Is it a value to rent your water softener system?

[2Tiggers]

I am wondering who here on the budget boards rents their systems.

It would be $25.00 a month. I didn't know that they did this and I am wondering if their is value in it.

It seems like a good idea, they will service it when ever we need and or replace it. We just have to provide the salt.

Any thoughts?

 

[scrapquitler]

Let me be clear to start: I don't know ANYTHING about water softeners. I don't even know anyone who has one.

But if faced with the decision of should I buy or should I rent, I would approach it by finding out the following things:

How much does an average water softener cost? What is the typical life span of a water softener? How often does the average water softener break down and how much does the most common repair cost? Can you purchase a service plan when you buy one?

Once you can answer these questions, you can figure out if it is financially smarter on average to buy vs. rent. I would consider how many months of rent it would cost me to buy it, and figure in how much repairs might likely cost me over that time period. I'd go with the way it works out cheaper.

 

[jme829]

My DH's company makes water softeners for Sears. You can buy a good one (comparable to higher end brands) for under $500 and a decent one for around $300. Go to Sears and check them out. Pm me if you need more info..I can ask DH for recommendations (he has been in this business for 12 years)

 

[defendthehill]

I used to work for a company that made and installed softeners. Buy one....they do not have to be complicated machines. Let me run this for you. When I moved into my current house 10 years ago. I bought a softener and put it in myself. 10 years @ 12 months = 120 months. 120 months X 25 per month = $3000. 10 years ago I paid $450 bucks for my softener. I have had zero service calls in 10 years. Zero problems. I would absolutely buy!

 

[clh2]

We've been in our house for 17 years. The house is 18 years old.

Our water softener was in the house when we bought it.

We've had 1 service call (maybe 2 years ago) which set us back a whopping $200.

Personally - I would never rent one of these. I hate "recurring" bills like this.

 

[trip]

If you get one, get a system that is "on demand". With our previous one, you had to set how many times a week you wanted it to regenerate whether it was needed or not. (waste of salt)