I just would like to know if anybody has any experience with "Water Boss" water softener? Any issues? How does it compares with other softeners, quality and cost (fixed/running) wise?

I am planning to install this!!

 

I have owned two water boss systems in two separate houses. I owned the first one for 4 years and the second one for 6 years. in that time I have not had one problem whatsoever. I add about 30 lbs of salt every month. (much less than the larger Culligan system that i was renting) I am selling my house and I am about to purchase my third water boss. I have never performed any maintenence on them at all, maybe I should have? Hope this helps,

 

I checked www.waterboss.com web site, and found that bigboss has 2 models (standard and economy). Even though ecomony has less capacity (19000 grains), it removes more hardness (5000 grains) per pound of salt, while standard has more capacity (27000 grains) but removes less hardness (3857 grains) per pound of salt. Most other softeners (from GE and sears) removes about 5000 grains of hardness per pound of salt. So it looks like in the long run the standard BigBoss model will prove costly.

I understand the capacity (19000 or 27000) does not actually mean anything. I think, for a same family, less capacity means frequent regeneration while more capacity means less frequent regeneration. Am I correct?

How is the parts availability for waterboss models. Are Sears and GE softener parts would be more easily available then waterboss? Are these parts (valves, etc) interchangeable?

For some reason water softeners does not have much comparitive study on the web...not even on consumer report web site.

I was inclined to buy big bosss model, but looking at the data I am not sure.

 

All I can say is that for our family of 4 it has proven very reliable and cost-efficient. The regeneration time is done when the unit notices no usage for a time(such as when you are sleeping)I haave never even heard it re-generate, but I know it is doing its job. I would probably stick to the lower cost Water boss. It hass proven itself to me. You can set the hardness for whatever level you chose, from slightly haard to ultra-soft. hope this helps,

 

Do not buy any Boss products. I am on my 3rd softner in 8 years. The first one had a valve stick and flooded my basement the 2nd one started to reduce my water pressure after the first year. No help from my company and the place that I bought it at has 3 siting in the back room all out of service with in 3 years. The company knows of these issues but offers no help. Looks like it is ripe for a classs action.

 

I'll just throw in my admittedly non-expert opinion.

I installed a Water Boss softener for my parents 4 years ago. The only problem they have run into was that it developed a "salt bridge" which had to be broken with a broom handle. It's really not a problem with the softener... more that it was about 100% humidity in their basement for half the summer.

Granted, I've only used one... and have little to compare it to. But price-wise, it's a good deal.

One suggestion - when you plumb it in, add shutoff valves and a bypass valve in case you ever do you have to pull it out for repair. It has its own bypass valve in it, but in my opinion, it's worth the extra $15 in valves for the peace of mind

Good luck!