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Say goodbye to to scaling with these hardworking options.
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After all, theyre usually tucked into a utility closet or basement and arent going to be on display.
But depending on your water quality and hardness, a water softener may be a necessity for your home.
For more on how we tested water softeners, check outour testing processbelow.
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Tap water tasted faintly salty after installing the equipment.
Once installed, our hardness tests showed zeroso we were able to enjoy soft water right away.
In fact, the water actually felt noticeably softer after installing this unit.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Michelle Ehrich
What does a water softener actually do?
Just like the name implies, water softeners actually soften water.
Using and operating the softener is quite easy, with our initial regeneration cycle taking less than 10 minutes.
It automatically starts regeneration as needed, saving time and water.
The handy display screen shows when its time to refill the salt.
The brand recommends applying acleaning solutionevery three or four months to prevent mold and mildew.
Considering its stellar performance, easy setup, efficiency, and easy usage, this softener has excellent value.
Its also NSF-certified, which is one of Davies recommendations.
While youre shopping for water softeners, you may notice various salt-free softeners available on the market.
These arent actually softeners, as Davies emphasizes that water cannot be softened without the ion-exchange system.
Salt-free conditioners are scale-prevention devices, and only work under certain conditions, Davies says.
Effluent water after the no-salt scale prevention system will test exactly the same hardness as the influent water.
There is no measurable change in hardness.
After installing the unit, we noticed less scale buildup on our faucets and small appliances likecoffee makersandhumidifiers.
We noticed our water tasted clean and pure after installing the machine, with no traces of chlorine.
Like with the other water softeners we tested, we hired a professional plumber to plant the gear.
Installation went smoothly, and he said the included instruction packet was helpful.
The text is easy to read and there are detailed illustrations to help visualize the process.
Youll likely want a true water softener, like our top pick, instead.
Product Details: Size:10 x 59.5 x 10 in.
Our water hardness dropped to zero after installing the appliance, and it was easy to install and maintain.
If youre looking for a salt-free water conditioner, we recommend theAquasure Serene.
All three of our testers hired a professional to install their unit.
Hardness test strips were used post-installation to compare results.
Test strips were again used to evaluate the hardness of the water once the testing period concluded.
During the testing period, we recorded how much salt was used.
We also ran into shipping complications that caused multiple delays and further added to the cost of the softener.
This frequency and duration can vary depending on the system and water usage.
This is assuming the pipe size and flow rate is correct, he adds.
Do water softeners require regular maintenance?
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According to Davies, an average household will use around one 40-pound bag of salt per month.
Water conditioners, on the other hand, require less regular maintenance.
You should expect filter changes once a year.
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Water softeners can last 10 to 15 years, and regularly maintaining the appliance will help extend its lifespan.
However, capacity has a few variables to it.
One factor is the hardness of your water.
The level of water hardness will vary based on your water supply.
Hardness is typically measured in grains per gallon (GPG) or milligrams per liter (mg/L).
To help you choose the correct capacity, take a look at the grain number on awater softener.
Davies explains, One [cubic foot] of resin is rated at about 30,000 grains.
So, a 1.5-cubic-foot softener could also be said to have a 45,000 grain capacity.
What size water softener do I need?
Davies generally estimates about 75 gallons of water are used per day, per person in the household.
Lets use an example of a four-person household, which should assume about 300 gallons per day usage.
Youll also notice resin mentioned with water softeners.
Davies notes, There are different grades and types of resin where contaminant removal capacity will vary.
Who We Are
Brittany VanDerBillis a writer who has been working withBetter Homes & Gardenssince 2021.
Jessica Comstockis an associate editor forBetter Homes & Gardenswith expertise in humidifiers, cleaning products, and home improvement.
She spent hours researching salt-free water conditioners and added additional testing insights to this article.
What is BHG Recommends?
In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
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