Anyone use a water softener?

[fractionater]

...I'm thinking of getting one as the limescale in SE London water is driving me mad!

Please don't name any brands here as i don't want this to become a commercial thread.

Anyone have any experience of them and is it a pain having to keep topping them up with salt?

Are there any noticeable effects on skin? - I find that london water irritates my skin quite a bit. (I'm originally from Midlands where it was never so bad)

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

When we were fixing up our house we had one fixed so it feeds all water except the kitchen sink, you need one free for drinking water. I noticed that you needed to use less of everything to get same results, washing liquid shampoo that sort of thing . I buy salt in blocks that seem to last 6months ?50 so you do not need to put salt in dishwasher or buy calgon yr machines always look clean and you will find showerhead does not clog up no limescale . easy to use and happy with it .. Cannot remember the name of one we have

[cate]

I would also be interested in one as well. Think it also stops boilers from furring up.

[Penguin68]

There is also a system of fitting a magnet to the water inlet pipe from the main which removes rubbish coming in.

I attach a couple of links which I have googled randomly (I am not advocating or recomending either supplier, they are thus simply for illustration.) I do know British Gas install such systems.

http://www.waterimp.co.uk/

http://www.discoverymagnets.co.uk/ecoflow_water.htm

[fractionater]

those magnetic things are rubbish, already tried one and they don't really do much other than waste electricity.