| OnHonda11 |
Well summer is upon us. Those of you who have knowledge of water softeners and hard versus soft water .... I need you help.
I live in an area where we are on municipal well water. Ever house has a water softener because the water is so hard. The previous owner of my house had the cheapest water softener installed with no bypass program nor separate valves for the exterior taps to bypass the softener. I understand that washing your car with soft water is easier as the water does not spot.
My problem is with my lawn. In outlying areas (in the city), their grass is green but also on city water. In my area the lawns are struggling big time and I'm beginning to wonder if it's because most of us are using water our softeners. While I know that it isn't the greatest to use the soft water in the tank , that doesn't bother me.
The water that comes out of our sink taps tastes a little funny and I'm wondering if there are any by-products in post softener water that could be affecting the growth of my lawn ie. traces of salt. Does bringing in a plumber (as I don't do plumbing) to run a direct line to my outside taps make sense and will it solve the water/grass issues?
Thanks for you help |
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| sjlee |
quote:
Originally posted by OnHonda11
My problem is with my lawn. In outlying areas (in the city), their grass is green but also on city water. In my area the lawns are struggling big time and I'm beginning to wonder if it's because most of us are using water our softeners. While I know that it isn't the greatest to use the soft water in the tank , that doesn't bother me.
The water that comes out of our sink taps tastes a little funny and I'm wondering if there are any by-products in post softener water that could be affecting the growth of my lawn ie. traces of salt. Does bringing in a plumber (as I don't do plumbing) to run a direct line to my outside taps make sense and will it solve the water/grass issues?
Thanks for you help
If it's the softened water affecting your lawn, then you're also assuming that you neighbors are also watering their lawns with softened water. I would think that your setup is not the norm. I'm guessing that something else is affecting everyone's lawns.
That being said, it is not recommended to water your lawn with softened water due to the sodium content. If your softened water tastes funny to you, you might consider trying a different brand salt (Morton makes one to help with taste - yellow bag) or installing a filtering system with activated carbon filters.
I would definitely hire a plumber to fix it so that your softened water is only for the inside taps and laundry. You do not need it for the toilets or outdoor taps. It's a waste of money to have it the way you do as you'll go through salt faster as well as put more burden on your softener. In addition, the plumber should be able to check to make sure that your softener settings are correct.
I have a reverse osmosis filter system for our drinking water as well as a softener. The RO system filters everything out of the water... including any harmful bacteria. It's expensive, but I think good clean drinking water is worth it. |
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| A6Pilot |
OnHonda11-
Are you positive your water softener softens the entire household water supply? Almost universally, the softened water is supplied only to the hot water heater. Cold water (toilets, outside. etc) is not softened in this scenario. An exception to this scheme, might be delivering softened water to the cold side of the laundry circuit. Rarely is softened water delivered to every faucet. Just curious. |
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| jdeanski |
quote:
Originally posted by A6Pilot
OnHonda11-
Almost universally, the softened water is supplied only to the hot water heater. Cold water (toilets, outside. etc) is not softened in this scenario. An exception to this scheme, might be delivering softened water to the cold side of the laundry circuit. Rarely is softened water delivered to every faucet. Just curious.
Almost universally ???? I don't think so. Mine supplies the whole house and one outside faucet for car washing. |
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| dontnomuch007 |
| If you think the water softener is the problem (which I think is not) try turning off the unit for a few weeks and see if that helps your lawn. |
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| N_Jay |
Softened water has a high sodium content and is BAD for plats.
Get your outside hose bibs connected to non-softened water.
ALL other connections should be softened. (hot and cold)
Unless you want a non-softened outlet for indoor plant watering, etc.) |
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| krygny |
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay
Softened water has a high sodium content and is BAD for plats.
...
Ever hear of salt marsh? :D
Seriously though, if anything, most ornamental grasses like more basic soil, but even the least hearty of them should tolerate all but the out-of-balance ph water. I doubt the water ph is affecting the lawn. But the only way to be sure is to have an analysis done on both. |
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| sjlee |
quote:
Originally posted by krygny
Ever hear of salt marsh? :D
Seriously though, if anything, most ornamental grasses like more basic soil, but even the least hearty of them should tolerate all but the out-of-balance ph water. I doubt the water ph is affecting the lawn. But the only way to be sure is to have an analysis done on both.
I agree that it's not likely the water causing the lawn problems, but softened water is definitely not recommended for plants.
http://experts.about.com/q/House-Pl.../Soft-Water.htm
http://aginfo.psu.edu/psp/03psp/pr/03131_pr.html |
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| jay |
I've lived in my general neighborhood for 20 years now. For the first 12, I lived in an apartment (first thing built on this old meadow land) and the city water was hard. I move literally across the street and up the road less than 1/4 mile, and the same water from the same supplier was soft, with no treatment that I was aware of. That complex was built maybe 4 years later.
Here in my townhouse, less than a mile from those apartments, my water is soft and it's not treated. :confused: |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by krygny
Ever hear of salt marsh? :D
Seriously though, if anything, most ornamental grasses like more basic soil, but even the least hearty of them should tolerate all but the out-of-balance ph water. I doubt the water ph is affecting the lawn. But the only way to be sure is to have an analysis done on both.
OK, "Most Plants"
(Happy?) |
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| OnHonda11 |
quote:
Originally posted by sjlee
If it's the softened water affecting your lawn, then you're also assuming that you neighbors are also watering their lawns with softened water. I would think that your setup is not the norm. I'm guessing that something else is affecting everyone's lawns.
That being said, it is not recommended to water your lawn with softened water due to the sodium content. If your softened water tastes funny to you, you might consider trying a different brand salt (Morton makes one to help with taste - yellow bag) or installing a filtering system with activated carbon filters.
I would definitely hire a plumber to fix it so that your softened water is only for the inside taps and laundry. You do not need it for the toilets or outdoor taps. It's a waste of money to have it the way you do as you'll go through salt faster as well as put more burden on your softener. In addition, the plumber should be able to check to make sure that your softener settings are correct.
I have a reverse osmosis filter system for our drinking water as well as a softener. The RO system filters everything out of the water... including any harmful bacteria. It's expensive, but I think good clean drinking water is worth it.
That's the info I was looking for. The whole house is piped through the softener for sure. I will definately get a plumber in to direct the pipes accordingly.
Thanks EVERYONE for your help on this !!!! |
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| Sunday Rider |
We have a softener for all pipes except oustide hose bibs. We also added a washroom downstairs, and it is not softened water, you can see the minerals on the tiles and toilet. That is our indoor plant watering tap.
We had great grass in the spring, but the summer for the last few weeks has been hot and dry, so the grass looks terrible, even with the sprinkler system on 2x a week.
The previous owner in your house took a short cut! The previous owner of my place had a special run with hot and cold water near the garage so he can wash his car in the winter (too bad you have to drain it every time in the winter, not worth it). |
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