We love how easy it is to use this small but powerful softener – but, as you might expect, you’ll need to manually regenerate the unit with salt.

This water softening system doesn’t have some of the convenient features of the SpringWell SS range or the smart functioning of the DROP softeners, but it’s available in an impressive seven grain capacities, so it’s ideal if you want a water softener that’s accurately sized for your exact daily soft water requirements.

In our opinion, the best electronic water descaler available today is the Yarna Capacitive Electronic Water Descaler, an affordable softening alternative that’s designed to reduce scale buildup in pipes and improve the efficiency of appliances in your entire house.

We noted a few advantages of the Kind E-2000 compared to tank-based water softeners, and the biggest benefit was the comparative ease of installation.

Maintenance is simple, too. The E-2000 might be built like a filtration system, but just like tank-based conditioners, it’s virtually maintenance-free. The eSoft cartridge lasts for the entire system’s lifespan, and you can spend less than $40 a year on a replacement sediment filter, lubricant, and o-rings if you sign up for Kind’s AutoShip program.

We noticed some physical differences in our water quality that confirmed to us that the SS was doing its job. Our water had a smooth, silky feel due to the presence of sodium ions, and our skin no longer felt “sticky” after washing (a common complaint we’d had when our water was hard due to the soap scum formation).

The right-sized water softener for a family of 6 depends on your water hardness. If your water hardness is only around 5-10 GPG, a 32,000-grain water softener is a good size. If your water hardness is between 21 and 30 GPG, a 64,000-grain water softener will be more effective. Also consider your household size – generally, the bigger your home and the more bathrooms you have, the bigger the softener you’ll need.

Most salt-based systems have a lifespan of 10-15 years. With proper maintenance, salt-free systems last 10-20 years, or longer, depending on the type of system. You may need to replace the media in this time.

We recommend the On The Go Portable Water Softener as the number 1 portable water softening system on today’s market. This system can be used to protect the plumbing and appliances in your RV or vacation home and delivers soft water for up to two people.

Before installing the Futuresoft, we cleaned these surfaces with a commercial-grade descaler, so they were as close as possible to scale-free. We then checked the surfaces every day to see if any new scale had formed.

Installing the Futuresoft is easier too, because it has just one main tank, but we paid for a professional install for the peace of mind of a job well done. It’s still a POE system that needs to be plumbed into your main water line, which requires some plumbing knowledge and 2-3 hours of your time.

So our main point of testing was to monitor our surfaces – namely the underside of our shower head and our kitchen and bathroom sink faucets – for new scale formation.

Folks who prefer to spend less upfront on a compact, convenient water conditioner that doesn’t use salt, waste water, or take up a huge amount of vertical space with a long tank.

Folks looking for the smartest premium water softener that gives them the most detailed and informative insights into their softener performance and the most remote control over their system for convenience and peace of mind.

Yes, some water softeners are better than others. For instance, some can prevent scale more effectively than others, and some perform more efficiently, so they waste less water and salt. That’s why it’s important to do your research, look at expert recommendations, and read up on customer experiences before you invest your money.

The install took only about 45 minutes – less than a third of the time it took to install the SpringWell SS. This included shutting off the water, draining our plumbing, cutting into the existing pipe, and installing the unit, which we mounted to our wall. There are just two main plumbing connections, which made the process easy – we actually installed this one ourselves and think it’s much more DIY-friendly.

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The SpringWell Salt-Based Water Softener System (SS) is our top pick as the best conventional ion exchange water softener currently on the market. We love this salt-based system because it uses a durable, chlorine-resistant 10% crosslink resin and reduced 97.5% of calcium and magnesium hardness minerals in our testing.

The SpringWell SS is made from certified components, although it doesn’t hold any official materials safety certifications – something we’d love to see in the future.

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We installed the unit in a home on municipal water in the mountains of Colorado. Like the SpringWell Futuresoft, the Kind E-2000 uses template-assisted crystallization, so it reduces scale without softening water in the technical sense. But we were unsure whether the system’s performance would match the Futuresoft’s given the possible limitations of a smaller conditioning filter cartridge.

Installation takes around 4 hours, and we chose to get our unit installed by a professional plumber given the risk of getting something wrong (although SpringWell says the install process is DIY-friendly).

Anyone looking for an affordable whole house water softener offering high-quality performance. Considering this softener’s low upfront cost, excellent warranty and guarantee, and USA-built components, we think it’s a reliable choice for families on a budget.

Our top pick for the best premium whole-house water softener is the DROP Smart Water Softener. This high-tech water softener integrates with the DROP App and DROP Hub to let you monitor the system on the go and shut off water to your home if a leak is detected.

In our opinion, the Fleck 5600SXT Digital Control 24-64,000 Grain Water Softener is the top budget-friendly whole house water softening system available today. Why? Because this system has been consistently praised by customers for years – and it costs less than $1,500, making it an absolute steal.

In our opinion, the SpringWell FutureSoft is the best overall salt-free water softener system. The system uses TAC, one of the most research-backed scale-control processes, which almost completely prevented scale formation in our home but had none of the negative effects of a conventional softener on our water quality.

We couldn’t use water quality testing to evaluate the SpringWell Futuresoft’s performance because it doesn’t actually remove hardness minerals. Instead, it uses a conditioning process called template-assisted crystallization (TAC) to crystallize these minerals, preventing them from adhering to surfaces and forming scale.

What else should you know about this softener? It’s a traditional salt-based system, so it eliminates calcium and magnesium, and it has a 9V battery backup in case you ever lose power. Plus, it comes with a reassuring 5-year warranty.

Brian Campbell, a WQA Certified Water Specialist (CWS) and Certified Water Treatment Representative (CWR) with 5+ years of experience, helps homeowners navigate the world of water treatment. After honing his skills at Hach Company, he founded his business to empower homeowners with the knowledge and tools to achieve safe, healthy water. Brian's tested countless devices, from simple pitchers to complex systems, helping his readers find the perfect fit for their unique needs.

After following the same preparation steps as for the Futuresoft (cleaning our surfaces with a commercial descaler), we carried out daily monitoring for new scale formation. We still noticed mineral deposits post-install, but they were easier to wipe away with a cloth.

The Yarna Capacitive is our top pick for electronic descaling because it has a better design and more features than other descaler on the market.

Because the Futuresoft is a salt-free conditioner, it didn’t alter our water quality or feel like the SpringWell SS. That meant we could still enjoy the benefits of scale reduction without removing the healthy minerals from our water, adding sodium, or experiencing the “slippery” softened water feel.

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We’d put this system slightly behind the SoftPro Elite, which has a better warranty, an IAMPO certification, and a more efficient performance.

Families of any size looking for the best-value salt-based residential water softener, and anyone who prefers to spend their money on a trusted brand. We think the SpringWell SS softener is the best choice for most people because it’s competitively priced and reduced more than 97% of hardness in our testing.

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Anyone with a small budget who prefers softening systems that don’t have a salt brine tank and don’t require a lot of maintenance. This whole-house electronic descaler is an ideal no-fuss solution for people who don’t want to spend thousands on a tank-based traditional softener.

Our initial water sample contained 13.71 grains per gallon of hardness (water with 7.1-17.5 GPG of hardness is considered “hard”).

A small amount of scale formed over time in these locations, but it wasn’t tough or abrasive, and we could easily wipe it away. That said, it didn’t completely prevent scale like the SpringWell SS, and you’ll probably still notice some mineral spotting like we did – the difference is that it’s much more manageable.

SpringWell doesn’t go into specifics when discussing the SS unit’s water softening capabilities. So we were super curious to test the system ourselves and see how effectively it softened our own water.

We also much preferred maintenance for the Futuresoft – because there’s barely anything to do! We just swapped out the sediment filter every 9 months, and the conditioning media lasts up to 6 years before it needs to be replaced.

We tested the SpringWell WSS, which comes with the SpringWell AIO system too. Not all the parts we needed to install this specific configuration were included. Our plumber also recommended that we upgraded from the flimsier plastic fittings to sturdier ones made of brass, and not all the required information was provided for our installation – our plumber had to contact tech support, and their answers weren’t always very helpful.

According to this study, electromagnetic water treatment reduces about 50% of scale – pretty effective, considering it uses no salt, no tanks, and no media.

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These are the best water softeners in 2024 in terms of softening capability, efficiency, quality of build, customer satisfaction, and of course, affordability.

The SoftPro Elite is our second choice for the best overall water softener systems that use salt. This system blew us away with its efficiency-boosting features, including upflow tank design, limited backwashing, and demand initiated regeneration.

According to our own testing, the Kind E-2000 is the best cartridge-based water conditioner, which offers the convenience and flexibility of quick and easy filter changes rather than using a pre-loaded media. It’s also around $500 cheaper than the SpringWell systems, while still being backed by a lifetime warranty.

Whole house water softeners are an expensive investment, but they’re worth it for you if you want to eliminate the effects of hard water. You’ll be able to save money after installing a water softener by improving your appliance efficiency, using less soap, and no longer having to buy scale-removal products. When determining whether or not a water softener is worth it for you, think about your current experience with hard water and how much you would value never having to deal with water hardness issues again.

As for maintenance, we just topped up the sodium levels in the brine tank around once every month. The tank holds up to 200 pounds of salt and has a wide mouth, so topups were easy. The softening resin needs replacing every 8 years or so, which surprised us – we thought it’d last longer since it’s upgraded 10% crosslink resin.

An estimated 85 percent of the USA has hard water. Considering the damage that hard minerals can do to a plumbing system, it’s no surprise if you want to find a residential water softening solution ASAP.

You’re spoilt for choice with the size options available for this system. There are five models to choose from, ranging from 24,000 grains to 64,000 grains. We recommend 32,000 grains for most families of three.

You can read buyers’ guides like ours, look at customer feedback, and compare the features and tech specs of different water softeners to know which one to buy. Start by testing your water hardness (if you don’t know this already) and calculate your daily water usage. This will help you to choose the right-sized water softener. When it comes to choosing between brands, see what the experts are recommending. There are likely several water softeners that are ideal for your budget and situation.

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Post-treatment in the SS, our water hardness had dropped to just 0.34 GPG, so the SpringWell SS had reduced 97.5% of calcium and magnesium minerals.

But we also conducted a water quality test because we wanted to evaluate the performance of the carbon filter (remember, this is only available in the E-3000). We tested our water twice, and interestingly, our initial test results showed a 10% decrease in hardness, followed by a 20% increase in the second test. In the first test, calcium levels decreased by 14%, and magnesium by 40%, but these increased by 44% and 55% respectively in the second.

Again, the cartridge used in the Kind E-2000 contains conditioning media, so we wanted to focus more on how effectively it prevented scale formation in our home.

We tested the SpringWell Futuresoft on water in Arvada, Colorado. We were drawn to this system for a few reasons: SpringWell promises up to 99.5% scale reduction, even for extremely hard water, and the lack of a brine tank and automatic backwashing meant maintenance-free operation.

Anyone looking for the best salt-free water conditioner that provides almost the same scale reduction as salt-based water softeners, without increasing the water’s sodium concentrations or requiring regular salt top-ups.

Anyone looking for a highly efficient softening system that perfectly suits their water usage. The unit comes in seven grain capacities, which means there’s a system size to suit every family size. If standard softener sizes don’t typically suit your needs, you’ll appreciate the fine-tuned sizing options offered by SoftPro.

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The SS uses demand-initiated regeneration, so it only regenerates when it needs to, making it more efficient than timer-based water softeners. In our testing, the system regenerated about once a week, adding around 400 gallons to our monthly water bill. It also slightly increased our electricity bill by around $10 or so per month.

Throughout our testing period, we detected no new scale formation on our faucets, showerheads, and other fixtures and appliances. We’d expected this outcome given that the SS had thoroughly removed the minerals responsible for scale formation.

When researching and testing products for this guide, we focused solely on the water treatment systems that could counter the effects of hard water. We tested conventional ion exchange water softeners as well as salt-free conditioners and descalers.

We’ve personally tested and compared some of the most popular water softeners available in the US, using our own objective data and objective analysis to rank them in this guide.

If you want to eliminate the effects of hard water in your home, then no, there’s nothing better than a water softener. Water softeners are the only systems that actually remove hardness minerals However, a salt-free conditioner might be better for you if you don’t want to use salt or alter your water quality.

Based on our own hands-on testing, we think the SpringWell Salt-Based Water Softener System is the best salt-based water softening system for use in homes, and the SpringWell Futuresoft Salt-free Water Softener is the best salt-free system.

We can’t confirm whether these mineral fluctuations were due to the design of one of the filters, or simply a result of hardness fluctuations in our own water. But either way, the Kind E-2000 isn’t designed to remove hardness minerals, and scale reduction was our main focus.

We tested the SpringWell SS on our water in the Rocky Mountains near Telluride, Colorado. It uses the conventional cation exchange softening process, which reassured us that our water hardness issues were being properly addressed (ion exchange is the only softening process, which removes calcium and magnesium rather than simply preventing them from forming scale). Plus, the resin used in the softening tank is 10% crosslink – an upgrade from the less durable 8% crosslink resin that’s used as standard in many other systems we tested.

The tanks are made from polypropylene, which is known for being lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant. Unsurprisingly, the unit is big, bulky, and heavy, and the media tank is pre-loaded with resin, so it’s especially weighty.

Our water tasted slightly different because it no longer contained calcium and magnesium, and its sodium concentration had increased. But we didn’t notice a salty taste – if your softened water tastes salty, your salt settings are probably too high.