When it was
time for our family to
choose a water softener, we started our research with consumer reports.
There is something very reassuring about products being rated by people who are in the same position as us: in the dark about which system to buy.
There are many features to consider when choosing a whole house water softener. You can see the important ones here.
But let's get straight down to business: what did the consumer reports on water softeners decide was the best water softener to buy?
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 percent 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.
Water softener consumer reports give this product a very high rating.
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.
Water softener consumer reports seem to indicate the Kinetico 2020 is the best choice for Ion Exchange water softeners.
Let's take a brief look at the advantages and disadvantages of different types of water softeners.
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.
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.
Salt-Free Water Softeners are not recommended for water hardness levels above 25 grains per gallon.
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.
(Article continues below)
Ion
exchange water softeners give a longer life to appliances (washing
machines etc. that use water) and can increase the lifespan of clothes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
98% of unwanted molecules are removed (including salt, heavy metals and most solids)
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.
Share your experience and help other visitors to this site make an informed decision!
How did your water softener work for you? Would you recommend it?
Share your experience and help others make the right choice!
Water
Softener Ratings - Top 5 Best Rated Water Softeners
Return
from Water Softener Consumer Reports to the Home Water Purification
Systems menu