🚀 go-pugleaf

ION wrote:
> 
> I'm afraid to ask this, but i live in austin and I too bought into a rainsoft
> deal that I'm now second guessing bc of the price.
> 
> I already knew I needed one because of our extremely hard water (could feel it
> in my hair, etc), but I was looking at the Kinetico's at first.
> 
> See what you think:
> We're getting the Amazon-Q system (computerized version), what they said was 8
> yrs of soap, plus an RO unit, 350lbs of salt, two extra water spouts on each
> side of the house that bypassing the softener plus an extra connection beside
> the sink for the RO unit.  All of this installed for $5500.
> 
> After reading these newsgroups AFTERWARDS, it looks like I was screwed.  But
> maybe that's on par for Rainsoft???  They have to dig quite a bit and go under
> two sidewalks... if that makes a difference.

In Austin, you don't dig; you blast <g>.  But I don't understand what
all that excavation is for.  Your house is built on a concrete slab with
no basement, right?  How much of the plumbing is under the slab and how
much is in the attic?

I have a Sear's water softener that I bought for about $430 dollars and
installed it myself. It does a good job on water that's about as hard as
yours.  I upgraded the cold water pipes from 1/2" to 3/4" while I was at
it.  One of these days I'll upgrade the hot pipes up to the point where
there's a long run to the kitchen and washing machine.  This was all
exposed plumbing in the unfinished half of the basement.  You probably
don't have that option.

A really simplistic installation would be to only soften the hot water
supply line, and then turn down your water heater so you don't mix as
much cold water when you shower.  You could get by with a lot smaller
softener that way, and would not have to do *any* digging.  Just a
thought.

Best regards,
Bob