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Have you been getting hard water at your home? You certainly can’t drink hard water as it would cause all sorts of health problems for you and your family. So, the best and the most affordable solution for you is to buy a water softener. It is a device that is used to treat hard water.
Hard water is water that contains a high level of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can cause problems in your home like limescale build-up in your pipes and appliances, water spots on your dishes, and dry skin and hair. A water softener works by removing these minerals from the water through a process called ion exchange.
This process replaces the minerals with sodium or potassium ions, which don’t cause the same problems as calcium and magnesium. The result is water that is softer, better for your skin and hair, and easier on your plumbing and appliances such as a dishwasher, showerhead, toilet, etc. To buy the best water softener, all you need to do is go through water softener reviews consumer reports along with a detailed buying guide, which provides answers to all the common questions related to this product.
Water Softener Reviews Consumer Ratings & Reports
- 1. Aquasure Harmony Series 48,000 Grains Whole House Water Softener AS-HS48D
- 2. Whirlpool WHES40E 40,000 Grain Softener
- 3. AFWFilters Built Fleck 48,000 Water Softener System 5600SXT
- 4. PRO+AQUA 16,000 Grain Portable Water Softener FBA-WS-P-16
- 5. DURAWATER Fleck 5600 SXT Whole House Water Softener
How To Clean A Water Softener?
Wrapping Up
Water Softener Reviews – In Detail
1. Aquasure Harmony Series 48,000 Grains Whole House Water Softener AS-HS48D
Aquasure brings you a professional-grade water softener that can provide ultra-softened water to every outlet in your home.
Designed to perfectly suit the needs of households with 3-4 bathrooms, this water softener is the ideal solution for anyone looking to protect their appliances and enjoy cleaner, healthier home water.
With the Aquasure Harmony Series, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits that include reducing water hardness and eliminating scale buildup, which helps to prevent damage to your plumbing and prolongs the lifespan of your household appliances such as washing machine, dishwasher, and water heater.
The water softener is rated to treat 48,000 grains of hardness by getting rid of hard minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can clog up the skin pores and result in skin damage.
One of the standout features of the Aquasure Harmony Series is the automatic control head with a digital meter. This comes with a fully programmable backlit digital display that makes it easy to adjust your auto-flush intervals based on water usage and quality. It also allows for easy monitoring and hassle-free maintenance.
When you choose the Aquasure Harmony Series, you can be sure you’re getting a high-quality product. Each water softener is made with a durable and anti-corrosion fiberglass-lined polyethylene tank, a high-quality prefilled resin, and a rugged bypass valve.
The product comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee along with a 5-year extended warranty, and if you activate the product within 60 days, then you will get lifetime free support.
- Ability to treat 48,000 grains of hardness in the water
- Customizable auto-flush intervals based on incoming water quality & usage
- Tank quality is pretty good
- Comes with a 5-year extended warranty
- Installation can be a bit of a headache
2. Whirlpool WHES40E 40,000 Grain Softener
This water softener is perfect for a household of 1-6 people. One of the most significant advantages of this product is its ability to remove up to 10 ppm of iron present in clear water. This means that you can say goodbye to embarrassing stains building up on the faucets and pipes. Additionally, you will notice a significant reduction in spotting on dishes.
The Whirlpool WHES40E is NSF certified to reduce hard water symptoms, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to improve the quality of their water.
It is easy to use and comes with an automatic calculation feature that determines the amount of salt and water required to regenerate the softener. This results in significant reductions in salt and water usage, which is great for your budget and the environment.
In terms of maintenance, the Whirlpool WHES40E comes with a 1-year warranty on parts and labor. You can extend the warranty to one more year by purchasing 3 bottles of Whirlpool WHEWSC water softener cleanser. This is a great option for those who want peace of mind and protection for their investment.
- It does not just clean the water from hard elements but also improves the water quality
- Using this product will help keep your faucets and waterpipes clean
- Comes with a 1-year warranty on parts and labor
- Customer support is average
- It reduces and not fully remove the hardness of some elements
3. AFWFilters Built Fleck 48,000 Water Softener System 5600SXT
This fantastic product is designed to provide simple, efficient solutions to hard water problems like scale, water spots, and soap scum.
It also features Metered Control Head that helps measures your water usage and regenerates if required, ensuring that you always have soft water when you need it. The digital control allows you to easily adjust the unit to maximize the capacity or reduce salt usage, which gives you the power to control the unit’s performance.
One of the most significant advantages of this Water Softener is the support provided by AFWFilters YOUR Water. The friendly, knowledgeable support staff is always available to help answer any questions you may have.
Additionally, installation instructions are included, making it easy for most homeowners to install the system themselves. Video installation tips are also available to guide you through the process.
The company has included a standard 1″ MNPT thread with the water softener for easy connection to the existing plumbing, and a bypass valve that allows easy bypassing of the system without disturbing the main water supply.
Another reason to consider this water softener is that it is a certified True Blue dealer product. This means you can be confident in the quality of the product and the support provided by the manufacturer.
Finally, the water softener comes with a standard brine tank that holds roughly 200 pounds of salt. A safety float is included to prevent accidental overfilling, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
- A fully adjustable unit
- Customer support is also good
- Comes with a large tank that can hold up to 200 lbs of salt
- Installation can be tricky, so make sure to call a professional
4. PRO+AQUA 16,000 Grain Portable Water Softener FBA-WS-P-16
If you’re looking for a portable water softener, then you should definitely check out the PRO+AQUA 16,000 Grain Portable Water Softener. This compact and efficient unit can improve the taste and smell of your water and protect your water system from hard minerals deposit, corrosion, and scale. It’s perfect for use in your RV, trailer, marina, boat, or even at home for mobile car washing and pressure washing.
The best part is that it’s ready to use in just 5 minutes! The PRO+AQUA Portable Water Softener comes fully assembled with 3/4″ high flow in/out garden hose ports and has a 16,000-grain capacity for up to 60 days (2,000 gallons) of softened water. It works with both city and well water, making it a versatile option for different water sources.
What’s even more impressive is that this portable water softener requires no tools or power to operate. You can easily connect it to any water hose connections available at home, park, or campgrounds. It regenerates with 2 boxes of common table salt in less than 30 minutes, so you can enjoy soft water quickly and easily.
Despite its compact size of only 10″ x 19.5″, this Water Softener produces twice the gallons and 40% more soft water compared to other brands, making it a great value for your money. It’s also built to last with a durable Polyethylene tank, which is reinforced with fiberglass and pre-filled, food-grade resin that reduces the presence of hard minerals like lead, iron, calcium, magnesium, and many more. It comes with a 2-year warranty, so you can buy with confidence because the company has got you covered.
- Operation requires no tools or electricity
- Efficiently improves the taste and smell of the water
- Built quality of the water softener is good
- Water leakage has been a problem in this water softener
5. DURAWATER Fleck 5600 SXT Whole House Water Softener
DURAWATER Fleck 5600 SXT is a reliable water softener that offers a perfect solution to water problems in your house. This unit comes pre-loaded with a high-capacity resin and features a 10×54-inch black mineral tank that’s easy to install. You won’t have to worry about putting in any of your own media, which saves you time and hassle.
The water softener boasts a metered paddle wheel control valve that is fully programmable and easy to use. You can customize the settings to meet the specific needs of your home, which helps you save water and get the most efficient use out of your system. This means you get the best water quality possible without any extra effort.
The included 14×34 brine tank comes with a safety float and all necessary fittings for installation. The unique design of the brine tank ensures you can use this water softener with complete peace of mind. You’ll have no worries about overfilling or other safety concerns.
Overall, the DURAWATER Fleck 5600 SXT Whole House Water Softener is a top-of-the-line system that provides your entire home with the soft water you need. With high-quality resin, efficient programming options, and a reliable design, this water softener is definitely worth the investment. Plus, with a 48,000-grain capacity, you can enjoy soft water for longer periods before having to regenerate.
- Installing this water softener is a breeze
- A fully programmable unit, with settings that you can change according to your needs
- The design of the brine tank prevents it from overfilling
- Lacks advanced features that other hi-tech systems have
- The warranty period is not good
- Not a highly efficient unit when compared with others
How To Install A Water Softener?
Installing a water softener can be a bit tricky, but it is definitely doable. We present to you useful steps to install a water softener:
Choose the right location – The first step is to select the right location for your water softener. Look for a place that is close to a drain and a power source.
Turn off the water supply – Next, turn off the water supply to your home. You don’t want water flowing through the pipes while you’re working on them.
Cut into the pipes – Now, you need to cut into the pipes to install the water softener. You can do this with a pipe cutter or a hacksaw. Make sure you measure the pipes carefully so that you cut the right size hole.
Connect the pipes – Once you have the holes cut, connect the pipes to the water softener. You may need to use connectors and fittings to get the right fit.
Connect the drain line – You will also need to connect the drain line to the water softener. This will allow the system to flush out the minerals that it has removed from the water.
Add salt – Finally, add salt to the brine tank and turn on the water supply to the softener. You will need to run the softener through a regeneration cycle to get it working properly.
How To Clean A Water Softener?
Cleaning a water softener is an important part of keeping it working properly. Here are some general steps to follow:
Turn off the water supply – The first step is to turn off the water supply to your home. This will prevent any water from flowing through the pipes while you’re cleaning the softener.
Empty the brine tank – Next, you need to empty the brine tank, which you can do by scooping out the salt or with the help of a wet/dry vacuum.
Clean the tank – Once the tank is empty, clean it out with warm, soapy water. Make sure you get all the salt and mineral build-up off the sides and bottom.
Clean the resin tank – You may also need to clean the resin tank. This can be done by running a special resin cleaner through the system.
Replace the tank – After the tanks are clean, replace them and add salt to the brine tank.
Turn on the water supply – Finally, turn on the water supply to the softener and run it through a regeneration cycle. This will help flush out any remaining minerals and get the softener working properly again.
Wrapping Up
Buying a water softener is not an option but a necessity if you are receiving hard water at home. So, make sure to make the decision quickly in order to avoid any health issues. Just pick a product from water softener reviews consumer reports depending on your needs and start getting portable water for your day-to-day usage.