Water Softener advice now I've moved to combi boiler

[i3_happy]

Hi,

We have a Kinetico 2020c HE Water Softener, fitted in 2008 in our loft to the cold water tank in a vented system with a conventional boiler. All good, was working fine.

Recently our old Potterton Suprima conventional boiler packed up and we decided to change to a Vaillant EcoTec COMBI (latest model out!).

Our water softener is currently in the loft all disconnected. I'm going to re-engage the heating engineer to connect it up to the mains downstairs and have it feed the new Combi as wall as all the other taps.

Seems straightforward enough, except now we need a new drinking water supply fitted to our kitchen sink that bypasses the WS so we can drink un-softened water.

The question I have is...are any other changes needed to the water softener set up now that it'll be connected to a combi boiler system rather than a water tank? Now it'll be a pressurised system.

Our mains water flow rates are around 16-18L per minute, so very strong, in fact I've turn the water mains tap down as it's too strong. Does the WS have a big impact on water pressure/flow if it's fitted to the mains?

 

[gpbeck]

No. You're now describing a typical water softener installation, as they are designed for. You can connect a separate drinking water tap using small bore plastic pipe since only low flows are needed which can simplify installation.

 

[Frelon]

You will need the Kinetico converting from low flow (water from your CW tank) to high flow (mains supply)!

A Kinetico specialist will know exactly what you need. I did this myself (home DIYer) and converted my brother's Kinetico which used water supplied from the CW tank in the attic to enable the Kinetico to be used by my daughter with her Combi boiler. It was not rocket science and the kit was supplied by a Kent based Kinetico specialist, Bryan Clarke & Sons. They were very helpful.

Forget the actual terms used by KInetico but seem to remember something like High Efficiency for the CW tank fill and and High Flow for mains fed! No doubt you will enlighten us when you do your research.

Good luck.

 

[i3_happy]

Thanks for the really useful info.

Plastic pipe, WRAS compliant, laid ready to connect for an unsoftened supply.

I called Bryan Clarke & Sons, spoke to a Paul. He offered some excellent advice.

So the plan is get the existing Kinetico set up and pipework adjusted. My water pressure/flow from the mains is phenomenal so that'll help. If it needs adjustments/upgrading to the HF, a new level1 assembly is available, if required.

For now, I'm struggling to find a plumber to make the pipework adjustments for me. Didn't think it'd be so difficult.

Further updates, once that bit is done.

 

[i3_happy]

update on this, attached the Kinetico HE water softener without any assembly changes. It all works fine, no issues with water flow/pressure. So far so good