Water softeners that end hard water spots, scale and dry skin
Get the right size for your home. Start with a free water report.
The right softener depends on how many people live in your home and how hard your water is. Pick a system below, or enter your ZIP code and we'll recommend one.
- Sized to your home
- Licensed install
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Want the answer for your home?
Tell us your ZIP code and a rep calls you within 5 minutes to answer every question. No pressure, no sales visit.
You're probably on this page because:
- Your family complains their skin feels dry after every shower
- You scrub the white crust off the faucets and it comes right back
- You cringe when guests see your shower glass
It's not you. It's your water. And it's an easy fix.
What hard water looks like
Crusty shower head. White buildup clogs the spray.
Faucet scale. Comes right back after you scrub.
Cloudy glasses. Even right out of the dishwasher.
Hard water stains on glass. That foggy film that won't wipe off.
Dry, itchy skin. Soap film stays on your skin.
Dull, stiff hair. Conditioner can't fix it.
Scratchy laundry. Towels come out stiff and dull.
Scale inside your appliances. The damage you don't see.
See 2 or more of these? Your water is hard.
Hard water, by the numbers
- About 156 pounds of rock a year. That's how much calcium and magnesium a family of 4 runs through its pipes every year at 10 grains of hardness. In very hard water, it's about 250 pounds.
- Up to 48% less efficient. Gas water heaters on hard water lost up to 48% of their efficiency.
- Clogged in 18 months. Hard water clogged low-flow shower heads in as little as a year and a half.
- 1 in 3 homeowners replaced appliances or fixtures because of buildup, and 66% were embarrassed when guests noticed.
- About 85% of US homes have hard water.
Sources: pounds per year = 300 gallons a day (75 per person, family of 4) × grains of hardness × 64.8 mg per grain × 365 days; water heater and shower head figures: WQRF and Battelle studies; appliance and embarrassment figures: Morton Salt survey via the Philadelphia Inquirer; 85% figure: Market Growth Reports.
Get soft water 3 ways
| Option | Best if you | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Whole-house systems with prices Softener + filtration + drinking water, installed. From $2,950. | Want it all done, one flat price | |
| 2. Find your exact size Pick the softener that fits your home. | Know you just need a softener | (jumps to the size finder below) |
| 3. Talk to a rep Tell us about your home. A rep reaches out right away, usually within 5 minutes. | Want someone to just tell you |
Or find your exact size
| People at home | Your size |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | 24,000 grain |
| 2 to 4 | 32,000 grain |
| 3 to 6 | 48,000 grain |
| 4 to 8 | 64,000 grain |
| 6+ or very hard water | Twin tank |
Very hard water can bump you up a size. Your free water report checks.
Salt-based or saltless?
- Salt-based: removes hardness. The full fix for spots and dry skin.
- Saltless: stops scale with no salt. Doesn't remove minerals.
Most homes get the best results with salt-based.
Don't ask if it pays for itself. Ask how many times.
Soft water protects your water heater, cuts soap costs and saves your appliances. Every year.
Savings in year one, and every year after
$414
- 10-year total
- $4,136
- Pays for the City Water System
- 1.4 times over 10 years
- Water heater energy
- $130
- Detergent and cleaning
- $144
- Appliances and fixtures
- $140
- Bottled water (with RO)
- $0
An estimate, not a guarantee. Your numbers depend on your water, your home and your habits. Enter your ZIP code to use your local hardness; until then it assumes 10 grains.
Sources: Water heater efficiency: WQRF and Battelle (gas tank heaters lost up to 48% efficiency on hard water; the calculator uses a conservative middle value). Detergent: WQRF laundry and dishwasher studies (about 30% less at 10 gpg, nearly 70% less at 25 gpg). Fixtures: Battelle (low-flow shower heads clogged in about 18 months on hard water). Appliance figures are our own conservative estimate until customer data replaces them.
Better water in 3 steps
- Check your water (free)
- Get your exact price on a quick call
- A licensed plumber installs it
Every install comes with
- Licensed local plumber install
- Before-and-after water test
- 30-day money-back guarantee on the system
- Warranty: [product terms] + 1 year on labor
- Filter subscription option: new filters every 6 months
Every Water Softeners
Condos and 1 to 2 person homes24000 Grain Water SoftenerSized for 1 to 2 person homes, condos and apartments. It softens every tap in the house and stops scale before it builds up.Learn more2 to 4 people32000 Grain Water SoftenerA good fit for 2 to 4 person homes with moderate to hard water. Softer showers, spot-free dishes and less scale in your water heater.Learn more
3 to 6 people or very hard water48,000 GrainBuilt for 3 to 6 person homes, or smaller homes with very hard water. It handles more water between regenerations, so it uses less salt.Learn more4 to 8 people, multiple bathrooms64000 Grain Water SoftenerFor 4 to 8 person homes and very hard water. Enough capacity for big families, multiple bathrooms and heavy laundry.Learn more
Price on your callTwin Tank Water SoftenerTwo tanks take turns, so you always have soft water, even while one tank recharges. Made for large homes, big families and very hard water.Learn moreScale control without saltSaltless Water SoftenerA salt-free conditioner that keeps minerals from sticking as scale in your pipes and appliances, with no salt to buy and no wastewater. It doesn't remove minerals like a salt-based softener, so it's best for moderate hardness or areas that limit salt systems.Learn moreSoft and filtered water from one systemWater Softener And Filter ComboSoft water and filtered water from every tap, in one system. It removes hardness and filters out chlorine, sediment and odors before water reaches your home.Learn more
BusinessesCommercialDon't ask if it pays for itself. Ask how many times. Install it once, and it cuts your repair, energy and soap costs every month after; the payback calculator shows the number for your business.Learn moreLife with soft water vs. without
| Without it | With it |
|---|---|
| Scrubbing crust every weekend | Wipe it and you're done |
| Dry, itchy skin and dull hair | Softer-feeling skin and hair |
| Gas water heaters losing up to 48% efficiency | Factory efficiency for its whole life |
| Buying more soap and detergent | Up to 70% less detergent on very hard water |
| Hauling bottled water home | Pure water from your own tap (with RO) |
Water heater and detergent figures: WQRF and Battelle studies (see savings calculator sources).
How we work, start to finish
- 1
You reach out or book online
- 2
A rep calls you, usually within 5 minutes, to confirm your system and answer questions
- 3
We schedule a licensed local plumber, usually within a week
- 4
Install day: a few hours, plus a before-and-after water test
- 5
After that: new filters every 6 months if you subscribe
Our take
What most companies don't tell you about softener size
The question we get asked most about this, after [thousands] of installs:
Every softener is sold by its grain number: 24,000, 32,000, 48,000. What most people don't know is that the number on the box is usually the capacity at the highest salt setting. Set it to use less salt, which is what you want, and the real capacity drops.
Roughly speaking, one cubic foot of softener resin removes about 20,000 grains on a low salt setting and about 30,000 or more on the highest. So a "32,000 grain" softener set to save salt might really give you closer to 20,000 before it needs to recharge. That's why we size to your real usage at an efficient salt setting, not the number on the box.
Three other things matter more than most people think:
The control valve. A metered valve recharges only when you've used enough water. A cheap timer valve recharges on a schedule, whether you used water or not, and wastes salt. The resin. On chlorinated city water, 10% crosslink resin holds up much longer than standard 8%. [Confirm ours.] A bypass valve. So you can shut the softener off for watering the lawn or a repair without shutting off your house.
Ask any company about all three. If they can't answer, that tells you something.
Other water companies buy their softeners from us
20+ years in water. We build our softeners with our own manufacturers, some with our own patents [list]. You get pro-grade systems without the dealer markup.
- 20+ years in water
- Our own patents
- We supply other water companies
- [Thousands] of systems sold
- Licensed installers
Related Pages
Questions people ask
Do I need a water softener?
If you see white crust on your faucets, spots on your glasses, or your skin feels tight after a shower, you almost certainly have hard water. Anything over about 7 grains per gallon (120 ppm) counts as hard, and most of the country is over that. Your free water report gives you the exact number in seconds.
What does a water softener actually do?
It pulls calcium and magnesium out of your water before it reaches your pipes. Those two minerals are what leave scale, spots and soap film behind. It doesn't filter chlorine or chemicals; that's a carbon filter's job, which is why most of our systems include both.
Is a water softener worth it?
With hard water, almost always. It protects your water heater, cuts what you spend on soap and detergent, and keeps your fixtures from crusting over. The better question isn't whether it pays for itself, it's how many times. The savings calculator above shows your number.
What size water softener do I need?
Quick math: people in your home × 75 gallons a day × your hardness in grains. That's how many grains your softener removes each day; pick one that covers about a week. Most families land on 32,000 or 48,000 grain. Your water report does the math for you.
Is softened water safe to drink?
Yes. A salt-based softener adds a small amount of sodium, roughly 8 mg per liter for every grain of hardness it removes [confirm figure]. If you're watching sodium, drink from a reverse osmosis tap (it's in our City Water System) or use potassium instead of salt.
Will a water softener lower my water pressure?
Not if it's sized right. Pressure problems come from undersized or clogged units. We match the system to your home's water flow.
Why does soft water feel slippery?
That's what your skin feels like without soap residue on it. Hard water leaves a film that makes skin feel squeaky; soft water rinses soap all the way off. Most people stop noticing within a week, and then can't go back.
How long does a water softener last?
Usually 10 to 15 years. Chlorine in city water wears out softener resin faster, which is why we pair the softener with carbon filtration and use chlorine-resistant resin [confirm resin].
Where does a water softener go?
Where your main water line comes into the house, before the water heater. That's usually the garage, a utility room, or outside under a cover in warm states. It needs a drain and an outlet nearby. Outdoor spigots are usually left on regular water.
Can I install a water softener myself?
It ties into your main water line, needs a drain, and in many areas needs a permit and a licensed plumber. Our price includes a licensed install, and our warranty and money-back guarantee depend on it.