Best Water Softeners in 2020 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

ABCwaters Built Fleck 5600sxt Water Softener features one of the most trusted digital valve meters. This type of construction ensures softer water that is beneficial for your laundry, plumbing cleanups, and overall health. 

Let’s break down some of the primary features of this water softening system:

Dual Tank

The major feature of this water softener is the inclusion of two powerful American-made tanks. These tanks offer excellent water softening as they get to share the load between one another. 

Metered System

This water softener is equipped with a Fleck 5600sxt valve digital meter and it regenerates after a specific amount of water is used. This feature comes handy to prevent the waste of salt and water when consumption is low. Moreover, the system also makes sure the backwash is timely, so you always have quality soft water when you need it the most. 

Precise Performance

One thing you should keep in mind is that this is not a water filter so it won’t get rid of chlorine. Its main purpose is softening the water by removing the magnesium and calcium sulfate responsible for making the water hard. Also, this water softener doesn’t remove iron. 

Adequate Flow Rate

This water softener has a flow rate of 12 gallons per minute which makes it perfect for a medium-sized family. The flow rate ensures the system can keep up with three showers, one dishwasher, one laundry machine, and two sinks– all running at the same time. 

Easy Installation

ABCwaters Built Fleck 5600sxt Water Softener comes with an easy installation kit. It makes installation pain-free, which is great for non-professionals.

Durable Design

Both tanks have a 10-year warranty. Similarly, the Fleck control valve on this model comes with a 5-year warranty.    

It is one of the best water softeners by Fleck. Fleck 9100SXT Dual Tank Water Softener maintains its place among the best water softeners in the market, thanks to its exceptional capacity and innovative features. With dual tanks, a digital metered control, and good flow rate, you get a product that softens your water with high efficiency 

Here are the major features of this water softener:

Dual Tank

The dual alternating tank offers a top-notch performance when it comes to softening water as they get to share the load between one another. 

Alternating Metered Control Head

The alternating metered control head offers a two-tank operation to ensure soft water 24/7. This is a great attribute for homes with high hardness or high water usage. The metered design measures water usage and regenerates when necessary. Additionally, digital control allows for simple adjustments to maximize capacity or minimize salt usage.  

Better Flow Rate

Unlike the Fleck 5600SXT 64,000 Grain Water Softener, this softener has a strong flow rate of 20 gallons per minute. It means that even when you flush the softener, it will be quick.

Great Performance

This water softener removes all the ions which cause hardness in water. Plus, the scale buildup also gets removed, and the resin helps when it comes to iron removal. 

Durability

There is no need to worry regarding the durability of this product. Each tank comes backed by a 10-year warranty. Similarly, the resin itself should last at least 5 years before having to replace it. The same warranty applies to the control head.

Easy Installation

The installation of this water softener is generally a piece of cake. But you do have to do some electrical work and a drain setup, which can prove trickier depending on the weather, landscape, and your local safety regulations.        

If you and your family use water from a well, then you are probably dealing with hard water issues caused by calcium, magnesium, and iron. Since you need to handle the extra burden of iron, we recommend the Iron Pro 2 Combination Water Softener that is designed to eliminate iron, making the water pure and soft.

Here are the major features of this water softener system:

Metered Control Head

This softener includes a simple and efficient design to eliminate rust stains from ferrous iron as well as scale, water spots, and soap scum. The metered design helps to measure water usage, regenerating when needed. Similarly, digital control allows for simple adjustments to maximize capacity and minimize salt usage. 

Auto-Regeneration

Auto-regeneration is another great feature of the Iron Pro 2. You can follow two ways for auto-regeneration: either after a certain amount of water or after a certain amount of time. The digital touchpad is easy to control – just a couple of minutes to set things up and let the unit take over. 

Designed for Iron

The name speaks for itself. Iron Pro 2 Combination Water Softener can remove ferrous iron and ferric iron via ion exchange. It also eliminates the root cause of those annoying brownish stains on your tiles and equipment. In addition, you can get rid of buildup in the pipes as well. The iron removal ensures you get rid of metallic taste from the drinking water.  

Better Flow Rate

Another great feature of the Iron Pro 2 system is its flow rate of 15 gallons per minute. It ensures there is no interruption in the supply of water when your family needs it the most. 

Durability

You get a 5-year warranty on this water softener. Not as long as some of the other water softeners on our list, the longevity will depend on your usage rate and the number of people you have in your family.   

The Whirlpool WHES30 30,000 Grain Water Softener is one of the most popular products on the market. It neither occupies too much space nor requires much maintenance. A single-tank design means this softener can be used in small offices or shops for economic softening.

Now let’s break down the primary features of this water softener:

Sixth-Sense Technology

This is one of the most important features you can find in Whirlpool WHES30 30,000 Grain Water Softener. The sixth-sense technology allows the softener to calculate the amount of salt required to regenerate, which makes the system use just the right amount of salt. With this feature, you can save both water and salt. 

Demand-Initiated Regeneration

Another way this Whirlpool water softener doesn’t let you waste salt or water is by halting the regeneration process when you are on vacation or away from home for some time. This is possible because of its demand-initiated regeneration feature. The demand-initiated regeneration is also based on the hardness level of the water. 

Great Performance

You do not need to worry about the performance of this water softener. It is engineered to remove hardness in the water of up to 95 grains per gallon. Similarly, it can remove up to 8 parts per million of iron deposits from your water.

Ease of Use

This water softener is easy to use and maintain. It comes with fittings of approximately one inch so that you can tie it into your existing plumbing lines. Besides, the system requires very little maintenance, making it durable and less costly.   

Durable

The control head of this water softener comes with a warranty of three years. Plus, the tank can easily last up to 10 years.  

The Fleck 5600SXT 64,000 Grain Water Softener is a compact and efficient product that uses the ion-exchange process to remove calcium and magnesium for making the water soft and clean. 

Some of the major features of this water softener are:

On-Demand Metered System

This water softener is equipped with a digital meter and it regenerates after a specific amount of water is used. This feature prevents the waste of salt and water when consumption is low-- such as when a family is on vacation. Besides, it also makes sure the backwash is timely, so you always have soft water even when there is high demand. 

Convenient Flow Rate

This water softener is great for large families – the flow rate of 12 gallons per minute ensures that the system can keep up with three showers, a dishwasher, a washing machine, and two sinks running at the same time. 

Well-Rounded Package

Fleck 5600SXT 64,000 Grain Water Softener comes with a well-rounded package. You get the tank, resin, control head, brine tank with safety float, bypass valve, brine tubings, and connectors in the package. That’s pretty much all you need to install and run the system. 

Durable Design

The tank of this water softener is made with durable poly glass material. With that, you get a 10-years warranty for the tank by the manufacturer. Besides, the control is covered by the standard five-year warranty.  

Great Performance

This water softener removes the magnesium and calcium ions from water which are responsible for making the water hard. In the end, you get water that is soft and pleasant to taste, which can be used for bathing, cooking, and washing. 

Easy Installation

Installing this system is a breeze even for non-professionals. The major task involves some electrical work and a drain setup, which can prove trickier depending on the weather, landscape, and local safety regulations.    

Don’t get confused with its long name, this high-efficiency digital water softener does have key advantages worth mentioning. It is affordable, space-saving, and smartly engineered. 

Here are some of the major features of this water softening system: 

Digital Meter Control Valve

By using this digital meter control valve, you can decide on the water pressure and the flow rate that you get out of your faucet. Besides, the LCD display along with the Fleck valve offers you not only convenience but also protection. 

Energy Efficient

This water softener is energy efficient as well. It enhances the effectiveness of soaps and detergents to keep your skin soft, hair shiny, and laundry bright. And, because it consumes less energy, you save more money.  

Complete Traditional System

The system comes with a brine tank, pre-filled mineral tank with 1.5 cubic feet of Cation Resin, control valve, ¾ inch water line connections, brine tubing, and drain line. Also, it contains mechanical components necessary for the standard installation of traditional water softener connections. 

Good Performance

This Tier1 Digital Water Softener removes two main components of hard water, calcium phosphate, and magnesium. During the process, useful minerals are retained in the water.      

Nuvo H20 DPHB Home Salt-Free Water Softener System is the best value-for-money product available on Amazon. One of the major features of this softener is that it doesn’t use salt for softening the water. The water purified by this product is free from all adulterants or salt.

The main features of this water softener are:

Salt-Free Cartridge

The cartridge of this water softener is salt-free, as a result, your water tastes better and your skin feels less dried out after a shower. Besides, the life of the cartridge is usually up after 50,000 gallons which means that a family of two will be able to use it for six months without having to replace it. 

Reduction of Corrosion

The corrosion will be significantly reduced and buildup can be cleaned easily thanks to this handy water softener. However, don’t expect the system to have iron-free water as it is not built to deal with iron. 

Revolutionary Technology

The Nuvo H20 DPHB Home Salt-Free Water Softener System uses a revolutionary technology that helps to lower the pH level of water based on the basic scientific process of chelation. The mineral ions causing hard water are bound to the chelating agent in NuvoH20’s FDA-approved formulation which keeps the minerals soluble and unable to cause any hard water problems.

Easy Installation Box

You get a box filled with all the mounting hardware that you need with this water softener system. These tools make your installation process convenient and easy.  

The GE GXSF30V Water Softener is one of the most affordable water softeners available on Amazon. It is engineered to handle extreme hardness like any high-tech water softener on the market. However, its limited water flow rate means this water softener is best suited for a household with up to 3 members. 

Meter-based Intelligent Regeneration

This model keeps track of the amount of water used and activates the regeneration cycle accordingly. It calculates the amount of water consumption in the house, and based on the result, the system automatically changes its settings to meet the needs. With the help of this special feature, any water wasted gets minimized. 

Automatic Flush

Another key feature of this water softener is the automatic flush system. It comes with a control head that keeps track of water used daily. The system supplies the salt into the resin tank and automatically flushes it as per the requirement of the household. 

Digital Display

The availability of digital display makes it easy for you to check the system status. It assists to keep track of daily water consumption, the time before the system needs to regenerate, and also the water flow rate. In addition, the display beeps to warn you when the machine is low on salt. 

Better Performance

This water softener is designed to serve well for small households. The 7.5 gallons per minute flow rate is more than enough for a family of three. This system removes up to 95 grains of hard minerals per gallon of water and has a capacity of 30,000 grain capacity per regeneration cycle. Similarly, the system is capable of removing 7ppm of iron per gallon of water which makes it an excellent mid-end water softener. 

Effortless Installation

Like many other water softeners, this product comes with an easy guide on how to install the system properly. 

Durability

GE provides a 1-year warranty on all the parts of this water softener. The electronic monitor has a further three-year warranty and the brine and resin tanks can run smoothly for at least 10 years. 

Whirlpool WHES40E 40,000 Grain Water Softener is a great product for high hardness and iron removal and is ideal for families of more than 6 people searching for a safe way to soften their water. It removes sticky minerals stains and uses less detergent in the wash for cleaner and softer fabrics. 

The main features of this Whirlpool WHES40E 40,000 Grain Water Softener are:

Demand-Initiated Regeneration

One of the primary features of this Whirlpool water softener is that it includes a demand-initiated regeneration. This attribute helps to halt the regeneration cycle when there is no need for water supply in your household. With that, you can save salt or water when you are on a long vacation or away from home for some time. This regeneration process is also based on the hardness level of the water. 

High Hardness and Iron Removal

This water softener can remove a maximum of 125 grains per gallon of hardness, making it an ideal choice for houses with a high level of hardness. Besides, the system triggers an additional backwash cycle to rid your water supply of excess non-ferrous iron. The iron removal can go up to 10 parts per million. 

Tank Light and Low Salt Indicator Light

For visibility, a light is installed in the tank that lets you see the salt levels inside. Also, a steady light indicates that the softener is working efficiently. It starts blinking once the salt levels start getting low, informing you a few days in advance to refill. 

Easy Installation

The installation process is made easy with the availability of a do-it-yourself kit that includes a bypass valve and detailed instructions. Thanks to this, you don’t need to be a professional for setting the system up. 

The salt-free water softener Aquasana Whole House Water Filter System is an effective water filtration system that is engineered with many exciting features. It comes with the pro-grade installation kit that includes brass fittings, a pre-filter, a post-filter, and all the support and shut-off valves. 

The major features of this water softener are:

Hard Water Crystallization

This water softener crystallizes hard water grains so that they flow harmlessly through your pipes and drainage system. The system never uses salt and water to flush itself. 

Good Flow Rate

The system offers a decent flow rate of 7 gallons per minute. It is enough for a family of three or four. This rate makes sure that there is enough water pressure even when running two showers, a washing machine, and a kitchen faucet at the same time.

Durability

Despite a high initial price, Aquasana Whole House Water Filter System is guaranteed to last 10 years or more. Plus, it can conveniently process one million gallons of water – meaning this water softener was built to last. 

Good Packaging

Another major advantage of using this model is the pro installation kit it comes with. All the components included in this kit are of high quality, so you shouldn’t have any problems with leaks or faulty parts.

If you want a water softener for a long-long time without worrying about its durability, then you don’t have to look too far! Just grab this affordable Eddy Water Descaler Electronic Water Softener and take full advantage of its warranty-backed quality. 

Now let’s explain some of the primary features of this water softener:

Design

One of the key features of this water softener is its design itself. This is technically an electronic device and not an actual cartridge. The system has coils that are perfectly wound around your piping. 

Working Mechanism

Eddy Water Descaler Electronic Water Softener produces an electromagnetic wave that interacts with the water, helping to stop limescale from sticking and depositing itself into your pipes. The system emulates softened water and makes sure than nothing will build up inside your faucets and pipes. Plus, no salt is added to the system. 

Easy Installation

The installation of this water softener is very easy. You don’t need wrenches or nails, just a mounting bracket will do the job. The process doesn’t require plumbing as you can plug the machine and attach it to a wall or let it rest somewhere safe. Make sure you coil the wires around the pipe properly.

Lifetime Warranty

One of the greatest advantages of this water softener is that you get a lifetime repair/replacement guarantee. This shows how good the quality of this product is. 

Triple Action Poly Salt-Free Water Softener is a perfect salt-free water softener designed for well water. It comes with a 30-micron filter that catches sedimented particles and allows the smaller mineral grains to pass through the polyphosphate coating material. 

Now let’s have a look at some of the key features of the Triple Action Poly Salt-Free Water Softener:

Use of Polyphosphates

This feature makes the product different from a conventional water softener. It doesn’t remove hard grains from your water; instead, it crystallizes and coats the grains in polyphosphates so they don’t stick to your pipes, sinks, hair, and clothes. The polyphosphates are used in city water treatment facilities and they pose no risk to your health and your plumbing.  

Excellent Flow Rate

This is one feature that keeps this water softener among the top products. The system has a 30-micron filter to catch sediment and also provides 30 gallons of softened water per minute. Impressive, right?

Easy Refilling

Filling the hard water bullet with polyphosphates is a must every 6 to 12 months. Thankfully, the refilling task is easy. All you need to do is turn the water off and empty the water line before unscrewing the lid and pouring in the polyphosphates.  

Great Design

This Poly water softener is greatly made and durable. To maintain it, turn your water valve off, run a faucet until the line is empty, and unscrew the softener’s lid. Now remove the filter and rinse it in a washtub while you flush the core with a vinegar solution.