How do I know if my water softener is working?

[zeroseven]

I paid over a grand for a waterside mc250 as I live in a hard water area.

An endless list of plumbing and heating problems has now culminated in the latest plumber surmising that the poxy softener isn't working, probably never has

Is there a test I can do?

 

[Bahco]

I would phone the manufacturer for advice

 

[Timmyturtle]

Obtain a water hardness testing kit from your local plumbers merchant.
Test the water after the softener,ie the hot outlet.
Its easy to do.
If it isnt working then it probably will not use any salt

 

[Timmyturtle]

The MC 250 came with a testing kit in a small white box with light blue writing,just in case its been "stored" in the garage/shed

 

[JohnD]

The testing tablets are easy.
Once you've got used to softened water, you'll know at once if it stops working

- the soap doesn't work right
- the teacups get stained and dont wash clean easily with a wipe
- your razor feels blunt-
- your wife has dull, lifeless and scratchy hair
- when you wash your towels, they feel hard.

 

[zeroseven]

12 tablets added and still no blue water

Cost me £1100 fitted 7 years ago and its never worked. Just spent £1800 on new heating / water tank. Thanks Waterside MC250. Avoid

 

[JohnD]

7 years ago and its never worked.

So the best time to complain would have been...

 

[zeroseven]

So the best time to complain would have been...

Well until the central heating packed up I had no idea it wasn't working.......

The guy that fitted it didn't know it wasn't working. The guy who came out from the manufacturer to fix the low salt alarm didn't spot it wasn't working. How was I to know it wasn't working?

 

[Bahco]

Cost me £1100 fitted 7 years ago and its never worked.

How can you say it has never worked

May have just packed up

Suggest you speak to the manufacturer and kick up a fuss if you believe the water has never changed since fitting.

I'm sure they would be sympathetic

 

[zeroseven]

Cost me £1100 fitted 7 years ago and its never worked.

How can you say it has never worked

May have just packed up

Suggest you speak to the manufacturer and kick up a fuss if you believe the water has never changed since fitting.

I'm sure they would be sympathetic

The plumbers who assessed the heating / hot water system said they didn't think it had ever worked judging by the state of the Boilermate 2 which has had to be replaced even though only 7 years old.

Apparently if it had worked we would have noticed a difference in the water, primarily trying to get the soap off when washing. Its never been any different.

I have spoken to the manufacturer, they're sending somebody out - 4th May earliest. £75 for first 15 minutes then £12 per 5 minutes thereafter.

No sympathy whatsoever for the fact it may alwayts have been faulty, even though it was fitted by their recommended company (Renelec) and checked by a technician within warranty period

 

[Timmyturtle]

I would just get a new softener.
That will be £100 at least to tell you its faulty
My Mc250 worked for 4 years and then just kept going wrong
In the end a part snapped off the head somehow.
I have fitted quite a few of them and lots seem to go wrong for no reason.
Not going to fit another
Just replaced mine with a Monarch Midi..just hope its better
Water softeners usually need the resin recharging at 10 yrs anyway .

How can they justify that sort of price?

Thats £183 per hour !!!

Would be happy for that per day

 

[Softus]

No sympathy whatsoever for the fact it may alwayts have been faulty, even though it was fitted by their recommended company (Renelec) and checked by a technician within warranty period

Well I don't have much sympathy with you, because you spent "over a grand" on something that you never verified was working, therefore it never had any value to you, therefore you have far more money than sense.

Either:

1. It has never worked, and you're blaming all and sundry for not telling you;

or (and much more plausibly)

2. It used to work, then stopped, but you failed to notice and do anything about it.

FFS.

 

[Bahco]

£75 for first 15 minutes then £12 per 5 minutes thereafter.

Tell them to go and **** themselves

Blatant ripp off Do they think their machines are essential life saving equipment

Bite the bullet and remove to the dump and fit a scale reducer for a fraction of the cost.

 

[breezer]

i have sympathy with the maker (SORRY BUT I DO) damn caps lock

it must have exceeded any waranty and now after 7 years owner is complaining its never worked, may not have been plumbed in right / acording to instructuions, but thats not makers fault.

although i do feel £144 / hour is not right (too much)

 

[zeroseven]

i have sympathy with the maker (SORRY BUT I DO) damn caps lock

it must have exceeded any warranty and now after 7 years owner is complaining its never worked, may not have been plumbed in right / acording to instructuions, but thats not makers fault.

although i do feel £144 / hour is not right (too much)

I'm not asking for anything from the manufacturer. I called and asked if there was some way I could check if it was working as I'd been advised it has probably never worked. They offered to send an engineer at some extortionate rate to sort it. I've asked them for nothing. Happy? No course I'm not but I'm not bleating to them about it after 7 years. Not being a plumber or a water expert I took it on good faith that having paid a shed load of money to have something installed it would work. Its not like a tele where you can see if its faulty is it?

As for scale reducer, there has been one fitted from when the house was built. Its so good we decided to spend the money having the softener put in.

Waters tough in South Bucks