Electronic Water Softners... Any good?

[tan8856]

Hi

A plumber has recommended we get an electronic water softner. Are they really any good? We used to have one of those little £15 ones attached to a pipe and it seemed like a complete waste of space/money. He says there are now new ones designed to effect the whole house. Is it worth getting one? Which brand would you recommend? He said there was one called a cracker (? i think)

I guess one good thing would be that it would work on the drinking water supply (which salt ones arnt supposed to be rigged up to do) so the kettle wouldnt get scaled-up.

Do they work on the whole house and do they get rid of already existing limescale (eg in our HWC).

Thanks

 

[Elkato531]

These things are not water softeners as such but scale reducers.

A water softener removes dissolved calcium and magnesium from the water and replaces them with sodium ions which don't form an insoluble scale or scum with soap. This is why you don't want them on your drinking supply.

Scale reducers alter the properties of the ions in some way so that the scale, when it forms, does not stick to the internals of heat exchangers etc.

In answer to your question. Yes they do work at protecting equipment but will not give you the full benefits of softened water.