt system is almost 13 years old and I can tell it's going and needs the medium replaced so thought I would look into other stuff out there
Thanks

[Alice In TX/MO]

Interesting. Do you have a link to that kind of system?

Edited to add: I googled it. You're talking about the magnet scam.

http://www.chem1.com/CQ/catscams.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_water_treatment

[arabian knight]

Ya you don't want to fall into that magnet scam. That is ridiculous.

[haley1]

No I am not talking about magnets.

This is from a site that sells both

"In the salt-free process minerals are retained in the water, but their form is changed so they will not adhere to surfaces.
Water is processed through a catalytic media using a physical process called Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC). What happens is the hardness minerals are converted to a hardness crystal that is not able to bind to surfaces. This is actually water conditioning, not softening.
A water test would show this result: Before treatment 10 grains/gallon, result post/treatment 10 grains/gallon. Again, The hardness is still there… just changed so it won’t adhere to surfaces.
There is no electrical valve needed on a salt-free system because the system works as a conditioner and never captures anything therefore eliminating the need to purge any minerals"

[plowjockey]

IMO, if they actually worked as well, the salt companies would be out of business. They are not.

Apparently others agree.

Independent 3rd party lab testing suggest that these “No Salt Softener” devices do not deliver the traditional benefits of soft water. While they may work in some circumstances, they do not work in all water conditions in a consistent, predictable way.

http://www.premierwatermn.com/saltle...-fact-fiction/

[JoePa]

If the hardness is still there - then you still have soap scum and you won't get any benefit from the soap - water softeners have been around a long time and I find no problem with them -

[arbutus]

If you have a good Fleck valve, just buy new resin and replace. It isn't hard, and maybe costs less than $100.

[Steve in PA]

I ran some muratic acid through mine and it it really refreshed the resin bed. My softener has a place to add mineral acid but you could just dump it into the salt hopper. Be careful! Muratic Acid is nasty stuff.