Review on AO Smith Whole Salt Free Descaler by Dewitt Bhattacharya

I'm writing this review three and a half months after installation, enough time to get a good idea. The hardness of my municipal water supply is 17-18 GPG. I'm definitely seeing a significant reduction in scale build-up in hard water. It doesn't eliminate it completely but reduces it by 80-85% which is enough for me. Forms light white stains (lime does not harden like untreated hard water) that can be easily wiped off with a damp cloth, no. Requires CLR. Installation ************ It totally depends on your installation situation and installation skills. In my home, the city plumbing was outside the garage (about 8 inches and 6 inches underground) and ran under the foundation to come to the surface at faucets and appliances. Therefore, in the garage along the wall there was no space to install a descaling agent. The only solution was to cut the pipe outside the barn just short of the foundation, loop from there through a filter + descaler into the garage and reconnect. It was way beyond my ability as a plumber and the plumber did it, it cost me $600 but it was worth it. He did an excellent job and not a drop of water escaped. If you have a water line handy in your garage or basement and you have advanced plumbing skills, it can be easily installed.