[FCS]

Hi,

I've been given an under-sink water softener unit, it's fully automatic, just need to keep it topped up with salt and it regenerates itself etc.. I thought I might use it to take the load off my 40" RO.  I've just got two questions, I don't know if anyone has experience in these things?

1.  I intend to fit it straight out of the mains, just before the booster pump. It'll be used ONLY for the RO, not the house water, but will I lose pressure by using the softener, thus making the RO work harder, thus negating any possible benefits?

2.  It says in the instructions not to use washing machine hoses to connect it up as it will 'contaminate the water'. Is this true? Or is it true only for the house supply? Stainless steel braided hoses are recommended, but they cost loads, and I already HAVE washing machine hoses that would fit..

Do any of you guys use these kind of machines for softening or do you use proper gear like purefreedom sells?

thanks in advance..

[FCS]

bump??

[FCS]

bumpety bump?

[Window Washers]

it shouldnot lose pressure as the system, you have and the pressure you have will be set from the mains. unless you have a load of leaks

imo softners just waste time and do very little to help a membrane (my opinion only, which I guess sellers hate) I have one I dont use it because it is a pain in the bum recharging it, and does very little anyway, over time it costed me more in time and messing about, it got ditched, I got sold on this idea, my idea to them was better and worked, but oh well we live and learn.

I used standard hoses for this as long as they are clean it will make no difference, who ever said it would are talking out of thier (it is late saturday night, I will be nice in my reply) they are talking out of thier backsides.

you welcome to call me tomorrow some time if you want a chat, my number is on my website on the home page 

Ian

[traps7]

I use a fully automatic one also Jason. Just for the RO at the moment. It's in the garage with my static. I don't use the automatic facility though. I manually regenerate before every 1000 litres (full ibc container) I make of pure.

I just use washing machine hoses. Metal braided hoses have a rubber hose inside anyway else they'd leak.

But I've been wondering lately if I'm loosing pressure. Was gonna look into it tomorrow funnily enough. I have a pressure restrictor gauge before the softener thats up to max and is reading about 4 bar. My 2 pre filter gauges which are after the softener but before and after the carbon and sediment 10" housings both read only 2 bar. I was gonna look tomorrow to make sure the washing machine isolator valves that attach the water softener hoses dont have check valves because I once had a faulty one on a washing machine. The machine used to take ages to fill.

[FCS]

hey thanks for getting on here you two, I know it's an old question but I'm still thinking about hooking it up and having trouble getting the concept of how it works in my head..

I'm torn, I don't mind a bit of extra hassle if it's going to make a proper difference to the longevity of my 40/40, but if the difference is negligible then maybe it's not worth it.. 

The reason I asked about pressure was cos I've just re-done all the pipework on the ro/di etc, it was a bit of a hotch potch of different sized tubing but I've standardized it all to 10mm John Guest plastic piping and EE BY GUM it's making water a LOT faster now. On examining the softener tubing however, it's considerably smaller, so I was wondering if this would restrict the flow, lowering pressure when it hits the RO.. I've got a couple of inline pressure gauges, I guess I should just experiment and see if it makes a difference.. It's cold in the garage though, more inclined when it's warmer!!

AND, I wondered if the cost of the salt negates any saving when it comes to the membrane.. 

so many questions..

[traps7]

I've never used without so can't tell you the difference with regard to protecting the membrane. I Gaps Water recommend a softener though. Try it. It's only connected with a couple of washing machine isolators. You should arrange a bypass in the pipework just before incase you get a problem with the softener or decide not to use it so you can still use your RO. I can post a pic if you want.

Like I say, I'm gonna experiment myself because of the pressure but I think my problem might be I don't have enough waste on the pure/waste ratio.

Also with regards to the size tubing, I know pressure and flow rate are actually different but I've never been quite able to get my head round it. Need to look it up.

You'll just have to experiment.

[Window Washers]

the smaller tubing does restrict the flow on one of my 4040s I have an ro man one that has all smaller tubing and is slow producing.
compared to the other 4040 that has standard garden hose and produces a lot quicker.

as soon as I have some time, I am going to change the lot to the stanard garden hose.

[FCS]

I've never used without so can't tell you the difference with regard to protecting the membrane. I Gaps Water recommend a softener though. Try it. It's only connected with a couple of washing machine isolators. You should arrange a bypass in the pipework just before incase you get a problem with the softener or decide not to use it so you can still use your RO. I can post a pic if you want.

Like I say, I'm gonna experiment myself because of the pressure but I think my problem might be I don't have enough waste on the pure/waste ratio.

Also with regards to the size tubing, I know pressure and flow rate are actually different but I've never been quite able to get my head round it. Need to look it up.

You'll just have to experiment.

Yep, I'm all for experimentin', but more so in summer!

If you could post a pic of your setup that'd be great, thanks! I've tried to understand the whole flow rate/pressure thing before, a couple more times and I'll get it!! D'oh!

[traps7]

[FCS]

aww good man, thanks for that!