Next update - new water softener. Any input on the value of adding a reverse osmosis system?

[northoftheborder]

7. Our water straight from the faucet was very, very hard....

...so full of minerals that dishwashers, water heaters, shower heads would have to be replaced often. Also, it tasted terrible. So, when I built a new house, I had separate lines for outdoor faucets installed; then all inside water was softened; then, my kitchen faucet and frig. water and ice dispenser went through an osmosis filter. This was easy to do with a new house, I don't know how easy - maybe impossible with an existing home.

A friend put in a water softener, but not knowing that his outside and inside faucets were on the same line, the softened water has some salt in it, which overtime will kill plants. So, I do not use my softened water inside my house for houseplants. Also, I have to use fertilizer all of the time, because the softener and osmosis removes most of the minerals in the water. Whatever is making my water have a bad taste is still there even after softening, but the osmosis water is really good.