Water softeners: Comparison data?

Key feature

Kinetico™

Ensign: CMD-11AVSM

Origin

Marlborough, Ohio USA

Marlborough, Wiltshire UK

Backup source

Via UK dealer

Factory direct - OEM

Softening process

Ion exchange non-electric

Ion exchange non-electric

Salt low warning

None

Remote monitor - audio with volume and visual

Metering system

Mechanical in softened water, prone to wear

Electronic, frictionless non contact in softened water

Electric consumption

None

7p / month (3 watts)

Minimum operating pressure

Industrial standard for a duplex is 40 psi minimum, but works better with more

20 psi as standard, but can go as low as 17 psi with factory adjustment

Resistance to scale build up in control valve

Yes, except ceramic disc (unit has to use it's own softened water to stop itself seizing)

Yes. 100%

Area hardness setting

Dealer fitted hardness range disc that approximates to nearest match

Factory set to individuals exact degree of area hardness. Electronic

Output per regeneration

272 litres @ 300ppm

1688 litres @ 300ppm

Waste water to drain

13.23%

3.25%

Salt type

Block salt in 8Kg box only via Kinetico™ (customers are forced into expensive brand loyalty)

Salt tablets in 10Kg bags multiple sources, or block salt from Kinetico™ dealers

Block salt and 10Kg
tablet salt comparison data. Click here.

Term

Meaning

Block Salt Softener

Ordinary water softener in which the manufacturer promotes the use of block salt only, and just happens to be the only supplier in the UK. Customer is obliged into expensive brand loyalty by a rather unfair claim that their warranty would be voided by the use of any other brand of salt.

Block Salt: 8Kg box

Compacted salt in the form of a single 4Kg block the size of a large house brick. Sold in 8Kg boxes. Can be used in all water softeners. Easy to handle.

Tablet Salt: 10Kg bag

Compacted salt in the form of multiple 1.5cm tablets. Sold in 10Kg polythene bags with handle. Can be used in all water softeners. Easy to handle.

Tablet Salt: 25Kg bag

Pre 1998 size. Largely made redundant by the introduction on the 10Kg tablet salt size.

Granular Salt: 25Kg bag

Low density salt. 1.0mm to 3.5mm crystals. Could be used in all water softeners, but is increasingly less popular due to difficulty in handling such a large size and messy in use.