Key Takeaways:
- A soft water system removes calcium and magnesium minerals from hard water.
- The most common type of soft water system is the ion exchange, or salt-based, soft water system.
- Tyent’s “Soft Water Buddy” remineralizes soft water with healthy minerals and works in conjunction with your water softener or water filtration system.
- Soft water systems make water taste better, reduce your energy consumption, and make your clothes, hair, and skin softer and smoother.
More than 80% of homes in the United States suffer from hard water. People in homes with hard water end up paying more for less efficient appliances and suffer from dry skin, damaged hair, and digestive system issues. With a soft water system, they can fight back against hard water and get skin-saving, money-saving soft water.
How do soft water systems work? This article explores what soft water systems are and where to find the best soft water systems.
What is a Soft Water System?
A soft water system, also called a water softener, is a water treatment device designed to remove minerals like calcium and magnesium that cause hard water. These systems typically use an ion exchange process, replacing hard water minerals with sodium or potassium ions, resulting in softer water. Soft water helps prevent scale buildup in pipes and appliances, improves soap efficiency, and reduces skin and hair dryness.
Types of Soft Water Systems
Not all soft water systems function the same way. Let’s take a look at five of the most common types of soft water systems.
Ion Exchange Systems
Ion exchange systems are the most common type of soft water system. In these systems, salt-charged resin beads draw the hard water minerals in and exchange them for sodium ions.
Salt-Free Systems
These systems use template-assisted crystallization (TAC) and potassium chloride. Treated resin beads convert hard water mineral ions into crystals that don’t cause scale the way that hard water minerals do.
Water Distiller
A water distiller boils water to use evaporation and condensation to separate soft water from its contaminants and hard water minerals.
Magnetic Systems
Through a magnetic field, these water systems neutralize hard water minerals by taking away their positive or negative ions. Without their charge, they no longer bind to each other, which prevents scale build-up.
Reverse Osmosis Systems
Reverse osmosis (RO) water systems use a semi-permeable membrane with small pores alongside high-pressure pumps to filter water. But RO water systems don’t just remove hard water minerals—they remove all other good-for-you minerals, too. Long-term usage of RO water systems can lead to vitamin deficiencies and other health problems, as well as increase your wastewater and negatively impact the environment.
Best Soft Water Systems
If you’re one of millions of people living with hard water, you might consider a soft water system. But which soft water system is the best?
1. Tyent “Soft Water Buddy”
Tyent’s “Soft Water Buddy” is a soft water system that works in tandem with your water softener to ensure that your body gets all the good-for-you minerals that it needs from your water. The “Soft Water Buddy” is a remineralization filter that uses calcite and Corosex to neutralize acidity and increase the pH value of your water, creating less corrosive, healthier, softer water. Especially if you’re using an RO water system, the “Soft Water Buddy” will become your water’s best buddy, as it adds back the healthful minerals that RO water systems remove.
The “Soft Water Buddy” is also a great addition to your Tyent ionizer, providing you with all the benefits of soft water, alkaline water, and hydrogen water in one powerful water system.
Pros:
- Trusted by famous doctors, pro athletes, and celebrities
- Tyent has dozens of premium certifications
- Tyent shares third-party lab results publicly
- Tyent is the only hydrogen water and ionizer company to offer a 100% full lifetime warranty with zero stipulations that covers both parts and labor
- Tyent offers a generous 75-day trial period with a less than 1% return rate
- Accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for excellent customer service and support, A+ rating
- Remineralizes water that’s been stripped of helpful, healthful minerals
Cons:
- Can take 5-7 days to arrive
- Business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm EST
Pricing:
Order your Tyent “Soft Water Buddy” today.
2. Whirlpool WHES30 Water Softener
Whirlpool WHES30 Water Softener is a salt-based water softener. It is capable of softening up to 30,000 grains of hardness.
Pros:
- Removes a maximum of 95 grains per gallon (GPG)
- Removes up to 8 ppm of iron
- 1-inch connectors
Cons:
- Cannot use any kind of block salt
- Only one year warranty on parts and labor, unless additional warranty is purchased
- Reviewers say Whirlpool doesn’t always uphold the warranty
- Multiple problems with the bypass valve have been reported
Pricing: $756
3. Culligan High Efficiency Water Softener
Culligan’s High Efficiency Water Softener is a salt-based soft water system. In addition to water hardness minerals, it can also remove some iron.
Pros:
- Available in four sizes
- Offers salt delivery and installation and maintenance assistance
- Comes equipped with smart technologies
Cons:
- Maintenance issues have been reported
- Users say the product is not worth the cost
- No overflow safety features
- No sediment pre-filters
Pricing: Pricing is determined after a water consultation.
4. Aquasential Select Series Water Softener
The Aquasential Select Series Water Softener is another Culligan water softener and is also salt-based. It features a Cul-Flo-Valv, which is meant to turn off the soft water in situations where the user doesn’t need it.
Pros:
- Available in six sizes
- Can be installed indoors or outdoors
- Offers salt delivery and installation and maintenance assistance
Cons:
- No sediment pre-filter
- No overflow safety features
- Lacks the smart technologies of many other modern water softeners
Pricing: Pricing is determined after a water consultation.
5. Kind Water System E-3000 Whole House Water Filter & Softener
Kind Water System E-3000 Whole House Water Filter & Softener is a whole-house water filtration system that contains a salt-free water softener. Along with the softener, the system also includes a sediment filter and a carbon filter.
Pros:
- For up to six bathrooms
- 15 gallons per minute (GPM) max flow rate
- 36 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit temperature range
- Removes maximum hardness of 75 GPG
- 1-inch connectors
- 25 to 120 PSI operating pressure
- 6.5 to 9.5 pH range
Cons:
- Does not filter iron
- Does not filter hydrogen sulfide
- Not performance certified
- Complex installation
Pricing: $1,998
3. APEC Softener HE-45-FG Water Softener
APEC Softener HE-45-FG Water Softener is a salt-based water softener with an automatic electronic meter that monitors water consumption. It’s designed for homes with moderate hardness up to 45,000 grains.
Pros:
- Works on up to 45,000 grains of hardness
- 200-pound salt capacity
- 17.6 GPM peak flow rate
- 20 to 125 PSI pressure range
- 34 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit temperature range
Cons:
- Drain line needed for installation
- Not recommended to be installed outside
- Limited warranty
- Chlorine 1 ppm or over is recommended to be removed before using the softener
Pricing: $699
7. Aquasure Harmony Series 48,000 Grains Whole House Water Softener
The Aquasure Harmony Series 48,000 Grains Whole House Water Softener is a salt-based water softener with a digital control head. It’s designed for homes and businesses of up to five people with a medium level of hardness of up to 48,000 grains.
Pros:
- Works on up to 48,000 grains of hardness
- Designed for homes and businesses of up to four bathrooms
- 160-pound salt capacity
- 15 GPM max flow rate
- 110 GPG max hardness
- Metered backwashing feature
Cons:
- Does not remove iron or chemicals
- Customers say the softener is not long-lasting
- Complex installation
- Reviewers mention frequent leaks
Pricing: $579.99
8. Rhino Whole House Well Water Filter System with UV and Salt-Free Water Conditioner
Rhino Whole House Well Water Filter System with UV is a whole-house water filtration system from Aquasana that comes with a UV filter. It also has an available upgrade to add a salt-free water conditioner that does not remove hard water but does assist with scale prevention.
Pros:
- Sediment pre-filter
- KDF filter
- Activated carbon
- Post-filter
- UV sterilization filter
- Works on up to 500,000 gallons
- 14.7 GPM max flow rate
- 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit temperature range
- 100 PSI max operating pressure
Cons:
- Salt-free water conditioner is not included and is an additional cost
- Limited warranty
- Only designed to last five years
- Difficult to find replacement parts
- Complex installation
- Some users said it made their water harder
Pricing: $2,798 base price plus $799 for salt-free water conditioner
9. Fleck 5600 SXT
The Fleck 5600 SXT Water Softener is a metered, salt-based water softener. It contains four modes of operation and a turbine-electronic meter.
Pros:
- 26 GPM peak flow rate
- 20 to 125 PSI pressure range
- 34 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit temperature range
Cons:
- Difficult to find broken parts
- Users say water is not softened well enough
- Poor customer service
Pricing: $1,498.34
10. pringWell SS1
The SpringWell SS1 is a salt-based water softener system. It includes a brine tank, drain line, hose clamp, electronic head, and bypass valve.
Pros:
- Designed for homes with up to three bathrooms
- Works on up to 32,000 grains of hardness
- 11 GPM standard flow rate
- 1-inch connectors
- 25 to 80 PSI pressure range
- 36 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit temperature range
- 6.5 to 10 pH range
Cons:
- Does not work for large homes or very hard water
- No overflow safety features
- Complex installation
- No sediment pre-filter
- Installation kit lacking all necessary parts
- Challenging to find replacement parts
Pricing: $1,478
11. WaterBoss Model 700 Water Softener
The WaterBoss 700 Water Softener is a whole-house, salt-based water softener. It contains a self-cleaning filter and removes hard water minerals, as well as iron, dirt, and sediment.
Pros:
- Works up on to 20,500 grains of hardness
- Removes up to 10 ppm of iron
- For households of one to four people
- .75- or 1-inch connectors
- 80-pound salt capacity
- 70 GPG max hardness
Cons:
- Only recommended for indoor use
- Many reviewers say the unit arrived broken
- Poor customer service
- Complex installation
Pricing: $579
Benefits of a Soft Water System
Why invest in a soft water system? Here are some of the key benefits.
Water Tastes Better
Hard water can taste chalky, bitter, and metallic. A soft water system removes the minerals that create these unpleasant tastes.
Energy Efficiency Increases
Hard water leads to limescale build-up. The more that scale builds, the more it reduces your water pressure and flow. Using a soft water system, you can help prevent that build-up and make your appliances last longer and become more efficient.
Save Money on Energy Bills
That limescale build-up can wreak havoc on everything from water heaters to refrigerators. By lowering the efficiency of these devices, your energy bill skyrockets. Looking at your water heater alone, a soft water system can save you from a 24% loss of efficiency caused by hard water, which would result in not only higher energy bills but more maintenance costs.
Healthier Hair and Skin
Hard water can create a mineral build-up in your hair, making it dull and brittle. It can also strip your skin and hair of natural oils, resulting in dandruff, dry skin, eczema, and acne. Soft water systems help you keep your natural oils while also preventing mineral build-up.
Clothes Are Softer
Hard water combines with your soap or detergent, making your clothing feel stiff and scratchy. It can also take away your clothing’s color. Especially hard water can even create holes.
More to Know About Soft Water Systems
Thinking about investing in a soft water system? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about choosing your best soft water system.
Which type of water softener system is best?
There are benefits and drawbacks to each kind of soft water system. However, the best way to increase the efficiency and health of your soft water system is by investing in a Tyent “Soft Water Buddy.” Many water softeners, especially ones that utilize reverse osmosis, can strip out helpful, good-for-you minerals. The “Soft Water Buddy” not only helps you get softer water but also remineralizes the water to provide you with more powerful, healthier water.
What is the difference between a water softener and a water softener system?
Water softener and water softener systems are often used interchangeably. However, a water softener system may refer to multiple components that work together to soften water, such as if you were to use a water softener with a Tyent “Soft Water Buddy.”
Is there an alternative to a water softener?
The primary alternative to water softeners is water conditioners, which change the structure of hard water minerals so they don’t bond to surfaces. These do not soften the water—they help limit the effects of hard water.
Choose the Best Soft Water System For Your Home
Water softeners can prolong the life of your appliances, save you hundreds on energy bills, and bring back life to dry, damaged skin and hair. Soft water systems vary, from salt-based solutions to magnetic water systems. No matter what soft water system you choose, consider adding Tyent “Soft Water Buddy”—your water system’s new best friend.
Not only will the “Soft Water Buddy” work with your water softener to soften your water, but it also gives you back healthy minerals that other water softeners, particularly RO-based purifiers and softeners, remove. The result? Healthy, soft water that’s better for you, your home, and the environment.
Get your “Soft Water Buddy.”
