Water Softener Consumer Reports
Which Products Performed Best

Based on water softener consumer reports, certain specific models seem to be given the best reviews.

Consumers often review and report how different brands of water softeners performed in realistic conditions and give a much better picture of the product than the manufacturer's advertisement.

First, let's take a brief look at the advantages and disadvantages of different types of water softeners:

1) Salt-Free

Salt-Free water softeners use a catalytically working filter (Nano-Technology.) They remove the existing lime-scale that has formed on pipes, and then prevent future formation from occurring.

Based on water softener consumer reports, salt-free water softeners come in as the most preferable choice.

Advantages: No salt or potassium is needed, and the minerals and nutrients in the water are not effected. There are no chemicals added to the water, and there is no waste water.

Disadvantages: Salt-Free Water Softeners are not recommended for water hardness levels above 25 grains per gallon.

2) Ion Exchange

Ion Exchange Water softeners replace the ions of minerals in the water (mainly, calcium and magnesium) that cause hardness in the water with sodium or potassium ions. Consumer reports for water softeners show the Ion Exchange system to come in second.

Advantages: Ion exchange water softeners give a longer life to appliances (washing machines etc. that use water) and can increase the lifespan of clothes.

Disadvantages: Ion Exchange water is not ideal for drinking because of the sodium intake. Users may consider getting potassium chloride salts instead, but this is more expensive than sodium.

3) Magnetic

Magnetic water softeners are still relatively new to the market, and make use of magnets placed either inside or outside a water pipe so that water flows through the magnetic field. The molecular structure water alters it loses its hard quality.

Based on consumer reviews, magnetic water softeners do a good job despite scientific criticism.

Advantages: Magnetic Water Softeners make use of a non-chemical treatment, which means that you get all the vitamins and nutrients out of the water that you need.

Disadvantages: The degree of efficiency can be random – the magnetic field is only in the immediate vicinity of the magnetic field. What this means is that the compound of the water can go back to a hard stage after about 48 hours.

4) Reverse Osmosis

Reverse Osmosis Water Softeners remove the dissolved impurities through a semi-permeable membrane. Pressure is used as the driving force for this separation, and unwanted molecules are swept away into the drain.

Advantages: 98% of unwanted molecules are removed (including salt, heavy metals and most solids)

Disadvantages: Strips the essential minerals from water, and so is not ideal for drinking, for plants and animals, or for cooking. There is also a high degree of waste.

Top 5 Water Softeners Based On Consumer Reports

1) The Pelican PSE1800 Whole House Water Filter and Softener

The Pelican PSE1800 Whole House Water Filter and Softener stands out with the highest quality of manufacturing and performance.

Pelican offers a 90-day 100% money back guarantee, a 10 year guarantee on housing and valves and a 1 year highest level performance guarantee.

Another pro of this product is that it's a 2-in-1 product combining softening and filtration of home water.

It doesn't require any maintenance and above all, no electricity.

2) Kinetico 2020

The Kinetico 2020 is an Ion Exchange water softener. It has twin cylinders (making salt refills easy) and recharges based on volume, eliminating any need for a schedule. It's cheaper to run than conventional water softeners and it only cleans itself when it needs to.

Consumer ratings seem to indicate the Kinetico 2020 is the best choice for Ion Exchange water softeners.

3) Culligan

Culligan is a very trusted brand, and their water softeners are highly rated for water with an incredibly high ion content. The system only regenerates when necessary, but can have a noisy cycle.

Also, some reviews showed that the salt pellets can be expensive and awkward to put in, and there are some weak components. According to consumer reports, Culligan has excellent service but their softeners can cause some problems.

4) Pro-Mrkt Corp, Soo-Soft digital water treatment system H1000

Soo-Soft makes use of a digital water softener system (a type of magnetic water softener) that is environmentally safe, has no brine discharge, places no chemicals into the water and is easy to install.

The system uses very little power and significantly descales all plumbing and attached appliances. Water softener consumer reports show that the Soo-Soft Digital water treatment system H1000 offers a very good price value, but since it makes use of a magnetic (or digital system) it is not ideal for storing water.

5) Tapworks AD11

The Tapworks Ad11 is a reverse osmosis system. It's easy to use, and has a low water and salt consumption during regeneration. Installation is easy.

However, the Tapworks AD11 is not the most ground breaking water softener there is, and is generally middle-of-the road in its performance reviews.

Related article: Water Softener Ratings - Top 5 Best Rated Water Softeners

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