Key Takeaways:
- More than 80% of Americans have hard water.
- Water softener filters remove hard water minerals, like calcium and magnesium, to create soft water.
- Water softener filters offer benefits like healthier skin and hair, cleaner dishes and clothes, lower energy costs, and improved water flow.
- The Tyent “Soft Water Buddy” not only softens your water but also prevents limescale build-up and remineralizes your water.
If you’re dealing with itchy clothing from the wash, spotty dishes from the dishwasher, or dry, irritated skin after a shower, you might be among the 85% of Americans affected by hard water. A water softener filter can create soft water, which benefits your skin and hair, improves cleaning, and reduces energy costs.
How do water softener filters work? In this article, we’ll discuss what water softener filters are and where to find the best ones.
What is a Water Softener Filter?
A water softener filter is a system that combines water softening and filtration to tackle hard water minerals and impurities. It uses processes like ion exchange to remove calcium and magnesium, the main causes of hardness, while also filtering out contaminants like sediment, chlorine, and heavy metals, delivering softer, cleaner water for your home.
How do water softener filters work?
Water softener filters typically work using a salt-based ion exchange process. As water flows through a tank containing resin beads, calcium and magnesium ions are replaced with sodium ions. This exchange removes the hardness minerals, resulting in softened water with sodium ions in place of the calcium and magnesium ions.
Benefits of Water Softener Filters
Why invest in a water softener filter? There are numerous benefits to soft water, from saving your skin to saving you money.
Major Health Benefits
Hard water can affect your health, including wreaking havoc on your digestive system. But you don’t have to consume hard water for it to hurt your body. Showering in hard water can result in dry, brittle hair, as well as skin conditions like eczema and acne. Soft water is considered better for digestion, and it also doesn’t irritate skin or leave behind residue on your hair and skin that hard water does
Cleaner Dishes and Laundry
When you wash your dishes in hard water, they often come out with hard water stains that make them look unclean. Washing your clothes in hard water can result in the hard water combining with your soap or detergent to cause scratchy fabric and the dulling of your clothing’s color. Soft water makes for softer clothing and spot-free dishes.
Cost Savings
Limescale build-up caused by hard water makes your appliances work harder, resulting in higher energy costs. When you use a water softener filter, you can save yourself from a 24% loss of efficiency in your water heater. You’ll save not only on energy bills but also on maintenance costs.
Protects Appliances From Water Blockages
Scale build-up also results in reduced water flow. A water softener filter keeps your water flow strong and stops blockages from developing. No one likes to shower in just a trickle of water.
Best Water Softener Filters
With many different water softener filters on the market claiming to be the best, how do you know which one really stands above the rest? Let’s get into the best water softener filters.
1. Tyent “Soft Water Buddy” Remineralization Filter
The Tyent “Soft Water Buddy” is a remineralizing filter designed for use with water softeners, especially for those with a reverse osmosis (RO) water system. It enhances any soft water setup by effectively addressing hard water issues and improving water quality.
This pre-filter contains 50% Calcite, a crushed white marble media that neutralizes acidic, low-pH water, and 50% Corosex, a magnesia-based media that raises water pH levels. Together, they create healthier, hydrating water, reduce scale buildup, and protect your soft water system.
For optimal results, pair the “Soft Water Buddy” with a Tyent ionizer to enjoy the benefits of soft, hydrogen-rich, and alkaline water.
Pros:
- Remineralizes water and improves its hydrogen levels
- Reduces corrosion by neutralizing low pH or acidic water
- Easily installed
- Easy maintenance
- Betters the performance of your soft water system
- Tyent has dozens of premium certifications
- Tyent shares third-party lab results publicly
- 100% full lifetime warranty with zero stipulations
- 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
Cons:
- Can take 5-7 days to arrive
- Business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm EST
Pricing: $54.95
Get the “Soft Water Buddy”—your water’s new best friend.
2. Fleck 5600sxt Water Softener
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 replacement parts
- Users say water is not softened well enough
- Poor customer service
Pricing: $1,498.34
3. Whirlpool WHES30 Water Softener
Whirlpool WHES30 Water Softener is a salt-based water softener. It utilizes Demand Regeneration and 6th Sense technologies to predict your water usage and how much salt you need.
Pros:
- Works up to 30,000 grains of hardness
- 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
4. Aquasure Harmony Series 32,000 Grains Water Softener
The Aquasure Harmony Series 32,000 Grains Water Softener is a salt-based water softener and is meant for small homes and businesses of up to two bathrooms and up to three people. It features a digital control head for automatic backwashing and cleaning.
Pros:
- Works up to 32,000 grains of hardness
- 160-pound salt capacity
- 10 GPM max flow rate
- 110 GPG max hardness
Cons:
- No sediment pre-filter
- No iron or chemical filtration
- Only works for small homes and businesses
- Poor customer support
- Customers report unit is not long-lasting
Pricing: $499.99
5. SpringWell CSF1
The SpringWell CSF1 is a combination water filter and salt-free water conditioner. The water filter uses a sediment pre-filter, a KDF filter, and catalytic carbon to reduce contaminants, while the water conditioner uses template-assisted crystallization (TAC) to convert hard water minerals into crystals that don’t cause scale.
Pros:
- Designed for houses and businesses with up to three bathrooms
- 9 GPM flow rate
- 1-inch connectors
- 36 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit temperature range
- 81 GPG max hardness
- 7 to 9.5 pH range
- 20 to 80 PSI pressure range
Cons:
- Complex installation
- Does not remove hard water minerals
- Does not remove bacteria or viruses
- Poor customer service
Pricing: $2,455
6. 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 sediment pre-filter, a KDF filter, activated carbon, a post-filter, and a UV sterilization filter. It also has an available upgrade to add a salt-free water conditioner that does not remove hard water but can assist with scale prevention.
Pros:
- 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
- Neither filter nor conditioner removes hard water minerals
- 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
7. 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
- Third-party certifications
- 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.
8. WaterBoss 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
More Information About Water Softener Filters
If you’re thinking about using a water softener filter for softer, healthier water, here’s a look at some of the most commonly asked questions about water softener filters.
Do water softeners need a filter?
Water softeners can reduce hardness in water on their own, but using filters makes your soft water system much stronger. A remineralization filter, like Tyent’s “Soft Water Buddy,” not only helps reduce hardness but also adds back healthy minerals, which is especially important if you’re using a reverse osmosis water purifier and softener.
What happens if you don’t change a water softener filter?
If you don’t change your water softener filter, your water softener won’t be able to do its job properly, resulting in hard water and the limescale build-up that comes with it. It can also lead to bacteria growth, which can contaminate your water.
Is it better to drink hard water or soft water?
In general, it’s safe to drink both hard and soft water. However, soft water often has a better taste, as it lacks the bitter, chalky taste that can be associated with hard water. Plus, hard water can cause digestive issues, like diarrhea, particularly in those with sensitive stomachs.
Can I drink tap water if I have a water softener?
A water softener doesn’t automatically make tap water safe to drink. Water softeners do not filter out contaminants on their own. If you’re concerned about the safety of your tap water, consider requesting a free water report from Tyent.
Can you have both a water softener and a water filter?
It’s a great idea to use both a water softener and a water filter. While a water softener combats hard water minerals, a water filter can remove additional contaminants. Consider using a water softener alongside a Tyent ionizer, which not only removes more than 200 pollutants but also provides you with the benefits of both hydrogen water and alkaline water.
Choose the Best Water Softener Filter For Your Home
Adding a water softener filter to your home can help you, your home, and the environment. No matter which water softener you choose, consider adding a Tyent “Soft Water Buddy” to make your soft water system even more powerful. The “Soft Water Buddy” not only softens your water and prevents scale build-up, but also remineralizes your water which is crucial if you’re using an RO water system. Meet your water’s new best buddy.
Try the “Soft Water Buddy” today.
