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Reviews & Guides · Appliances

Harvey water softener: 18-month London flat notes for HarveyArc buyers

I’ve used a Harvey water softener in my London flat for 18 months: less kettle and bathroom scale, but I still filter drinking water.

A Harvey Arc water softener installed in a utility space, featuring a dark geometric faceted front panel over a grey base labeled HARVEYARC, with plumbing valves on top and a thumbs-up sticker covering the lower left.
A close-up view of a dark grey Harvey Arc water softener unit with its front salt hopper open, displaying the interior compartment and the silver 'HARVEY ARC' branding on the front panel.
Screenshot of the 'my HARVEY' mobile application dashboard titled 'My Water Softener'. It displays device statuses for Wi-Fi, low battery, and i-Lid, along with two salt level monitors: 'LEFT SALT 40%' indicating 'YOU CAN ADD 1 block', and 'RIGHT SALT 40%' also showing 'YOU CAN ADD 1 block'. Below, it notes '13 DAYS REMAINING' above a blue button labeled 'REORDER SALT'.

While I was renting, I became fed up with London’s hard water. Before moving into my current home, I had decided to install a water softener. I have now used it for a year and a half, and overall I have had a great experience.

The most obvious effects of softened water are

- I can boil water directly, and there are no water-scale marks in the kettle at all.
- There is no white hard-water scale around the bathroom, and it should also help protect the plumbing in the flat.
- I have not noticed any difference with my hair; it still falls out as usual.
- My skin really is much better. I used to be somewhat sensitive to UK water and often had rashes on my body, but they now hardly appear. This was an obvious feeling after I first started using it. I also hardly get clogged pores on my face, although I do not know whether that is because of my skincare routine or the water.
- I still filter my drinking water, but Harvey can have an additional drinking-water tap fitted, and I did not install one.

Some people worry about whether softened water affects pets. So far, my cat is broad-bodied and healthy, drinks water enthusiastically, and has a healthy digestive system. I did some research myself and found that the effect of the trace minerals in softened water is minimal and basically has no effect on pets. If you are concerned, you can give your pet bottled mineral water instead.

When I decided to have it installed, a sales engineer first came to my home to test the hardness of the water. It was quite interesting to see. Once that was confirmed, an engineer was scheduled to install the unit. The process was very easy for me. Installation took quite a long time, but there was basically nothing I needed to worry about, and the installer worked very efficiently.

The water softener is connected to Wi-Fi, and the phone app reminds me to add salt regularly. When I had it installed, I used another woman’s referral, and an installation promotion also included free salt. I still have not used up the salt supplied at the beginning, so it has been a great deal for me.

I included my referral code so everyone can get free salt.

Source: 抹茶麻麻 · Xiaohongshu · 2025-01-31 · 伦敦公寓软水器harvey一年使用体验. Search this Chinese title in Xiaohongshu to find the original post.

Before You Buy

Models in your region

The owner calls the appliance a Harvey water softener, and the photograph clearly shows HarveyArc branding. The current UK HarveyArc is a reference for the same series; the photograph does not establish the generation or exact configuration.

Model in this review Related regional model What to know
Harvey water softener HarveyArc (UK) The source photograph identifies a HarveyArc-branded unit. Current UK HarveyArc information describes the same series, but the owner’s generation and configuration are not specified.
Model in this review
Harvey water softener
Related regional model
HarveyArc (UK)
What to know
The source photograph identifies a HarveyArc-branded unit. Current UK HarveyArc information describes the same series, but the owner’s generation and configuration are not specified.

What the owner noticed after 18 months

After 18 months with the HarveyArc-branded softener in a London flat, the owner reports no visible scale in the kettle or white deposits around the bathroom. These are household observations. The owner noticed no improvement in hair loss and remains uncertain whether changes in facial skin came from water or skincare.

HarveyArc · UK

Drinking water and pet caution

The owner continued filtering her drinking water and did not fit Harvey’s optional additional drinking-water tap. Harvey’s buying guidance says an installation should retain a suitable unsoftened supply for drinking and cooking, so buyers should confirm which tap will provide that water in their own plumbing. The owner’s healthy cat is a personal observation, not evidence that softened drinking water is suitable for every pet; the supplied guidance does not recommend softened drinking water for pets.

Installation and salt reminders

The owner describes a two-stage process: a sales engineer tested the water hardness first, followed by a separate installation visit. She found the installation lengthy but low-effort for her. Her unit was connected to Wi-Fi and the app reminded her to add salt. HarveyArc’s official UK material identifies an optional Wi-Fi i-Lid for monitoring salt levels, but the owner’s incomplete model details do not establish that her unit uses the same generation or configuration.

The owner had not used up the salt supplied through her installation and referral arrangements after 18 months. That is not a normal-consumption estimate because the amount supplied was not quantified and included promotional salt. For HarveyArc specifically, the official UK guidance calls for Mini Curve Salt Blocks shaped for its salt compartment; owners of another Harvey model should confirm the correct salt before ordering.

HarveyArc · UK

What to confirm before buying

A UK buyer should check household size, water hardness, plumbing, water pressure, available space and usage before choosing or installing a softener. The owner’s experience supports the practical benefit she noticed in her own kettle and bathroom, but it does not establish a clinical skin benefit or guarantee identical scale results. Confirm the exact Harvey model, drinking-water arrangement, salt type and installation requirements for the property.

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