10 Best Salt-Free Water Softener Reviews of 2021

Q: Are salt-free water softeners safe?

Salt-free water softeners are safe for health. As they don’t remove healthy minerals from water and don’t add anything harmful to it. They are best for people with kidney and heart disorders.

Water hardness is a huge problem all over the world. Most of the time, we talk about water softeners that use salt to remove the hardness. These kinds of softeners are not suitable for people with heart or kidney disorders. Because additional salt increases the salt level in the diet. For these people, there are effective water softeners without using sodium chloride or potassium chloride. Let’s learn about the suitable and best salt-free water softener for you in this article.

Contents

Our Top Picks
List of Best Salt-Free Water Softeners
Types of Water Softeners
How do salt-free systems work?
Key factors to consider
The Pros and Cons of a salt-free system
- Pros
- Cons
FAQs:

Our Top Picks

Want to make a choice in minutes?

Best Overall

Aquasana EQ-1000-AST EQ-1000-AST-AMZN Whole House Water Filter, 1,000,000-Gallon

Best Budget-friendly

Tier1 Salt-Free Whole House Water Softener System 1-3 Bathrooms - Eco Series

Aquasana Whole House

Tier1 Eco Series

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Best Overall

Aquasana Whole House

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Best Budget-friendly

Tier1 Eco Series

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There are many variations when we talk about water softeners that don’t use salt, yet they work best. Some water softeners use cartridge to remove the hard substances from water. There are electric descalers that produce electromagnetic waves to make the hard particles insoluble materials.

If you want something that can work without electricity, there are magnetic softeners too, which can also do the job. Let’s find out which type of saltless water softener will suit you best. For this, don’t forget to read till the end…

List of Best Salt-Free Water Softeners

Best Choice

Watts Premier OFPSYS Whole House OneFlow Plus Salt Free Scale Prevention and Water System, White

Runner-up

Tier1 Eco Series Whole House Water Filter System w/Salt-Free Softener - Filters Sediment & 97% Of Chlorine - Carbon & KDF Home Water Filtration

Also Good

HQUA 5000E Electronic Water Descaler, Alternative Water Softener, Salt Free, Limescale and Rust Removal and Prevention

Also Good

Also Good

NuvoH2O Home Water Softener System, Home System

Name

OneFlow+

Tier 1 Chlorine Reduction

HQUA 5000E

ScaleWatcher 2 Star

Nuvo H2O

Our rating

5/5

4.9/5

4.7/5

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Best Choice

Name

OneFlow+

Our rating

5/5

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Runner-up

Name

Tier 1 Chlorine Reduction

Our rating

4.9/5

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Also Good

Name

HQUA 5000E

Our rating

4.9/5

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Also Good

Name

ScaleWatcher 2 Star

Our rating

4.7/5

Check Price

Also Good

Name

Nuvo H2O

Our rating

4.7/5

Check Price

Eddy Electronic Water Descaler - Water Softener Alternative

iSpring ED2000 Whole House Water Descaler System, Alternative Electronic Salt-Free Hard Water Conditioner Softener, Reduces Limescale Prevent Deposits Build-up

Name

Tier1 Eco Series

Eddy Electronic Descaler

Aquasana Whole House

iSpring ED2000

Our rating

4.6/5

1,150 Reviews

Check Price

Name

Tier1 Eco Series

Our rating

4.6/5

Check Price

Name

Eddy Electronic Descaler

Our rating

4.6/5

Check Price

Name

Aquasana Whole House

Our rating

4.6/5

Check Price

Name

iSpring ED2000

Our rating

4.6/5

1,150 Reviews

Check Price

1. OneFlow + 7100638

OneFlow + presents you the best water softener that doesn’t use salt. Instead, it uses Template Assisted Crystallization to attract particles from water that causes hardness. After that, it converts them into microscopic crystal particles that are harmless. In other words, the hard particles remain present in the water, but in the form of a crystal suspension.

This way, water passes smoothly throughout the plumbing to the drain. The pack you will receive consists of relief valve for housing and head assembly, 20-micron radial flow carbon block cartridge with preinstalled filters, scale reduction cartridge, two1-inch NPT inlet/outlet adapters, two inlet/outlet adapter locking pins, outlet connector, easy to install Mounting bracket, and multifunction toolkit. See how it looks like in the picture.

Compatibility:

This water softener is not only salt-free but also eco-friendly because it doesn’t require electricity and carries nothing to the drain line as a waste. It needs little maintenance and doesn’t backwash. It will reduce scale build due to chemical and sediments which are present in water. Also, it removes the taste and odor of chlorine, never adds something new to the water, and nor removes anything.

Installation:

It is easy to install water softener and is flexible too. You can mount it to the wall or install it on the floor, the way you want.

Weather resistance:

This water softener in weather-resistant up to the freezing point. So, it can be placed outside most of the time.

Capacity:

This salt-free water softener allows a flow rate of up to 10 gallons per minute.

Good Points	Alerts!
Safe to drink water. Ideal for scale prevention.	Not a real softener.

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2. Tier 1 Chlorine Reduction

The best salt-free water softener for home is also a chlorine reduction water treatment system. The system includes 8×44 inch resin tank with carbon and KDF media blend, 10×4.5 inch sediment filter with housing and bracket, 8×44 inch resin tank with scale inhibiting media blend, ball valve and nipple(s), and required flex connector(s). See the picture for how this system looks like.

Capacity:

It is the best salt free water softener option for a home with 1-3 bathrooms.

Compatibility:

It reduces chlorine, sediments, pesticides, herbicides, harmful scale build, and taste and odor of chlorine. It delivers excellent tasting water all over the house. The system uses Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC) to reduce scale and damage to plumbing and appliances.

Configuration:

There is no brine tank, salt to refill, control valve, or backwash waste to ensure easiness of operations.

Warranty:

Tier1 offers a 100 percent no worries guarantee. The company stands by the quality of filtration and the overall quality of the whole system.

Weight:

This item weighs 91.9 pounds when it arrives at your doorstep.

Good Points	Alerts!
It works excellent on well water. Affordable and effective DIY system.	Can’t use filters after this system.

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3. HQUA 5000E

HQUA 5000E is a complex and frequency-modulated electromagnetic wave system, an innovative use of salt-free technology. It transmits waves through two cable bands that are wrapped around the main water pipeline. When the frequency of the electric waves meets the natural frequency of calcium carbonate dissolved in the water, “resonance” occurs.

As a result, the dissolved calcium carbonate is broken down into the water. It will still be part of water but will not stick to the plumbing, faucets, appliances, and kitchen faucets. So, you can say it is one of the best eco-friendly saltless water softeners. See the picture to have an idea of how this item looks like.

Compatibility:

It can eliminate hardness up to 25 grains per gallon. It removes rust stains from a faucet, shower, water heater, and kitchen appliances. Besides, it reduces blockage in the drain. Also, it makes everything easy to clean. Improves the efficiency of electrical appliances and lowers electricity consumption. With that, it makes the water gentle on skin and hair and that is an added bonus of a salt-less water treatment system.

Power usage:

The best smart water softener only requires 4-watt power. It means that you will have to pay only 5-7 dollars per year on its electricity consumption.

Light indicator:

There are three green lights on this unit. The one above all represents the power supply. The two below, if lightening, indicate that everything is working well. It will be no light in case of a power outage or system failure.

Capacity:

This system is designed to work smoothly for the whole house and is enough for a family with 6-7 people.

Weight:

The whole item only weighs 1.98 pounds when the shipment arrives.

Good Points	Alerts!
It works well even on curved pipes. More effective on plastic pipes.	Not a replacement of a water softener.

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See more options for a well water softener here…

4. ScaleWatcher 2 Star

Best low maintenance water softener if you want to install it in a small area and be tension free. Also, if you don’t want anything to add up in the water, i.e., salt. It softens water through electromagnetic rays. The hard minerals are broken down into small parts through these rays with nothing left over. See how it looks like in the picture.

Compatibility:

It saves money and energy both with a minimum per year cost. It removes existing scale build. Also, it ensures there is no chance of any new scale build. With that, this softening system makes sure that the water is running smoothly in plumbing, through faucets, to the drain.a

Light indicator:

If there is a green light on the system, nothing is wrong, and the system is working smoothly. However, if the system stops working, the red light will indicate that.

Technical support:

The installation manual is in the shipment pack to guide you during installation. Also, you will have excellent email and phone call support for further assistance.

Warranty:

The seller of this water softener is offering a money-back guarantee of 10 years.

Good Points	Alerts!
It works best on plastic pipes. It will show effect in 1-3 weeks. You get a 10-year warranty	Don’t work in case of a power outage.

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5. Nuvo H2O DPHB

It is a revolutionary technology water softener that can lower the pH level of the water. A scientific process of chelation reduces the pH in minerals that cause hardness in water, i.e., calcium and magnesium. This best efficient water softener keeps these minerals soluble into the water, and now they are unable to cause hardness. The pack contains a mounting backplate, mounting bracket, a manual, screws, and housing wrench. See how it looks like in the picture.

Warranty:

The seller is offering a 90 days money-back guarantee in case you are not satisfied with the results.

Compatibility:

It makes the water healthy and soft by making calcium and magnesium soluble particles. The water will now be gentle for laundry, lawn, animals, and plants. Also, it prevents scale buildup and removes existing scale.

Capacity:

This single system can handle a household of up to 2,000 square feet with four or more residents. With that, it offers a flow rate of 15 gallons per minute.

Weight:

This item weighs only 8 pounds and arrives in a shipment of 8.5 pounds at your doorstep.

Good Points	Alerts!
Water tastes amazing. A lightweight unit that can handle a whole house water system	Not suitable for a home with a private well.

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See reviews for all nuvo water softeners here…

6. TurboMag XT6

This best water softener for lime attracts hardness and doesn’t allow it to flow in the plumbing system. Magnetic fields are installed on the water supply line. So, when the water passes through it, the field will make it soft. The hard particles will be broken down for easy assimilation in the body. See how this magnetic water softener looks like.

Compatibility:

This best and affordable water softener reduces the scale buildup, which is the leading cause of iron and magnesium.

Installation:

This system is very easy to install, just in a few minutes. Also, suitable for very narrow places. Because it is attached over the water pipeline and needs nothing else.

Dimensions:

This magnetic field is just a square of 1.5 inches and only ¼ inch thick.

Good Points	Alerts!
Powerful even with small size. Stops limescale buildup within days.	Add more and more magnetic fields until it works. No products found.

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7. Tier1 Eco Series WH_WS_SF_1054

This is the best saltless water softener for the whole house. The pack contains 10×54 inch resin tank with scale inhibiting media blend, required flex connector(s), 20×4.5 inch sediment filter with housing and bracket, and ball valve and nipple(s). See the picture to have an idea of how this system looks like.

Compatibility:

It reduces rust stains, scale buildup, and sediments. In return, it lowers the damage to plumbing and appliances caused due to hardness. With Template Assisted Crystallization, this highly efficient system needs only 5 seconds of contact time.

Capacity:

This system is enough to fulfill the soft water requirements of 5-7 people in a household with 3-6 bathrooms.

Warranty:

Tier1 offers no worries guarantee for its customers. The company stands behind the quality of the filtration system and overall performance also.

Weight:

This whole system weighs 102.8 pounds when it arrives at your doorstep.

Good Points	Alerts!
Great in filtering chlorine. This water system works well for larger households	Not recommended on a new well.

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See benefits of having a water softener here…

8. Eddy Electronic Descaler ED6002P-US

Eddy cares for every homeowner fighting with the hard water problem. Therefore it is built in a way that it is simple to install for everyone. It produces a complex electromagnetic wave through two coils that are placed around the pipe that is entering the house. With that, the adhesive properties of limescale remain no more. Also, it doesn’t harm the beneficial chemical hardness of the water. See the picture for how it looks like.

Compatibility:

It is eco-friendly and the best alternative of salt-based water softeners. It works great on all types of water pipes except iron and lead. Also, it removes hardness up to 20 grains per gallon. Eliminates scale buildup and also dissolves existing deposits.

Warranty:

The seller is offering 12 months money-back guarantee. With that, lifetime repair or replacement warranty is also available.

Power consumption:

A power outlet of 110 volts is necessary for this system to operate smoothly. It only consumes 5 watts to get into action.

Weight:

This one of the best water softeners weighs only 1.45 pounds.

Good Points	Alerts!
Easy to install and remove. It is an almost entirely maintenance-free water system Removes hardness up to 20 grains per gallon of water	Not a perfect descaler.

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9. Aquasana Whole House EQ-1000-AST-AMZN

Aquasana has made this water softener to remove all the hardness in your water with just one system. This system has Scale Control Media (SCM) softening technology to softener without the need to add sodium. The rust remover water softener also removes pesticides, sediment, herbicides, silt, water-soluble metals, and industrial solvents. The item includes a filter tank, conditioner tank, salt-free descaler tank, and pro installation kit. See the picture to have an idea of how this system looks like.

Compatibility:

It removes chlorine up to 97 percent. Gentle on skin and hair as it removes minerals that are causing dryness. Also, it protects and lengthens the life of plumbing and home appliances.

Capacity:

This system can reduce harmful water contaminants for up to 10 years or one million grains. With that, it offers a flow rate of 7 gallons per minute.

Weight:

This item weighs 77.7 pounds as a whole. The item may ship in more than one box, and they all may arrive separately.

Warranty:

The seller is offering a warranty of 10 years on this item.

Good Points	Alerts!
Water supply tastes good in every faucet. It removes up to 97% of chlorine It is maintenance free	Doesn’t removes fluoride.

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See all water softeners by Aquasana here…

10. iSpring ED2000

The best innovative and computerized water conditioning system removes hardness without using sodium or any other chemical. It wraps two antenna cables around the water pipeline in the form of a coil. The coil generates a frequency modulated and complex electromagnetic waveform. In return, the solubility increases, and the existing scale buildup now dissolves.

Compatibility:

It reduces scale buildup and removes existing scale. With that, it improves the lathering of the soap. The water is now skin and hair-friendly also. Can treat water up to 19 grains per million of hardness.

Technical support:

The seller is offering excellent technical assistance over a phone call and email in case you need some help in the installation or facing any other issue.

Warranty:

The seller is offering a one-year money-back guarantee. With that, a lifetime technical support warranty is also available.

Weight:

This water softener only weighs 2 pounds and arrives in a shipment of 2.1 pounds.

Capacity:

This single system is enough to prevent scale buildup up to 50 feet of plumbing area.

Good Points	Alerts!
Provides quality drinking water. It can treat hard water with a level of 19 grains per gallon on the hard water scale	Doesn’t work after 50 feet area.

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Types of Water Softeners

There are different types of water softeners, both salt-based and salt-free. It is important to understand what each type is and how it works, to make an informed decision on which is the best for you. We’ve summarised each of the main types below:

Salt-based softeners

These are the traditional and most frequently chosen type of softener and as the name suggests, they are the opposite of salt-free softeners because they use salt. These water softening systems rely on ion exchange to replace calcium and magnesium minerals with sodium ions, lowering hard water levels.

This process occurs when water flows into a water tank that has resin beads inside, that attract hard minerals. Once the resin tank has built up enough of those hard water minerals, it has to flush all of them out and do a process called regeneration. This is why they are so popular because they are a good choice for those wanting to stop hard water affecting their plumbing and appliances. However, it is important to note that they require more maintenance than a salt-free system and will add sodium to your water.

Salt-free softeners

Salt-free systems are often called water descalers or salt-free water conditioners as they don’t work in the same way as a salt-based water softening system. They don’t replace the ions of calcium and magnesium but alter these minerals so that they don’t attach to surfaces on pipes and appliances.

At a technical level, it fights against hard water using a process called template-assisted crystallization (TAC), using magnets or cartridges to realign ions and stopping them from attaching to surfaces. Salt-free softeners are a fantastic choice for reducing scale on appliances, require almost no maintenance and are relatively simple to install and use.

Dual-tank softeners

An alternative water softening system is dual-tank softeners, designed for larger properties that have a high level of water usage. The fundamental difference with this type of water softening system is that they have two large tanks, one of which is always a brine tank. Whilst one system is working, the other is regenerating and as a result, you will have a continuous supply of soft water.

It is important to note that these systems will often use salt-based water softening systems, as opposed to a salt-free system and may also have a water filtration part to it as well.

How do salt-free systems work?

Salt-free systems will generally follow the same process, which is very different from the traditional salt-based water softeners. At the heart of the difference, is the fact that they don’t remove hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium, but they alter them into a new form that stops them attaching to pipes and appliance surfaces.

Salt-free water conditioners use TAC for this mineral transformation, whereby it catches hard minerals gradually building up micro-crystals which break off back into the water once they get to a certain size. As this new form is stable, they are far less likely to change shape or attach to surfaces.

It is important to note that whilst this salt-free process is highly effective, it doesn’t actually remove the minerals. However, if you want a maintenance-free, cost-effective way to tackle hard water, then a salt-free system is a fantastic option.

Key factors to consider

There are some key factors and features to think about when choosing which saltless water softener is best for your household. We’ve summarised them below:

Capacity

This is the volume of water that your chosen water softening system can cope with, in a given hour or day. It is so important to think about this because the number one complaint and frustration is when a water softener or water filter is unable to produce enough water for a household, especially busy or larger ones.

To fully assess what the right capacity you need, it is also important to know where on the hard water scale your water supply lies in your area, as the harder it is then the more effort required to process the water. This is true whether you have a city water supply or from a well.

Once you have your usage and hardness data, you can work out the most efficient system and it doesn’t always mean buying the biggest possible as this may well be a waste of money. A whole house salt-free softener is a fantastic system but you may only need a smaller device for specific faucets.

Water Flow Rate and Water Pressure

Any kind of water conditioner, water filter or water treatment will have an impact on the water flow rate because they are processing the water before it reaches you. As a result, it is important to consider whether you have any issues with your water supplies flow rate and what the manufacturer of the salt-free water softening system says about its water systems performance.

The same can be said about water pressure and water quality, as the worse these are then the harder the water systems will have to work.

Installation

Luckily, most salt-free water softeners are very easy to install requiring minimal expertise to do so. This means you don’t need to spend money on a professional plumber helping you, driving down the cost of getting a new water softener system. If you have a well water supply or an existing water filtration system, it is important to make sure you can install your new salt-free water softening system in the right place.

Lifespan

When buying a new saltless water softener or any kind of water filtration system, you want to know how long it will last and how long it will perform at the rate expected. You don’t want to end up having to replace parts or the entire system regularly, otherwise, it starts to become an inconvenience and added expense. This means that is isn’t always the best idea to go for the cheapest option but look at performance levels and customer reviews to choose one that delivers what you need.

The Pros and Cons of a salt-free system

There are some fantastic benefits to choosing a salt-free water softening system for your household but it is also important to understand potential limitations. This way, you can make an informed decision about whether salt-free softeners are the way to go, or a traditional salt-based water softener system is better for you.

Pros

There are some fantastic benefits to choosing one of the best salt-free water softeners for your household including:

No added salt

As the name suggests, because these are salt-free systems, then you are not adding salt to the process and this is a fantastic health benefit. Many people are concerned about what they put in their body and there are also those who have a medical condition that means they should have much sodium in their diet.

Maintenance-free

There is almost no maintenance required with a salt-free system once you have installed it, which is easy enough in most cases. They don’t require additional parts or have the need for salt or chemicals to be replenished when they run low. This means you can pretty much just set up the salt-free system and forget about it, except for the odd check to make sure the process of water softening is still happening as expected.

No residue

As a result of the scientific process that salt-free softeners undertake, you will no longer have to deal with hard water leaving white residue on surfaces like glasses and sinks. This is because a salt-free softener will change the minerals into a different form, stopping them from clinging to surfaces. Whilst this doesn’t mean it is soft water, it certainly does a great job at reducing this major complaint about hard water.

Reduces scale build up

Quite possibly one of the biggest issues that hard water causes is scale build-up in pipes, faucets and appliances. In the long term, this will cause appliances and pipes to lose performance, break and need replacing which can be an expensive result of not treating hard water properly. You may also notice a foul smell being produced from faucets when you run tap water or shower water if there is a scale build-up.

A water conditioner like the salt-free softener systems on our list help minimise this problem when they change the form of minerals, in the same way as stopping residue from happening because they can no longer attach to surfaces in pipes and faucets.

Cons

Whilst there are some fantastic reasons that make a salt-free softener a great choice for your household, it is important to be aware of potential downsides and so you should make sure you wouldn’t be affected by any of the following:

It is still hard water

The main downside of a water softening system like this is that it doesn’t change hard water to soft water. It will change the shape and design of the ions to stop them attaching to surfaces but still leaves them in the water supply. Now, this isn’t a major problem because you’re still tackling the main issue of scale build-up and residue, without adding salt to your water supply.

FAQs:

Do salt-free water softeners really work?

Salt-free water softeners really work and are better than traditional salt-based water softeners. They don’t add anything to water and also don’t remove anything from it. It reconditions the water so that it flows smoothly throughout the plumbing to the sewage system without any scale buildup.

How do salt-free water softeners work?

Salt-free water softeners use cartridge to remove hard substances from water. The electronic water softeners are also said as salt-free water softeners. They make electromagnetic waves in hard water to make hard particles insoluble in water. There are magnetic softeners too that create magnetic waves to reduce hardness in water.

Are salt-free water softeners better?

Salt-free water softeners are better for people with heart and kidney disorders. Because the additional salt that salt-based water softeners add in water is not good for their health. However, it may be that a saltless water treatment system doesn’t perform well enough for your individual requirements, so don’t necessarily discount a different type of water softener system, such as a salt-water softener.

How much does a salt-free water softener cost?

A salt-free water softener, if it is magnetic, will cost you around 50 dollars. If you choose an electronic salt-free water softener, it will cost you around 150 to 400 dollars. And if a salt-free water softener is a cartridge-based system, it will cost you around 600 dollars.

Are salt-free water softeners safe?

Salt-free water softeners are safe for health. As these water systems don’t remove healthy minerals from water and don’t add anything harmful to it. They are best for people with kidney and heart disorders. Whilst they don’t actually change the water hardness levels, they do reduce residue and scale.

How to install a salt-free water softener?

Most of the salt-free water softeners come pre-assembled. So you don’t need much plumbing experience to install it. The installation manual will be enough to help you out. If you go for an electronic or magnetic water softener, they will only need a 15 minutes job.

What is a salt-free water softener?

A salt-free water softener is a system that uses a cartridge to make hard components in water as insoluble. By that, they flow through plumbing to the sewage without causing any scale. You will only need to replace the cartridge after a specific interval with no further maintenance, making it effectively maintenance-free.

Do salt-free water softeners remove iron?

Salt-free water softeners don’t remove anything from the water. They also don’t remove iron. Rather, they make iron particles insoluble in water so that it doesn’t cause scale build. This way, the healthy iron will remain in the water and will not cause any harm.

Which salt-free water softeners are the best?

Cartridge based salt-free water softeners are best among all. And the best of such type is the Aquasana Whole House salt-free water softener. It uses the Scale Control Media (SCM) softening technology to soften water without adding sodium into it.

See all other electronic water softeners here.

Have you decided on the best saltless water softener? Don’t forget to share your opinions and recommendations with us. It will help us improve our analysis. This way, you will contribute to the people choosing water softeners.

10 Best Salt-Free Water Softener Systems of 2021

Our Top Picks

List of Best Salt-Free Water Softeners

1. OneFlow + 7100638

2. Tier 1 Chlorine Reduction

3. HQUA 5000E

4. ScaleWatcher 2 Star

5. Nuvo H2O DPHB

6. TurboMag XT6

7. Tier1 Eco Series WH_WS_SF_1054

8. Eddy Electronic Descaler ED6002P-US

9. Aquasana Whole House EQ-1000-AST-AMZN

10. iSpring ED2000

Types of Water Softeners

Salt-based softeners

Salt-free softeners

Dual-tank softeners

How do salt-free systems work?

Key factors to consider

The Pros and Cons of a salt-free system

Pros

Cons

FAQs:

Do salt-free water softeners really work?

How do salt-free water softeners work?

Are salt-free water softeners better?

How much does a salt-free water softener cost?

Are salt-free water softeners safe?

How to install a salt-free water softener?

What is a salt-free water softener?

Do salt-free water softeners remove iron?

Which salt-free water softeners are the best?

Find out which are the BEST & WORST states by water quality

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