I prefer the Hague Watermax over anything on the market. Kinetico is a good softener but won't compare to Hague. Don't pay more than 2,500.00. They all try to sell you for 4 or 5k. There are also descalers that are new to the market that were developed in Europe. They don't filter like Hague but there is no brine to deal with.

Most people do not realize the effects that water overall has on a softener. The resin is specifically produced for the removal of calcium and magnesium hardness ions which exchange with the sodium ions 2 to 1, hence the reason that the sodium level is so high. Regardless how hard or how much the softener is suppose to soften, there are other factors in the water that affect the resin therefore putting a strain or extra duty on the resin to perform its job. So, with that said, iron, sulfide, alkalinity can all affect the resin and deplete its ability over all to do the job. The water "conditioning" business is a real racket, granted a needed one but still a racket.

If you find a water professional to assess your water and what is actually in it and someone who can get the equipment without wanting to make 300 to 400% markup on the item then you can get a good deal for your money and know how to care for the system.--Just a thought here!

homerguy,

Since you didn't include the model of Kinetico or it's volume of resin for each tank nor the 40k softener you quote I can't check your math but I'll offer the following...

In order to make an accurate comparison you need to consider at what salt dose each softener is regenerating and what volume of resin is being regenerated?.

For example, 1 cubit foot of resin will soften:

20,000 grains with 6 lbs of salt
24,000 grains with 8 lbs of salt
27,000 grains with 10 lbs of salt
30,000 grains with 15 lbs of salt

Another consideration of efficiency is that a twin resin tank softener will regenerate very close to the complete exhaustion of the resin's hardness removal capability while a single resin tank softener will regenerate early and usually lose the calculated reserve that has been set aside which wastes salt and water and over time will add up.

Twin resin tank softeners make brine with softened water AND regenerate with softened water while some single resin tank softeners make brine with softened water but none that I know regenerate with softened water. Regenerating with soft water = longer resin life and reduces operating cost long term... efficiency related if you consider service life and repair cost.

FWIW,,,,

Two Kineticos at two different locations for 17 years (installed '92; twin-tank systems). Yes, I paid that "premium" price for both.

Trouble-free for the duration. Had both refurbished and resin changed a few years ago for a couple hundred each. Both still performing like new. IMHO, Kinetico has held up their end of the bargain. Also nice not to have any electrical connections. In my situations, getting electrical to the best location would have been a pain so that was part of my decision.

City water at both locations about 7 grains hard.

What unit did he recommend? Do you have iron? How many people are living there? There are so many factors to consider and water used in regenerating is rarely one the customer considers unless they are on city water. Is that the case here?

My calculations for the Kinetico that is properly set up would be 0.0324.... gallons. Not sure where you got your statistics (did the salesman give them to you?). The unit recommended was not what I would have recommemded for your water conditions.

But not to worry, the salt efficiency is even high than the water efficiency to the so-called "traditional systems".

Andy Christensen, CWS-II
justalurker drop me a line....

An ode to a churlish mhlurker, no doubt.

Seemed like someone was very curious for answers but decided not to continue.