Water softener flat help

[Amal25]

Hi all,
I moved to a new flat recently and want to install a water softener (same I used to have in my old flat). However I have been told that it will not be possible to install it in the new flat as the cold water and hot water have a different entrance (cold water under the sink and hot water from communal boiler).
I have attached some photos of under the sink in the kitchen, I don't know anything about plumbing but I can see that there are some red and blue valves, I thought it would be hot and cold water. I'm desperate to install a water softener as the water is extremely hard. Please could someone have a look at the photo and confirm that I can't install a water softener under the sink?
Thanks for your help

 

[Riley]

If the hot water is communal then your softener won’t affect it

 

[Amal25]

Thank you. So do you think it is possible to install a softener in the flat under the sink and have soft water in the shower?

 

[Riley]

Well it’s kind of pointless because your cold water will be softened but your hot won’t

 

[Amal25]

Well it’s kind of pointless because your cold water will be softened but your hot won’t

I see...really annoying, I really need to find a solution to soften the water in the shower... I might buy a shower head filter, although I don't think it works as well as a water softener.

Thanks for your help Riley!

 

[Riley]

Simple answer is unfortunately they don’t they are a bit snake oil. It might be worth asking the people to deal with the property if there is any softening on the hot water side

 

[Amal25]

Simple answer is unfortunately they don’t they are a bit snake oil. It might be worth asking the people to deal with the property if there is any softening on the hot water side

I will ask them but I don't think there it...

 

[Riley]

I’d suggest not but worth a shout

 

[Scott_D]

It’s not a softener as such but you fit one of these to the hot and cold

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/bwt-electronic-scale-inhibitor/13487

 

[chris watkins]

Please don't waste your money on inhibitors, for one thing they do not make the water soft.

What sort of shower do you have i.e. does it mix hot & cold water from the two different systems ?

You could if you really wanted to install a softener just on the cold to the bathroom fittings, if the shower blends hot & cold together then around 40% of the water coming out of it would be softened (cold). My guess would be that if it is a large communal system it is either treated in some way or a lot of the hardness may have come out as it was heated.
It may make a difference whether it would be particular noticeable & worth while it is difficult to say.
Is it for health reasons you are after softened ?

 

[Amal25]

It’s not a softener as such but you fit one of these to the hot and cold

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/bwt-electronic-scale-inhibitor/13487

thank you

 

[Amal25]

Please don't waste your money on inhibitors, for one ting they do not make the water soft.

What sort of shower do you have i.e. does it mix hot & cold water from the two different systems ?

You could if you really wanted to install a softener just on the cold to the bathroom fittings, if the shower blends hot & cold together then around 40% of the water coming out of it would be softened (cold). My guess would be that if it is a large communal system it is either treated in some way or a lot of the hardness may have come out as it was heated.
It may make a difference whether it would be particular noticeable & worth while it is difficult to say.
Is it for health reasons you are after softened ?

Yes, it is for health reason. We don't have access to the bathroom fittings. I don't even know where the water comes from. I 've ask the manager of the property and he seems to think that hot and cold water comes under the kitchen sink (see photos above). I though the softener could be installed there. Both cold water and hot water are very hard.

 

[chris watkins]

Yes, it is for health reason. We don't have access to the bathroom fittings. I don't even know where the water comes from. I 've ask the manager of the property and he seems to think that hot and cold water comes under the kitchen sink (see photos above). I though the softener could be installed there. Both cold water and hot water are very hard.

But the pipes under the sink just serve the sink & the kitchen appliances so a softener couldn't be installed there unless you can find where the bathroom is fed from & connected it to feed it.
P.S. As previously stated the inhibitors do not soften the water so would not be suitable to help you.

 

[Amal25]

But the pipes under the sink just serve the sink & the kitchen appliances so a softener couldn't be installed there unless you can find where the bathroom is fed from & connected it to feed it.
P.S. As previously stated the inhibitors do not soften the water so would not be suitable to help you.

Thanks for the info. I guess there is nothing I can do...I should have checked before moving into the flat. I need to find an alternative solution to soften at least the water in the shower.

 

[chris watkins]

Electric shower feed from a softener?
or bottled spring water & a watering can 😀

 

[Amal25]

Electric shower feed from a softener?
or bottled spring water & a watering can 😀

haha I like the idea of the bottled spring water 😉

 

[Amal25]

Electric shower feed from a softener?
or bottled spring water & a watering can 😀

Would a shower stick work ?
The ShowerStick - WaterSticks

 

[Riley]

Anything but a proper softener is just a gimmick and I don’t think you would be happy with the end result