Hard water ??

[Sarann]

I have an 81 Corvette (owned it for 11 years). I use most Mequiar products to clean/detail it.

My question:
we have just bought a house and there is hard water. We have a water softener but don't use it on the tap for the outside.
Is it okay for me to clean the Corvette with the hard water or should I use the water from the water softener ?

 

[c4ever]

Too many minerals. I would place a whole house water softener on the property. IMHO

Carlo

 

[Sarann]

Okay, I'll make sure that I put our house water softener on the outside tap.
Thanks,

 

[Tanzanite3]

Another alternative

Just run your hose from the laundry tubs.. This way, you have softened water and also warmer water if you need it ..
Our weather is getting a bit on the cool side isn't it??

 

[Sarann]

Yes Winter is coming ... we'll soon have snow in Canada!

I'm lucky, because we have an option so that we can run the water softener on the outside taps (it's usually off but will turn it on when I'm cleaning the Corvette).

 

[kfehling]

One thing to think about when it comes to softened water is all of the salt that is used as the softener. I know the concentration is enough to kill most house plants so I am sure that it may be a hazard with respect to causing rust on your baby. I don't know how concerned you should be but it is something to think about. I have a well that I use for irrigation and washing the cars. It too has high mineral content but I just make sure that I dry the car well and do not have an issue with spots. Best of luck.

 

[rbyrne]

Right out of the Plumbers Handbook; The salt is not used to soften the water, the media is the softener and the salt is used to neutralize the media which makes the media release the trapped minerals and rinse them away during the backwash cycle.
Even softened water leaves spots if not dried immediately. Any other plumbing questions?

 

[Vettelt193]

You may want to try a magnetizer ( www.magnetizer.com ) they have a magnet that makes the water better, and it is pretty cheap... I have used their products before, and can say that they do work, but I have not personally tried the water softener product.

 

[DDLS3]

There is NO salt in the water

I've been responsible for operating and maintaining water softeners and demineralizers for years. I can assure you that there is absolutely no residual salt in softened water unless of course your softener is skipping the rinse cycle. I won't try to explain ion exchange here, but I would be happy to go deeper if you really want to know. Hard water will leave minerals behind in the form of water spots which are a bear to get off the paint.

Plants don't like softened water because: 1. there are NO minerals, which all plants need, all it is, is wet. 2. softened water is usually to the low side of the pH scale, most plants do not like acidic water.