Water softener for already soft water?

[lparsons21]

I'm getting ready to plumb-in my new Alex Izzo and after running hardness strips, I found that my water is much softer than what I had thought. On the strip, I get about a 4 hardness. That is pretty darn soft!

So I've got this filter and softener setup and am wondering if I should use the softener or not. I will use the filter for sure, but what happens if I run already soft water through the softener.

For info, the softener is the part of the softener kit that Chris coffee sells.

[cannonfodder]

If I remember Jims insanely long water FAQ, ideal hardness is around 8 grains but after the first page my brain turns to putty. That would make you water very soft. Running soft water through a softener will just remove what little hardness you have. Yes, water can be too soft for proper espresso extraction. In extreme cases you actually have to add minerals to your water.

If I am incorrect, someone please correct me.

[HB]

My brain also went mushy reading Jim's FAQ. For example this little gem:

Max Hardness Allowed = Alog{44.01 - 14.58*log(T+273) - 2.739*log(A)}
or at higher alk. Alog{39.61 - 13.12*log(T+273) - 2.365*log(A)}

Huh?

However, if I absorbed the import of the table in Calculating Acceptable Hardness at Various Temperatures and Maximum Non-Scaling Hardness by Temperature and Alkalinity correctly, lparsons21's water hardness does not require a softener to avoid scaling.

If I am incorrect, someone please correct me.

[lparsons21]

Well, that FAQ certainly requires more active brain cells than I currently possess!

But before replies came here, I was told to put the softener in place. Did it this morning and all is good. Coffee tastes fine, the machine isn't complaining, so I guess (hope?) no harm, no foul...

Thanks for the replies.

[keno]

Where is the best place to get water hardness test strips? How much do they cost?

I've never tested my water, but figure I probably should. According to our local water company data our water is moderately hard and so I've been using an inline water softener that I recharge monthly as well as a Britta filter.

Thanks,
Ken

[RegulatorJohnson]

the best place to get water test strips is at petsmart or petco in the aquarium section.

you can get some that test PH and hardness/softness...

i use the PH when i de-scale. if i know the normal water in the boiler PH before add the citric acid de-scale solution. and i the PH of the de-scale solution i can know when i have enough de-scale solution in the boiler. if the PH from the boiler matches the PH of the de-scale solution....then i can flush it out and know it is fully flushed out because the PH is back to the "normal" PH of the water without de-scale citric acid in it.

rj

[HB]

Where is the best place to get water hardness test strips? How much do they cost?

Or a cheap TDS meter.

[iiifrank]

Or a cheap TDS meter.

Wow, thanks Dan! I had no idea such an easy (and cheap!) piece of equipment existed. Bought!

[jesawdy]

Or a cheap TDS meter.

Yes Dan, that meter speaks to the inner geek and gadget hound in all of us. I had to stop myself from ordering one when I read this thread first thing this AM. Do you have one?

Sometimes, 'analog' is better (not sure in this case, with no prior experience) than 'digital'. For example, I own 3 digital caliper sets. The first one I had (which was quite expensive, Swiss-made I think) just stopped working one day, the other two (cheaper Chinese ones) suck down batteries like no one's business. It's none too handy to reach for the caliper to only find the battery dead. I should've just bought the real deal, an 'analog' Starrett caliper and been done with it!

[HB]

I had to stop myself from ordering one when I read this thread first thing this AM. Do you have one?

No, the truth is that I measured with test strips years ago and check the "e61 mushroom" twice a year to confirm that scale is not building up. It's super low tech, but works.

[iginfect]

Another place for free test strips is Lowes, in the water filter section. They sell water softeners costing over $500 so they need to suck you in.

Marvin

[RegulatorJohnson]

No, the truth is that I measured with test strips years ago and check the "e61 mushroom" twice a year to confirm that scale is not building up. It's super low tech, but works.

ok the mushroom.. i assume its ok to pull this out to look at it for build up? then you determine if you need to de-scale? where can i find this shroom on my pulser? any concerns or things to be careful of when i pull that out? im about to do my quarterly de-scale thought the shroom would be a good judge for a before and after? i guess it will only tell me about scale in the HX though correct?

thanks.

jon

[HB]

Whew! A1. yes. A2. yes. A3. atop the grouphead A4. apply common sense A5. yes A6. yes.