7 Best Water Softeners of 2024

The most popular and effective whole-house water softener is an ion exchange system with salt. They usually include two tanks, one for the softening resin (softener tank), and one for salt (brine tank). Some high-end models have two softening tanks, so there won’t be any downtime while one is being cleaned or regenerated.

• Resin tank: This tank contains numerous tiny beads covered by sodium or potassium (salt). As water comes into contact with the beads, they attract the water’s magnesium and calcium ions and release sodium ions in their place, a process called ion exchange ⁽⁴⁾.
• Brine tank: The brine tank contains salt and water (brine) and flushes it through the softener tank when the resin beads reach their capacity. Reverse ion exchange occurs and the hard water minerals are washed down the drain as fresh salt ions are attached to the resin. The softener tank is then ready to operate again.

Demand-initiated regeneration systems are among the most common softener types. They operate on the same principle as ion exchange systems but they only regenerate the softener tank when it is necessary. They measure the amount of water that flows through the tank to calculate when the ions have become saturated and then initiate the cleaning process ⁽⁶⁾.

TAC and NAC systems are salt-free and condition your water rather than soften it. They descale water by passing it through a special media that turns the hard minerals into crystals. These crystals are unable to adhere to pipes and appliances, so they don’t cause the issues associated with hard water.

This means you can still enjoy the benefits of hard water’s mineral content. It can also be more environmentally friendly as you aren’t putting sodium into the drainage system, or wasting water.

Like TAC systems, chelation systems are also water conditioners. They use a chelating agent such as nitriloacetic acid to attract hard water minerals ⁽⁷⁾. This suspends the minerals in the water, preventing them from becoming attached to your pipes as the water flows through your plumbing system.

These devices are easy to install and will provide treated water to your entire home. You only need a power outlet near your home’s main water inlet. The device is connected to the water pipe and the electrical supply.

They function by creating magnetic fields that alter the chemical composition of your water. This helps prevent scale from forming without removing the hard water’s mineral content, thus retaining its health benefits.

The true effectiveness of these devices has been questioned in comparison to ion exchange water softeners ⁽⁸⁾. Still, they aren’t designed to soften water, simply to prevent the negative side effects of hard water on your plumbing.

If you are interested in a magnetic or electric water softener, this model from iSpring is an excellent example.

If you don’t want a whole-home system but still want cleaner drinking water, a reverse osmosis system is a great option. They are often installed beneath a sink and use multiple filters to remove contaminants from your water. They usually remove calcium, magnesium, organic materials, and chemicals ⁽⁹⁾.

1. Switch off and drain: Before starting any installation, shut off your main water supply and drain the system by opening the lowest faucet or drainage valve in your home. Also, turn off the power supply to your water heater.
2. Location: Identify where you will install the new water softener. There should be enough room for the two tanks, power supply, and a drain to discharge wastewater. It will also need to be near your main water supply — after the meter but before your water heater connections.
3. Bypass valve: Most water softeners include a bypass valve that attaches to the softener tank. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and secure this into place.
4. Connect to the water: You can either connect the softener to your water supply with hard pipes such as copper or PVC or use flex hoses and connectors. You will need to cut your main supply line and either solder or use push fittings to connect your pipes or hoses. Once these are in place, connect them to your softener system, ensuring you attach the inlet and outlet to the appropriate connectors.
5. Drainage: When a water softener system regenerates, mineral-heavy water drains from it. You can use a utility sink, standpipe, or floor drain for the water outlet. Connect the drain hose to the softener tank and the overflow drain hose to the drain elbow located on the salt tank. Both of these hoses must then be placed and secured somewhere they can drain the water from your home.
6. Add salt and turn on: Add the recommended amount of salt to the brine tank and turn your water back on. Don’t forget to also restore power to your water heater. It is a good idea to open a faucet before turning the water back on to release any built-up pressure.
7. Set up regeneration: Designate a time for your system to regenerate and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the initial regeneration.

1. Switch off and drain: Shut off the water supply to your home and drain it by opening a faucet. Disconnect the power to your water heater.
2. Location: Place your filter system on the main water supply before it reaches your water heater. This will enable it to supply conditioned water to your entire home.
3. Place the valves: Cut your main water pipe using a pipe cutter for copper or PVC, depending on your pipes. Install shut-off valves at both ends so you can easily disconnect the system if you need to perform maintenance such as changing the cartridges. Extend the pipes using elbow joints or flex hoses and connect them to the filter with compression joints.
4. Check the flow direction: Ensure the water flows through the system in the correct direction, adhering to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Switch on: Open the shut-off valves to allow water to flow through the system.
6. Check for leaks: To prevent flooding and check for leaks, slowly open each valve independently.

Magnetic systems are much simpler to install.

They usually have a hinge that opens up or wires that wrap around a pipe. Simply place them over your pipe and secure them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

1. Switch off and drain: To mount a filter under your sink, shut off the water supply, either locally or at the mains. Drain that part of the system by opening the faucet.
2. Dimensions: Check the correct height for your system and carefully measure where on your cabinet the softener will fit. Mark the spot with a pencil. Attach the system to your cabinet with screws according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Connect the water: Detach your cold water supply from the old valve. Attach the supplied saddle valves to the cold water supply, so the water will divert to the filter. Cut the tubing to fit if necessary. ​
4. Faucet and drain lines: Now install the supplied faucet and drain lines. You might need to drill a hole in your countertop to accommodate the faucet, so be careful.
5. Switch on and check for leaks: Once everything is in place, turn on your water supply and check closely for any leaks.

A water softener is definitely worth it if you have problems with hard water in your area. There’s no cause for concern regarding the nutrition provided by hard water. Consuming it is in every way beneficial to one’s health.

Hard water in your home might give rise to various issues. Your pipes eventually become clogged due to hard water, decreasing water flow. Mineral deposits will begin to form in all of your valves and fixtures, which will shorten their useful lives and make them less effective.

When supplies and labor are included, the typical cost to have a water softener installed in an entire house by a professional is approximately $1,500. Depending on your chosen system, the procedure may set you back between $500 and $6,000.

For the majority of systems, you should additionally plan to allocate between $10 and $50 each month for the expense of maintenance.

To ensure it continues to function at its highest efficiency level, a water softener must be cleaned regularly like any other home equipment.

It should not be necessary to regularly clean a water softener under typical conditions; about twice every five years should be sufficient for maintenance.

However, look for other signs, including water with a brown tint. That’s also an indicator that it’s time to clean the system.

A water softener will last between ten and 15 years, but some can last around 12 while others have a lifespan of 20 years.

Although the vast majority of soft water can be used without any concerns, those with hypertension should consider whether or not the higher sodium content is in their best interest.

Most softened water is completely safe to consume. If the hardness of the water is lower than 400 ppm of calcium before it is softened, you can drink it without too much worry.

Suppose the hardness of your water is higher than 400 ppm. In that case, you will need to purify it even further to lower the amount of sodium.

A water softener is a neat idea if you want to increase your home value and plan on selling it later. Suppose you install a high-quality softener, like a reverse osmosis system. In that case, you can afford to up the price of your house by $5,000 or even $10,000.

A water conditioner is a viable alternative to a water softener. The biggest difference between these two types of products is that conditioners don’t remove hard minerals from the water. Still, they have a positive impact on preventing scaling.

The usage of a template-assisted crystallization medium is the method that water conditioners employ to accomplish this. When hard water is run through the TAC medium, a fraction of the hard minerals in the water begin to crystallize.

These are often referred to as “seed crystals.” As these seed crystals form, the mineral ions in your water will attach to them instead of binding to the surface your tap water touches.