Teleidoscope

Sun, Jun 28, 2009

Water Softener

Posted at 3:59 pm MDT to Technology

I have a new water softener. Not an expense I really needed right after I contracted for the retaining wall work, but the old unit lasted nearly 24 years, so it's hard to complain. This new one should last the next 20 years.

The new water softener has some nice features.

The new controller has valves made from modern composites (fancy plastics) instead of brass, so it should be corrosion-proof.

The new salt tank has a float valve shutoff instead of an overflow hose, so I won't need to worry about tripping over it when carrying baskets of laundry.

And the control mechanism is smarter than the old one, which cycled automatically ervery 3 days regardless of how much water was being processed. The new unit tracks the water flow and should cycle only on the first night after 800 gallons have been processed since the last cycle. This means that it should use less salt, and it will not cycle (and use up its salt) when I am out of town and not using water. This will also decrease the salt that ends up in my septic system -- also a good idea.

The new installation has a more sensible plumbing layout in the basement, too, and is more compact and tucked into a corner than the old water softener was.

On the whole, I am very pleased with the new system.

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Cell-Less Gig

Posted at 3:59 pm MDT to Miscellaneous

This has been a hectic week.

Monday morning I verified the landscaping contract.

Late Monday afternoon I learned that I was starting a new gig on Wednesday, at a work site where cell phones are forbidden.

Tuesday I had a plumber check my water softener, which had been misbehaving, and learned that 24 years of my horrible well water had actually corroded the brass valves. The plumber went away to investigate options.

Also on Tuesday, I had lunch with my business partners and a real estate agent: our office lease is up in October and we need to decide what to do about it.

Wednesday I started the new gig. In the secure building with no cell phones allowed. I contacted the plumber and landscape guy, since the numbers I had given them would no longer work during working hours.

Thursday evening we had a meeting of CRUG, the Colorado Rational Users' Group, which our company sponsors.

Friday, the plumber came back and installed a new water softener. I also got in touch with the landscaper: his projects are running behind -- probably due to the violent weather we have had amost every day lately -- and the work on my retaining walls is now tentatively scheduled to start on Monday July 6.

Saturday I worked the farmers' market, and the weather, for a change, was beautiful.

Today I'm cleaning everything in the utensil drawers that the mice invaded while I was in Mobile: I need to use enough hot water to clear the untreated water out of the hot water heater before I try to do any laundry. There is so much iron in the untreated water that my clothes will be ruined if I use it to wash them.

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