10 Best Water Softener Reviews for Well Water in 2023
Hard water can bring you an array of problems. It can cause you a limescale buildup and scale buildup (for which you might want to look for a descaler too), clog your water pipes, stain your sinks, washing machines, showerheads, water heaters, and kettles. It can also bring you health hazards – you can get drier skin and less healthy, volumeless hair. Your clothes will not be as well washed and your dishware will have stains on them. Essentially, it can be a complete nightmare. Check out this Glamour story on how the type of water in your home affects your hair.
This is where this list comes in. Water softeners can help you bring your water hardness down, and softened water can make your life and your family’s life much easier. It can increase both yours and also your appliance’s lifespans. Finally, the water coming from your faucets will be quality water, clean water, as healthy as water should be. Here is the ultimate buying guide for the best types of water softeners you can buy in 2020!
1. SpringWell Well Water Filter and Salt Based Water Softener
- Better Tasting Water
The SpringWell Well Water Filter and Salt Based Water Softener is the first one on this list for a good reason. SpringWell is one of the leading manufacturers of water softeners in the US, and it has been delivering high-quality products for over 20 years. They also feature other types of water treatment systems on their website, but for well water, this is the one you should consider.
This SpringWell Well Water system is specialized to remove iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide. This system uses an ion-exchange method to remove hard minerals. It can remove up to 7 ppm iron, 8 ppm hydrogen sulfide, and 1 PPM manganese. The filter bed accumulates all the minerals and salts, but regular washing removes the accumulated particles and keeps the filter clean. The filter also has a regeneration process that brings fresh air pockets to the system. It has a flow rate of up to 20 GPM, which is faster than most other systems on the market.
Another great feature of this product is that it is fabulously designed, and is smaller and more aesthetically pleasing than other units on the market. This system is also not likely to bring down your water pressure.
You are also granted a six-month money-back guarantee not only for this system but for all of SpringWell Water’s products.
Features of the SpringWell Well Water Filter and Salt Based Water Softener:
- Removes iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide
- Removes hard minerals through ion-exchange
- Regeneration process
- Flow rate of 20 GPM
- Compact and aesthetically pleasing
- 6-month money-back guarantee
2. Pentair WS48-56sxt10 Fleck Water Softener
- Fleck 5600Sxt digital metered control head
The Pentair WS48-56sxt10 Fleck Water Softener is designed to extract calcium, magnesium, and even iron from your hard water. You will receive both the brine tank and the mineral tank with this product. You will also get a USB thumb drive with the instructions on how to set it up, which should be possible if you have some time to spare and the will to learn.
Here is how this system works: ion-exchange beads get hold of the magnesium and calcium ions. In exchange, they release sodium ions. For Pentair, you can use either sodium or potassium chloride or your common kitchen salt in order to recharge the water. At the same time, the calcium and magnesium are being eluted.
Pentair’s brine tank can hold 250 pounds of salt. The regeneration process will involve the flushing of the brine solution. The wastewater is pushed down the drain. The whole process is automatic, so all you need to do is program the Fleck control valve.
Reviewers say this is a sturdy, reliable product, and it will be sure to keep your water soft and clean for years to come.
Features of the Pentair WS48-56sxt10 Fleck Water Softener:
- Contains a brine tank and a mineral tank
- USB thumb drive with instructions
- It can hold 250 pounds of salt
- Regeneration process
3. Iron Pro 2 Fleck 5600SXT Combination Water Softener and Iron Filter
- Tank color may vary depending on stock. Water softener, iron filter, all in one! high flow for whole house use!
The Iron Pro 2 Fleck 5600SXT Combination Water Softener and Iron Filter is fantastic for homes that struggle with multiple water issues. For example, if you struggle with iron or rust sediments, then this is definitely the water softener system for you
The Iron Pro 2 contains a 64,000 grain capacity. It is especially effective in removing the egg-like sulfur smell that water has after treatment. It also contains a Fleck 5600 SXT control head and valve for fast performance.
The Flex SVT valves automatically carry the regeneration cycle. This system will regenerate in an automated and metered process, so it can be easily regulated. This means that the whole system is great for tracking the record of the system’s performance. AFW has designed this unit with a fine mesh resin that filters iron particles. You are, however, required to wash the filter mesh regularly to keep it clean. The layer of KDF-85 on the filter mesh also further removes sulfur and manganese from the water.
The most special feature of this system is the digital valve. This advanced digital valve measures the amount of water and the presence of salt, minerals, and impurities it contains. It also helps you keep track of when you would need maintenance in an easy-to-use LCD system. The unit also even has DIY instructions to reduce the installation cost. Unfortunately, however, this system only includes a four-month warranty with purchase.
Features of the Iron Pro 2 Fleck 5600SXT Combination Water Softener and Iron Filter:
- 64,000 water grain capacity
- Can reduce sulfur smell
- Regeneration cycle
- You have to wash the filter mesh to keep it clean
- Short warranty of four months
- Digital valve
- DIY installation
4. Whirlpool WHESFC Pro Series Water Softener and Whole House Filter
- Save Money With A 2-in-1 System: Remove hard water minerals and harmful contaminants for families of 1-to-5 with one single-tank system instead of buying 2 separate systems.
The Whirlpool WHESFC Pro Series Water Softener and Whole House Filter offers the best value for money on this list. This water softening system is a hybrid water softener and filter which can take care of your entire household all in one fantastic appliance. It has a capacity of 31,000 grains per cycle as well as an average hardness-removing capacity of 120 grains per gallon (gpg).
This whole house water filter system also features a built-in carbon filter. It reduces the accumulation of chlorine, sediments, and odors from your home’s plumbing. This Whirlpool system also has an auto-flushing element of the filter cartridge, meaning that it automatically cleans the carbon bed, allowing the filter to live longer. This, in turn, means you do not have to worry about maintenance much with this product.
This softener and filter come with a thorough instruction manual, so if you feel confident in your skills, you are likely able to put this system together yourself.
The less advantageous part of this system is that it is designed to run on electricity, which more advanced systems now are no longer programmed to do.
Features of the Whirlpool WHESFC Pro Series Water Softener and Whole House Filter:
- Best value for money
- 31,000 grains per cycle capacity
- 120 grains per gallon
- Built-in carbon filter
- Auto-flushing
- It runs on electricity unlike other newer systems
5. AFWFilters AIS10-25SXT Air Injection Iron Water Filter
- Silver 10 air injection by AFW Filters for iron and sulfur
The AFWFilters AIS10-25SXT Air Injection Iron Water Filter is one of the top iron removal filters on this list. It has a stronger flow rate than most water softeners on this list also, standing at about 15 gallons per minute. That is a whole lot of gallons of water. The grain capacity is as high as 80,000 per gallon, which means this system is also a high-grain water softener, more so than others on this list. If you have a problem with your water being especially hard, then this should be the pick for you.
This softener uses an advanced Silver 10 air injection to remove iron, sulfur, and other salts and for normal filtering. It does not rely on any chemicals, making this model quite eco-friendly. It is also a fairly easy system to set up on your own.
This softener can generally remove 8PPM of iron from well water. It can even help you treat well water with an iron level of 10 PPM as well. This particular model is ideal for households that have high levels of iron, manganese, and sulfur in the water supply.
While the price can be a bit higher than expected for this system, it can be a great addition to your home if you need a very strong unit that will take care of everything in your well water. This system comes well recommended by reviewers.
Features of the AFWFilters AIS10-25SXT Air Injection Iron Water Filter:
- Iron removal
- 15 gallon per minute flow rate
- Grain capacity of 80,000 per gallon
- Easy installation
- High price
6. Whirlpool WHES40E Water Softener
- Whirlpool WHES40E water softener is ideal for households of 1-6 plus people and removes up to 10 ppm of clear water (ferrous) iron
The Whirlpool WHSES40E Water Softener has a great water flow rate and grain capacity. You can also measure and predict your household’s water consumption with this system and calibrate the softener accordingly. This unit is recommended for households of more than six people.
This system can remove 10 PPM of iron and up to 125 of hardness per gallon of water from your water. This might be too much for a smaller family, but if you have many people living under one roof, this system might be the one for you.
This Whirpool system also does not waste any water during the process of regeneration, so you will not have to worry about running out of water while this process is happening. This unit offers great value for money if the hardness of your water is significant and you have many people living under your roof.
Features of the Whirlpool WHES40E Water Softener:
- Good flow rate
- Good grain capacity
- Recommended for big households
- Does not waste water
7. Aquasana EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST Whole House Well Water Filter System
- Clean, Great Tasting Water From Every Tap In Your Home - Removes 97% of chlorine. Plus, activated carbon is effective at reducing organic chemicals including pesticides, herbicides, and VOCs while...
The Aquasana EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST Whole House Well Water Filter System is a fantastic system for your entire house. Aquasana has been in the business for over 20 years, and they know what they are doing. Their water filters are easy to clean and reusable.
This whole house water softener system specializes in removing chlorine and it can remove 95% of chlorine from water. This system is also incredibly efficient at removing all sorts of other contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, and organic compounds.
Aquasana has designed this unit to feature salt-free regeneration and it doesn’t require any salt or chemical to remove even the worst hardness level of your water. Salt-free water softeners require less maintenance. You can also use it to filter soft water for cleaner and purer drinking water.
There is a 10-year warranty on this model if you have this system set up by a professional plumber. If you choose to do it yourself, then the system will come with a 5-year warranty. There are cleaning services and water conditioners for this system available if you need them. There is also a 90-day money-back guarantee in the event that the unit is defective.
The EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST comes with a professional installation kit, which consists of filters, brass fittings, bypass valves, and other necessary equipment for the system. It is recommended that you use this unit for private wells for residential and commercial properties and not for properties that use city water.
Features of the Aquasana EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST Whole House Well Water Filter System:
- Removes 95% of chlorine
- Does not require salt
- Filter included
- 10-year warranty if the system is installed by a professional plumber
- 5-year warranty if you install it yourself
- 90-day money back guarantee
8. DURAWATER Fleck 5600 SXT Iron Pro
- Water softener, iron filter, all in one!
The Durawater Fleck 5600 SXT Iron Pro is a water softener and iron filter combo. By combining these two services, this model is more cost-effective as well as more efficient in removing hardness and rust from your water. It will work best in households of up to five people.
Due to its mesh resin in its resin tank, it can get rid of the iron in your water. It helps ensure that your plumbing will always be at its best, and your appliances are without any red rust stains. It also has meter-based regeneration. Your water usage is monitored, and the regeneration is entirely based on your usage. If there is a spike in your water use habit, it will pick that up and adjust to keep up and meet your water needs.
You will receive a standard brine tank that can hold 250 pounds of salt and some safety floats that would prevent overfilling with this system. You will also receive the overflow drain, which is your primary standby, to avoid water messes.
This system also comes with a Pentair Scan and service application, where you can get all the pertinent information about your softener via a smartphone. You can check info about its detailed configuration, technical documentation, spare parts, and so on. It can also provide you with some basic troubleshooting info.
Features of the Durawater Fleck 5600 SXT Iron Pro:
- Water softener and iron filter combo
- Water usage is monitored
- The tank can hold 250 pounds of salt
- Can use your smartphone to monitor the system
9. Tier1 Essential Series Water Softener
- DIGITAL METER HEAD CONTROL VALVE: LCD display, electric plug in, improved features, and ease of operation as compared to Fleck 5600SXT.
The Tier1 Essential Series Water Softener is very easy to use and operate. During the setup, you usually have to enter the number of people in your household and your current water hardness rating. This system needs these to determine the required regeneration cycle that would meet your household needs.
This is a fantastic way to know how you can set it up just right to meet your family’s needs. It also makes it more financially wise as well as more eco-friendly, by wasting less water and resources. You can install this system yourself on your main water line since the instructions are fairly easy to follow along.
Features of the Tier1 Essential Series Water Softener:
- Easy to use
- It will be personalized to your family’s needs
- Easy to install
10. Aquasure AS-PR75A Premier Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- Premier Advance Quick Twist RO is designed to remove up to 99% of contaminants including arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, lead, virus, and 1000s more, giving you clean, healthy,...
The Aquasure AS-PR75A Premier Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System is designed to remove up to 99% of contaminants including arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, lead, virus, and 1000s more, giving you clean, healthy, crisp tasting drinking water. This system is also NSF (National Science Foundation) certified.
This system’s high production 75 GPD encapsulated RO membrane is able to produce clean, pure water up to 2X as fast as other RO systems mentioned in this article.
You should be able to set this system up DIY. The unit comes with 3 years warranty on the registered product and lifetime tech support for the life of the system.
In case you are more knowledgeable about the process of water softening, here is the breakdown of the stages for this system:
- 1st stage – High capacity 5-micron dirt-trapping polypropylene sediment filter
- 2nd stage – High-performance 5-micron extruded carbon block filter
- 3rd stage – High rejection 75 GPD reverse osmosis membrane
- 4th stage – Post-stage taste refining coconut shell carbon filter
Features of the Aquasure AS-PR75A Premier Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System:
- Removes up to 99% of contaminants
- NSF certified
- 75 gallons per day
- 3 years of warranty
- Easy installation
Bonus tip: Check out this video on how water softener systems work!
