Monarch Water Softener - £240 service?

[adrian_ros]

Hi all,

Just in case you know a cheaper alternative to servicing a Monarch Ultra HE Smart Water Softener.

That's £240! More than a quarter of the softener price (was about £800 in Dec 2023)!? Another possibility is a plan at £17.49 per month.

The bypass valve is leaking now - that has only 1 year warranty though and it's £40. 1year only for the valve?

I'm not very happy with this Monarch softener - after a while a deposit started forming again on a kettle.
What water softeners are good and good value for money?

Any recommendation, tips and advice, please let know, much appreciated.

Many thanks.

PS FYI - It may help others - Made a note for myself next time I buy such thing - get it installed by someone from the manufacturer. Bough this one from Buyaparcel, then found myself an installer (+£400) who was good plumber but not experienced with water softeners.

 

[JohnD]

I live in a hard-water area, and use a local company that sells, installs and maintains softeners, and also assembles and sells their own brand.

Since there is only one working part in a softener (the metering and valve assembly) and they use the Fleck one, assembly and repair is pretty simple for them. The synthetic resin grains are available by the kg from chemical suppliers. The Fleck units are easily recognised once you've seen one. They are used throughout the world. I believe there is a factory in Italy and another in USA.

They also supply and deliver salt.

To anyone thinking of buying a softener, I recommend asking local companies "do you repair water softeners?"

Unless the answer is "yes," try another.

Some will only repair softeners they supplied.

Some companies employ salesmen who visit your home and work on commission. Their wages and company car come out of the price you pay.

Softeners sold by DIY sheds may be cheap but not much good.

I find the seals wear out, and they strip down and replace. They may renew other parts once it is dismantled.