ARE YOU A SOFTY? (Kinetico Water Softeners)

Member Name: harmonyk

Product:	Kinetico Water Softeners
Date:	30/05/01 (19288 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: soft water (if you're lucky), save money on soap etc, good if you have skin problems

Disadvantages: might not work!, you must buy salt blocks/tablets, need servicing every 2 years

About five years ago a leaflet dropped through my letterbox. it was from a company named Kinetico. They urged me to get rid of two nasty little characters called Scum & Scale. Telling me that with their, non electic, water softener all my hard water problems would be a thing of the past. I could look forward to a life of luxurious, soft water. This meant savings on shampoo, washing detergent and soap etc. It would also lengthen the life of my washing machine hot water tank and kettle - in fact anything affected by limescale.

The biggest attraction was that Kinetico were offering a months FREE trial. I need pay no money for one month and if not satisfied the water softener would be removed at no cost to myself. How could I resist. I live in a very hard water area and having visited areas that have naturally soft water felt it would be worth the money (if it worked).

After being visited by their rep. I agreed to have the softener installed on trial.

The plumber arrived on time and set about installing the unit. He had to divert some pipes from my downstairs toilet through the kitchen to my cupboard under the sink. This involved taking up the floor ( and presumably a great deal of expense). There was a small American style 'faucet' placed alongside the sink to give me the option of hard water for drinking and plants etc. When he finished the plumber gave me a few test tablets and explained it the water went red - the water was hard. I was to test at given intervals.

I was also given 4 blocks of salt with instructions on refilling the unit when required. I was well please! I couldn't wait to have my first lovely bubbly bath and start noticing the difference. After the first few days I did not worry that it was still the same as before - hard. After a week I began to think something was wrong. When the month had gone by and after testing with the tablets, I telephoned Kinetico and told them the water w
as still hard. They sent the plumber around, he made a few adjustments, left me some more salt and tablets and assured me all would be soft soon and I could have another free month.

One (more)month and nothing but scale and scum later I wrote to Kinetico and told them to come and take away the unit. It was a complete waste of space. They were very good about it. No pressure, the plumber (who was freelance) took the unit out, left the faucet and said it was probably something to do with my plumbing!

I was very disappointed - I really was prepared to pay around £1,000 for this unit if it worked (the idea being it would pay for itself in savings on detergents etc.)

I have since been working for an independent water softening firm as a secretary and the Kinetico - although available through them is not one they recommend. I'm sure there will be people out there who have had successful units of this make - but it didn't work for me. so now I'm stil lumbered with hard water and elbow grease (for rubbing the scale of the shower door!)

I would suggest that people who are thinking about getting a water softener go to an independent agent, they have more choice. Look in the yellow pages or go on the recommendation of friends who might have one.

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