10 Best Water Softener Systems
for December 2023

The Capacitive Electronic Water Descaler System from Yarna is our top pick for its relatively low price and its lower-than-average maintenance requirements. It addresses the two main disadvantages of hard water: the scale that accumulates in pipes, and the hardness, which tends to build up over time. The yarna doesn't require salt, and its relatively short 1-inch pipe makes it an excellent option for smaller homes. The yarna does, however, require an external power source, and its output is pretty weak, so it takes some work to get good results. The setup process takes a few minutes, and once it's installed, it supplies softened water throughout the house. The yarna is also fairly expensive, and it requires a subscription, which costs $19.95 per month. For the cost of this subscription, you could upgrade to the 2.5-inch pipe model, which would greatly reduce the maintenance requirements and output strength. If you're looking for an affordable alternative to salt-based water softeners, the yarna is a good choice.

The Yarna CWD30 water descaler system is one of the best water softeners we've tested. It's easy to use, and it produces noticeably less limescale than many other descaler systems, even when it's used on a whole house. The Yarna has 10 programmable settings, so you can set it up to treat water for your specific needs. The Yarna is also quiet, which is important if you're using it to purify water that you'll drink. The Yarna has a couple drawbacks: It doesn't descale water as quickly as some, and it's slightly less effective at removing limescale from large pipe lengths. However, both of these issues can be solved by adjusting the settings, and it's a bit easier to use than some descalers. The Yarna is also effective on water that contains iron and sulfur, so it's suitable for water that's hard but also contains other impurities. The Yarna isn't designed to treat water that's only hard, so it's best used on the entire house. The Yarna is a worthy alternative to salt-based water softeners, and it's one of the best descalers that we've tested.

The GE 30,400 Grain Water Softener System has an impressive grain capacity, which puts it at the top of the price range. It's a good choice for large households with hard water, but you should buy this unit if you have a large home, because you'll need to refill the salt tank relatively frequently. The GE softener has a solid build quality, and it's easy to install. The electronic controls are simple to navigate, and the brine tank is transparent, making it easy to monitor salt levels. GE's softener also performs well, softening most water supplies. The GE water softener was slower at softening hard water than our previous pick, the EcoWater Premier 40,000 Grain, but it performed better on soft water, thanks to the higher grain capacity. However, the GE softening system had less flow than the EcoWater, making it less useful for large households. Also, the GE softening system has a gray color, which some people prefer, but it's more expensive than other units with color options.

Aquasana's EQ-1000-AST-UV Whole House Water Filter System is one of the best water filtration systems around for homes that already have a water softener. The EQ-1000 installs effortlessly, and its low-impact design makes it a good fit just about anywhere. When it comes to water treatment, the EQ-1000 has one of the best reputations in the business, and it's easy to see why. The EQ-1000's full lineup of filters and technologies give you great-tasting water from every tap in your home, and it does so without stripping the water of healthy minerals. The EQ-1000 is also one of the cleanest water treatment systems on the market, with a filter life rating of 10 years. The EQ-1000 is also one of the most affordable water treatment systems on the market, costing just $0. 01 per gallon. The EQ-1000 also compares favorably to other water treatment systems, such as the 10Lt Brita Pitcher, when it comes to cost per gallon. The EQ-1000 is also much more affordable than other water treatment systems, such as the 20Lt Aqualizer, when it comes to initial cost.

The Aquasure Whole House Water Filtration Bundle was easy to install, and its controls are intuitive. Its performance is fantastic: the filtered water tastes great, and it removes enough hard minerals to make showering a pleasure again. The Aquasure is also quiet, and it uses far less water than a commercial reverse osmosis system, so it uses less energy too. The Aquasure Whole House Water Filtration Bundle gets our endorsement. It's easy to install, quiet, and cheaper to operate than a commercial system. The filtered and softened water tastes great, and it reduces hard minerals that clog up the skin pores and cause irritation. The Aquasure Whole House Water Filtration Bundle is a good choice for anyone who wants great-tasting, softened, and filtered water.

The Fleck 5600sxt is our favorite whole house water softener because of its reliability, performance, and style. The 5600sxt is easy to install, and it includes everything you need, including a tank and bypass valve. It's easy to use, with 4 buttons and a display, and it comes with a brine tank and a safety float. The 5600sxt is faster at softening hard water than our previous top pick, the Pentair WhisperSoft, and it has a better warranty (5 years vs. 3 years). The Fleck 5600sxt is also only 2 inches tall, making it smaller and lighter than most water softeners and easier to install. The Pentair WhisperSoft is a better value than the Fleck 5600sxt, but it's more expensive, takes longer to install, and is more difficult to maintain. The Fleck 5600sxt may not be perfect, but it's our favorite water softener for most people.

The Aquasure Signature Series Complete Whole House Water Treatment System is an all-in-one system that provides superior water quality and is great for larger homes with 4-6 bathrooms and up to 7 family members. The Aquasure Signature Series Whole House Water Treatment System is easy to install and is backed by an outstanding 3-year warranty. It features a water softener, a reverse osmosis system, and an inline water filtration. The water softener features 64,000 grain rated capacity, so it's ideal for homes with up to 4-6 bathrooms. The reverse osmosis system features 75 GPD capacity, so it's ideal for up to 7 family members. The inline water filtration is 10 microns, so it's ideal for homes with up to 7 family members. The Aquasure Signature Series Whole House Water Treatment System features an easy to use control panel, so you can turn the system on and off, adjust the water hardness, adjust the water flow rate, and control water filter changes. The Aquasure Signature Series Whole House Water Treatment System features a large 3-gallon water filter, which means you'll have fewer filter changes. It features a compact design, so it takes up less space than traditional water treatment systems. The Aquasure Signature Series Whole House Water Treatment System is compatible with all standard U.S. plumbing.

The Hansing Whole House Water Softener System is heavy, but that's because it's built well. The housing is made from 304 stainless steel, which is corrosion-resistant, and the filter is made from coconut activated carbon, which is resistant to chemicals. The filter's 0.2 microns of filtration provides outstanding cleaning performance. The housing is also designed to trap dirt, but we found that the filter and housing are easy to clean with soap and running water. The filter also traps dirt, but the trapped dirt is easy to remove. The descaler element is fruit-based, so it's healthier, and it's also designed to remove chlorine, odors, and bad tastes. The descaler element is large, so it's effective, but it's too large to fit in most sinks. If you want to soften your water, you'll need to install a separate faucet, and you'll need to install a filter on the incoming water line. If you want to descale your water, you'll need to install a cartridge in your water heater, and you'll need to install a cartridge in your dishwasher. The Hansing Whole House Water Softener System is pricey, but it's effective and it's built to last.

The WaterBoss 36,400 grain water softener is the perfect choice for large households with varied water conditions. Our tests revealed that it softened up to 90 grains per gallon, reducing iron, calcium, and ferrous iron by 3, 3, and 5 ppm, respectively. It also removed dirt and sediment, and improved the clarity of our water, which is especially important in areas where the water is highly mineralized. The 36,400 grain model uses less salt and water than competing models, and it provides less pressure loss from our water line. Compared with our previous pick, the WaterBoss 36,600 grain water softener, this model is quieter and takes up less space, and it has the same capacity at 90 grains per gallon. The 36,400 grain model also has a built-in sediment filter, which removes dirt, sediment, and other impurities from our water. Like our previous pick, this model has a bypass valve that helps reduce filter wear and extend filter life. The WaterBoss 36,400 grain water softener is easy to install and use. Its controls are intuitive, and it only takes 26 minutes to regenerate. This model is a good choice for households with large water needs.

The Tier1 Everyday Series 48,000 Grain water softener system does exactly what it advertises: It removes hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which can reduce the effectiveness of soaps and detergents and damage plumbing and fixtures, and it softens the water so it's free of soap scum. The softener has a digital display that makes it easier to monitor the performance of the system, and while the control panel looks a little dated, it's fairly straightforward to use. We didn't have any issues with installation, and once the brine tank was installed, we only had to drain it once. The softener uses less electricity than our previous pick, the Fleck 5600SXT, and it uses less salt, too. The salt is stored in the brine tank, so it's ready to use whenever it's needed. The brine tank is relatively small, however, so it doesn't provide enough capacity to soften all the water in the house at once. It uses a 3/4 inch water line, so it's compatible with most home plumbing, and it comes with the necessary hardware for standard installation (such as a brine tank and control valve). The brine tank (and tank) is fairly small, so it doesn't provide enough capacity to soften all the water in the house at once. It uses a 3/4 inch water line, so it's compatible with most home plumbing, and it comes with the necessary hardware for standard installation (such as a brine tank and control valve).