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Scottie99 · 23-05-2012, 13:50

Can anyone suggest or have experiences of companies who install these systems. How much did you pay, how much salt a year(cost) do you use a year? etc.
We are paying around €450 a year using these 19 gallon dispensers for drinking water.
Many Thanks

mcwhirter · 23-05-2012, 22:36

If you just want a drinking water system then i recommend the 5 stage reverse osmosis kit, costs about 150 euros and then about 40 a year for filter changes. easily installed diy.
Also there are new water softeners that dont need salt, just google and find them.

Skrynesaver · 25-05-2012, 13:05

Likewise interested in feedback/experiences people have had with local fitters. I've installed a power shower and I'd like to fit a water softening system before it gets encrusted in limescale.

donalg1 · 25-05-2012, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottie99

Can anyone suggest or have experiences of companies who install these systems. How much did you pay, how much salt a year(cost) do you use a year? etc.
We are paying around €450 a year using these 19 gallon dispensers for drinking water.
Many Thanks

Got one installed a few days ago and it cost €700 for everything.

endplate · 25-05-2012, 23:22

Www.water2buy.ie based in Galway do water softeners and reverse osmosis systems. I got the small metered water softener and reverse osmosis for €590. It was very easy to install the site even includes videos on how to install the kits.

mcwhirter · 29-05-2012, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by endplate

Www.water2buy.ie based in Galway do water softeners and reverse osmosis systems. I got the small metered water softener and reverse osmosis for €590. It was very easy to install the site even includes videos on how to install the kits.

How much does it cost to maintain the water softener?

RoverJames · 29-05-2012, 22:11

RO water tastes terrible.
If you are having no problems due to hard water on your appliances I reckon €450/year spend on drinking water is tolerable.

mcwhirter · 29-05-2012, 22:22

Reverse osmosis water in my area is far better that the regular tap water, also many of my friends have systems and they would never go back to regular tap water.
As long as it is serviced every 6 months you can't go wrong.

RoverJames · 29-05-2012, 23:09

I have no doubt it mightn't be as bad as the tap water

RO water isn't to the liking of many people's tastebuds as the minerals etc are removed, many drinks companies add little amounts of minerals back into water after it comes out of the RO process for this very reason. RO water tastes terrible as there's very little in it.

kormak · 30-05-2012, 11:01

hijacking thread somewhat...

But can anyone recommend me an installer for one of these systems?
You can PM me.
I may just need a UV lamp + filter but I'd prefer an expert opinion.

endplate · 01-06-2012, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcwhirter

How much does it cost to maintain the water softener?

A large bag of salt cost me €7.50 and after 3 months I have not used it up yet and I reckon there is about another month of salt left. House has two adults and one three year old so a lot of baths and showers etc. Am very happy with it. I also don't find any funny taste with the reverse osmosis filtered water.

mcwhirter · 04-06-2012, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by endplate

A large bag of salt cost me €7.50 and after 3 months I have not used it up yet and I reckon there is about another month of salt left. House has two adults and one three year old so a lot of baths and showers etc. Am very happy with it. I also don't find any funny taste with the reverse osmosis filtered water.

That seems quite reasonable. Are the salt bags the same as you put in the dishwasher reservoir every once in a while. Are they the ones you can buy in homebase and the like?

Yes, agree with reverse osmosis, its hard to go back to the chlorine infested tap water.

vibe666 · 04-06-2012, 22:19

I have a 7 stage RO system which i bought off ebay for €130 and i'd happily put it up against any bottled water you care to name for both taste and purity.

the last of the 7 stages is a re-mineralisation filter which puts back all the good stuff that gives you the desired flavour in the water.

the water is also as soft as it gets and as a result of using it, the inside of my kettle looks quite literally like it's brand new, despite having previously being covered in limescale from the crappy water we have in Dublin 15.

I used to live in Navan which is traditionally a hard water area, but when we moved to Clonsilla before xmas, it was at a whole new level and the tap water was barely drinkable and as well as stinking of chlorine, it was off colour and contained some sediment.

we had fingal co. co. out to do water tests, but they concluded that the water was within the EU guidelines and that was as far as they were willing to go, so I had to take matters into my own hands as the whole family were starting to get skin problems from showering and washing in the water and with a 9 month old baby, i had to do something about it and an RO filter system seemed to be the answer.

i managed to catch an ebay auction ending when it was really quiet and got the whole €260 thing for €130. it took less than a week to arrive and about an hour to install, even with my own very limited DIY experience.

I've since added a hydraulic pump (powered by the water pressure) to increase the output and i'm planning on adding a 2nd RO membrane and a bigger reservoir (16L, up from the 8L it was supplied with) to allow me to supply the whole house, rather than just our drinking, cooking and hand washing water, but I'm very happy with it so far and would highly recommend it to anyone who has problems with their water supply.

personally, it's worth it just to have clear ice cubes instead of cloudy ones.

endplate · 05-06-2012, 00:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcwhirter

Quote:

Originally Posted by endplate

A large bag of salt cost me €7.50 and after 3 months I have not used it up yet and I reckon there is about another month of salt left. House has two adults and one three year old so a lot of baths and showers etc. Am very happy with it. I also don't find any funny taste with the reverse osmosis filtered water.

That seems quite reasonable. Are the salt bags the same as you put in the dishwasher reservoir every once in a while. Are they the ones you can buy in homebase and the like?

Yes, agree with reverse osmosis, its hard to go back to the chlorine infested tap water.

They are 25kg bags in large 25mm chunks much bigger than the dishwasher salt

Scottie99 · 05-06-2012, 09:43

Update
I had visit from a lady selling the softener/osmosis system. She went through her selling routine but in reality I knew we need a system but it was down to the cost.

Tablets she said were anything from €6-10 per bag and would last 4-6 weeks.
Servicing (filter)would be €60 with her system and €90 another company.
The crunch...the cost €1600!!

I think around €1000 would be a fair price, I know there are cheaper system around but not all good. I've heard the Clack TC Softener system is supposedly a good option, so I will go for that.
I've found a Company to buy/fit the system for €970 I know my neighbour is interested, so I'll be looking for further discount if both of us go ahead with it.

As for my original post, I was using 19 litre container not 19 gallon

23-05-2012, 13:50	#1
Scottie99 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 516 Adverts \| Friends	Water Softning/Drinking system Can anyone suggest or have experiences of companies who install these systems. How much did you pay, how much salt a year(cost) do you use a year? etc. We are paying around €450 a year using these 19 gallon dispensers for drinking water. Many Thanks

05-06-2012, 09:43	#15
Scottie99 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 516 Adverts \| Friends	Update I had visit from a lady selling the softener/osmosis system. She went through her selling routine but in reality I knew we need a system but it was down to the cost. Tablets she said were anything from €6-10 per bag and would last 4-6 weeks. Servicing (filter)would be €60 with her system and €90 another company. The crunch...the cost €1600!! I think around €1000 would be a fair price, I know there are cheaper system around but not all good. I've heard the Clack TC Softener system is supposedly a good option, so I will go for that. I've found a Company to buy/fit the system for €970 I know my neighbour is interested, so I'll be looking for further discount if both of us go ahead with it. As for my original post, I was using 19 litre container not 19 gallon Last edited by Scottie99; 05-06-2012 at 21:21.

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23-05-2012, 22:36	#2
mcwhirter Closed Account Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,430 Adverts \| Friends	If you just want a drinking water system then i recommend the 5 stage reverse osmosis kit, costs about 150 euros and then about 40 a year for filter changes. easily installed diy. Also there are new water softeners that dont need salt, just google and find them.

25-05-2012, 13:05	#3
Skrynesaver Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Skryne Posts: 475 Adverts \| Friends	Likewise interested in feedback/experiences people have had with local fitters. I've installed a power shower and I'd like to fit a water softening system before it gets encrusted in limescale.

25-05-2012, 23:22	#5
endplate Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: At buynewspecs Posts: 981 Adverts \| Friends	Www.water2buy.ie based in Galway do water softeners and reverse osmosis systems. I got the small metered water softener and reverse osmosis for €590. It was very easy to install the site even includes videos on how to install the kits.

29-05-2012, 22:11	#7
RoverJames Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 23,199 Adverts \| Friends	RO water tastes terrible. If you are having no problems due to hard water on your appliances I reckon €450/year spend on drinking water is tolerable.

29-05-2012, 22:22	#8
mcwhirter Closed Account Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,430 Adverts \| Friends	Reverse osmosis water in my area is far better that the regular tap water, also many of my friends have systems and they would never go back to regular tap water. As long as it is serviced every 6 months you can't go wrong.

29-05-2012, 23:09	#9
RoverJames Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 23,199 Adverts \| Friends	I have no doubt it mightn't be as bad as the tap water RO water isn't to the liking of many people's tastebuds as the minerals etc are removed, many drinks companies add little amounts of minerals back into water after it comes out of the RO process for this very reason. RO water tastes terrible as there's very little in it.

30-05-2012, 11:01	#10
kormak Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 659 Adverts \| Friends	hijacking thread somewhat... But can anyone recommend me an installer for one of these systems? You can PM me. I may just need a UV lamp + filter but I'd prefer an expert opinion.

04-06-2012, 22:19	#13
vibe666 Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Clonsilla, Dublin 15 Posts: 10,985 Adverts \| Friends	I have a 7 stage RO system which i bought off ebay for €130 and i'd happily put it up against any bottled water you care to name for both taste and purity. the last of the 7 stages is a re-mineralisation filter which puts back all the good stuff that gives you the desired flavour in the water. the water is also as soft as it gets and as a result of using it, the inside of my kettle looks quite literally like it's brand new, despite having previously being covered in limescale from the crappy water we have in Dublin 15. I used to live in Navan which is traditionally a hard water area, but when we moved to Clonsilla before xmas, it was at a whole new level and the tap water was barely drinkable and as well as stinking of chlorine, it was off colour and contained some sediment. we had fingal co. co. out to do water tests, but they concluded that the water was within the EU guidelines and that was as far as they were willing to go, so I had to take matters into my own hands as the whole family were starting to get skin problems from showering and washing in the water and with a 9 month old baby, i had to do something about it and an RO filter system seemed to be the answer. i managed to catch an ebay auction ending when it was really quiet and got the whole €260 thing for €130. it took less than a week to arrive and about an hour to install, even with my own very limited DIY experience. I've since added a hydraulic pump (powered by the water pressure) to increase the output and i'm planning on adding a 2nd RO membrane and a bigger reservoir (16L, up from the 8L it was supplied with) to allow me to supply the whole house, rather than just our drinking, cooking and hand washing water, but I'm very happy with it so far and would highly recommend it to anyone who has problems with their water supply. personally, it's worth it just to have clear ice cubes instead of cloudy ones.