OT: Ask EU - water softeners

Post by BrritSki
Anyone got one and have any recommendations please ?
Very hard water in Bedford - we used to have one of those magnetic coil
things when we lived here before, but I'm not sure it worked or that
there's any scientific evidence for them being efficacious. I think
medicinal compound [1] would be better.
[1] i.e. salt based system. What happened to permutit ? asked the
hairdresser when she spilt ammonium thioglycolate down her front.

Yes, I've got a minimax softener which seems to work well and just needs
feeding with salt blocks, every few weeks.

<https://www.minimax.co.uk/water-softeners/the-minimax-m2-water-softener/>

It was here when I bought the house, so I don't know how expensive it
was and nor did I do any research into them to know whether this was the
best choice.

One thing you need to think about is whether you will want to still have
a hard water tap. I've heard very mixed views about how healthy it is
to drink softened water. I do drink it quite happily but I know a lot
of people won't because of concerns about salt levels.

--
Best wishes, Serena
Exercise is bunk. If you are healthy you don't need it. If you are
sick, you shouldn't take it. (Henry Ford)

Penny

2019-01-18 12:24:01 UTC

On Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:35:47 +0000, Serena Blanchflower

Post by Serena Blanchflower
One thing you need to think about is whether you will want to still have
a hard water tap. I've heard very mixed views about how healthy it is
to drink softened water. I do drink it quite happily but I know a lot
of people won't because of concerns about salt levels.

I live in an area classified as 'soft' although it isn't soft like the
water I've used in the Highlands and Islands where it's difficult to use
the correct minuscule amount of soap. Having previously lived 'on the
chalk' all my life, the symptoms of calcium deficiency - which had been
getting worse in Kent before I moved, possibly because I was using a filter
jug - have definitely got worse. So there are downsides to chalk-free
water.

That said, an alternative to softening the water with salt is to filter it.
A Kent friend has a filter system (no idea how much it cost to install, or
the on-costs) in the house and does have a separate non-filtered tap in the
kitchen too.

--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

Mike

2019-01-18 12:40:00 UTC

Post by Penny
On Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:35:47 +0000, Serena Blanchflower

I live in an area classified as 'soft' although it isn't soft like the
water I've used in the Highlands and Islands where it's difficult to use
the correct minuscule amount of soap. Having previously lived 'on the
chalk' all my life, the symptoms of calcium deficiency - which had been
getting worse in Kent before I moved, possibly because I was using a filter
jug - have definitely got worse. So there are downsides to chalk-free
water.
That said, an alternative to softening the water with salt is to filter it.
A Kent friend has a filter system (no idea how much it cost to install, or
the on-costs) in the house and does have a separate non-filtered tap in the
kitchen too.

Our kitchen cold tap, along with the supply to the toilet cistern and the
supply to the garden tap are not softened; we do however, have a filter
system on the American style fridge/freezer.

--
Toodle Pip

DavidK

2019-01-18 13:41:11 UTC

Post by Mike

Post by Penny
On Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:35:47 +0000, Serena Blanchflower

I live in an area classified as 'soft' although it isn't soft like the
water I've used in the Highlands and Islands where it's difficult to use
the correct minuscule amount of soap. Having previously lived 'on the
chalk' all my life, the symptoms of calcium deficiency - which had been
getting worse in Kent before I moved, possibly because I was using a filter
jug - have definitely got worse. So there are downsides to chalk-free
water.
That said, an alternative to softening the water with salt is to filter it.
A Kent friend has a filter system (no idea how much it cost to install, or
the on-costs) in the house and does have a separate non-filtered tap in the
kitchen too.

Our kitchen cold tap, along with the supply to the toilet cistern and the
supply to the garden tap are not softened; we do however, have a filter
system on the American style fridge/freezer.

We had a salt-exchange water softener in Wolverhampton 40 years ago.
Every couple of weeks we had to flush out the softener with salt. We
also had a separate tap of hard water in the kitchen for making tea.

Serena Blanchflower

2019-01-18 13:43:27 UTC

Post by Mike

Post by Penny
On Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:35:47 +0000, Serena Blanchflower

I live in an area classified as 'soft' although it isn't soft like the
water I've used in the Highlands and Islands where it's difficult to use
the correct minuscule amount of soap. Having previously lived 'on the
chalk' all my life, the symptoms of calcium deficiency - which had been
getting worse in Kent before I moved, possibly because I was using a filter
jug - have definitely got worse. So there are downsides to chalk-free
water.
That said, an alternative to softening the water with salt is to filter it.
A Kent friend has a filter system (no idea how much it cost to install, or
the on-costs) in the house and does have a separate non-filtered tap in the
kitchen too.

Our kitchen cold tap, along with the supply to the toilet cistern and the
supply to the garden tap are not softened; we do however, have a filter
system on the American style fridge/freezer.

That's the kind of set up I'd have liked to have here. Unfortunately,
the water softener is in a cupboard next to the front door, where the
water supply enters the house, while the kitchen is at the back of the
house. This meant that I'd have had to take all the floors, and
carpets, up upstairs to run hard water pipes to the kitchen and outside
taps, which would have made the whole thing prohibitively expensive.

Instead, I've just got the cold water tap in the downstairs shower room,
just next to the cupboard with the water softener, converted to a hard
water tap. I mainly use it for the cats' water bowl, given how prone
cats are to kidney problems.

--
Best wishes, Serena
Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

Fenny

2019-01-18 18:15:38 UTC

On Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:35:47 +0000, Serena Blanchflower

I just use a filter jug. But then, there's only me and I don't
actually boil much water, so filtering it to save the kettle element
or for cooking/drinking is fairly quick. In the summer, I fill the
jug and leave it in the fridge. At this time of year, it's just out
next to the sink.

--
Fenny

LFS

2019-01-20 06:38:22 UTC

Post by Penny
On Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:35:47 +0000, Serena Blanchflower

Same here. We've been doing this ever since such jugs first came on the
market in the 1970s because Oxford water is heavily chlorinated and
tastes vile.

--
Laura (emulate St George for email)

Clive Arthur

2019-01-21 12:27:56 UTC

Post by Penny
On Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:35:47 +0000, Serena Blanchflower

Same here. We've been doing this ever since such jugs first came on the
market in the 1970s because Oxford water is heavily chlorinated and
tastes vile.

The chlorine you can smell isn't in the water, of course, and it much
prefers to be in air.

So try just putting water in a jug without a filter and leaving it to stand.

Cheers

--
Clive

LFS

2019-01-21 15:13:17 UTC

Post by Clive Arthur

Post by Penny
On Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:35:47 +0000, Serena Blanchflower

Same here. We've been doing this ever since such jugs first came on
the market in the 1970s because Oxford water is heavily chlorinated
and tastes vile.

The chlorine you can smell isn't in the water, of course, and it much
prefers to be in air.
So try just putting water in a jug without a filter and leaving it to stand.

Oh, I used to do that before the filter jugs. The tea still tasted
disgusting, I think there are other chemicals added too.

At one time if you ran the cold tap the chlorine made your eyes sting as
if you'd been in the swimming pool. When the children lived at home I
also bought bottled water but now I only buy the fizzy sort. In glass
bottles.

I really like visiting places where the tap water tastes like water should.

--
Laura (emulate St George for email)

Penny

2019-01-21 15:26:01 UTC

On Mon, 21 Jan 2019 15:13:17 +0000, LFS <***@gmail.com>
scrawled in the dust...

Post by Clive Arthur
The chlorine you can smell isn't in the water, of course, and it much
prefers to be in air.
So try just putting water in a jug without a filter and leaving it to stand.

Oh, I used to do that before the filter jugs. The tea still tasted
disgusting, I think there are other chemicals added too.
At one time if you ran the cold tap the chlorine made your eyes sting as
if you'd been in the swimming pool. When the children lived at home I
also bought bottled water but now I only buy the fizzy sort. In glass
bottles.
I really like visiting places where the tap water tastes like water should.

When I first bought this place we were living in a rental property with
water supply from a bore hole which I had no problem adjusting to. The
mains water in this house tasted awful as far as I was concerned, though I
didn't mind the tea.

After a few months of living here I'd got used to it and now find the water
in Kent tastes strange although Sheffield water is ok.

--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

LFS

2019-01-21 15:44:26 UTC

Post by Penny
scrawled in the dust...

Post by Clive Arthur
The chlorine you can smell isn't in the water, of course, and it much
prefers to be in air.
So try just putting water in a jug without a filter and leaving it to stand.

Oh, I used to do that before the filter jugs. The tea still tasted
disgusting, I think there are other chemicals added too.
At one time if you ran the cold tap the chlorine made your eyes sting as
if you'd been in the swimming pool. When the children lived at home I
also bought bottled water but now I only buy the fizzy sort. In glass
bottles.
I really like visiting places where the tap water tastes like water should.

When I first bought this place we were living in a rental property with
water supply from a bore hole which I had no problem adjusting to. The
mains water in this house tasted awful as far as I was concerned, though I
didn't mind the tea.
After a few months of living here I'd got used to it and now find the water
in Kent tastes strange although Sheffield water is ok.

We moved from Oxford to Sheffield in the 1960s. Sheffield water was
delicious. Sadly, there wasn't much else about Sheffield that Mum and I
liked, although Dad enjoyed his job there. I went off to university in
Manchester where the water was not quite as nice but everything else was
great.

--
Laura (emulate St George for email)

Fenny

2019-01-21 18:44:29 UTC

Post by LFS
We moved from Oxford to Sheffield in the 1960s. Sheffield water was
delicious. Sadly, there wasn't much else about Sheffield that Mum and I
liked, although Dad enjoyed his job there. I went off to university in
Manchester where the water was not quite as nice but everything else was
great.

I'd move back to Sheffield in a heartbeat if I could get a) a job and
b) a house.

--
Fenny

Mike

2019-01-18 12:05:38 UTC

We have used water softeners for nearly forty years; we knew the chief
engineer on the Queen Mary boaty thing for many years and he always tested
the softness of the water they were about to take on board for the boilers.
He had a scale he used on which the water they took on in New York measured
0.5 - on this same scale, the water in Reading measured 22; Jim referred to
this as ‘Liquid Bricks’.

We started with one of these in-line (or in-pipe) devices and, like you, am
not sure if it was as efficacious as Lily the Pink’s treatments. Next we
had a mains electricity driven clock governed device that cycled the salt
de-ionisation process at night - and that certainly did work. Upon moving
to this house, we had a new softener that gauged usage and thus
regeneration needs, based on the flow which operated a meter. A few years
back, this device stopped being so efficient and was replaced with the
latest model from the same manufacturer, it is an M2 Minimax. Cost is north
of a thousand squids but it certainly works well, without fuss or noise and
has two receptacles for the salt blocks. Having said all that; we are
currently suffering hard water due to the base of the receptacles ‘caking
up’ and preventing the blocks from dropping into the brine well. Every
couple of years I find there is a need to remove salt blocks and using a
flat wooden spatula, de-crust the sides of the salt receptacles so the
blocks can sink down unimpeded as required. I forgot this infrequent task
so it will take about a week for our usual softness to manifest itself
again.

--
Toodle Pip

Chris J Dixon

2019-01-19 09:57:45 UTC

Post by Mike
Every
couple of years I find there is a need to remove salt blocks and using a
flat wooden spatula, de-crust the sides of the salt receptacles so the
blocks can sink down unimpeded as required. I forgot this infrequent task
so it will take about a week for our usual softness to manifest itself
again.

I find that Stickies

https://www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/stickies/

is a great way to manage both to-do lists and generate reminders
that can be configured to pop up at a specified interval.

Chris

--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham
'48/33 M B+ G++ A L(-) I S-- CH0(--)(p) Ar- T+ H0 ?Q
***@cdixon.me.uk
Plant amazing Acers.

Mike

2019-01-19 11:05:50 UTC

I find that Stickies
https://www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/stickies/
is a great way to manage both to-do lists and generate reminders
that can be configured to pop up at a specified interval.
Chris

I have ‘stickies’ on my iMac; must write myself a sticky to set it up;-)

--
Toodle Pip

Penny

2019-01-19 14:06:05 UTC

On Sat, 19 Jan 2019 11:05:50 GMT, Mike <***@ntlworld.com> scrawled
in the dust...

I find that Stickies
https://www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/stickies/
is a great way to manage both to-do lists and generate reminders
that can be configured to pop up at a specified interval.
Chris

I have stickies on my iMac; must write myself a sticky to set it up;-)

I use Google Calendar, it emails reminders to me :)
I did set one as an alarm on my Fitbit but it seems to reduce battery life
by about a day :(

--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

Fenny

2019-01-19 21:22:15 UTC

Post by Penny
I use Google Calendar, it emails reminders to me :)

MTAAW. Everything from haircuts to alternate Monday training session
to monthly meter readings

For things I definitely need to remember in advance, I set several
reminders in the few days before.

--
Fenny

Sam Plusnet

2019-01-19 20:31:03 UTC

Post by Mike

I find that Stickies
https://www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/stickies/
is a great way to manage both to-do lists and generate reminders
that can be configured to pop up at a specified interval.
Chris

I have ‘stickies’ on my iMac; must write myself a sticky to set it up;-)

Those yellow post-It notes have fallen by the wayside, since there 'ere
modern monitors don't have a big enough surround to stick the things on
without obscuring most of the screen.

(This monitor has a bezel about 2mm wide.)

--
Sam Plusnet

LFS

2019-01-20 06:44:31 UTC

Post by Sam Plusnet

I find that Stickies
https://www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/stickies/
is a great way to manage both to-do lists and generate reminders
that can be configured to pop up at a specified interval.
Chris

I have ‘stickies’ on my iMac; must write myself a sticky to set it up;-)

There's lots of room to stick them round my Mac screen, I use them
constantly. I'm not keen on electronic reminders and, although I've
abandoned my filofax since I retired, I print out my Google calendar.

--
Laura (emulate St George for email)

Jenny M Benson

2019-01-20 09:43:04 UTC

Post by LFS
There's lots of room to stick them round my Mac screen, I use them
constantly. I'm not keen on electronic reminders and, although I've
abandoned my filofax since I retired, I print out my Google calendar.

I was mighty impressed with moddun tech knowledgey the other day when I
went online to book an appointment at SpecSavers. The offered me a
choice of days/times, I chose one that suited and accepted the offer to
have the appointment added to my Google Calendar. Now, if only the GP's
surgery would come into the 21st century!

--
Jenny M Benson
http://jennygenes.blogspot.co.uk/

Penny

2019-01-20 11:17:37 UTC

On Sun, 20 Jan 2019 09:43:04 +0000, Jenny M Benson <***@hotmail.co.uk>
scrawled in the dust...

My GP sends me a text reminder for some appointments, probably in a effort
to reduce no-shows which must be seriously annoying for them.

--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

Mike

2019-01-20 11:25:01 UTC

Post by Penny
scrawled in the dust...

My GP sends me a text reminder for some appointments, probably in a effort
to reduce no-shows which must be seriously annoying for them.

I had a text reminder this morning for my bp check with Nursey tomorrow
morning; some 20 minutes later, I had a text message to remind me I have an
appointment with Nursey... Better safe than forgetful I suppose - or as
the Irishman wearing two condoms claimed ‘To be sure to be sure’.

--
Toodle Pip

carolet

2019-01-21 16:22:16 UTC

Post by Penny
scrawled in the dust...

My GP sends me a text reminder for some appointments, probably in a effort
to reduce no-shows which must be seriously annoying for them.

My GP sends text reminders when I make an appointment. They sometimes
arrive before I have put the phone down, always before I have had chance
to forget that I have just made an appointment. I am not saying that
this is entirely useless, as it means that I can check what time was
agreed on, but I can't see how it would reduce no-shows.

My dentist sends a text on the working day before the appointment, that
seems about the best time if they are tring to make sure that people
turn up, it is not so far in advance that the patient has time to forget
again, and not so close to the appointment that any patient that might
have forgotten has no chance of either getting there or cancelling in
time for the appointment to be reassigned.

--
CaroleT

Penny

2019-01-21 18:00:35 UTC

On Mon, 21 Jan 2019 16:22:16 +0000, carolet <***@gmail.com>
scrawled in the dust...

Post by carolet

Post by Penny
My GP sends me a text reminder for some appointments, probably in a effort
to reduce no-shows which must be seriously annoying for them.

I agree but my GP does the same as your dentist.

Post by carolet
My dentist sends a text on the working day before the appointment, that
seems about the best time if they are tring to make sure that people
turn up, it is not so far in advance that the patient has time to forget
again, and not so close to the appointment that any patient that might
have forgotten has no chance of either getting there or cancelling in
time for the appointment to be reassigned.

--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

LFS

2019-01-20 12:31:58 UTC

I have just received an email from Patient Access telling me to log in
with a new ID. I'd forgotten that I had registered with them and I am
now delighted to find that I can order my repeat prescriptions on line
and see most of my medical records.

My GP is very happy to communicate with me by email as it saves him time
- he usually replies within a couple of hours. I just wish the ENT
consultant who looks after me could do the same. I can email the
secretary he shares with umpteen other consultants. She then prints out
the message and leaves it for him. He then dictates a reply which is
then sent to India to be typed. It is checked when it returns (no idea
who does this, the letters are normally signed in the consultant's
absence) and then put in the post to me. Takes weeks.

--
Laura (emulate St George for email)

Vicky Ayech

2019-01-20 18:02:02 UTC

Post by LFS
I have just received an email from Patient Access telling me to log in
with a new ID. I'd forgotten that I had registered with them and I am
now delighted to find that I can order my repeat prescriptions on line
and see most of my medical records.
My GP is very happy to communicate with me by email as it saves him time
- he usually replies within a couple of hours. I just wish the ENT
consultant who looks after me could do the same. I can email the
secretary he shares with umpteen other consultants. She then prints out
the message and leaves it for him. He then dictates a reply which is
then sent to India to be typed. It is checked when it returns (no idea
who does this, the letters are normally signed in the consultant's
absence) and then put in the post to me. Takes weeks.
--

I can re-order prescriptions and book and cancel appointments but not
email. I would really like to be able to.

Chris J Dixon

2019-01-21 12:04:48 UTC

Post by Vicky Ayech
I can re-order prescriptions and book and cancel appointments but not
email. I would really like to be able to.

Our appointments system is (though the menu gives no clue)
limited to doctors, you have to phone for the practice nurses.

Chris

--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham
'48/33 M B+ G++ A L(-) I S-- CH0(--)(p) Ar- T+ H0 ?Q
***@cdixon.me.uk
Plant amazing Acers.

Penny

2019-01-21 12:27:40 UTC

On Mon, 21 Jan 2019 12:04:48 +0000, Chris J Dixon <***@cdixon.me.uk>
scrawled in the dust...

Post by Vicky Ayech
I can re-order prescriptions and book and cancel appointments but not
email. I would really like to be able to.

Our appointments system is (though the menu gives no clue)
limited to doctors, you have to phone for the practice nurses.

Same here - I wish it wasn't.

--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

Vicky Ayech

2019-01-21 13:15:15 UTC

Post by Penny
scrawled in the dust...

Post by Vicky Ayech
I can re-order prescriptions and book and cancel appointments but not
email. I would really like to be able to.

Our appointments system is (though the menu gives no clue)
limited to doctors, you have to phone for the practice nurses.

Same here - I wish it wasn't.

YANAOU

BrritSki

2019-01-20 12:03:20 UTC

Post by Sam Plusnet

I find that Stickies
https://www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/stickies/
is a great way to manage both to-do lists and generate reminders
that can be configured to pop up at a specified interval.
Chris

I have ‘stickies’ on my iMac; must write myself a sticky to set it up;-)

That's know as a Je-bezel as it cuts down prophets.

steveski

2019-01-19 23:27:06 UTC

On Sat, 19 Jan 2019 11:05:50 +0000, Mike wrote:

[]

Post by Mike
I have ‘stickies’ on my iMac

I wash mine off.

--
Steveski

BrritSki

2019-01-20 12:04:13 UTC

Post by steveski
[]

Post by Mike
I have ‘stickies’ on my iMac

I wash mine off.

BTN :)

Sid Nuncius

2019-01-20 19:13:26 UTC

Post by steveski

Post by Mike
I have ‘stickies’ on my iMac

I wash mine off.

BTN :)

Borderline...but no. Funny, though.

--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)

J. P. Gilliver (John)

2019-01-19 14:51:25 UTC