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Hard water - ferrybank

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  • 07-06-2011 2:18pm
    #1
    abouttobebanned
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,943 ✭✭✭


    Ok...I know I've mentioned this before but this is starting to irk me.

    Is there any other areas of the city using hard water? Our kettle is full of limescale....skin dry and tight after showers...we gotta buy calgon for the washing machine etc... It is supposed to taste better though


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    #2
    Joe Gt
    Registered Users Posts: 165 ✭✭Joe Gt


    seams to be a problem in south kilkenny too , just done a search on this recently as my parents house has the same problems

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aisling-Water-Systems/185230391511689


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    #3
    dayshah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,542 ✭✭✭dayshah


    I sort of enjoy picking the layer of calcium from my whistling kettle, and shaking the little bits from my iron :)

    My dishwasher is fvcked though, maybe that's why :confused:


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    #4
    wmpdd3
    Registered Users Posts: 9,624 ✭✭✭wmpdd3


    Sister complained to KK CC and the answer was, 'we have no money, read the letter we sent out'

    She filles 6 bottles from my supply twice a week. Her shower is dead again....


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    #5
    abouttobebanned
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,943 ✭✭✭abouttobebanned


    It actually broke my shower. KK bastards.


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    #6
    thomasm
    Registered Users Posts: 1,501 ✭✭✭thomasm


    Starting to really annoy me too. Bought a new kettle last week and already its destroyed. Really gets highlighted when you see the amount of crap in the bottom of the baby’s bottle. Our shower is now making a peculiar sound and it’s new enough also. Is this common with a hard water supply or do we now have a particularly 'hard' water source.



    One of the main reasons cited for the change in supply I understand was to ensure continuity of supply for residents in the Slievrue area who experienced outages during cold spells over the last few years. Surely hoisting a potential bill running into four figures on everyone for installing a water softener to stop your appliances and heating being ruined is not a equitable answer.


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    #7
    Stokolan
    Registered Users Posts: 1,808 ✭✭✭Stokolan


    I'm thinking of picking up a water softener from a crowd in Galway to put on the mains supply in. Tis a bit pricey but it should stop the lime scale build up so hopefully save a few appliances


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    #8
    Jambo
    Registered Users Posts: 986 ✭✭✭Jambo


    Im experiencing the same problems myself , I have already went through 2 kettles , and one shower !

    Anyone notice the amont of limescale in the bottom of a saucepan when boiling water for cooking ? Id honestly say in a regullar size pan there is approx 1/2 a teaspoon of scale once the water boils.

    I priced a metered (automatic) Culligan softner in Morris's Plumbing and it was €500 id like to hear if anyone else has gotten one and what there experience with them is like , they seem very simple to install for the average diy'er that has a basic knowledge of plumbing to install, it will sort our your showers washing machine etc , but it is not reccomended to supply your kitchen(mains) tap as the extra salt in the water can lead to health problems esp for the elderly and infants.

    As an alternative there are many magnet based systems that can supply the whole house but googling them puts a question over their actual effectivness!


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    #9
    Cabaal
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,465 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    calgon is a waste of time, best investment to make is a water softner
    Once installed it costs about 10e every 4-6 weeks for the salt. its the only job


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    #10
    banjacksed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 210 ✭✭banjacksed


    Does that mean that theres too much calcium in the water or what?


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    #11
    abouttobebanned
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,943 ✭✭✭abouttobebanned


    I don't like how they just changed the water supply. All they did was throw a flyer in the door. Maybe people wouldn't have here if they knew...(maybe)


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    #12
    Cabaal
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,465 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    banjacksed wrote: »
    Does that mean that theres too much calcium in the water or what?

    Yes, high percentage of calcium or lime (whichever way you want to refer to it).

    Its a big problem where I live hence the water softner, neighbour didn't get one and within 3 years of moving in to a new house he had to get a new shower yet I've had no problems with anything I have in the house


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    #13
    thomasm
    Registered Users Posts: 1,501 ✭✭✭thomasm


    There was a thread I can’t locate on boards someplace from a guy responding to queries like this a while back. Tried finding it with no luck. He really seemed to know his stuff and gave the pros and cons of all makes and types of systems. I remember for domestic use he recommend a specific method of doing this was certain components which came to about €1200. He kinda rubbished cheaper option as they would cost more in parts\maintenance over time


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    #14
    abouttobebanned
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,943 ✭✭✭abouttobebanned


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056256184

    Think that's the thread.

    I googled De-scaling a kettle. Some process involving vinegar...


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    #15
    ratedR
    Registered Users Posts: 334 ✭✭ratedR


    Same problems here. Kettle packed up within a few weeks of the change over. New one is already shagged. Shower head also got clogged up and had to be replaced. Can only imagine the damage it's doing to the washing machine although we are using calgon.

    And they soon expect us to pay water rates for this ? HA!! I'd sooner dig for water


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    #16
    ratedR
    Registered Users Posts: 334 ✭✭ratedR


    Same problems here. Kettle packed up within a few weeks of the change over. New one is already shagged. Shower head also got clogged up and had to be replaced. Can only imagine the damage it's doing to the washing machine although we are using calgon.

    And they soon expect us to pay water rates for this ? HA!! I'd sooner dig for water


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    #17
    Stokolan
    Registered Users Posts: 1,808 ✭✭✭Stokolan


    abouttobebanned wrote: »
    I googled De-scaling a kettle. Some process involving vinegar...

    Yeah Vinegar is the job. I used it on the kettle and shower heads already.


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    #18
    thomasm
    Registered Users Posts: 1,501 ✭✭✭thomasm


    Soaking the shower head in vinegar ever couple of weeks and this does the job. Not as effective on the kettle I find though.


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    #19
    Joey leBlanc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 182 ✭✭Joey leBlanc


    I heard the water softeners don't completely sort out the problem. Another side effect I've noticed with the hard water is extremely dry skin from showering in it culminating in rashes, break-out's etc. I attribute this to the water because about a year ago I stopped using the leisure centre/pool I had been using each day (showered there) & never had these sorta skin irritations.
    Even went to the doctor a few month backs. He said my skin was dry etc. Never made a connection to the hard water though. (He was pretty poor considering the cost of 50euro for 5mins of few words of explanation. I spoke more to him than he to me.. but that's a different problem entirely.) Either did I till the last few weeks till I heard about this "hard water" problem & began doing a bit of research on the net. Anyone else had these kind of problems??


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    #20
    Cabaal
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,465 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    I've lived in both very hard water areas and areas where the water has been fine and never had issues with dry skin I have to say, either I'm just used to it or my skin is able for it I guess.


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    #21
    KKCA
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭KKCA


    Hi All,

    I've been having problems too but over the weekend I fitted a Combimate...Its a filter system fitted to the mains water that extracts the lime from the water before it gets into the system.....after one day the results are noticeable! Before when I boiled the kettle and filled a glass the water was cloudy......when it went cool there was a lining of lime on the bottom...today the boiled water was crystal clear and no sediment when it cooled. WAY cheaper than a water softener at €195...my partner fitted it so no additional cost...phosphate balls come with it and only need to be changed yearly ideally but if the water is really badly effected may need to be done twice a year.......€55 for a replacement box of balls so cheaper than replacing the shower/washing machine/dishwasher etc etc etc !!!!


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    #22
    dayshah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,542 ✭✭✭dayshah


    Regarding kettles, why not just use a whistling kettle? I have one. The insides do get a coating of calcium, but its easy to take off the lid and give it a clean.

    Some of my pots have got some 'blotches' inside of calcium, despite washing them every time I use them. I suppose its the drying. However, another pot which I mainly use for boiling milk does not have this problem.

    Does milk have something which absorbs the calcium? It'd be fairly ironic if it did.


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    #23
    thomasm
    Registered Users Posts: 1,501 ✭✭✭thomasm


    KKCA wrote: »
    Hi All,

    I've been having problems too but over the weekend I fitted a Combimate...Its a filter system fitted to the mains water that extracts the lime from the water before it gets into the system.....after one day the results are noticeable! Before when I boiled the kettle and filled a glass the water was cloudy......when it went cool there was a lining of lime on the bottom...today the boiled water was crystal clear and no sediment when it cooled. WAY cheaper than a water softener at €195...my partner fitted it so no additional cost...phosphate balls come with it and only need to be changed yearly ideally but if the water is really badly effected may need to be done twice a year.......€55 for a replacement box of balls so cheaper than replacing the shower/washing machine/dishwasher etc etc etc !!!!

    Where did you get it


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    #24
    KKCA
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭KKCA


    PJ Mullanes Plumbing in Kilcohan.......on the left just before the dog track.


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    #25
    dayshah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,542 ✭✭✭dayshah


    Stokolan wrote: »
    Yeah Vinegar is the job. I used it on the kettle and shower heads already.

    Where would you get a big gallon bottle of vinegar? I think I've limescale clogging my pipes (30 year old building). A gallon of vinegar might do the trick (I reckon its more eco-friendly than some of the alternatives too).


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    #26
    wmpdd3
    Registered Users Posts: 9,624 ✭✭✭wmpdd3


    dayshah wrote: »
    Where would you get a big gallon bottle of vinegar? I think I've limescale clogging my pipes (30 year old building). A gallon of vinegar might do the trick (I reckon its more eco-friendly than some of the alternatives too).

    Cash and carry


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    #27
    dayshah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,542 ✭✭✭dayshah


    wmpdd3 wrote: »
    Cash and carry

    Don't I need a special card or something? Does Lidl or Aldi do it?


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    #28
    thomasm
    Registered Users Posts: 1,501 ✭✭✭thomasm


    Pump101 wrote: »
    Hi all, if any one is interested in more information on water softeners, my company is Aisling Water Systems based in Slieverue we specialise in water pumps and water treatment systems. Pleas PM me for more information. Regards Ian Murphy

    What do you think if the combimate mentioned above. What system would you recommend for a typical 3 bed semi and what are the costs both initial and ongoing. How long would the recommended system last. Thanks


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    #29
    Pump101
    Registered Users Posts: 63 ✭✭Pump101


    Hi Thomas i have sent you a private message regarding pricing and general information on our systems.


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    #30
    Pump101
    Registered Users Posts: 63 ✭✭Pump101


    Joey leBlanc wrote: »
    I heard the water softeners don't completely sort out the problem. Another side effect I've noticed with the hard water is extremely dry skin from showering in it culminating in rashes, break-out's etc. I attribute this to the water because about a year ago I stopped using the leisure centre/pool I had been using each day (showered there) & never had these sorta skin irritations.
    Even went to the doctor a few month backs. He said my skin was dry etc. Never made a connection to the hard water though. (He was pretty poor considering the cost of 50euro for 5mins of few words of explanation. I spoke more to him than he to me.. but that's a different problem entirely.) Either did I till the last few weeks till I heard about this "hard water" problem & began doing a bit of research on the net. Anyone else had these kind of problems??

    A water softener will 100% guaranteed sort out any problems associated with hard water.

    Why water is hard:
    All fresh water in the world origionally falls as rain, snow or sleet. Surface water is drawn upward by the sun forming clouds. Then nearly pure as it starts to fall, it collects impurities. As it seeps through soil and rock it gathers hardness,rust,acid and unpleasent tastes. Water hardness is caused primarily by limestone dissolved from the earth by rain water.

    Research and development have produced an appliance that removes hardness (dissloved rock) using ion exchange resin, which posess superior ability to attract and capture the dissolved hardness.

    How a softener basicly works:

    Water is passed through from the mains through a column of ion exchange resin. The beads of resin remove the hardness impurities and hold them. When the can hold no more they must be recharged,which is done by flushing with soduim brine solution.(Salt) This normally is done at night. The water softener is then ready to soften more water.

    Benifits:
    Save money on heating bills, appliance repairs, calgon tablets etc.

    Hard water irritates sensitive skin especially those with dry skin or eczema or psorasis.

    No more staining on cutelry, bathrooms, floors, tiles etc.(Leaves an unbelievable shine on cars etc)


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    #31
    CCMYPLAYMATE
    Registered Users Posts: 48 ✭CCMYPLAYMATE


    Has any one got a softener and found a difference with their cos I'm in bits with,, it's a nightmare


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