Soft or Hard Water?

[jeffpn]

As previously discussed, I’ve moved my brewing operation almost entirely to my basement. One of the biggest advantages so far is that I’ve eliminated the trip down a flight of stairs carrying a scalding hot 6.5 gallon full brew kettle.

I currently get my brewing water from upstairs. It’s a 2 stage carbon filter connected to a hard water line. I am very happy with that water. I do not do any changes to water chemistry when I brew. I’m not interested in that. My results are good, and I’m happy.

I’m considering getting water from my basement, to reduce carrying water. The laundry sink that I use for washing and chilling has soft water on it. The hard water line that goes upstairs to the filter is right there, but I would have to do a bit of plumbing to make it available at the sink in the basement.

Would I see an improvement by using filtered soft water? I know some pilsners use soft water. Is it worth a small plumbing project to continue to use filtered hard water? If I make a switch, it’ll be all or nothing. I’d like some input from those who know. Which would generally be better? Filtered hard water or filtered soft water?

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

I wouldn't use salted soft water for brewing, use the filter but not the water softener, it changes the taste drastically and removes calcium

 

[jeffpn]

You’d be surprised at the white scaly stuff in my sparge water pot. I’m guessing it’s calcium that the filter doesn’t remove. Doesn’t seem to hurt my beer though.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

could be chloramine, its common in water, I use a campden tablet to remove it

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

Are you on a well

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

could also be lime

 

[chub1]

Here in London the water is 'rock' hard.Scale on everything. Good as i understand it for stouts and porters,not so for lighter beers.
Have taken to adding C.tablet to mash water for my lighter beers.Not sure at this point if it is making any great changes however.

 

[jeffpn]

Lime is probably it. City water, no well. Again, I’m not particularly interested in water chemistry. Something I’ve never messed with, and I see no reason to start now.

I think I can just tee into my filtered water and run a tube back through the floor where it goes up to the kitchen in the first place. It’s right over my laundry tub.

 

[The Brew Mentor]

use a couple shark bite fittings. No soldering required. Just shut down the water, drain it back, cut the lines, shove in a fitting and turn it back on again.
And I d stay away from the softened water too.

 

[jeffpn]

Sounds like Pex. I don’t mind soldering this if needed. It’s a very short run. I’m more interested in the hard versus soft water debate. And if I keep the filtered hard water, I won’t need anything but 10’ of plastic line, a tee barb, and a valve. Done!

 

[Nosybear]

Definitely avoid the softened water - way too much sodium.

 

[The Brew Mentor]

Sounds like Pex. I don’t mind soldering this if needed. It’s a very short run. I’m more interested in the hard versus soft water debate. And if I keep the filtered hard water, I won’t need anything but 10’ of plastic line, a tee and a valve. Done!

With pex you need a crimping tool. Sharkbites are the shit! Nothing quicker and easier for repairs in an existing system.

 

[jeffpn]

Maybe it is an off brand then, I thought it was Pex, even though I knew some of their fittings required a crimping tool. I used it when I lived on your side of the state (The right side, in Steubenville.)

 

[Gledison]

If you are happy with your hard water so far...Keep it! why changing an wining Team ?
you said you dont want to go into water chemistry Details, but if you could share how is the Ions composition of your soft water, you might get different answers.

 

[jeffpn]

The point of my thread is that I have a soft water faucet in my basement now, but I’ve been using filtered hard water for brewing. I was just wondering, generally speaking, which is better to use, filtered hard water or filtered or unfiltered soft water? It would take a small plumbing project to get filtered hard water available where I’m now brewing, and that is what I intend to do.

As for the last part of your post, what’s an ion? (That is a rhetorical question. I don’t care about water chemistry.)

 

[Gledison]

The point of my thread is that I have a soft water faucet in my basement now, but I’ve been using filtered hard water for brewing. I was just wondering, generally speaking, which is better to use, filtered hard water or filtered or unfiltered soft water? It would take a small plumbing project to get filtered hard water available where I’m now brewing, and that is what I intend to do.

As for the last part of your post, what’s an ion? (That is a rhetorical question. I don’t care about water chemistry.)

ehheeh, perfect. than you already have the answer. Good luck with the DIY project

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

what I do is use a food grade RV water hose then I bought a hose valve and quick connect, when I need water I just connect to the quick connect on my outside hose faucet, your way is actually cheaper

 

[jeffpn]

My filtered water system is already in place. I need to cut the existing line and tee it so I can run additional line below.

 

[jeffpn]

Thes four pics show the entire hose run, minus about 10 inches. Filtered hard water, same as I’ve been using the past several years since I’ve been brewing here. The hose under the sliding cabinet is the end of it. I’ll slip a vinyl 3/8” hose over the PE hose when I fill my kettle. And if that hose ever springs a leak under the cabinet or in the basement, there are already flood sensors in each of those locations which will shut off the water to the house.