PennyGeeks

Last Updated: February 23, 2021

Does your water taste metallic? Is your glassware smudged after you’re done washing the dishes? Keep finding soap scum sticking to your tubs and sinks? Your water may look clear, but chances are it still contains sediment, pollutants, and other unwanted impurities. If you have hard water, or a supply that contains high levels of magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iron, and/or other elements, one of the water softeners on this page might be the solution you’re after.

Our Geeks looked at hundreds of different types, brands, and models of water softeners to find the best systems. When the dust settled, the following options stood out as the best water softeners on the market:

• Aquasana Rhino Whole House Water Filtration System
• Premier Water Systems Whole House Well Water Softener and Iron Removing Water System
• DURAWATER Fleck 5600 SXT Iron Pro 48,000 Grain Water Softener
• Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener Digital SXT Metered
• AquaHomeGroup Luxury Filtered Showerhead
• AquaBliss High Output 12-Stage Shower Filter

On this page, you’ll find:

• Best Water Softener Overall
• Best Water Softener for Iron Removal
• Best Water Softener for Shower
• Best Water Softener for Bathroom

Best Water Softener Overall

Aquasana Rhino Whole House Water Filtration System

If you get your water from a well, you already understand the importance of regular well maintenance and cleaning. Left unchecked, a well can become infested with bacteria and E. coli. But even once you’ve cleansed your supply at the source, contaminants, chemicals and sediment could still be present in the water flowing from your taps – and that’s bad news for your skin, hair, and plumbing.

Studies have shown that not only can these unwanted ingredients accelerate corrosion in your pipes, elements such as chlorine can also evaporate in shower steam, contaminating the air you breathe. Aquasana’s SimplySoft filtration system is an innovative solution to solve your “hard” water problems.

This three-stage, whole-house filter, first passes water through a pre-filter tank to remove large particles, contaminants, and impurities (including sediment). By preventing this sediment from flowing into your home, this first filter can halt corrosion in its tracks, lengthening the lifespan of your plumbing and connected appliances. This filter needs to be replaced once every three months depending on the quality of your well’s water.

Water then passes through the system’s “rhino filtration”. The Aquasana is NSF Certified to remove 97% of the chlorine taste and odor from your supply. During the follow-up Activated Carbon stage, a porous organic material binds to certain contaminants, stripping them from the rushing water. Activated Carbon has also been shown to reduce the number of impurities in the water, such as copper, certain pesticides, and herbicides.

Finally, the post-filter – think of it as a polishing agent – catches any sediment or organic particles that manage to pass through the first two stages. In addition to using the Aquasana Rhino Whole House Filtration system, we recommend installing a UV light water filter. This type of specialized water filter will help kill bacteria and viruses still present in your supply.

Whether it’s your shower or your sinks, this water treatment system does a great job of supplying clean, healthy water to every faucet in your home. The highlight: Aquasana’s softener doesn’t require electricity, backflushing, or drainage. It’s a hassle-free, cost-effective way to snag crystal-clear, great-tasting well water on tap.

Premier Water Systems Whole House Well Water Softener and Iron Removing Water System

A well gets its water from underground rivers or aquifers – layers of soil and rock with water flowing between the pores. Deep under the ground, this constant flow of H2O will collect sediment, pollutants, and chemicals.

Often, this underground supply can contain high levels of sulfur and iron. Identifiable by its rotten egg odor, sulfur can even ruin your water’s taste. Sulfur has also been shown to damage metal pipes and can cause your hair to dry out or feel oily. While your body needs iron to survive, high levels of iron can cause your water to taste metallic, clog your pipes, and damage your plumbing. Specifically designed for well water, this two-in-one water softener is designed to filter out both of these unwanted chemicals, helping improve the taste, smell, and clarity of your home’s H2O.

The system uses gravel filters to sieve out debris and sediment. Then, using a fine mesh resin, the Great Well Water Softener reduces hardness by removing iron from your supply. Finally, the KDF Media Guard 85 strips any remaining sulfur and iron from the water. In tests, the system was shown to reduce hardness by up to 50 grains per gallon (GPG) and iron by up to 6 milligrams per liter.

Best Water Softener for Iron Removal

DURAWATER Fleck 5600 SXT Iron Pro 48,000 Grain Water Softener

As a supplement, iron is beneficial to your health. But in your water supply, this metal can cause damage to your plumbing, leave stains on your silverware, and affect the taste of your drinking water. DURAWATER’s Fleck 5600 SXT Iron Pro 48,000 grain water softener is not only designed to effectively strip this element from your supply, it’s also an all-in-one solution that will improve the clarity, taste, and smell of your home’s water.

This model incorporates a fine mesh resin into the design, which acts a sieve to trap and remove any iron in your supply. Then, using an ion exchange process, the Fleck 5600 SXT Iron Pro draws out and disposes of any magnesium and calcium – elements that can cause soap scum build-up in your sinks and tubs and have both been shown to accelerate corrosion in your plumbing and connected appliances. This nets you access to “softer” water, and can extend the lifespan of your appliances and pipes.

But there’s more to this softener than just smart engineering. The Fleck 5600 SXT Iron Pro is regulated using a digital metered control valve, a mini computer that measures your water usage and regenerates the system based on everchanging demands. Efficient, adaptable, and affordable; the Fleck 5600 SXT Iron Pro will help you iron out your iron issues with ease.

Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener Digital SXT Metered

If you’re looking for a set-it-and-forget-it approach to tackling your “hard” water problems, Fleck’s original 5600 SXT model is an easy-to-use and efficient water softener. Featuring digital metering, much like the Iron Pro, this system will monitor your water usage and regenerate when needed.

It’s a smart innovation that will save you the stress of worrying about whether your water softener has what it needs to get the job done. According to tests, this digital meter can run continuously for almost 30 years. Best part: it’s backed by a 5-year warranty.

The Fleck 5600SXT makes use of an effective ion exchange process to eliminate magnesium and calcium in your water. While not harmful, both elements have been shown to cause serious damage to your plumbing and can also lead to soap scale build-up.

Best Water Softener for Shower

AquaHomeGroup Luxury Filtered Showerhead

You scrutinize shampoo bottle labels and spend hundreds of dollars on allergy-free, natural soaps in your pursuit to take better care of your skin. However, you may be overlooking the most important ingredient of the all: your water supply. The reality is that the contents of your water can leave your skin nourished, healthy, and glowing, or, they can do the exact opposite, causing serious damage to body’s largest organ.

Hard water – i.e. water containing high levels of magnesium, calcium, iron, and/or sulfur – has been shown to irritate skin and dry out hair. Fortunately, in this day in age, there are more than just a few ways to improve the quality of your supply. Our advice? Start in the shower.

AquaHomeGroup’s Luxury Filtered Showerhead features a 15-stage built-in filter. When you turn on the tap, compounds contained in each of these filtering layers – such as activated carbon and alkaline ceramic balls – work to reduce levels of chlorine, rust, heavy metals, sand, and other sediments. This showerhead is quick to install, and the replaceable filter cartridges last for up to six months.

AquaBliss High Output 12-Stage Shower Filter

Chlorine is added to water to kill harmful bacteria and deadly viruses. While this ensures your supply is safe to drink, it can also lead to skin irritation, hair dryness, and other issues. AquaBliss’s in-shower solution is designed to strip chlorine from your supply from the moment you turn on the tap, preventing these issues and many others.

Featuring a 12-stage filtering system – which includes sediment filters, activated carbon, and redox media – this shower filter doesn’t just reduce the effects of hard, chlorinated water, but will also infuse minerals into every drop to nourish your hair, nails, and skin. The best part? This filter is easy to install and can be swapped out in just a few minutes.

Best Water Softener for Bathroom

AquaHomeGroup Luxury Filtered Showerhead

Outside, rising levels of pollution have become a very real threat to your well-being. As a result, your bathroom is now a sanctuary, a place to escape, and, most importantly, a place to cleanse. However, while you may have invested hundreds of dollars in skin-safe soaps, shampoos, and conditioners, the water flowing from your taps and showerhead could be undoing all your hard work.

The reality is that very few homes in this country have access to truly clean water. In some areas, water can contain high levels of magnesium and calcium, which have been shown to dry out hair and form a sticky residue on the skin. In other areas, excess chlorine in the water – which is used to kill bacteria and viruses – can irritate the skin and bleach hair.

As a result, it’s become essential to invest in an effective water softening system. While you may not be able to afford a whole-house solution, AquaHomeGroup’s offering will net you access to cleaner, safer water in minutes.

This showerhead, featuring a built-in series of filters, is designed to strip unwanted elements, chemicals, and pollutants from your supply. As water rushes from your plumbing to the fixture, these filters can reduce chlorine levels, strip out heavy metals, and remove certain sediments. Plus, a replaceable Vitamin C and E filter infuses your water with skin-nourishing vitamins. At an affordable price point – far below that of a whole house system – this is a must-buy for both homeowners and those renting apartments.

AquaBliss High Output 12-Stage Shower Filter

When it comes to improving the quality of your water supply, a whole-home system is a luxury that you may not yet be able to afford. However, don’t worry, you can still net yourself access to cleaner, “softer” water without breaking the bank.

The AquaBliss High Output 12-Stage Shower Filter is a targeted water softening solution, designed to strip pollutants from your supply from the moment you turn on your tap. Installed inside your shower, this filter “sieves” water through 12 different stages to strip impurities and chemicals from your H2O. Besides removing these pollutants, the advanced multi-stage health filter also infuses beneficial minerals into the water to nourish your nails, skin, and hair.