Best Water Softener Systems - Are These Worth It?
The need for a water softener is determined by a common problem that many homeowners face: hard water. However, to find a water softener that fully meets your needs, and which can effectively get rid of hard water in your home, you need to do some research first.
Before taking the final decision, you should establish certain criteria for choosing a good water softener. For this reason, we have prepared a list of our recommendations for the best water softener systems to come with a helping hand.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Water Softener
To make the best choice, among the things you should look for when searching the best water softener should be the following:
The Type
Water softeners are the solution for hard water, and there is no better way to treat the hardness of it. However, there are several types to choose from, each with a different way of dealing with hard minerals. Some of them replace hard minerals with other substances, some eliminate them permanently, and others change their chemical composition to be less harmful.
Therefore, there are currently 4 different water softener types on the market: traditional salt-based systems, salt-free water softeners, magnetic water softeners, and RO systems.
Controls
As with any device you want to purchase, the way it works is an important criterion. So, think about whether some standard commands will satisfy you or you'll need a more advanced operating system.
Certain water softeners will make your job easier. In fact, some systems will work on their own, without ever needing your intervention. On the other hand, some water softeners will need a human operator to set certain controls.
Capacity and Size
If you opt for a traditional water softener, its size will be influenced by the water capacity it can soften.
And to identify what kind of water softener you need depending on its ability to soften water, the first things you need to determine are the level of hardness of your water and the water consumption in your home.
Water hardness is measured in "grains" per gallon. You can take a water sample to a water test lab to have its hardness measures. This is the only way you can find out exactly what your water hardness level is.
However, the size or capacity of a water softener indicates how many grains of hardness it can remove before it needs to be regenerated. Usually, the capacity of a water softener varies from 8,000 to 80,000 grains.
Price
Price is also an important thing that you need to consider. After all, investing in a water softener aims to reduce long-term costs, not increase them.
However, costs also depend on other factors such as installation, maintenance, standard or advanced features, and more. Remember that if you opt for a traditional system, you'll have to frequently buy bags of salt as well. An average range for the hardware only is around $500-$1500.
Reviews
Sincere feedback from a user who has already tried the water softener you are interested in can help you form an idea before spending money on that product.
However, if you want to consult some reviews, it is better to directly check the manufacturers' websites, not of other traders.
Best Water Softener Systems on The Market
As promised, we prepared a list of the best water softeners at this moment. The order is totally random because each of the products we have recommended below are some of the best you can find on market right now, and they come with various features and benefits that cannot be ranked.
Whirlpool WHESFC Pro Series Water Softener/Whole Home Filter Hybrid
With its multi-tasking system, this water softener has the ability not only to remove the hard minerals but also to make the water safe from potentially harmful contaminants by reducing sediment and chlorine as well, which impact the smell and taste of your water.
Because it is a salt-based water softener, you will have to regularly refill it with salt. The good part is that, compared to other salt-based systems that use the same amount every time even though your water use may fluctuate daily, this one reduces unnecessary salt use, minimizing the need to purchase endless bags of salt.
In other words, with its 6th sense technology, this system regenerates soft water for your home as you need it, not on an everyday basis like other water softeners.
Another advantage of this system is that you will be able to install it without the help of a professional. Moreover, even if it is a salt-based water softener, you will not have to deal with the installation of two tanks.
EcoPure EPWO4 Universal Water Softener
This water softener system is designed for larger homes with 1-inch plumbing. Its installation place is on the incoming water line to filter out sediment, dirt, rust, and sand, making your water cleaner and clearer.
The reason we chose it to be part of our list is that this water softener allows for customized filtration based on filter choice, including carbon options for better-tasting water at every faucet. It uses EcoPure filters like EPW4F, EPW4C, EPW4P, all other major brands of universal oversized whole home filters, such as Whirlpool, Omni, Culligan, Watts, Filtrete, 3M, GE, and DuPont.
Therefore, the mounting bracket and pressure release button makes changing filters easy, saving you time and hassle. Once the water goes through its softening process, the build-up from your pipes, appliances and fixtures will never be an issue again.
Water2Buy W2B200 Efficient Meter Water Softener
This system provides complete limescale-free water for a family of 5 and can generate approximately 400 gallons of filtered soft water every day. It is engineered for both city and well water, and it is equipped with an efficient digital meter control, so it consumes less salt.
Suitable for easy DIY installation in a garage, basement, or apartment kitchen cupboard, it connects to your main water supply and softens water in the entire home.
Concerning the maintenance, Water2Buy W2B200 quietly takes care of itself performing an automatic regeneration cycle when needed. Just like one of our previous examples, this softener measures your water usage and only regenerates when necessary, making it more efficient.
It usually regenerates at 3 am when the water supply is not in use, so there is no impact on normal water usage. This way, you will never have to worry about ever running out of soft water.
APEC Water Systems 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter System
Equipped with three filters that work together to provide clean and safe water, the APEC water softener is more complex than the others. There is an entire cycle of water softening going through three different tanks, specially designed to work in addition to each other.
The triple-stage specialized filtration system uses certain filters that effectively treat a wide variety of water concerns. Therefore, its first filter is washable and reusable for extended life service and exceptional dirt holding capacity. The second one captures contaminants such as chlorine, iron, hydrogen sulphide, and other heavy metal contaminants. The last filter removes the bad taste and smell to make water drinkable.
This pre-assembled complete system is ready to mount, making installation easy even for inexperienced users. Even if it takes up a little more space due to its tripe-tank concept, such a water softener promises to soften the water in the most efficient way possible.
An Efficient Alternative To Salt-Based Water Softeners
Considering that a salt-based water softener must be regularly supplied with salt to function and that salt needs a storage place as well, many users are looking for salt-free alternatives. Our water descaler will not only relieve you of refilling the system and storing the salt bags, but also of the space issue that a traditional water softener usually occupies, because of its two tanks.
Yarna CWD30 Water Descaler works based on capacitive effect, also known as cathodic protection. In short terms, the principle behind this is to connect an external anode to the metal for its protection. After that, a current pass between them, and the metal becomes cathodic and does not corrode. As the water passes through the treated area underneath the two impulse coils, the powerful electric waves break the crystals and transform the minerals into ions.
That means there is no ion exchange in the process of softening hard water, so salt is not necessary as in the case of traditional water softeners. For those on salt restrictive diets, our descalers are the best choice. As can be seen above, sodium will not be introduced into the water, because hard minerals are transformed into ions, not exchanged.
Easy to install without any moving parts, our water descalers can combat the damaging effects of hard water by simply placing them on your water pipes.
By choosing any of our water descalers, you will also receive a one-year money-back guarantee. Moreover, through a quick registration of your product on our website, you will get a full ten-year manufacturer warranty for any potential defects that were not caused by your mishandling of the product.
The Bottom Line
All things considered, the best water softener for your home can't be a quick choice. Going through an analysis of the models on the market, their style of operation, their price, capacity, and size, there is a suitable water softener for any house.
As could be seen, there are great saltless alternatives as well. For those who are not willing to spend extra money on bags of salt, or they just want to avoid sodium in their diet, a water descaler can be great choice.
