A question we get asked frequently, especially in the current financial climate, is about water softener running costs. Running costs are always an important consideration when buying a new appliances as you certainly don't want any unexpected bills after the initial outlay. So how much does a water softener actually cost to run?
After the initial installation, water softeners are actually very low cost to run and maintain. Many models do not even use electricity and those which do use very little. You will need to top up the salt levels but, depending on your usage, this can cost as little as £5 per month. The resin will also need replacing eventually but this often does not need doing for 10-15 years (although can be more frequent depending on the water in your area). As with any household appliance which gets regular use, it is also recommended that you get a service every 1-3 years. It’s worth remembering that the savings you can make on your bills will more than outweigh the running costs of a water softener.
Even the best equipment needs occasional servicing to keep operating at its best, and we offer the on-going support by a team of expert engineers to ensure water softener systems stay reliable and helping home and business customers deal with breakdowns fast. Many customers prefer to get their water softener serviced every year but it's normally fine to have them serviced every 2-3 years (providing you are seeing no issues with the water softener's performance. Our full water softener service includes a full check on the system and costs £114 (including VAT). We can also offer a Health Check or Repair service. More details on all of these can be found here.
As mentioned above, depending on your household requirements, the average family will only need to spend around £5 per month on the salt for their water softener. We are proud to be the cheapest online salt delivery service across Kent and stock a variety of salt including both Kinetico and Harvey tablet salt as well as different sizes bags of tablet salt. You can order online or over the phone - just pay a visit to our salt shop for more details.
The great news is that with softened water comes some great savings on your household bills. The average household in a hard water area will gain at least 1.5mm of scale building within its internal plumbing over a year. As scale is an insulator, the heat of your system will be transferred less effectively. This means that a greater amount of energy is required. A build up of just 1.5mm is enough to reduce your heating efficiency by at least 12%. Boilers can be expensive to replace. It’s worth noting that in addition to saving energy, softened water is expected to preserve your boiler’s lifespan to the standard 15 years.
In addition to this, you will also save money on your cleaning products and toiletries after having a water softener installed. The minerals in hard water means that it does not combine well with soap and does not create a proper lather. Whether you are cleaning yourself, your home or your clothes, this leads to you having to waste more and more detergent just to get a decent result. With soft water not only do you need to use a fraction of the amount but cleaning will be more effective. Due to the drying qualities of hard water you will also need to use more creams to moisturise. The limescale that builds up on surfaces and within appliances will also all need their own specialist cleaners. With soft water, this is not necessary.
These savings can add up to around £600 per year for the average household. Certainly something not to be sniffed at!
If you would like any further information on water softener running costs or would like to book a home survey, please get in touch!
