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Water Softener Buying Guide

02/06/2026

Category : Buying_Guides


Lee Supply is here to help guide you through your water softener purchase.

What is Hard water and why you may need a water softener?

What is a water softener? Water softener systems are products that use ion exchange to solve hard water problems. Hard water is water that is rich in minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

Wherever you live, there will always be a certain amount of hardness in your home's water. A water softener is the solution to that and buying the correct unit is important when appropriately treating your hard water issues. The number of people living in your home and amount of water used, are both factors when buying a water softener to treat your specific hard water needs. 


How Water Softeners Work

A water softener removes the calcium and magnesium ions that make water hard by replacing them with salt/sodium via ion exchange.

1.      Hard water enters your home from a main water pipe or well and goes to the water softener.
2.      Resin beads in the tank attract and hold onto hard water minerals, removing them from the water.
3.      Softened water exits the tank and flows throughout your home.




Types of Water Softeners

Salt-Based Ion Exchange Softener

    • Uses ion exchange process to remove the hardness in water

Salt-Free Water Softener

    • Uses a potassium chloride salt as a substitute of sodium

Cabinet-Style Water Softeners

    • Space saving, more compact units

Dual-Tank Water Softeners

    • Uses a two tank system to keep soft water flowing through your home at all times, this is ideal for big families that have large water needs.




Water Softener Sizing

The first step to sizing a water softener to a home is to have the water tested for hardness levels which is measured in Grains (of minerals) per Gallon. If you know the hardness in MG/L OR PPM for your water, but not the Grains/Gallon then you can use our converter here to determine that number. If you do not live on city water you will also need your iron levels tested. This is measured in Parts per Million. Once you have these numbers use our Calculator Here to find water softener options.


Water Softener Features & Controls

Timer controls

    • Timer controls will recharge your system at a set time during the day or night

DIR controls (Demand-Initiated Regeneration)

    • DIR controls detects when your resin needs (recharging)
    • This will save water and salt with the system recharging itself when it needs it. 

UV Lights (ultraviolet) 

    • UV lights are used with water softeners as another stage of water sterilization. 





Water Softener Pro's & Con's

ProsCons

Efficient pipes and appliances 

  • Hard water has high amounts of calcium and magnesium ions, which can create limescale and damage your home’s internal heating, plumbing systems, and appliances.
  • Hard water can damage your homes water heater, appliances (dishwasher, washing machines, ice makers), faucets, shower heads, and parts inside the toilet tank.

The Cost can be high 

  • The cost of a water softener depends on the size of your household and the type of system one chooses.
  • Larger homes with more occupants will require a more heavy-duty system.

Better laundry, skin, and hair 

  • Hard water can build up and dry out one’s hair and skin. (Soft water can be better for people with skin conditions like eczema.)

Maintenance 

  • Water softeners require salt maintenance to keep the system functioning properly.
  • A tank will need to be filled with salt 3 to 4 times a year. (about $25 per fill or about $100 per year)

Better smelling water 

  • Hard water tends to have a sulfurous scent. A water softener will improve your waters taste, smell, and look.
  • Soft water does not leave mineral spots on glassware like hard water does.

Slippery feel and loss mineral content 

  • Soft water tends to leave your skin feeling more “slippery” than when using Hard water.
  • Soft water lacks minerals (like calcium and magnesium) that are apart of one’s healthy daily intake. This can be resolved by having an unsoftened tap, or by using bottled or filtered water for cooking and drinking.

Water softener’s do not require a lot of energy 

  • Water softener’s do not require as much energy as you may think. Over the course of a year, the total energy required to run a water softener system is about the same as an alarm clock.

Can having a water softener save you money? 

  • Having a water softener will increase your energy savings from the water heater using less energy to heat water. Soft water leaves your skin feeling more “slippery”, so you will use less soap and detergent.




Water Softener Price Factors

  1. Size of your home: The size and number of rooms in your home are an important factor in sizing your water softener. The more bathrooms and other rooms that may use soft water means the more water that will run through your water softener. 

  2. Installation: Older homes may have inadequate plumbing and may need a new piping system put in place. This as well as materials will play an important role in the final cost.

  3. Additional features: Adding features onto your water softener system like UV lamps and leak detectors will add to your initial cost for the system.

  4. Servicing & Maintenance: Most systems now are automatic and do not require regular servicing of recharging your water softener, while other water softeners need manually recharged quarterly. Buying salt will be your main periodic cost itself, with the average cost being around $10.