Are water conditioners any good

[moskaski]

Hi, i live in an area with very hard water, and thinking about getting an electronic water conditioner. So im just wondering if anyone has experience in using one and if they are any good?

This is a link to the Scalewatcher, one of the devices im thinking about.

http://www.scalewatcher.co.uk

Any input would be appriciated. TIA

[alavahalf]

Some years ago I approached scale watcher for the exact same reason .... they wanted £350 as I had a three bedroom house, anyhow I didnt take up their offer initially.
But a couple of months later they came back to me and said they had a special deal ,and could now do my house for £200 ... this offer was also ignored.
Soom after they phoned me and said they had fitters working in my area in 2 days time and could do an install for £100 ... I also ignored this and have not heard from them since.
It's a straight forward con...

These electronic devices do work you can buy and do it yourself for less than £50.

[buildersmate]

These devices change the shape of the hard water molecules in some way such that they are less likely to stick to the showerheads etc. They do not soften water, if that is what you have been told.
I concur with the last line of the above reply.

[woofgang]

we've got the other kind of softener, the kind you put salt in and its FAB skin and hair nicer, towels softer etcet. What the electronic ones do is change temporary hardness (the kind that will boil out in your kettle) to permanent hardness. The soap will still be scummy and the water will still be hard but it won't crust up your kettle or pipes....can't see the point myself, having lived with naturally permanently hard water, the towels still come out crunchy and my skin still itched.
http://oz.craftbrewer...r/WaterHardness.shtml

[moskaski]

Thanks for the answers, I might look into the other kind of softener then.

[jomifl]

Hard water is good for you, its full of lovely calcium and promotes strong teeth and bones. It also make tea taste nicer.