Strong residues from water - despite the softening system

Hello,

I hope I am in the right part of the forum with my topic. We have an extension and since the beginning a water softening system from Grünbeck, because the water in the region is quite hard (16° dh). We previously lived a few kilometers away with a similarly high value and without a softening system, where we regularly had problems with lime stains.

To prevent exactly that in the new house, we had the softening system installed. It is set to 5° dh, I check that regularly. Everything is correct so far. Nevertheless, we have significantly more problems with residues here than in our previous apartment. We could clean our glass shower wall daily, the glasses come out spotty from the dishwasher (which is correctly set), and we have to clean the kettle weekly with citric acid. Attached is a photo of a plate. We filled about 1/2 liter of tap water and let it evaporate over 3 days. But we can also see that these residues are easier to wipe off than lime stains.

Can this be normal, or what kind of residues could these be? Possibly a health hazard? We wonder how it is possible that despite the softening system we have significantly stronger residues than before. Thanks in advance!

Best regards

Michael

To prevent exactly that in the new house, we had the water softening system installed. It is set to 5° dh,

That little is not necessary. Even at 7-9, no significant lime deposits occur. However, since only decalcification is done, other substances can of course still leave stains.

Since the problem (also with Grünbeck) is well known, I will give you an explanation from Grünbeck itself:

"During water softening using the cation exchange process, the hardness-forming calcium and magnesium present in the water are exchanged for sodium. This changes the salt composition in the water. The total salt content remains unchanged. However, the total hardness of the water and thus the proportion of limestone decreases.

After water is drawn, water droplets always remain on fittings and surfaces, which then dry and leave all dissolved salts in the water as solids (water spots). With hard water (high content of calcium and magnesium), these deposits form relatively quickly and consist mostly of sparingly soluble calcium carbonate (lime). Even with low water hardness, after a softening system, deposits can occur. However, they form more slowly accordingly. In addition, these deposits in soft water (low content of calcium and magnesium) consist mostly of easily soluble sodium carbonate. This can be removed mechanically much more easily compared to calcium carbonate."

My tip to you is not to make the water so soft. Try hardness 8 as a test. With that, you should get fewer stains.

That is the same with us.

On the other hand, unsoftened water flows warmly through the pipes during regeneration.

So if regeneration happens to be running while showering, you shower with hard water.

We reduce the amount from 24dh to 6.

Since I know what it would be like without descaling, that is worlds apart.

Grünbeck also wants a maintenance every year, which costs about 300 euros, we definitely have that done since the system is still under warranty.
Strangely, since Grünbeck was here, I can adjust the meter for the next maintenance myself.. The good man forgot something there.

Besides, Grünbeck has a pretty good app that shows a lot, from salt consumption to water flow.

Grünbeck also wants an annual maintenance, which costs about 300 euros

How does this enormous amount come about? We pay just 240 EUR for the annual complete maintenance (including heating and ventilation), also from a specialist company certified by Grünbeck. This also includes 40 EUR for the travel costs.

How does this exorbitant amount come about? We pay just 240 EUR for the annual complete maintenance (including heating and ventilation), also from a specialist company certified by Grünbeck. That already includes 40 EUR for travel.

The factory service wants 250 plus material.

There is no one here who does the support, because billing with Grünbeck is more effort, so they just send the factory service.

And that is still cheap compared to other manufacturers.