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Water Softening - Frequently Asked Questions

The following are some of the questions that are most often asked about having a water softener or water filter.  If you have more questions or would like a fuller explanation, please call us.

Is it safe to drink softened water?

Yes - unless you are a baby (see next question) or on a low-sodium diet.

Essentially softened water is hard water minus the calcium and magnesium and plus some sodium.  All water has some sodium in it.  Softened water has a little bit extra, but still less than in milk.  So it is quite safe unless you have been specifically advised by your doctor to restrict your sodium intake.

However, hard water is good to drink because it contains calcium and magnesium, which are important parts of our diet.  Indeed it is these hard water minerals that give bottled water the name mineral water.  So KindWater installs a separate hard water drinking tap with every water softener.  Given the choice, most people use softened water for hot drinks (no scum on their tea) and hard water for cold drinks.

Is softened water dangerous for bottled milk for babies?

Yes.  Young babies can only cope with the correct level of sodium in bottled milk.  Infant formula milk already includes this level of sodium.  So softened water in bottled milk could cause a problem and should always be avoided.

KindWater always install a hard water drinking tap and this is the water that you should use for preparing bottled milk in the normal way. 

Why would I want a drinking water filter?

Compared with much of the world, UK water is of a very high quality.  However many people choose to improve their drinking water in two ways:

  1. The taste and odour of water for cold drinks, for example by removing chlorine.
  2. The hardness of water for hot drinks, to prevent the formation of scum.

This is why bottled water and jug filters are so popular.  But bottled water is expensive, heavy to carry home and not suitable for hot drinks.  While jug filters can be inconvenient, running out at the wrong moment or cluttering up kitchen surfaces.

By plumbing a water filter into a separate drinking water tap, you have a cheap, clean and refreshing supply of drinking water whenever you want it and without any clutter.  And because KindWater will post you an easy to fit replacement cartridge every 12 months, you won’t have to remember to change cartridges.

KindWater’s most popular filter is the Taste and Odour.  For more information please navigate to the filters section of this site using the menu at the top of this page.

Where do you install the water softener?

A water softener needs to attach to the rising water main where it enters the property, in order to soften the whole of your home's water supply (apart from the hard water drinking tap).  It needs drainage for the waste brine and for the overflow pipe.  And you will need to be able to reach it comfortably to refill it from time to time with salt.  Preferably it will also be reasonably accessible to your kitchen sink for the hard water drinking tap.

Most homes have a single rising main entering under the kitchen sink.  This is an ideal location for the water softener, tucked away in an unpopular cupboard with drainage.  Or you may prefer your water softener to go into the dead space in a corner unit.

However older homes in particular may have awkwardly located rising mains.  A few even have more than one rising main.  If KindWater is undertaking the installation, we will do our best to keep the cost to a minimum and will advise you of the maximum cost before you commit yourself.

Can I install the water softener myself?

Not if you are renting the water softener.  If you are buying it outright, you are welcome to install it yourself.

Along with the water softener, KindWater will supply a guide to installation.  We will also sell you an installation kit with drinking water tap or you can choose your own materials from a plumbers' merchant.  The rest is up to you.

How big are the bags of salt?

Block salt for the Kinetico water softeners comes in 8kg packs.  Bags of granular and tablet salt come in two sizes - 25kg or 10kg with a carry handle.

How much salt will I need?

The amount of salt that you will need depends on how much water you use and how hard that water is.  You will be advised of your likely requirement before the water softener is installed and this will affect your rental price.  You will probably need between 1 bag every 10 days and 1 bag every 10 weeks, with a typical household requiring 1 bag every 3 weeks.

Depending on usage, salt will be delivered in quantities of 15-25 bags typically every 6-12 months.  This will fill about the space of a kitchen cupboard, although most people store their salt in a garage or shed.

Does softened water feel slippery?

If you are used to washing in hard water, soft water certainly feels different.  Soft water doesn't dry your skin out and it is the natural oils in your skin that give it a more slippery feel - a bit like rubbing in some moisturizer or not quite washing off all the soap.

This 'silky' feel is one of the things that most people love about soft water.  But a few people who have always lived with hard water find it more difficult to adapt.  With a KindWater water softener you have the option to blend a small amount of hard water (about 10-20%) back in with the soft water.  This gives you the benefits of softened water without the silky (or slippery) feel - which should ensure that everyone is happy.

What happens if the water softener goes wrong?

A water softener that isn't working (or runs out of salt) just doesn't soften yourwater.  So there is nothing to worry about.

In the unlikely event of your water softener leaking or interfering in any way with your water supply, you can isolate it in under a minute, with no tools, no mess and no interruption to your water supply.

KindWater will repair or replace the water softener, with no charge if you are renting.  Customers who buy their water softener receive an excellent warranty, which can be extended to a full 10-year parts and labour warranty with the TrulySoft Care Package. 

Do I really need a water softener?

No, it is quite possible to get by without one.  You just pay for it in lots of other ways.  Like scrubbing the scale off the toilet; washing in scummy water; replacing the boiler; and buying moisturizing soap and extra hair conditioner to make you look and feel better.

The Royal Household has enjoyed the benefits of ion-exchange water softeners for 100 years.  The good news is that now the rest of us can afford one.