Softened Water FAQs
Below, you'll find a list of the most frequently asked questions.
To find a specific answer, enter one or two keywords in the search field above.
Most Popular
- What are the dimensions of the twin cylinder Harvey unit?
- Do your softeners require any servicing or maintainance?
- How much do your water softeners cost?
Benefits
- Is there a scientific basis behind the claims you make about the benefits of softened water?
- Why does the salt dissolve in the way it does?
- Do razor blades last longer with softened water?
- Can I use softened water in my swimming pool?
- How long does it take to remove the scale when you start using softened water?
- How much should I reduce the amount of cleaning products I use now that I've had a water softener fitted?
- Is a water softener a luxury item?
Drinking
- Can you drink softened water?
- Is there a legal requirement for a separate tap to provide un-softened water for drinking?
- How much sodium is in softened water?
- How much sodium is added to water during softening?
- Why is it considered that drinking softened water could be detrimental to health?
- How does the removal of hardness minerals from the water supply affect people?
- What is the sodium content of naturally soft water?
- Will the softened water taste salty?
- What does softened water taste like?
- How many people drink softened water?
- Does a water softener remove fluoride?
- Is salt bad for you?
- Can I have a tap supplying unsoftened water somewhere other than at the kitchen sink?
- Is softened water ok for pets to drink?
- How can I find out how much sodium will be in my water when softened?
- Why is a separate tap to provide un-softened water recommended?
- What do drinking water regulations state about softened water?
- Will drinking softened water deprive my family of essential minerals?
- Can I use softened water for mixing baby feeds if the sodium complies with the Water Regulations?
- Who recommends a separate tap to provide un-softened water for drinking?
- Is softened water suitable for drinking purposes?
The Softener
- Should the salt platform always be covered in water?
- Can I use a water softener with my boiler if it has an aluminium heat exchanger?
- What is the maximum daily capacity of a Harvey block salt softener?
- Why does it take 17 litres of water to regenerate an HV3 water softener?
- Does a water softener change the pH Balance of the water?
- How much salt will the softener use?
- Does salt soften the water?
- What do I do about servicing my water softener?
- Will a softener remove the greenish white deposit that forms around the valves on my radiator?
- Are there any downsides to water softeners?
- How do I bypass my block salt softener?
- How does the water softener draw the brine from the salt compartment into the cylinder to regenerate the resin?
- How long is the bed life of the resins?
- What is a softener's resin made of?
- Does the Harvey's Softener perform a 'backwash'
- I don't think my softener is functioning correctly. What should I do?
- How big is a Harvey's Water softener?
- Will your water softener work with a pressurised water system?
- Will your water softener work with a combi boiler?
- Can the brine in a softener become contaminated?
- What are the resin tanks made of?
- Does the block salt contain any impurities?
- Do Harvey Water Softeners need annual maintenance?
- What actually happens when you soften water by ion exchange?
Installation
- Can I take my water softener with me when I move?
- Can I use a water softener in conjunction with a stainless steel hot water cylinder?
- Can I use hard water for the garden when the outside tap is connected to the softened water?
- Can you use softened water in a dishwasher?
- Can you water the garden with softened water?
- Can brine from a water softener be put into a cesspit or septic tank?
- Does softened water affect an Ultra Violet water treatment system?
- Can I plumb the chilled water dispenser in the fridge on to softened water?
- Can a water softener be fitted with a fixed film sewage system (septic tank)?
- Can a Water Softener be installed before a distilled water system?
- Does the water softener affect the water pressure?
- Will installing a water softener affect my water rates?
- Can a water softener be installed in a first-floor flat?
Operational
- How much water flows through the softener in between regenerations?
- How do I fill in the 'water softeners' section of the Water Efficiency Calculator in the government's Code for Sustainable Homes?
- I have heard that softened water has an unnatural, slippery feeling. Is this true?
- Where does all the scale inside your pipes go after you fit a water softener?
- Is a water softener compatible with a biological waste tank?
Miscellaneous
- Do bacteria grow in a water softener?
- Is it safe to drink warm water from a tube if a drinking line has to pass through a boiler room?
- Can softened water be used in a hot tub / pool?
- Why is a Harvey water softener better than an alternative product?
- Can I use softened water in my aquarium?
- Does softening water cause any changes in pH?
- Does the water hardness change? Does the water quality vary from summer to winter? Why does my skin feel worse at some times of year compared to other times?
- My washing machine manufacturer (Miele) state that I cannot use softened water with their machine. Is this correct?
- What is hardness? Why do they express it as CaCO3? Why do they express it as ppm?
- Can I use softened water with my Quooker boiling water tap?
- What is an aquifer?
- Why don't Water Companies soften the water?
FAQ tips
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