is water softener needed for aliana (Richmond, West: refrigerator, purchase, live in)

[Bentley2013]

Originally Posted by hulio82

followup question- we're planning on installing a water softener and RO filter (plan on using belsome). what are the ongoing maintenance costs- replacing the salt, the RO filters? just trying to get an idea of how much its going to cost every month.

Replacing salt is very cheap. You can buy a bag at Home Depot for about $4. A bag usually last about a month depending on the water usage. I usually load new salt every 6 weeks since I really don't use that much water.

RO filters (I didn't get one) but I think Jeff (w/Belsome) mentioned that it would have to be replace every 6 months and filters usually run between $50-100. Ask Jeff, the water softener guy.

It is worth it! I encourage you to get it. You will start noticing the difference when you shower, wash dishes (hand or dishwasher), specially when you do laundry.

[azinwood]

RO filter replacement kits can be bought online. Depending on how many stages you can prolly spend less than $100/year buying them online and then installing yourself. Takes 15 min.

As an example.
Amazon.com: 6 Stage Reverse Osmosis Filter Replacement Set with In-Line DI Filter (RFK-DRO6-DI...formerly ROFK7): Home Improvement

[ethanw]

I have this exact install from Aquatex. Rock solid for 3 years, no moving parts, 3 bags of salt a year, that's it. 10 years warranty which is important.

Originally Posted by NovieN

I just called Aquatex and you are right - Kinetico system is expensive indeed - entry level model is $2800 and middle of the line is $3600 (installation included). They said no need to pay $790 to have the house pre-lumbed as most of the houses they worked on don't have pre-lumbed.

[hulio82]

We're also planning on having a RO filter installed. Since we don't have a hole drilled for it, the Belsome guy said he's just going to replace the Air gap with the RO filter. Is that fine? I thought the Air Gap was needed to prevent dish washer back flow.

Any thoughts? Should we get another hole drilled? or is it fine to replace the Air Gap?

[ethanw]

Keep the air gap. Is there for a reason. And fire the installer right about now.

Originally Posted by hulio82

We're also planning on having a RO filter installed. Since we don't have a hole drilled for it, the Belsome guy said he's just going to replace the Air gap with the RO filter. Is that fine? I thought the Air Gap was needed to prevent dish washer back flow.

Any thoughts? Should we get another hole drilled? or is it fine to replace the Air Gap?

[drew2020]

Originally Posted by hulio82

We're also planning on having a RO filter installed. Since we don't have a hole drilled for it, the Belsome guy said he's just going to replace the Air gap with the RO filter. Is that fine? I thought the Air Gap was needed to prevent dish washer back flow.

Any thoughts? Should we get another hole drilled? or is it fine to replace the Air Gap?

I used Belsome several years back and a new hole was drilled for the RO, kept the air gap.

[hulio82]

Originally Posted by drew2020

I used Belsome several years back and a new hole was drilled for the RO, kept the air gap.

thanks Drew! Do you know if he installed an air gap faucet as well?

[richardhouston]

I moved in riverstone area last year. I got some hard water problem, especially on the glass shower door and around kitchen faucet. I had the fleck 7000 water softner installed by belsome 2 monthes ago. So far it is working good.

The builder left me a none-RO under sink filter, so the hole was there. I installed the RO myself.
First I bought the RO from Costco which comes with a fancy faucet. Then I found out it required a bigger hole, it cost a lot to enlarge the hole. So I returned it and bought an Ispring RO on amazon.

[dimplea]

Originally Posted by huma281

$1,400, stainless steel, fleck 7000, I think u used Belsome also?

hey how much did Belsome charged you for fleck 7000?

Dimple

[huma281]

Originally Posted by dimplea

hey how much did Belsome charged you for fleck 7000?

Dimple

Well, pricing depends on where you live and what work has to be done. I live close to his business and I already had a water loop installed on my home. All I can say is that he offers the best price out of the four companies I called. These companies wanted $2-4$k to install the same set up.