| Buying a water softener is one of those household | | | | usually average around $5 a bag in my area) and it |
| purchases you'd rather not make. Mostly because | | | | would cost us only $20 a year or less to maintain the |
| you spend so much money on something that you | | | | system. Definitely a bargain. |
| can't really enjoy like you would a TV or couch. But | | | | You may be like I was, wondering if a water |
| there are ways to buy water softeners without | | | | softener was really necessary? |
| spending a small fortune. Here's how we did it. | | | | If you have noticed spotty dishes, soap scum, soap |
| We had the usual home visit from the water | | | | left over in the washer and stiffer clothes then you |
| treatment company (you know, sign up to win a car | | | | probably have hard water. There is also a noticeable |
| and you get harassed by them to do an in home | | | | taste difference between hard and soft water. |
| demonstration that shows you how awful your | | | | Having soft water will allow you to use less soap in |
| water is). After he showed us how hard our water | | | | the dishwasher and washing machine and use fewer |
| was we decided it was time to investigate water | | | | cleaning supplies getting rid of the hard water stains |
| softeners, but not at his prices. Sheesh. It was over | | | | thereby offsetting some of the cost of the unit |
| $1000 plus regular visits for salt, etc. Surely there's a | | | | itself. |
| better way. | | | | Hard water has a higher mineral content, usually of |
| So we went to Sears and looked at their units. We | | | | calcium and magnesium. The home water inspector |
| looked at Menard's. Home Depot. Everywhere we | | | | will give you a number to measure how hard your |
| could imagine in the home improvement world that | | | | water is based on the mineral content in grains per |
| would give us price, size and feature comparisons. | | | | gallon. Water softeners can be installed by your |
| We ended up spending about $400 on a unit that | | | | handyman husband or you can hire a plumber to do |
| would handle water for 4 people and we could get | | | | it. We did our own install and it wasn't hard. |
| our salt at Sam's Club for about $3 a bag (they | | | | |