Dear Jim: The water in our area has about 4 grains of hardness per
gallon. Would it be wise economically for us to add a water softener? What are the best types of water softeners and features to look for? — Sandy R.
Dear Sandy: According to the Water Quality Association (WQA), your water is considered to be in the hard range. The WQA estimates that about 85 percent of the homes in the United States experience some type of hard-water-related comfort, health or economic problems that adding a water softener would alleviate.
Some of the obvious problems that you probably suffer from are hard-water deposits, damage to faucet valves (leaking faucets), dry and irritated skin and hair, lack of sudsing when washing, ring in the bathtub, etc.
Other less obvious costly problems of hard water are decreased clothing life. The calcium hardness in the water grinds away at the clothes' fibers and makes them look dull. Hard water deposits inside the water heater insulate heating surfaces from the water, which push up your utility bills.
The annual cost to operate an ion exchange water softener is $50 to $75 for a typical family. This includes the cost for salt and extra water that it uses during regeneration. Some models use no electricity, but even the most convenient electronic models use only a negligible amount of electricity.
An ion exchange water softener actually does remove the mineral ions that cause the water to be hard as compared to the simple snap-on magnetic devices that are heavily advertised. Harmless soluble sodium ions replace the calcium, and magnesium ions in the hard water to make it soft.
Don't run out and buy the cheapest water softener on sale because there are significant differences among them. Models with demand-initiated regeneration cycles are most convenient and have the lowest operating costs.
These can be mechanical or electronic. The installer measures the hardness of your water. Based on the water hardness, he presets the control to regenerate only after a certain number of gallons has been softened. Less-expensive models with just timers regenerate whether it is needed or not.
During regeneration, often timed for 1 a.m., the water at your faucet will not be softened. If you prefer continuous softened water, choose a two-tank option. For watering lawns or washing cars, choose a model with a bypass valve.
Write for — or instantly download from (www.dulley.com)— Update Bulletin No. 653, buyer's guide of 10 efficient water softeners listing types of controls, softening capacities, cycle times, features, prices, sizing and water hardness charts. Please include $3 and a business-sized self-addressed, stamped envelope. The address: James Dulley, Deseret News, 6906 Royalgreen Drive. Cincinnati, OH 45244.
Dear Jim: I am planning to build a new, efficient house. I am leaning toward 2-by-6 studded walls, but my father insists that 2-by-4walls are more economical. Which is the best wall construction to use? — Carl P.
Dear Carl: The cost to build a house with 2-by-6 walls will be more than using 2 by 4's, but probably not as much as your father thinks. Most codes allow 2 by 6's to be spaced 24 inches apart instead of 16-inch spacing for 2 by 4's.
In all but the mildest climates, an insulated 2-by-6 wall will save much energy as compared to a 2-by-4 wall. Over years, the utility bills savings will more than offset the higher initial material costs.