Water hardness - water softener system (Houston, Sugar Land: appliances, house, to buy)

[ByWayofNYC]

Hello everyone,

I'm considering a new development and a line item option is pre-plumbing for a water softener system. I was wondering how the water hardness is in the area and how many home owners have (or don't have) a softener system.

Thanks in advance!

[mojo101]

I am outside Houston,in Richmond and back then the water is hard,so I have a water softener installed,I used potassium chloride instead of sodium and it works well,then a few years ago,we get water from Houston so I dont use it any more altho it is still hooked up with the main water faucet in the street.
I think Houston water is good enough,you dont need a water softener.
would like to hear what others have to say /
I prefer potassium over sodium,until I found out I was dozing off in doctor office at 11 am ,and always want to take a nap during the day which I never do,it turns out potassium is lowering my blood pressure

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by ByWayofNYC

Hello everyone,

I'm considering a new development and a line item option is pre-plumbing for a water softener system. I was wondering how the water hardness is in the area and how many home owners have (or don't have) a softener system.

Thanks in advance!

I would get the pre-plumbing done. It won't cost as much as having it done later.

Originally Posted by mojo101

I am outside Houston,in Richmond and back then the water is hard,so I have a water softener installed,I used potassium chloride instead of sodium and it works well,then a few years ago,we get water from Houston so I dont use it any more altho it is still hooked up with the main water faucet in the street.
I think Houston water is good enough,you dont need a water softener.
would like to hear what others have to say /
I prefer potassium over sodium,until I found out I was dozing off in doctor office at 11 am ,and always want to take a nap during the day which I never do,it turns out potassium is lowering my blood pressure

City of Houston water is pretty hard. We live inside the Loop, and installed a softener/filter, and it's been great. No lime deposits on the fixtures, the shower head cleaned itself up, etc.

[texas7]

I like it because it keeps all the hard water residue off everything.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

I would recommend getting the plumbing for a water softener. 'Much easier to do it 'now', than later. For a water softener, you also need a discharge into the sewer, so better get it done initially. Also, I am guessing they would automatically do this, but ask the builder if they run a separate supply for the garden hose spigots, if not, ask them to plumb it this way so you don't waste soft water on your lawns flower beds.

[ByWayofNYC]

Originally Posted by mojo101

I am outside Houston,in Richmond and back then the water is hard,so I have a water softener installed,I used potassium chloride instead of sodium and it works well,then a few years ago,we get water from Houston so I dont use it any more altho it is still hooked up with the main water faucet in the street.
I think Houston water is good enough,you dont need a water softener.
would like to hear what others have to say /
I prefer potassium over sodium,until I found out I was dozing off in doctor office at 11 am ,and always want to take a nap during the day which I never do,it turns out potassium is lowering my blood pressure

I'm actually looking in Sugar Land so I believe that's south of you. I guess I'll read up on softener options since I have very little knowledge on this (potassium vs sodium).

Thanks for the input

[Parnassia]

For a traditional water softener there isn't that much involved. Agree that it would most likely be simpler and less expensive to include it in the build initially rather than add it later. Take the option as a hint that you will probably want to soften the source water to prolong the life of your plumbing and appliances. Suggestion: find out what water source the development will use (municipal water? Well? Spring?) and ask that supplier about the mineral content/hardness.

[mojo101]

My installer wired it in such a way that it only soften water going to the kitchen sink and one bathtub.

[resonator]

My house is plumbed so there is soft water everywhere EXCEPT out door hose connections and kitchen sink cold side.


I live near the termination of the new softer well water pipeline on the N. Side of SA. So my water softener could be adjusted to run less often on its salt cycle.



But it is one of those highly complex Clack heads with all sorts of calculated nonsense and extensive options to work a standby softener and filters to figure out when to run. And of course the thick manual that came with it does not quite match the model I have.



I (unwisely) unplugged it during the long blackouts and power surges. The surges destroyed my cable tv box and one stereo receiver. Plugged it back in after putting in a new 2032 battery and it seems fine except the 100gal reserve trigger near the run limit has gone to zero.

[mojo101]

if you install a water softener,you have to buy those 40 gallons bags of sodium or potassium chloride,either one is perfect,potassium lowers my blood pressure which I dont need,and sodium is salt,we dont need that either.
I am in Richmond and we are getting Houston water now,I think it is pretty good,I dont see any calcium deposit on my kitchen cookware.