Joeboo
Molten Core Raider
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That's crazy cheap. I live in one of the cheaper areas of the country and my water bill is still $20-30 a month(maybe a max of $50 if I water the yard a ton in mid-summer)
Home Improvement
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lurker
Vyemm Raider
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I get two water bills. City water is about $8.50/month. That's for bathing, cooking, laundry, etc. Then I pay $200 a year for all the water I can waste from the irrigation folks. That's strictly for gardening but it's unmetered and comes in a totally different pipe. It could be less, but they charge by lot size.
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I dont see this at all. Paid $550 for the last one 4-5 yrs ago. New ones 9 yr are $650ish at home cheapo.
Noodleface
A Mod Real Quick
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We've had a heat wave lately and these mitsubishi ductless units are so awesome. Was really worried our electric bill would skyrocket this summer but seeing the bill being $100 with these things going 24/7 all summer is absolutely awesome.
They aren't worth an ass's shit to heat our house in the winter, but as far as I'm concerned they're paying for themselves as AC units.
They aren't worth an ass's shit to heat our house in the winter, but as far as I'm concerned they're paying for themselves as AC units.
Caliane
Avatar of War Slayer
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yeah, I was really confused on that post. I replaced mine last winter/fall iirc.
maybe what he defines "quality"? don't remember how much I spent. quick look at lowes.com and see similar one for $589.
(30 gallon propane Whirlpool) I dont think I spent that much.
At the time I went looking and was considering tankless. Internet opinions didn't really seem to suggest they are worth the price. Much much higher up front costs, would need to run for like 20+ years to justify the price.
Well water here. Not a fan of it.
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I'm a huge fan of our well water. It is tough for me to drink city water now.
Our hot water heater is banging and bumping and I'm thinking it might need replacing very soon. I'm considering the tankless because of the number of people in the house - we have to spread out showers currently in order to all have hot water. Also, we have a big jet tub and the current water heater doesn't fill it. I have all water to the second floor (where all showers/baths are) routed in a way that I could isolate it and put the tankless on only that, and have a half or quarter sized one for the main floor, enough for sinks and diswasher and clothes washer. Not sure if there is a benefit to that, but some have suggested it.
In any case, I'm almost certainly going tankless within the next year. I don't know if I'm going gas or electric. I have some research to do.
Palum
what Suineg set it to
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Any opinions on water softeners? All the 'big time' places like Costco, Ameriflow, etc. have given me quotes for 3K+ saying about how it's so great doesn't need maintenance blah blah, 5 year warranty, etc. None of them seem to have a real reason to say why I shouldn't get a cheaper GE unit for $300... I could replace it every 6 months and still be ahead. I guess I don't see the big deal in going through an extra 20 lbs of salt a month because of a less efficient timed or metered recharge cycle, it's what like $2 in salt?
Borzak
Bronze Baron of the Realm
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I looked in January '14 and looked in 3 different states and I had a hard time finding some in stock and prices were outrages I thought. Everyone had the same deal, new regulations required that went into effect that month. Maybe they have had time to catch up or they rescended the regulation. Who knows. I wound up giving them X amount of money on the house so I didn't have to buy one.
Borzak
Bronze Baron of the Realm
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Here in the hill country of TX they are huge. You never see a house advertised for sale without one and they take up about 20% of radio advertising.
The only one I have dealt with was on a well pump system and I really don't know how much it was, rolled into a new well and pump. It used 50lb sacks of salt, a couple of sacks would last a month or so.
Everywhere I have lived they had a minimum amount for a bill monthly on water. It was like $17/month even if you had your water off all month. I normally was below the minimum so my water bill was the same all the time. Of course I live alone, no kids, no wife, no women for the most part etc...
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How big a deal is a water softener? Never had one until a bought my place a couple years ago. Made the shower water feel slimey and it took forever to rinse off soap and shampoo. So I tried lowering the amount of salt and ended up breaking it(unscrewed a screw in the dial and now it won't screw back in...). Am I dooming my water-based appliances to an early death?
iannis
Musty Nester
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I guess it sort of depends on exactly how bad your water is locally.
There's no problem at all around where I live. I know a few people that have them, but I swear it's more of a vanity than anything. I've got a well and a washing machine that's almost as old as I am, no softener, and no troubles. Most water that I cook with is boiled at some point. It's never been murky although it has sometimes had a faintly metallic taste to it. But not always, and that might have been some plumbing that I replaced anyway.
But this is in the southeast. I wouldn't think it would be any sort of problem in the SE or NW.
There's no problem at all around where I live. I know a few people that have them, but I swear it's more of a vanity than anything. I've got a well and a washing machine that's almost as old as I am, no softener, and no troubles. Most water that I cook with is boiled at some point. It's never been murky although it has sometimes had a faintly metallic taste to it. But not always, and that might have been some plumbing that I replaced anyway.
But this is in the southeast. I wouldn't think it would be any sort of problem in the SE or NW.
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You can have your water tested. Not sure how expensive it is, but people with wells do it all the time so they dont end up drinking toxic shit.
opiate82
Bronze Squire
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You should be able to find a local water report from your public utility district (or equivalent). If you need to get it tested, wardlab.com does fairly inexpensive water testing.
No need for a water softener if you already have soft water. I'm not sure if typically put in a softener before or after the hot water heater, but overly soft water can be just as damaging to a water heater as hard water.
No need for a water softener if you already have soft water. I'm not sure if typically put in a softener before or after the hot water heater, but overly soft water can be just as damaging to a water heater as hard water.
Caliane
Avatar of War Slayer
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yeah, if soap is not working, etc. then its likely you have hard water. thats a big part of why you want a water softener. iron deposits in pipes, and phosphorous based soaps.
grew up on city water. no cavaties till 35 and moved into this house with well water, and water softener. The water softener does not work. granted, that may have been related to the water pump dying. and me not knowing the water pump was the problem. I should try turning the water softener back on.
water pressure is an issue. like, trying use water the garden "after" the water filter. no pressure. Sprinklers dont work. but if I hook it up in the basement directly out of the pump, tons of pressure. I may have to redo the plumbing at some point. so outdoor faucets are feed before the filter, and the filter only does the interior.
grew up on city water. no cavaties till 35 and moved into this house with well water, and water softener. The water softener does not work. granted, that may have been related to the water pump dying. and me not knowing the water pump was the problem. I should try turning the water softener back on.
water pressure is an issue. like, trying use water the garden "after" the water filter. no pressure. Sprinklers dont work. but if I hook it up in the basement directly out of the pump, tons of pressure. I may have to redo the plumbing at some point. so outdoor faucets are feed before the filter, and the filter only does the interior.