This is a repost...has anyone ever tried one of the magnetic water softners that attaches to your pipes and is supposed to reduce the minerals in your water?

-- joe lehnen (joetree@shentel.net), July 02, 2000

Answers

Don't know anything about them. Try your nearest library for Consumer Reports magazine. They may not have done a study of these specifically, but if they've done a report on water softening or treatment, these magnetic things may have been mentioned. I've found that even if the magazine I find an article in is some years old, the basic information is still valid. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), July 03, 2000.

We have very hard water and the people b efore us put on about 4 of the VERy expensive magnetic water softeners. We still have very hard water - they don't seem to have done a thing to make it better.

-- Ann Zavala (AnnZavala@Yahoo.com), July 09, 2000.

the dept of energy did a big report doe/ee-0162 which is easy to find in pdf form on the web using google.com's engine. It not only proves they work - but also recommends them. they will not work on water with very high iron content though so check that...use an iron pre- filter first if you do. gmx makes the best on the market right now.

-- blaine osburn (ozbrn5@email.com), June 21, 2001.

I am intrigued, just where do the 'minerals' go when the water passes through the magnetic field?

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), June 21, 2001.

We bought one months ago and it didn't make a difference, I gave in and started buying salt again after my "foggy" glasses became to embarassing to serve a beverage in. Maybe we just bought a bad brand.

-- Lenore (archambo@winco.net), June 21, 2001.