If you have owned a water softener for several years and noticed that it is no longer working as effectively as it used to, it might be time to replace your unit’s resin. A common symptom is your system needing more frequent regeneration and salt replacement.
Water softener resin should last about a decade but it will eventually stop capturing the minerals that make your water hard. When it becomes ineffective, it needs to be replaced, which you should be able to do without professional assistance.
To help you find the best water softener resin for your unit, we have provided reviews of what we consider the top products available today. We chose these resins based on their materials, effectiveness, and price.
- WQA approved
- 8% crosslink resin
- Strong acid cation
- Strong resin with 10% crosslink
- Free funnel included
- Large 2 cubic feet size
- Great value for money at 44 pounds
- High-quality resin
- Unconditional guarantee
Product Reviews
There is a strong possibility that you have never purchased water softener resin before, so the prospect can seem a little daunting. To make your search as straightforward as possible, we have read numerous user reviews and expert opinions to bring you our top five water softener resins available today.
Aquatrol Water Softener Resin
Best Overall Water Softener Resin
Aquatrol offers a premium quality water softener resin replacement made from polystyrene and DVB beads with an 8% crosslink.
This resin is FDA-approved for use in treating food for human consumption, which means it won’t affect your drinking water after it has undergone the softening process.
Aquatrol claims this resin is suitable for any residential water softener. However, it is always best to check your manufacturer’s specifications for your softener system to make sure.
Pros
- 8% crosslink
- FDA-approved
- Easy pour packaging
Cons
- Might not be suitable for commercial systems
Product Specs
| Quantity | 1 cubic foot |
| Weight | 50 pounds |
| Type of Resin | Strong acid cation sodium exchange |
| Crosslink | 8% |
| Materials | Polystyrene divinylbenzene (DVB) |
Our Ratings
Purolite C100E Cationic Water Softener Resin
Best USA-made Water Softener Resin
Purolite’s C100E Cationic water resin has 8% crosslink and is manufactured in the United States. The beads are polystyrene gel with DVB, making this resin a great choice for domestic water softener systems.
The strong acid cations are sodium-based to help remove hard minerals and soften your water. This should mean less buildup in your plumbing and appliances.
This resin is also suitable for commercial systems as Purolite states its primary application is use in industrial water softeners.
Pros
- 1 cubic foot bag
- Strong acid cation
- Made in the United States
Cons
- Might need to buy multiple bags for large systems
Product Specs
| Quantity | 1 cubic foot |
| Weight | 50 pounds |
| Type of Resin | Strong acid cation sodium exchange |
| Crosslink | Not specified |
| Materials | Polystyrene gel, divinylbenzene |
Our Ratings
AFWFilters SOFRES1 Water Softener Resin
Best Certified Water Softener Resin
Although this AFWFilters resin is produced overseas in India, it is approved for use in the United States, having been tested by the Water Quality Association (WQA). The WQA sets the standards that must be adhered to for products created for use with water softeners and other water-related materials (1).
The 8% polystyrene and DVB beads are designed to remove calcium and magnesium from your water — this is a strong acid sodium cation blend.
AFWFilters advises that although this product is sold as 1 cubic foot, it might be delivered in multiple smaller bags with a combined volume of 1 cubic foot.
One negative is that some people notice a strange taste in their water after using this resin. Some describe it as having a plastic flavor.
Pros
- WQA approved
- 8% crosslink resin
- Strong acid cation
Cons
- Might give your water a plastic taste
Product Specs
| Quantity | 1 cubic foot |
| Weight | 50 pounds |
| Type of Resin | Strong acid cation sodium exchange |
| Crosslink | 8% |
| Materials | Styrene divinylbenzene copolymer |
Our Ratings
Liquagen Water Softener Resin with Funnel
Highest Crosslink Water Softener Resin
Liquagen’s food-grade water softener resin has a 10% crosslink. These stronger beads should last longer, so you will save money by buying them less frequently (2).
This higher crosslink can be particularly beneficial if your water supply contains a lot of chlorine or iron, such as when it is supplied by a well. These can quickly wear down your resin beads, so the stronger the better (3).
You get 2 cubic feet of resin and a free funnel when you buy this product. The funnel is very useful when refilling your tank, as you might otherwise have difficulty pouring the beads into it.
Pros
- Strong resin with 10% crosslink
- Free funnel provided
- Large 2 cubic feet bag
Cons
- The funnel is not packaged with the resin
Product Specs
| Quantity | 2 cubic feet |
| Weight | 52 pounds |
| Type of Resin | Strong acid cation sodium exchange |
| Crosslink | 10% |
| Materials | Gel polystyrene |
Our Ratings
Water2buy IonX Resin Ion-Exchange Resin for Water Softeners
Best Guarantee Water Softener Resin
This ion-exchange resin from Water2buy is compatible with all water softener brands. It is a premium-grade resin which replaces calcium and magnesium with sodium ions. This makes it suitable for both home and commercial water softener systems.
As a sign of Water2buy’s confidence in this product, the company provides an unconditional 10 years guarantee for the resin’s life.
This product is a 44-pound bag, so you might need to order multiple bags if you have a large plumbing system.
Pros
- Great value for money at 44 pounds
- High-quality resin
- Unconditional guarantee
Cons
- Might need to order multiple bags
Product Specs
| Quantity | Not specified |
| Weight | 44 pounds |
| Type of Resin | Sodium exchange |
| Crosslink | Not specified |
| Materials | Polystyrene resin |
Our Ratings
| Product | Best | Quantity | Weight | Type of Resin | Crosslink | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquatrol Water Softener Resin | Overall | 1 cu ft | 50 lbs | Strong acid cation sodium exchange | 8% | Polystyrene divinylbenzene (DVB) |
| Purolite C100E Cationic Resin | USA-made Resin | 1 cu ft | 50 lbs | Strong acid cation sodium exchange | N/A | Polystyrene gel, divinylbenzene |
| AFWFilters SOFRES1 Water Resin | Certified Resin | 1 cu ft | 50 lbs | Strong acid cation sodium exchange | 8% | Styrene divinylbenzene copolymer |
| Liquagen Ion Exchange Resin | Crosslink Resin | 1.5 cu ft | 75 lbs | Strong acid cation sodium exchange | 10% | Gel polystyrene |
| Water2buy IonX Ion Exchange Resin | Guarantee | N/A | 44 lbs | Sodium exchange | N/A | Polystyrene resin |
What to Look For
Not all water softener resin types are created equal and some products will be more suitable for your water softener than others. There are a few key points to keep in mind when looking for the best resin for water softeners:
Crosslink Percentage
Resin beads are usually made using divinylbenzene (DVB), which is wrapped in numerous strands of polystyrene, or crosslinks. This gives the beads their strength and allows them to expand and contract without breaking.
The percentage of crosslinking indicates the amount of DVB in the resin beads. The higher the crosslinking percentage, the smaller the beads and the better their life expectancy and efficiency will be (4).
Cations
Cations are positively charged ions that attract the minerals in your water. As these minerals cause hardness, this process softens the water. For the effective exchange of ions to take place, you will need strong sodium cations in your resin (5).
Quantity
The manufacturer’s instructions for your water softener should state how much resin it needs. If they don’t, you will need to measure the circumference and height of your tank. Once you have these measurements, you can use one of the many calculators available online to determine how much resin you need to buy.
Materials
The main materials used to create resin for softening water are divinylbenzene (DVB) and polystyrene. You might also see these referred to as polystyrenic or gel resin. These materials will effectively attract the minerals that cause hardness, thus softening your water.
How Does a Water Softener Work?
Water softeners remove hard minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, from your water, replacing them with sodium, which is a softening mineral. This process is called ionization and it is the most popular method of softening used today. Here are the basic steps:
- Resin beads: The hard water ions are attracted to, and become attached to, the resin beads.
- Sodium released: Sodium ions are released to maintain balance in the water. The resin is the catalyst that allows this ion exchange to take place — it acts as a cation (positively charged) to attract oppositely charged negative ions.
- Regenerate: In time, the beads will become saturated with hard water minerals. When this happens, the system will need to be regenerated (or cleansed). Water, which is rich in sodium, is flushed from the brine tank through the softener tank. The calcium and magnesium ions are released back into the water and washed away, while the resin is recharged with sodium ions.
- Repeat: Your system will then be ready to continue softening your water (6).
When Does My Water Softener Resin Need Replacing?
Water softener resin generally lasts about 10 years (7). This can vary depending on the quality of your municipal water supply and particularly if your water comes from a well.
Some municipal water supplies have high chlorine content, which will shorten the lifespan of your resin. Water from a well often contains large amounts of iron or sometimes sand particles, which will also degrade resin more quickly (8).
Usually, the first and most obvious sign that resin might need replacing is that the water is no longer soft. For example, you could notice hard water stains on glasses, or your soap might not clean as effectively as it previously did.
If you have cleaned your brine tank, replaced the salt, and regenerated the system, but your water remains hard, it could be due to your resin having been exhausted.
Some causes of ineffective resin include (9):
1. Hydraulic Shock (Water Hammer)
A sudden interruption to the high pressure of your water flow can cause the resin beads to strike the side of the softener tank. This could leave beads broken or cracked, ruining their effectiveness.
2. Chlorine
Chlorine can cause the water softener resin beads to lose strength, which results in them swelling to a larger size. As there is limited space in the tank for them, this can cause the beads to crack or break entirely.
3. Osmotic Shock
The beads grow and shrink as they draw in minerals and then release them. In time, this can lead to cracks or breaks.
4. Reduced Quantities
As the beads are slowly cracked or broken, the volume in the tank will gradually decrease. Pieces can fall off and be washed away when the tank is regenerated. This means that, even if some beads are still effective, you might not have enough to process your water, so it could remain hard.
5. Iron Buildup
As your tank regenerates, iron in your water can react with oxygen, leaving behind iron oxide. The salt used to clean the resin will be unable to remove this, so it will accumulate on the beads. This will reduce the size of the area available for ion exchange, thus impacting the performance of your system (10).
FAQs
Is All Water Softener Resin the Same?
There are two basic types of water softener resin: fine mesh and ion exchange.
Softeners for well water typically use fine mesh resin. Since it is more successful at eliminating iron, it is the water softener resin of choice for treating well water.
In the past, iron problems necessitated the addition of an iron filter to the softening system, which was necessary when using a conventional resin. However, this is unnecessary due to the nature of a mesh resin’s construction.
Suppose you have a basic water softener for your entire house at the moment. In that case, there is a good chance that your system includes a standard ion exchange resin.
Cation-style resin is another name for this particular kind of resin. Cation-style resin is a sort of resin. On its surface, it allows positive and negative ions to trade places with one another.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Water Softener Resin?
Water softener resin replacement costs between $200 and $400. If bits of yellow resin make their way into the house, the bottom distributor will also need to be changed. Bleach is an efficient agent for sanitizing the system and eliminating resin-fouling bacteria.
How Do I Dispose of Water Softener Resin Beads?
To dispose of water softener resin beds, place them in a container that prevents spillage and throw them away as you would with regular waste.
Water softener resin does not react with other substances and is very stable. The current consensus holds that it threatens the natural world, even though this is not the case.
What’s the Difference Between Fine Mesh Resin and Standard Resin?
If you’re unfamiliar with the terms, mesh size indicates the resin beads’ size. A finer mesh size means the beads are smaller, packed tighter, and offer more ion-exchange surface area. Overall, they are more efficient at water softening.
Fine mesh resin packs more densely than normal mesh resin, reducing the softener flow rate. Because of this, we are not huge fans of fine mesh and do not include it among our usual product offerings on our website.
Most consumers who inquire about fine mesh have been led to misbelieve that it is more efficient for iron reduction.
Another thing to remember: if you take a water softener that previously utilized normal resin and add fine mesh to it, you must ensure that the lower basket is also replaced simultaneously.
This basket contains slots proportional to the resin beads’ size. A basket with standard mesh resin will have no problem accommodating fine mesh resin.
Which Resin Is Best for a Water Softener?
The Purolite C-100E Cationic Resin is a top product for people looking to buy water softener resin. Designed to withstand hard water conditions, this resin is a best-seller that suits all homes with well water, promising to fight off the iron and eliminate the threat rust poses to your pipes.
Purolite C-100E Cationic Resin makes drinking water taste better, so you don’t have to worry about buying extra water for cooking. It is an FDA-approved product and is compatible with all water softener systems.
