Do you often see cloudy spots on glassware and crusty kitchen faucets? You must have also experienced thin films on the shower door that stay despite rigorous cleaning. Additionally, your water heater may also look rusty and crusty inside. These are signs of hard water in your home.
Hard water has a high content of dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. This water can cause damage to your faucets, water heaters, and other appliances, and can also leave your hair and skin dry and damaged. Almost all homes in the USA receive hard water.
Hard water reduces the efficiency of appliances and the plumbing system and shortens their lifespan. That’s why many homeowners prefer to install water softener systems. To learn more about the best water softener system for the house, read the blog to the end.
What is a Water Softener System?
Water softener systems for homes help remove the magnesium and calcium content from the water that enters the home. This system uses ion exchange to remove hardness from the water. When water flows through the system, hard water is exchanged for potassium or sodium ions.
How Does a Water Softener System Work?
A water softener system is usually kept in the basement or garage and occupies the same space as a water heater. It does not clean the water but swaps the minerals in it by running the water through a tank filled with resin beads, which hold a charge.
When the water flows through the beads, the charge captures the calcium and magnesium ions and releases sodium and potassium ions. The process, known as ion exchange, makes the water suitable for home use.
When the water is softened, it prevents limescale buildup and extends the life of your appliances, such as the water heater, washing machine, and dishwasher. Soft water also improves soap lather and allows the detergent to work better. Also, the softened water is gentle on your skin, hair, and clothes. Moreover, its water becomes safe to drink.
However, it should be noted that the softened water contains sodium. According to one study, soft water can add 417 mg of sodium to your diet each day. But if you are on a low-sodium diet, you can opt for potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride.
6 Best Water Softener Systems for Your Home
There are many water softeners on the market, which confuses many buyers. Here are some water softeners recommended based on certification, performance, specs, and reputation.
Whirlpool WHES40E 40,000 Grain Softener
Whirlpool water softener is NSF-certified and considered one of the best available on the market. The installation process is quite easy, and you can enjoy soft water right after installation. The soap will generate more foam, and the clothes will feel cleaner and fresher. However, the water may taste a bit salty, which can be adjusted by installing a filter.
Experts say that even after 6 months of continuous use, the water softener continues to work efficiently and keeps the water soft. Operating the water softener is quite easy, as it automatically regenerates when needed, saving time and water. The screen on the water softener shows when it is time to refill the salt. Maintenance is easy: the manufacturer recommends applying a cleaning solution every 3-4 months to prevent mold and mildew buildup.
The water softener gives an excellent value thanks to its stellar performance, easy installation and setup, and seamless usage. The softener also accommodates one to five people in a household.
Aquasure Serene Whole House Salt-Free Water Softening System
If you have a large number of houseplants, 4-6 baths, and households of up to 7 people, this can be your best choice. However, capacity, like any other water softener or conditioner, depends on the household’s water usage. After installation, you can experience less scale buildup on the faucets and other smaller appliances, such as humidifiers and coffee makers.
Even if scales appear, you can easily clean them up, and your bathtubs and showers will stay cleaner even if you don’t deep clean every week. Also, your hair will feel lighter and softer, and the shampoo, soap, and detergents will lather well.
In addition to conditioning, the Aquasure water softener uses a pre-filter to remove almost all contaminants from the water, including chlorine, rust, and pesticides. You can feel that the water tastes clean and pure, with no chlorine taste. This device is easy to install but requires a professional to do the job. However, make sure to change the filter every 9-12 months.
| Notes | If the hard water level is above 30 GPG, this device may not be able to reduce scale effectively. |
Rheem RHS32 Preferred 32,000 Grain Water Softener
Rheem Preferred Series is a one-piece, cabinet-style water softener that is readily available in stores and online. This device is available in a smaller version (18,000 grains) and a larger version (42,000) with or without WiFi connectivity.
The product features a “learning technology” that helps optimize performance and salt use based on a household's water consumption habits. It also helps reduce the water's iron content with proper settings. It works well even with the hardness level of 14 GPG. You can see immediate, noticeable results when soap and shampoo lather easily. The water becomes very fresh-tasting and almost like bottled water.
The installation process is relatively easy, but the instructions are somewhat technical and are more for a professional plumber than a homeowner. This may not be suitable for DIY work. The warranty covers the first year of parts and labor, and provides 10 years of coverage for the storage tank and 3 years for the electronic components. Therefore, if you have any issues with the water softener, you can get the parts replaced without hassle.
The device should be recharged and offers the option to schedule the two-hour process to run overnight, or you can activate it manually when required.
GE Smart Water Softener System
The GE water softener has smart features. For example, the electronic controller connects to your home's WiFi and can be operated from anywhere. The application is easy to set up and use, providing remote monitoring, controls, and notifications if the salt level is low or the device needs a recharge.
The “vacation mode” alerts you to an overflow or leak, even if you are away from home. This way, you can monitor water waste and spend your vacation without even worrying about your home. It gives peace of mind with all the extra benefits that are worth the investment. Experts say if your home has a water hardness level of 3 GPG, then this device will reduce it to 0 GPG. You can see that the soap, shampoo, and detergents produce more foam, and the skin and hair feel softer and lighter.
The device also features an inbuilt sediment filter that protects from larger particles that might cause the water and appliances to cloud up. It’s salt-saving technology; hence, you might only need a 40-pound bag of salt every month, depending on the water usage.
The instruction manual included with the device is identical to Rheem’s. If you don’t understand the manual's technicalities, you need to hire a professional to set up the GE Smart Water Softener System. Moreover, the warranty coverage matches Rheem's: 3 years for electronics and 10 years for resin tanks.
Aquasure Serene Lite Whole House Salt-Free Water Conditioning System
All the above water softener devices are salt-based and use electricity. But if you are looking for a salt-free option that does not require electricity to run or recharge, then consider using the Aquasure Serene Lite Whole House Salt-Free Water Conditioning System. The salt-free model prevents minerals from building up and sticking to pipes, faucets, and appliances.
You can find a 650,000-gallon model that serves homes with 1-3 bathrooms for 10 years and allows water to flow up to 10 gallons per minute. The system also includes a pre-filter to remove various contaminants, sediments, or chemicals from the water.
Pro+ Aqua Portable Water Softener
Pro+ Aqua is a portable water softener best suited for RVs, cabins, or boats. The device is 10 inches wide and 20 inches high, with a grain capacity of 16,000. This improves water quality, making it usable for washing clothes and drinking, and it can operate for a week before recharging.
The water softener comes with a hose and connectors for easy attachments. Also, it has a regeneration or pre-filter kit, and if you add 2 pounds of salt and wait for 30 minutes, the resin will be good to use again.
Conclusion
The water softener is available in both salt- and non-salt-forms. You can choose any depending on the hardness of the water, water usage, etc. The above-mentioned appliances include both varieties and are thoroughly tested by experts before a conclusion is reached.
