10 Best Whole House Water Softener Reviews of 2020

The water supply of your house may come from a nearby well, or it is connected to the municipal water supply line. Most of the time, this water is hard. It will adversely affect your plumbing, appliances, and everything that comes in contact with water. So you have to choose the best whole house water softener. So that everything becomes safe from scale buildup, soap scum, and rust stains. Find out the best one for your house from the options given below.

Our Top Picks:

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Best Overall

Best Value

AFWFilters AFW Filters IRON Pro 2 Combination water softener iron filter Fleck 5600SXT digital metered valve for whole house (64,000 Grains, Black)

Best Budget-friendly

Iron Pro 48K Combination Water Softener & Iron Filter with Fleck 5600SXT Digital Metered Valve - Treat Whole House up to (1" Bypass 48,000 Grains, Black)

Name

Aquasana Rhino

AFWFilters Iron Pro 2

Iron Pro 48k

47 Reviews

29 Reviews

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Best Overall

Name

Aquasana Rhino

47 Reviews

Check Price

Best Value

Name

AFWFilters Iron Pro 2

47 Reviews

Check Price

Best Budget-friendly

Name

Iron Pro 48k

29 Reviews

Check Price

Contents

Best Whole House Water Softener of 2020:

Best Whole House Water Softener of 2020:

While choosing a water softener for the whole house, keep in mind the hardness level and water consumption of the entire family. Also, take note of components that are affecting your water the most. So you must look for a product that can eliminate the problem to the fullest. You don’t have to work hard to figure out all this. Just read out this article till the end, and you will surely make a choice before you leave.

List of Best Whole House Water Softeners:

Best Choice

AFWFilters 48k 5600sxt Iron pro eradicator 2000, blue

Runner-up

AFWFilters 80k dual Fleck 9100 SXT Twin Metered On-Demand 80,000 Grains Per Tank Softener 24/7 Soft Water, blue

Also Good

DuraWater 80k, Black Fleck 5600 SXT Meter Demand Water Softener Grain Capacity 10% Commercial Grade Cation Resin (80,000

Also Good

Iron Pro 2 Combination water softener iron filter Fleck 5600SXT digital metered valve 64,000 grain, 64k for whole house

AFWFilters Iron Pro

AFWFilters 80k twin tank

DuraWater 80k

AFWFilters Iron Pro 2

Iron Pro 2

Our rating: 5/5

Our rating: 4.9/5

Our rating: 4.8/5

8 Reviews

60 Reviews

47 Reviews

Check Price

Best Choice

AFWFilters Iron Pro

Our rating: 5/5

Check Price

Runner-up

AFWFilters 80k twin tank

Our rating: 4.9/5

8 Reviews

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Also Good

DuraWater 80k

Our rating: 4.9/5

60 Reviews

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Also Good

AFWFilters Iron Pro 2

Our rating: 4.9/5

47 Reviews

Check Price

Iron Pro 2

Our rating: 4.8/5

Check Price

Whole House Water Softeners Also Worth Mentioning:

Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener Digital SXT Metered Whole House System

Fleck 5600SXT 64,000 Grain Water Softener Digital SXT Metered Whole House System

AFWFilters Fleck IRON Pro 2 AFW Filters Combination Water Softener Iron Filter 5600SXT Digital Metered Valve for Whole House (48,000 Grains, Black)

Fleck 5600SXT 48k

Fleck 5600SXT 64k

Aquasana Rhino

Iron Pro 48k

Fleck Iron Pro 2

Our rating: 4.6/5

Our rating: 4.5/5

Our rating: 4.4/5

463 Reviews

223 Reviews

47 Reviews

29 Reviews

44 Reviews

Check Price

Fleck 5600SXT 48k

Our rating: 4.6/5

463 Reviews

Check Price

Fleck 5600SXT 64k

Our rating: 4.6/5

223 Reviews

Check Price

Aquasana Rhino

Our rating: 4.6/5

47 Reviews

Check Price

Iron Pro 48k

Our rating: 4.5/5

29 Reviews

Check Price

Fleck Iron Pro 2

Our rating: 4.4/5

44 Reviews

Check Price

1. AFWFilters Iron Pro 48k

AFWFilters, in combination with Iron Pro, presents you the best external water softener for the whole house. It is specially designed to eliminate both ferrous and ferric iron. Either it is in the well water or in the municipal water supply line, it is always useful. The pack contains the mesh resin, 25 cubic gravel bed, KDF 85 media guard 48,000 grains, safety float, salt tank, resin tank, and on-demand control valve. See the picture to have an idea of how it looks like.

Compatibility:

This system can remove the overall hardness of water up to 50 gallons per grain with the help of fine mesh resin. It eliminates iron up to 4 parts per million. Also, it can eradicate hydrogen sulfide up to 2 parts per million entirely, which is the cause of rotten eggs smell. Along with that, it reduces the presence of heavy metals.

Digital control:

This system has Fleck 5600SXT digital control that measures water usage. With that, it sets the time to regenerate as per requirement. Due to this, it can maximize the system’s capacity and minimizes salt usage. There is also a safety float to prevent overfilling.

Technical support:

The seller is offering excellent customer support by knowledgeable and friendly support staff. They are always available to assist you in case you need some assistance. But you will merely need it because the written guidelines and instructional videos are enough to make sure that installation and programming is a DIY for you.

Weight:

This very best whole house water softener weighs only 95 pounds. But it arrives at your doorstep in a package weighing 140 pounds.

Warranty:

The seller is offering a 5-year warranty on the valve and a 10-year warranty on the tank.

Good Points	Alerts!
It gives the clearest water. Best for a home with high iron water.	Will not remove sulfate.

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2. AFWFilters 80k dual

It is the most suitable water softener if you are looking for 24/7 water availability. Because it has two tanks which work alternatively when one is in the regeneration process. The pack contains 5 cubic feet of resin, 2 mineral tanks, Fleck 9100 SXT controller, bypass valve, brine tank with safety float, salt tank, and connectors of 1″ or ¾”. See the picture for how it looks like.

Compatibility:

It reduces scale buildup and rust stains from faucets, plumbing, and appliances. Because it entirely eliminates hardness causing substances from water.

Capacity:

With 80,000 grain capacity per tank, the best flow rate water softener provides you up to 25 gallons of water per minute. Which means, it is solely enough for large families.

Warranty:

The supplier is offering a warranty of 5 years for the valve and ten years for both of the tanks.

Technical support:

The seller is offering exceptional customer service. The knowledgeable agents are happy to assist you in installation and programming to make it a DIY for you.

Weight:

This item weighs 95 pounds only but arrives in a shipment that weighs 260 pounds.

Good Points	Alerts!
Softest water ever.	Not able to filter chlorine.

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3. DuraWater 80k

DuraWater presents this amazing water softener with different capacity ranges so that you can choose one as per your requirement. The variations are; 24,000, 36,000, 40,000, 48,000, 64,000, and 80,000 grain capacity. The pack of best water softener for hard water areas includes 10% resin, control head, overflow prevention, LCD display touchpad, a tank, brine tank with safety float, installation kit, test strip, sanitizer packet, lubricant, and instructions. See the picture to know how it looks like.

Display:

The LCD display, along with a touchpad, makes it easy to program and control for all homeowners.

Weight:

This high capacity whole house water softener weighs only 95 pounds when it arrives at your doorstep.

Compatibility:

This whole house water softener has a Fleck 5600SXT control valve that measures water usage. So it regenerates as per demand. Can treat water hardness up to 40 grains per gallon.

Capacity:

With 80,000 grain capacity, this downflow water softener offers a flow rate of up to 16 gallons per minute. It is an ideal choice for a home with four bathrooms and more than four residents.

Technical support:

There is a complete installation kit with everything within. So you will not have to run to the superstore. With that, video and written guidelines for programming and installation are also available.

Warranty:

The seller offers a 5-year warranty on the control valve and a 10-year warranty on the tank.

Good Points	Alerts!
Super easy installation.	Doesn’t removes the sulfur smell.

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4. AFWFilters IRONPRO2

AFWFilters, in combination with Iron Pro 2, presents the best whole house water softener for iron removal. The pack contains brine tank, Fleck 5600SXT control valve, tank, fine mesh resin, lubricant, install kit with sanitizer, and instructions. See how it looks like in the picture.

Compatibility:

The best bang for buck water softener eliminates sediment, sand, rust stains, and scale buildup that are the leading cause of iron in the water. It removes manganese up to 6 parts per million and ferrous iron up to 7 parts per million. In return, your plumbing and appliances work better and last longer. The overall hardness removal score is 70 grains per gallon.

Digital control:

This system has Fleck 5600SXT digital control that is metered based. Which means it measures the water requirement and regenerates as you need it.

Capacity:

With 64,000 grain capacity, this system can provide a flow rate of up to 16 gallons per minute. Enough for six or more residents.

Technical support:

The seller provides DIY written installation plus video instructions to make it easy for everyone. With that, telephone and email technical support are here to assist you in case there is an issue.

Weight:

This item weighs 54 pounds as a whole. Whereas it arrives at your doorstep in a package weighing only 95 pounds.

Power consumption:

This system requires a power outlet on 120 volts to run the operations smoothly and consumes very less energy.

Warranty:

The seller is offering a 5-year warranty on the valve and a 10-year warranty on the tank.

Good Points	Alerts!
Hair and skin feel better. Drinking safe water.	Manual regeneration.

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5. Iron Pro 2 – IRONPRO2

It is the best water softener for your whole house if specifically, iron is the primary concern. It is when there is a reddish-brown color of your water. Also, it adds a harsh taste and is terrible for skin and hair. The pack contains Fleck 5600SXT digital metered control, almond color resin tank, a round almond brine tank with safety float, fine mesh resin, bypass valve, and 1″ male connections. See the picture to have an idea of how it looks like.

Capacity:

It can treat water up to 16 gallons per minute with 64,000-grain capacity. Also, it can last longer without the need to regenerate.

Warranty:

The seller is offering a 30 days satisfaction guarantee so that you can make sure it is best for your whole house. With that, there is a 5-year warranty on the control head and 10-year warranty on the tank.

Compatibility:

This best water softener for iron and sulfur can also remove sand, rust, and other harmful sediments. Eliminates scale buildup, so there is no need to scrub faucets, appliances, shower, and sinks. It can remove ferric iron up to 8 parts per million, sulfur up to 2 parts per million, and manganese up to 6 parts per million. So the overall hardness removal capability is 75 grains per gallon.

Technical support:

The seller is offering excellent technical support from a team of skilled and professional people. They are available over a phone call and email to assist you.

Weight:

This best whole house softening system weighs 119.5 pounds when it arrives at your doorstep.

Digital control:

The digital control is smart enough to measure water usage and regenerate as per demand.

Good Points	Alerts!
It removes the iron level of 10 PPM to undetectable. No water pressure drop.	No soft water in regeneration time.

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6. Fleck WS48-56SXT

The best choice for a whole house water softener if the problem is soap scum, water spots, scale buildup, and no soap leathering. The pack contains Fleck 5600SXT digital metered control, a standard black brine tank with safety float, a black resin tank, high capacity 8% crosslink resin, bypass valve, and 1″ male connections. See the picture to have an idea of how this system looks like.

See all resin buying options here.

Compatibility:

The best ion-exchange water softener removes iron and magnesium from water. As a result, hardness reduces, and the life of your appliances and plumbing increases. The system has a safety float, which protects it from overfilling. With that, there is an overflow drain that acts as a backup.

Capacity:

With 48,000 grain capacity, this water softener offers a flow rate of 12 gallons per minute. Also, it is enough for a home with six people.

Digital control:

The Fleck 5600SXT control valve has a backlit LCD display along with touchpad controls. It measures water usage and regenerates as per requirement. With that, it makes sure to minimize salt usage and maximize the overall capacity.

Power backup:

The user-friendly interface has a 48 hours internal power backup. Which ensures that the water supply never stops in case of a power outage.

Warranty:

The seller offers a 10-year warranty on the tank and a 5-year warranty on the valve. Which is also tested to work for 27 years continuously.

Weight:

This whole house water softener weighs only 20.8 pounds when it arrives at your doorstep.

Technical support:

The seller gives an installation guide in written and video form to ensure smooth operations. Also, you can take further assistance over a phone call from knowledgeable customer support agents.

Power consumption:

This system requires a power outlet of 120 pounds to run smoothly.

Good Points	Alerts!
Crystal clear water.	No drainage tubing in the pack.

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7. Fleck 5600SXT 64,000 grain

The intelligent whole house water softener that never forgets the set programming up to 48 hours in case of a power outage. The pack of best water softener for city water contains 2.0 cubic feet high capacity resin with resin tank, a standard brine tank with safety float, 5600SXT on-demand control valve, instruction manual, sanitizer, lubricant, and test strips. See the image to know how it looks like.

Digital display:

There is an LCD display that gives that shows time, remaining capacity, and regeneration cycle if it is in process. With that, microprocessor remembers the programming and doesn’t go to default settings after a sudden restart. Also, it measures water usage and regenerated as per requirement.

Compatibility:

You can select the desired regeneration option among immediate meter regeneration, delayed meter regeneration, or delayed time clock regeneration. This way saves your money on salt and water. Eliminates scale buildup, rust stains, and soap scum.

Capacity:

This best water softener for home use with 64,000-grain capacity offers a flow rate of up to 12 gallons per minute.

Technical support:

Written guidelines for installation and programming are in the pack. Video installation tips are also available to make it a DIY for you. With that, customer support over a phone call is exceptional.

Weight:

The item weighs 180 pounds when it is fully loaded. It is shipped in two boxes weighing 120 and 30 pounds respectively.

Warranty:

The seller is offering a 5-year warranty on the control valve and a 10-year warranty on the resin tank.

Good Points	Alerts!
It provides drinkable water. Removes sulfur smell.	Not Wi-Fi compatible.

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8. Aquasana Rhino THD-600-BUNDLE

Aquasana whole house water softener is to protect your loved ones, appliances, and plumbing for a long time. Hard water contaminates the indoor air you breathe in. This best watetr softener for hard water purifies the air so you can breathe in a clean environment. See the picture to know how it looks like.

Compatibility:

Adds nothing and removes nothing. It doesn’t use electricity or requires drainage to wastewater. Eliminates 97% of chlorine, reduces scale buildup, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, and industrial solvents.

Capacity:

This up-flow softener has two tanks that increase water contact time. It can treat up to 600,000 gallons of water.

Weight:

This excellent whole house twin tank water softener only weighs 71 pounds.

Good Points	Alerts!
No power required. Softener plus filter, and salt-free. Removes arsenic and fluoride.	Installation is not a DIY. Not for high iron.

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Have a look at more suitable choices of salt-free water softeners here…

9. Iron Pro 48k-56SXT-FM-1

This best whole house water softener for hard water and iron removal is available from a True Blue Dealer. The pack contains a mineral tank, a brine tank with safety float, a control valve with backlit LCD display, and connectors. See the picture to know how it looks like.

Compatibility:

It removes sediments, sand, red stains, and scale buildup. It also eliminates manganese up to 6 parts per million, ferrous iron, and some ferric iron, up to 8 parts per million. So your appliances, plumbing, and fixtures will last longer and perform better.

Digital display:

The system has a backlit LCD display and a user-friendly interface. Measures water usage by the digital Fleck 5600SXT control valve. It regenerates water as per demand.

Power backup:

This whole house water softener works smoothly in case of a power outage because of 48 hours of internal power backup.

Capacity:

This 48,000-grain capacity water softener provides a flow rate of up to 14 gallons per minute.

Technical support:

Installation of this system only takes 1-2 hours with some necessary plumbing skills. In case you need some assistance, there is an installation video. Also, the seller offers an app where you can access configuration details, technical documentation, spare parts, and troubleshooting manual.

Weight:

The item weighs only 53 pounds. Whereas the whole pack weighs 136 pounds with all the components when ships to you.

Power consumption:

This best whole house water softener consumes very little energy and requires a power outlet of 120 volts.

Warranty:

There is a 10-year warranty on the tank and a 5-year warranty on the control valve.

Good Points	Alerts!
Water softener plus iron filter. Suitable for city water.	Not fit to install outside.

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See how a salt-based water softener works, here…

10. Fleck IRONPRO2

It is another best option as a whole house water softener for iron removal and hard water. The package contains a Fleck 5600SXT digital metered control, a black resin tank, a standard black brine tank with safety float, fine mesh resin, and bypass valve and 1″ male connections. See the picture to have an idea of how it looks.

Compatibility:

It eliminates soap scum, scale buildup, rust stains, sand, manganese up to 6 parts per million, and also ferrous iron up to 7 parts per million. So, the overall hardness removal score is 70 grains per gallon.

Digital display:

With Fleck 5600SXT digital control, this softener also measures the water usage and regenerates as per demand.

Capacity:

It provides a flow rate of 14 gallons per minute with 48,000-grain capacity. Besides, it is enough for a home with five residents or more.

Warranty:

The seller offers a 10-year warranty on the mineral tank and also a 5-year warranty on the control valve.

Technical support:

Phone and email technical support is here to assist you all the time. Besides that, the DIY instruction manual and video guide make it easy to install and program for everyone.

Weight:

This whole house water softener only weighs 53 pounds and comes in a shipment weighing 54 pounds.

Power usage:

This system requires a power outlet of 120 volts to ensure smooth operations.

Good Points	Alerts!
Kills bacteria.	Doesn’t eliminates sulfur.

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FAQs:

How to install a whole house water softener?

Choose a place where you want to install the whole house water softener. Buy connectors and all other required stuff from the market. Follow the installation manual by the manufacturer while you connect all the parts together. Take the services of a professional plumber in case you don’t have any plumbing experience.

What are the whole house water softener alternatives?

If you don’t want to install a traditional salt-based whole house water softener, consider other options. You can go for a salt-free water softener, an electronic water softener/descaler, or a magnetic water softener.

Where to install a whole house water softener?

The best place to install a whole house water softener is the entry point of water. So you can install it in your garage or in the basement. It is because most of the water softeners do not work at freezing temperatures.

How do whole house water softeners work?

A whole house water softener turns the hard water into soft water. It takes in the hard water and processes it to reduce the hardness. It can be done through ion-exchange method by salt-based water softeners or through reconditioning by salt-free water softeners. The resulted water is then called soft water.

What is a whole house water softener?

Whole house water softener is enough for your whole family and whole home. So make sure that the flow rate of the water softener you want to buy is enough to serve water to all of you all the time. The grain capacity should also be enough that it doesn’t require frequent regeneration.

How much does a whole home water softener cost?

Cost of whole house water softener depends on the size of the household and water hardness. It will cost you up to 200 dollars if you are a family of two. However, a whole house water softener will cost you around 600 dollars if you are a family of 6 or more people.

Are whole house water softeners worth it?

Whole house water softeners really worth it. After you install it, you will witness crystal clear water from each faucet in your home. Also, your appliances and plumbing will last longer and work better. There will be no soap scum and rust stains. Also, there will be more soap leathering.

What’s the best whole house water softener?

Aquasana Rhino is the best whole house water softener. It is a slat-free water softener. So it will remove nothing from water and will also add nothing to it. Despite that, it will make your water soft and healthy. It also purifies the air inside your home that you breathe in.

How much to install a whole house water softener?

If you have some plumbing experience, there will be no cost to install the whole house water softener. You will only need to buy some connectors only. However, if you want to hire a professional for the purpose it may cost you equal to the cost of purchase of water softener.

How long do whole house water softeners last?

A whole house water softener is a one-time purchase item and will last for years. If you maintain it properly and do care, there will be also very minimum maintenance costs. Also, some water softeners are tested to run continuously for 27 years by the manufacturer.

What size whole house water softener?

Your whole house water softener should not be of maximum capacity. You have to check the water hardness and your household size. An average water hardness with a family of up to 4 people only needs a water softener of up to 48,000 grain capacity.

If you are on well water, choose a suitable water softener here…

What is your choice for the whole house water softener? Don’t forget to keep in mind the hardness level and water requirement before buying one. Also, share your valuable opinions with us so that the community can benefit from your experience.