Comprehensive Guide To Water Softeners

The quality of water that is used at home is important for you and for your family. To ensure that the water is clean from chemical pollutants, installing a water softener is a good solution. If you are looking for the best water softening system for your residence or for your company, you have come to the right place.

Below are the reviews for the top best home water softeners, which can help you find the most efficient and the most suitable for your needs. You can compare the water softeners based on their performance, quality and ratings.

Latest Reviews for Best Water Softeners

Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener

The Fleck 5600SXT is one of the top rated whole house water softeners that is designed to eliminate hard water and to prevent scale buildup. Fleck is a well-known brand in the water softening industry, and it is recognized to provide optimum quality products such as Fleck 5600SXT.

This water softening system works by removing magnesium and calcium ions using the ion exchange process. Having the water free from calcium and magnesium ions, your household’s plumbing and appliances are going to have extended usage life. The system also features a digital on-demand control valve allowing you to control the meter-based regeneration process, and for conservation’s sake, it can regenerate

Fleck Water Softener

only when you need to use water. So, if your water supply is already sparring, the system starts the process to provide you with enough water supply.

The new digital controller from Fleck or the SXT controller comes with several features such as touchpad controls, LCD display, user-friendly interface, and internal power backup of 48 hours. The tank of the Fleck 5600SXT is made of durable polyglass, and a ten-year warranty is provided by its manufacturer.

The Fleck 5600SXT includes a standard brine tank that can hold up to 250 pounds of pelleted salt, and it is also equipped with safety measures that are essential to prevent overfilling or overflow of the drain.

This water softening system is one of the most popular products of Fleck, and it is perfect for households with 3 to 6 people. It has received the best reviews by numerous consumers.

Nuvo H2O Water Softener

NuvoH20 Manor Complete Water Softening System

NuvoH20 is also one of the top water softeners that provides a natural solution to hard water. It uses a technology that lowers the pH level of water by integrating the chelation treatment or the process of forming the minerals to be soluble, making them non adhesive to appliances and pipes.

It is a salt-free system that softens the water, removes and prevents hard water buildup that causes corrosion in plumbing fixtures and home appliances.

It has a compact size and the capacity of 60,000 gallons, making it perfect for homes with 6 or more people or with over 2,000 square feet space.

The process that NuvoH20 uses to condition the water in your house is eco-friendly, and it provides soft and healthy water that you can use for all of your household needs.

Watts RV PRO-1000 OR M7002 Portable Water Softener

Watts Water Softener

Watts RV PRO-1000 water softener, sometimes called the M7002, is perfect for an avid traveler because of its easy portability. So, if you live in a mobile home or travel and camp in an RV, and you are having hard water issues, this can be your suitable choice. Since most of the camping and RVs usually have very hard water, M7002 water softener can be a convenient solution to have healthier water anytime, anywhere.

Its size is measured up 8 x 22 inches, taking up some space of your luggage. However, this unit runs on normal table salt, which does not require you to bring heavy bags of special salt that is usually used for most of the water softeners.

The installation of Watts RV PRO-1000 water softener is very easy, and it works really fast. In just 20 minutes, the regeneration process is done. Every new regeneration cycle is required to put 2 pounds of salt. It also comes with included testing strips, allowing you to check the effects of the process on the water after the installation.

WaterBoss 220 Water Softener

Water Boss Softener

 WaterBoss 220 is designed to provide efficiency in the whole house with the capacity of 22,000 grain removal, making it is a great water softener for a family of four.

This model has a compact design that you can easily install in tight places. Though small, WaterBoss can finish the regeneration process in as quickly as 18 minutes with 2.5 salt setting, making it very efficient. The unit uses less water, which also takes less time for the regeneration period.

WaterBoss 220 water softener can soften up to 70 grains per gallon. They also filter sediment and dirt down to 20 nominal microns, and reduce up to 10 parts per million (ppm) of ferrous iron.

All of these processes result in soft and healthy water.

Morton Salt MSD34C System Saver Water Softener

Morton Salt MSD34C water softener provides the whole house with water conditioning without taking too much space. it has a combination of brine and mineral tank, unlike any other water softening systems.

Mortın Salt Water Softener

This model is also more cost-effective than many other water softeners because of using less salt in its operation. To begin the process, Morton MSD34C utilizes the common ion exchange technology that works by interchanging the magnesium and calcium ions with softer water ions like sodium. The exchange process occurs when the water passes through a chamber with tiny resin beads.

Morton Salt MSD34C also features, “Look Ahead”, the patented system saver technology that learns the pattern of water usage in your household, and begins the regeneration process only when necessary, which is a big deal for conservation.

This is a 34,000 grain water softening unit, which means if you have a bigger family, you may need to look for a water softener with a bigger capacity.

Aquasana EQ-SS20 SimplySoft Water Softener

Aquasana Water SoftenerAquasana EQ-SS20 is a low-cost water softening system that utilizes salt-free treatment through the innovative SLOW PHOS technology in which it caters to the natural conditioning process of the water, and protects the plumbing fixtures from corrosion without using sodium. Having it a salt-free system, the water is not demineralized. This leads to the unit’s eco-friendliness, making it on the list of best water treatment systems.

In order to soften the water, SLOW PHOS technology alters the ionic charge of the hard minerals, causing them to repel each other in the water, and unabling them to form lumps and to create precipitates or scale.

Consumer reviews are mostly positive because of their satisfaction with the unit’s performance and reasonable price. Aquasana is a popular brand that manufactures not only the best whole house water softening system, but also shower filters.

Iron Pro 2 Water Softener

Iron Pro 2 Water Softener

Iron Pro 2 employs meter-based regeneration process that can treat and soften up to 16 GPM. The process begins with regenerating water when necessary, which means that the system can accommodate sudden increase of water usage based on your needs. Otherwise, the system can make changes accordingly. This is very beneficial to water conservation.

This water softening system has resin that is made of fine mesh, devised to filter better and to last longer. It effectively eliminates hard water, prevents scale buildup, and removes ferrous iron and manganese.

It also features the Fleck 5600SXT digital controller, built on 5600 valve. The controller comprises a backlit LCD display with a user-friendly interface, 48 internal power backup and touchpad controls.

Green Wave Water Softener

Green Wave Cascade 15 GPM: Water Softener Alternative

Green Wave Cascade is one of the water softening alternatives, and it has the most advanced technology that is engineered to remove scale buildup without using chemicals, salt and electricity. This alternative is high-priced, yet it offers satisfactory quality.

Its installation is straightforward and almost effortless due to its non usage of backwashing filter and drain. The system maintenance is not going to be too much work, since heavy loads of salt or resin are not required anymore.

If you are determined to look for an alternative to traditional water softening systems, Green Wave Cascade is the suitable choice.

Eddy Electronic Water Descaler

Eddy Electronic Water Descalater

This water descaler is a low-priced and eco-friendly alternative to standard water softener that employs electromagnetic waves, minimizing the effects of magnesium and calcium ions in hard water without altering its chemical hardness. Eddy water descaler is not an actual water softening system that removes the ions from the hard water, but it is a descaler that reduces their effects on scale buildup and removes existing scaling in plumbing fixtures.

Its system has two coils that encircle the water pipes, and through these coils, the magnetic waves are released to break down the scales.

The installation does not require any plumbing, and the system does not need maintenance. Eddy water descaler is more affordable than water softeners; though it may not provide the same results as water softeners do, it will effectively treat your hard water.

How a Water Softener Works?

Learn the principle behind the water softening process by watching the video below:

Hard water, when used regularly, can cause certain negative side effects such as having dry skin and hair, and rough clothes.

As a consumer, there are important details that must be consider to purchase the most suitable water softener system based on personal specification. Firstly, you need a unit that is able to suffice soft water for the entire family. Inquire for a powerful unit, but take into account, its overall cost and maintenance issue.

Secondly, find a unit that can easily fit into your household, if you prefer one that does not take too much space in your home. Or you can accommodate the unit’s size given that your house has spacious area.

If you are convinced with purchasing a water softening system, you probably may wonder what hard water actually is. When underground water passes through soil and sediments, it carries along hard minerals such as magnesium. calcium, and other metals. These hard minerals in your water can contribute to the following adverse side effects: (1) Dissolved magnesium and calcium can lead to scale buildup in the plumbing fixtures, causing erosion and clogged pipes. (2) When doing laundry, the hard minerals leave your fabric rough, dingy, and looking worn-out.

A water softener works by destroying dissolved hard minerals in the hard water, and are usually measured by its capacity to remove grains. Most water softeners requires the usage of sodium for  their process, but some are engineered to work with alternatives such as potassium chloride, or with no sodium at all.

Top Water Softener Brands List

Below is the list of some of the most recognized water softener manufacturers that consistently receive high-ratings from consumers.

Fleck - one of the first and oldest water treatment brands. It has been on the market for over 50 years, and it has made advancement in the implementation of technologies in the control valves, water softening systems, and filtration applications. Fleck is the most recommended brand for water softeners. Fleck products have been receiving the best reviews and the highest ratings on Amazon.

Waterboss - a brand with long-time experience in improving quality water at homes. This manufacturer has a wide range of water softeners with high ratings, due to its concept of not only to soften the water but also to reduce water wastage as well. That means, its units utilizes less water compared to other water softeners in the market.

Morton - a well-known brand that has been producing salt for over 160 years and it  is the leading salt producer in North America. Aside from salts, this manufacturer also has water softeners in its line of products. Several of its units have been endowed with positive reviews from buyers.

Aquasana - an acclaimed brand with reputation in the market for providing for clean and healthy water while keeping the environment unharmed. It mainly offers water filtration and water softening products that are engineered with reusable parts and with omitting minimal waste. Aquasana also provides reliable whole house water softening systems, shower head filters and faucet filters.

Culligan - a trusted brand that has been in the water treatment industry for over 75 years, proving its reputation for wide ranges of water treatment products.

What is a Water Softener?

A water softener is a home appliance or a water softening device that is designed to utilize the ion exchange process for the removal of hard minerals from running water at homes. Common hard minerals are calcium and magnesium, which are easily absorbed by soil.

There are disadvantages that occur when hard water is directly used. (1) It causes scale buildup and residue in plumbing fixtures and water appliances. (2) Soaps and detergent don’t lather accordingly. (3) White residue due to dishwashing liquid are seen on dry dishes. (4) It leaves hair dry and clothes looking dull and worn-out.

Most of the water softeners comprise two tanks: a water tank and a brine tank. One of the tanks is filled with resin beads that are incorporated with electrical charges opposite the charges of calcium and magnesium. As a result, when the water flows into the tank, the process of ion exchange takes place, swapping the hard minerals with soft minerals, either sodium or potassium chloride. These minerals are added to the water softening system regularly for regeneration.

Who Needs a Water Softener?

When you want to consider purchasing a water softening unit, you need to know first if the water in your vicinity is hard or otherwise. Below are the information on how to test and how to determine if the water is hard.

After careful investigation of having hard water at home, you have to consider owning a water softener in order to provide soft, clean and healthy water to everyone in your household. Furthermore, when testing your water, you must determine its hardness level so that you know what water softener is the most suitable for your requirement.

As mentioned earlier, hard water causes not only inconveniences, but also degrading health, hair and skin to anyone in the household. It also affects the lifespan of your home appliances and pipes. If you already discover that you have hard water at home, decide on the quality water softener, as it may actually benefit your health and your savings in the future.

What is Hard Water and What Causes It?

Hard water is simply water that contains high level of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. In addition, it is a common issue that affects more than 85% of households in the country.

What causes hard water? The rainwater is naturally soft, but when it falls onto the ground and gets sipped or makes it way through until it reaches the underground home waterways, the water picks up minerals like lime, chalk, calcium and magnesium from rocks, soil and underground sand. Some people prefer drinking hard water because it contains the essential minerals, which are thought to have health benefits and good flavor. Soft water, on the other hand, has a salty taste, and is not suitable for drinking. But why the need to soften the water, then?

The difference resides when doing household chores like cleaning the shower filters and  appliances, and doing laundry. Spots and residues are formed appearing very troublesome to clean in appliances, faucets, bathtubs, dishes and dishwashers. The clothes are left looking worn-out and dingy; detergents and soaps are not lathering well with hard water.

The hardness of the water can be calculated in two measurements: parts per million (PPM) and grains per gallon of water (GPG). In the US, most households have hard water level between 3.5 and 10.5 GPG. You may not probably notice any adverse effects of the hard water with level below 3.5 GPG.

How to Test for Hard Water

Do I need to use a water softener? Before purchasing a water softener, you need to do a water test to determine if you have hard water. You can either use some home tools or get a test kit that gives instant results on all types of water contaminant.

To do an unscientific home test, you need an empty plastic bottle and a hand liquid soap. Fill the plastic bottle with water until it is halfway filled; then add 5-6 drops of liquid soap and screw on the bottle cap. Give the bottle a handful of thorough shakes and remove the cap. If the bottle is full of soap suds, then your water is not hard. However, if the water does not effervesce and it only has a soapy film on its surface, then you have hard water in your water system.

If you have already determined that your water is hard, you can get a DIY test kit to specifically measure its hardness. There are wide ranges of test kits available on Amazon.

If you are still in doubt, the test kits are very practical to ascertain the exact issue that your water has in your household. The test kits simply test your water for contaminants. After doing the test, you can decide for yourself the type of water treatment to be purchased, either a water softener or a water purifier.

Types of Water Softener

Basically, there is only one type of water softener—the traditional system. All of the water softening systems have the standard of utilizing sodium or potassium chloride in their embedded hard water treatment process. Using one over the other has its own advantages and disadvantages, mostly based on the individual’s preference. However, most people prefer to use sodium chloride.

Aside from the standard units, there are some water softeners that are engineered to use different methods of filtering hard water, such as salt-free water softeners, and electronic and magnetic water softeners.

A salt-free system generally just conditions and descales the water, although it is still classified as a water softener. Its process includes crystallization or the changing of the composition of the hard minerals through the use of Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC). As a result, the minerals are not able to adhere with each other and to the plumbing pipes. So, this type of water softener may not soften the water as it is categorized, but it surely helps to prevent clogging in pipes and residues on appliances.

An electronic water softener consists of wires that are wrapped around the water pipes and are interchanging the ion charges of the hard minerals. Same with the salt-free systems, electronic water softeners do not soften the water and do not remove the hard minerals. They only remove the adhering property of the ions from the hard minerals, making them unable to stick on plumbing fixtures.

Lastly, magnetic water softeners have the same concept with the electronic water softening devices. They have strong magnets that are attached to the water pipes, disrupting the charges of the ions from the hard minerals to clog in the plumbing fixtures.

The Bottom Line

The top 10 water softeners that have been discussed earlier are all whole house water softening systems, built to soften water used in any common household.

If you seek systems that can prevent scale buildup in your vicinity or appliances, you can use inline water filters. For tap water, you can use reverse osmosis water filters that reduces salt level and purifies water.

The reviews for the best water softeners in this website are based on extensive research on different brands and models that are mostly available on the market for this particular industry. Extensive research comprises ratings, features, and reviews from consumers.

There are also water softening units that are not on the list but are still deemed very effective, nearing to top the best water softeners on the list. One example is the On The Go portable water softener that has the advantages of not requiring special installation and directly using it in an RV.

We hope that the information provided is beneficial and handy, and is going to be of help in choosing the most suitable water softening unit that fits your needs and budget.

Conclusion

This website is created for people who need assistance in finding a solution to hard water in their household, as there are variations of products that are designed to water softening. Reviews and suggestions are readily available in this site for reference to the best water softening systems on the market. The reviews and list of the best products, offered by several renowned  brands in the water softening industry, are compiled based on thorough research, specifications, functions and actual reviews of consumers.

Not only you can find reviews in water softeners, but also the comparisons and filter reviews. Suggestions of high-rated products can be seen in the category menu on our site, may it be whole house water filtering systems, appliances, or separate filters for faucets, shower heads, etc. Aside from the reviews of water softening systems, reviews for other products such as water pitcher filters, and reverse osmosis filters are also available.

We sincerely hope that our website can be of much help for your needed information about the products mentioned earlier. We cater to disseminate facts and recommendations on the best water softening products that are proven effectual in providing quality performance, and in the treatment process for a healthier and cleaner water for everyone. We maintain up-to-date reviews so that you can visit us again for new information about the latest products and news in the water softening and filtration industry.

Our website is an active participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliated advertising program established to accommodate means for websites to earn commission through advertising amazon.com.

Related blogs