If you are interested in having a water softener installed in your home we always recommend having a home survey in order to be able to quote for the best softener for your property and your requirements. There are several important factors to be considered when we undertake a home survey. Here's a little more information on what these are and what you may expect from your water softener home survey.

Fact finding

It is is important for us to determine the facts when quoting for a water softener so that we are able to recommend the best machine for you. The number of occupants and bathrooms can make a real difference in which machine you should have installed as when more water is used, a larger water softener is necessary. As water softeners can also vary in price, we can work to whatever your budget is. As you can see from our previous blog, there is a water softener for all budgets. It's also good to know what the actual hardness of your water is. We can test your water using a special kit and show you what your water hardness rating actually is. Along with this, there are several other things that we may ask you, such as:

• Have you had a water softener before? If you are already aware of the benefits and how they function we won't bore you with what you already know!
• Do you drink bottled water? Our drinking water filters can help save you money and reduce your plastic waste.
• Drinking softened water? We are often asked if this is safe. The short answer is yes and you can find out more here...
• Do you know the difference between a water softener and a water filter? It's easy to get the two confused but they both have very different functions. 

The home survey

Once we have determined all the facts we can really get down to the nitty gritty of finding your perfect softener. The first port of all is to find out where your mains stop cock is (normally under the kitchen sink) and to find out if this is where you want your water softener installed or if it needs to go elsewhere. The potential location of your water softener will also need to be measured so we know what is likely to fit. It's worth bearing in mind that extra space is needed for ventilation and a waste pipe and that you will need access in order to keep it topped up with salt. You may think that you don't have the space but our expert engineers always find a way! The location also needs to be suitable for drainage and overflow pipes to be put in place. The size of your pipework will also determine the installation kit that we need to use so that we come prepared on the day. Finally, if you are wanting an electric water softener we obviously need to find out if electrics are available or if we would need to have these put in by an electrician first.

Types of water softener 

Once we know the all of the above, it's time to look at your options:

• Metered water softener versus timed water softeners - how these make a difference when it comes to efficiency and cost.
• Single tank designs versus duplex tank designs - do you know about these and if not, what difference do they make?
• Electric water softeners versus non-electric water softeners - which is better for you?
• Water softener salt - convenience versus cost.

You may also have an idea on the brand that you would like to go for. Now is the time to let us know! As an indepedant company, we are authorised dealers for the 3 main brands - Harvey, Kinetico and Ecowater - so can offer you a full range to choose from.

Drinking water

The final piece of the puzzle is to work out which drinking water system is best for you. Whilst it is perfectly safe to drink softened water, plumbing guidelines say that there should always be an unsoftened source of water for drinking. We offer a mini tap with a carbon block filter as standard, the price of which is included in our installation charge (unlike other companies!). Should you decide to go for a sleeker design by way of a three way tap or the better filtration offered by a Reverse Osmosis system, we can help you find the best solution to your needs.

Finally, if you are ever confused about what part of your household should be serviced by softened or filtered water, we have a handy way to put it:

• Down the drain = water softener
• Down your neck = water filter
• Out the garden tap = leave it!

Remember, if you are not available for a home visit we can still undertake a home survey via video call. We are also able to quote online if you send us a picture of where your mains water comes in. Contact us to make arrangements for your quotation by giving us a call or by completing our contact form at the top of the page.