Complete Home Package installation
Our client in Headcorn near Ashford chose to have the Complete Home Package which included a Minimax Innova, Quooker Pro3 Tank with Fusion Round boiling water tap, plus we fitted a Surestop, the modern alternative to the brass stopcock. Lastly, we fitted a 12-month slimline drinking water filter, giving the customer the very best softened-filtered drinking water, often described as cool and refreshing.
The Minimax Innova is a smart solution to softened water
Here is a Minimax Innova, installed in a kitchen unit. You can see the bypass set accessibly placed to the right, with the pipework under the base of the unit so that there is plenty of space available for storage.
Replace your brass stop tap for an easy to use lever valve
It makes great sense to update your incoming water main brass stopcock to a simple easy-to-use lever valve, and if we fit your softener for you, then that is an ideal time to make the change.
Installing a softener under a kitchen sink
Installing a softener under a kitchen sink is one of the more common places they tend to go. Here we have fitted a softener in the most compact way possible, and even given the customer half a shelf on two levels too! The incoming water main was difficult for the client to access, so we relocated it, and here you can see it at the front, on an easy to use lever valve. A simple solution!
Choosing the bypass set that works best for you
When we install a bypass setting to the customer's home, we will give you a choice that works best for you and the space available.
Minimax M3 Installation
We pride ourselves on doing an excellent quality installation. The Minimax M3 softener is installed to give the customer as much space as possible under the sink and keep everything looking neat and tidy too!
Tucking a softener in a corner cupboard can in fact be very effective
Tucking a softener in a corner cupboard can, in fact, be very effective. This Minimax M2 is installed to maximise space by dropping it through the unit's base. An increasingly popular solution.
Quooker Pro 3 with Minimax Water Softener
This Quooker Pro 3 with Minimax Water Softener was installed into a park home near Bromley. Our client called us initially to just enquiring about a water softener, and during our conversation, she happened to mention how much she admired a close friend's boiling water Quooker tap. The moment we got onto the conversation about the boiling tap, it became clear to me that this was her real passion. Using the Quooker Augmented Reality App, we had great fun selecting the right time for her home in a 3-D holographic form, after which it was just a case of coming up with an easy payment plan for her, and hey presto, a week later everything was installed. The Minimax not only protects the Quooker from the damaging effects of hard water scale but also gives the most luxurious softened water throughout the home.
Updating old softeners comes with free pipework updates too!
Updating old softeners comes with free pipework updates too! Interestingly, this softener was still giving softened water, but it did have to be regenerated manually. In its day, the Culligan softener was considered a premium softener, and we can see why - it's lasted a huge amount of time!
With Softened Water very little Washing detergent is needed
With Softened Water very little Washing detergent is needed. As a comparison, you need just 25ml of washing powder with softened water, whereas, with hard water, you need between 150-180ml of powder. The savings just start to stack up with a water softener fitted.
To put it into perspective how little washing detergent you will need
To put it into perspective how little washing detergent you will need with a water softener, this high ball glass shows just 25ml - enough for a full load of washing. We have noticed that the Harvey Minimax washing powder works exceptionally well as the amount of detergent used is just pure soap and has no fillers.
These are two large commercial duplex softeners on a Royal Estate in Kent
These are two large commercial duplex softeners on a Royal Estate in Kent. We have looked after this estate for many years now and have got deeply involved in solving some very complex problems on site.
If you're planning on having a hard water drinking supply
If you're planning on having a hard water drinking supply, then the most popular way of doing it is to have a separate drinking water faucet to the side of the sink. We really like this polished chrome 1/4 turn tap as not only does it look smart, but it is also easy t use and doesn't leak or drip, like some of the more traditional styles of faucets.
Look how much chalk is in our water.
This photo shows a simple glass of tap water, and in the test tube is a sample of that water, to which we had added a chemical to precipitate (show) the chalk in the water. That's a lot of chalk! This is what causes the white stains on sinks, taps, shower screens, causes soap scum and contributes to dry, itchy skin. A good water softener will remove it completely!
This Minimax block salt softener is installed with a drinking water filter
This Minimax block salt softener is installed with a drinking water filter in a kitchen double cabinet. The filter to the left of the unit supplies softened filtered water to the main kitchen tap.
This Minimax block salt softener is installed with a drinking water filter in a kitchen double cabinet. The filter to the left of the unit supplies softened filtered water to the main kitchen tap.
We are frequently called on to provide best practice advice, and this is one of those circumstances. This large duplex water softener was installed into a hotel in Broadstairs. As the cold water storage tank within the basement area, the water softener was considerably oversized. But when they called us and they didn't know that. All they knew was that the water softener was giving them hard water and that the two companies they had hired previously had been unable to fix the problem. We started off by stripping down the softener to determine what was wrong and found that, in fact, they had been assembled incorrectly and latterly also serviced incorrectly too. At the same time, I looked very closely at the volume of water the systems were capable of supplying versus the amount of water the hotel used and noted that the system was capable of producing water five times as much as was needed. We ended up replacing this duplex with a more suitably sized single-cylinder water softener which saved the customer a huge amount of money on running costs and now produces beautifully soft water.
Quooker Boiling water tap with Cube Chilled and Sparkling Water
A Quooker Boiling water tap with Cube Chilled and Sparkling Water is increasingly becoming more popular. One of our clients described the sparkling water as the best water they had tasted!
The dangers of using the wrong type of block salt
The dangers of using the wrong type of block salt are that the softener can be badly affected by several impurities, as can be seen here. Both Kinetico and Harveys have stated that Non-GRADE A block salt must never be used in their softeners, which is what has happened here. This salt has unfortunately damaged the softener and invalidated the customer's guarantee.
A neat and compact installation
Every customer's home is different, and every installation is different. This client wanted their softener to sit in the corner cupboard, so we placed the bypass set next to it but used lever valves for ease of use. The filter is connected directly to the mains cold water supply and gives softened-filtered drinking water, which is extremely popular.
We buy beautiful kettles to complement our kitchens
We buy beautiful kettles to complement our kitchens, and then hard water just either scales them up or messes up the outside. In this case, the client never expected a few water drops left on the outside to become such an unsightly problem. It was because of these unsightly watermarks that the client wanted a water softener. The moral of this story is that every customer has a different reason for wanting a softener. For my mum, her reason was she wanted a decent cup of tea - she hated the floating scum and the staining on the side of her bone china cups.
This installation required a lot of careful planning
This installation required a lot of careful planning. The client wanted the softener installed underneath the kitchen sink without any cutting to the cupboard, but in the same location, they also had an Insinkerater Waste disposal system fitted. It took quite some time to plan this installation out, but we did it, and it has worked excellently well for them.
Sometimes it can take a long time to get hot water to the kitchen sink.
Sometimes it can take a long time to get hot water to the kitchen sink, And that was the experience of this homeowner. His wife was very frustrated at how long it took to fill the kitchen sink, And they were also very interested in the concept of a boiling water tap. The moment they realised they could have a device under the sink that would give them instantaneous boiling water as well as instant hot water, they were sold. In addition to the Quooker, The client had an existing water softener that was enormous and sat in the utility room. We updated that for a Kinetico block salt softener and also fitted a reverse osmosis system to give purified drinking water to the fridge and the two filter taps in the home. What a result! This was a very happy decision for our client.
Trickle Flow is often the cause of many a hard water problem.
Trickle flow causes all manner of problems, the least of which is cosmetic staining on shower screens, taps and sinks. Trickle flow is when the water flow can get so slow that a softener cannot 'see' it. Steps can be taken to help manage it, such as fitting delayed action fill valves. Still, the real key to producing softened water with loft tank installations, and sometimes even with unvented cylinders, is to fit the right softener in your home.
Creating a modern business for the future
When we purchased the business in 2016, all of the customer data was on paper cards or computer printouts. We had a mammoth task ahead of us. Kristie was marvellous and helped us move the data to digital and then begin to validate it.
Meet my mum, Christine Willis
My mum, Christine, has been a vital part of my journey of turning this business around. Along with my dad, who is in another photo, they have been my moral compass, reminding me to ensure my team and I always treat our customers as though they are our folks.
The only way to protect your Quooker is with a water softener
This Quooker has a Scale Guard filter fitted. Their Quooker was serviced every year. When we fitted their softener, we removed the scale guard and looked at the amount of scale within the boiling unit. The customer wanted the scale left in to see how quickly the Quooker would descale. We returned six months later, and the Quooker was 'as new' inside. Softened water descales!
Some water softener installations are really complex.
Some water softener installations are really complex, and this was one of those. See the black pipe on the left - that is the incoming water main to the property. We initially installed the softener under the kitchen sink onto the incoming water main, but afterwards, we heard from the client that they only had soft water at the kitchen sink. We promptly returned to see what had happened and discovered that the incoming water main, in fact, was not the incoming water main. We simply couldn't find it. The property had been so extensively renovated that the water main had got lost. So we came up with the solution to run a new main up to the loft to pick up the rest of the supplies to the property but to protect it from freezing, we double insulated the main. This has turned out to be a perfect solution to a really complex problem.
Installing a water softener outside is becoming more common
Installing a water softener outside is increasingly becoming more common. This Minimax Major was installed outside a utility room of a large home in Broadstairs, Kent. We laid the paving slabs and supplied two aluminium powder-coated cabinets, which, as you can see, needed to be cut to accommodate existing black pipes that were running behind the softener.
We service and maintain all types of softeners, including specialising in the commercial sector.
We service and maintain all types of softeners, including specialising in the commercial sector. From cafes to launderettes, from care homes to Michelin star restaurants... from food factories to precision engineering. We approach our commercial customers in the same way we would want to be treated by engineers coming into our own business; We wouldn't want to be overcharged, and we want the best advice. We wouldn't want expensive, unnecessary repairs, and we would want our equipment maintained for the best possible value.
Check out this hot water cylinder which has just an inch of scale!
Check out this hot water cylinder which has just an inch of scale! According to government statistics, 1/4 of an inch of scale will increase energy (gas) usage by an astonishing 55%. This is because the scale is an excellent insulator!
Water softeners in lofts should be properly installed
Water softeners in lofts should be properly installed in tanks to prevent damage to the home in case of failure, and all pipework should be well insulated.
Do you have an old water softener?
Do you have an old water softener? If you have an old softener, you could replace it with another one just the same, or you could install something significantly more advanced. Either way, we'll help you make the right decision. In addition to that, we'll update your installation too, typically at no extra cost. Here we have replaced the plastic pipework with copper, fitted easy-to-use lever valves and neatened the whole installation up too!
Physical Water Conditioners
Physical Water Conditioners are a temporary way to treat the effects of hard water. They temporarily alter the structure of hard water, helping to reduce the build-up of scale. However, they still leave the effects of hard water - scale still builds up, but in commercial applications, the scale is not as hard. But scum still builds up, water marks still appear, and they have no effect at all on reducing dry skin conditions.
This Minimax Major is installed in a basement
This Minimax Major is installed in a basement and is the block salt model. As it is in a basement, we have fitted a condensate pump for running the overflow uphill should it ever be needed. The left-hand white cabinet holds the salt, while the right-hand cabinet holds the twin-cylinder softener. This softener is perfect for larger homes and is very popular in small businesses and B&Bs.
Water Softeners are very frequently used in manufacturing processes
Softeners are very frequently used in manufacturing processes to achieve an absolutely perfect operation of all the equipment. This softener is connected to a large commercial reverse osmosis unit to create softened purified water.
Brita Water Filters and softened water
Brita filters are the most popular selling brand of jug filters, and their top-selling cartridge is the Maxtra, which makes a wonderful cup of tea. Have you ever wondered why? The reason the water is so good is that the 'ion-exchange pearls' shown in step two of the photo above are in fact water softening resin! This is exactly what we also advocate; Softened Filtered Drinking Water. It's safe, it's healthy, and according to the World Health Organisation, it's wholesome.
Plywood insulated outside cabinet
A plywood insulated outside cabinet is a cost-effective way to protect your softener from the effects of cold, wet and windy weather. The cabinet is made from marine ply to make it more durable and just needs to be painted. Most customers tend to use the wood varnish but sometimes we see customers use coloured paint including brick paint.
Not all water softeners work well
Not all water softeners work well, and that was, unfortunately, the case with the softener installed in this home. It takes a lot of people by surprise to learn that almost all softeners cannot measure below 10 litres per minute. This means that the water in the home might 'feel' softer, but the harsh effects of hard water, including cosmetic water staining, can really build up. If you want completely soft water and to ensure your home sparkles, speak to us. We'll help you to consider all the things that you need to ensure that we install the right softener for your home. GUARANTEED!
This home in Brighton had a large rain shower on the 4th floor
This home in Brighton had a large rain shower on the 4th floor, and they needed a softener to guarantee the flow rate without the risk of flow rate reductions. They also wanted this on an affordable budget. There was a perfect solution for this. The AquaSolo might not be the most efficient softener, but it is reliable and powerful. Their home has the right heating system, so we could ensure they had a sparkling home.
This Painted plywood insulated cabinet
This Painted plywood insulated cabinet is installed at Laurence's home and has been painted with a grey brick paint rather than just a wood preserver, giving it a longer life. "When we relocated my softener from my kitchen to outside, I wanted to see how long one of our outside cabinets would last. So rather than painting it with standard wood paint, I decided to use grey brick paint to match a small lowball that we built opposite. Two years later, it's still working and in one piece but I do think this year we will need to give it another repaint to give it another extended lease of life".
Minimax M2 installed at my folks
This Minimax block salt softener was installed at my folk's home and was fitted back in 2009 in an outdoor cabinet. They live in Lincolnshire, which is prone t much colder weather than we get. They have never had a problem with their softener being installed outside, and it has never needed servicing either, although I have cleaned the cabinet out for them a couple of times to remove leaves and debris.
For a maintenance-free outside cabinet
For a maintenance-free outside cabinet, this powder-coated aluminium cabinet is designed and could outlast the life of even the best softener. It comes in two different sizes; Standard, which is suitable for block salt softeners, and Large, which can accommodate the larger softener.
A cheeky moment in the office
We have a wonderful team and have a lot of fun in all that we do. You're welcome to pop in and see us anytime.
Replacing your stop tap for a remote Surestop makes turning your water off simple
Replacing your stop tap for a remote Surestop makes turning your water off simple. These are simple push-button stop taps, and here is a version which has a remote switch which makes it perfect for those hard-to-get places.
Treating well water with an EcoWater Refiner and Backwashing Filter
The EcoWater Refiner Boost is a very clever water softener and drinking water filter, combined. This one is installed off a well and we have fitted a backwashing filter before it, and a carbon block after it too.
Giving you space in your home
This customer's water softener needed to go into the airing cupboard, but they still wanted sufficient space for all their towels and linen, So we built a shelf above it at no extra cost. Now they have beautifully softened water and plenty of storage too.
EcoWater eVOLUTION Refiner treating and softening well water
This EcoWater Refiner is installed at Tram Hatch Gardens in Kent. The eVOLUTION Refiner is quite a unique softener as it is both a water softener and a water filter in one unit and is one of the most popular single-cylinder softeners we install. This particular softener softens water drawn from a well, which has previously been fed from an adjacent river. There is a string wound sediment filter before the softener, which captures debris from the well, and no further filtration or bacteria control was needed.
This hot water cylinder was beginning to overheat.
This hot water cylinder was beginning to overheat. The cause? Look at all the scale build-up. This unvented cylinder was less than 3 years old. An expensive maintenance problem that could be easily solved by fitting a softener.
If you have a softener bypass set that looks like this
If you have a softener bypass set that looks like this, then it is strongly recommended that they are replaced. These are called Impella valves, and they are prone to becoming brittle as they age. This can result in them leaking water or, as we have seen twice, completely failing, cracking in half, causing an uncontrollable escape of water into the home. If you have these in your home, please contact us ASAP on 0800 999 4117.
This is a scaled up hot water cylinder we came across a few years back
This is a scaled-up hot water cylinder we came across a few years back. Imagine how much gas was needed to heat the water in that cylinder!! Scale is an excellent insulator and would have made it almost impossible to heat the water efficiently.
Why not replace your kitchen tap at the same time as we install your new softener
Why not replace your kitchen tap simultaneously as we install your new softener. This 3-way Franke tap was installed because the client wanted a filtered hard water drinking tap and did not want a separate drinking faucet on the side of the sink.
This Minimax M3 is installed in an outside cupboard
This Minimax M3 is installed in an outside cupboard by the front door on suitably long hoses to allow the client to move the softener for planned shelving. The hoses and bypass have been well insulated.
Reverse osmosis units are very popular
Reverse osmosis units are very popular in the UK and we find that most often a doctor or a dentist would have one of these in their home. Today we must have close to 200 customers with RO units, And we have a range of them available. This one is a four-stage RO, it is installed in a dental practice and produces the purity of water necessary for autoclave units. So it's a little bit better and more advanced than a traditional domestic RO but is very similar in appearance.
Industries often need a very high quality of softened water
Industries often need a very high quality of softened water, which is the case in this Rochester galvanising factory. This Minimax Major is the tablet salt model and is the system we have set up that both softens and purifies the water in the treatment process. This softener was chosen as it is perfect for producing a very consistent quality of softened water.
Easy to use bypass sets
Easy-to-use bypass sets are always a factor in what we recommend. These lever vales are very reliable and give high flow rates of water.
Salt in Block salt softeners tends to go down unevenly
Salt in Block salt softeners tends to go down unevenly, which is perfectly normal. There is even a sticker in the machines that let you know to expect this.
This commercial Softener on a P&O Ferry
This commercial Softener on a P&O Ferry helps keep the ferry scale-free. At the far end of this photo, you can see a softener on a P&O ferry. The greatest challenge with servicing a softener on a ferry is you have to get it serviced within very tight time limits, or you end up sitting on the ferry until it next gets to port! That can have its advantages and disadvantages.
Harveys Minimax Major water softener installation
This Minimax Major is installed in a large kitchen. The Minimax Major is a very powerful twin-cylinder non-electric British softener and has a separate salt tank. The Major has outstanding flow rates and is perfect for the bigger home or where higher flow rates are required.
We see so many softeners just like this
We see so many softeners just like this. This is an Autotrol 155, a very old single-cylinder softener. In its day, it was an excellent softener. This one was installed in a commercial environment and, according to the client's paperwork, had been serviced a year previous to us being called in. However, we couldn't see any sign of a service, and in fact, the valve had seized.
Ever wondered how a softener works?
Ever wondered how a softener works? All too often, the perception is that the salt used in softeners goes into our drinking water supply, so you cannot drink softened water. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The salt is actually only used to flush the chalk that has been captured in the resin down the drain and to sanitise the resin from bacteria growth then
. After the brine water has flushed through, fresh water is then used to remove any residual tastes and to cleanse the resin.
If you see water in your brine cabinet
If you see water in your brine cabinet, then this is an indication that you do not have enough salt, and the softener will almost certainly be giving you hard water. This is because a softener needs a certain amount of brine water, dependent on the size of the cylinder, to flush the chalk down the drain. If there is less salt than water, and you see salt in the bottom of the cabinet, as shown here, then you do not have enough salt to create a strong enough brine solution to cleanse the cylinder properly. An important role of thumb to follow is to always keep the salt level above the water level. Sometimes, however, A softener can go wrong, and the water level can be abnormally high. When that happens, the softener needs servicing.
Aluminium cabinet liners are a clever way to protect your kitchen cabinets
Aluminium cabinet liners are a clever way to protect your kitchen cabinets from water leaks and to keep them looking new for years. And these aluminium trays are the perfect solution. They come in a range of different sizes to suit most cabinets. If you would like to know more about these, contact us for more detail.