Salt-Based Water Softeners
Ion exchange systems that remove calcium and magnesium from hard water. The gold standard for eliminating scale buildup.
How Salt-Based Water Softeners Work
Ion exchange systems that remove calcium and magnesium from hard water. The gold standard for eliminating scale buildup.
Systems in This Category
SpringWell SS1 · $1,495
The SpringWell SS1 is the top-rated salt-based water softener for homes with 1–3 bathrooms. Lab tests confirm 97.5% hardness removal and the lifetime warranty is industry-leading.
Fleck 5600SXT · $650
The Fleck 5600SXT is the industry workhorse. NSF-certified, huge capacity, and the Fleck valve is the most trusted name in water softening. Best value per grain of capacity.
Whirlpool WHES40 · $550
The Whirlpool WHES40 is the easiest softener to buy — walk into Lowe's and take it home. NSF-certified and handles very hard water, but the 1-year warranty is a weakness.
Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126 · $1,350
Crystal Quest offers a premium build with lifetime warranty and 10% crosslink resin. Less known than Fleck or SpringWell, but the quality is comparable.