Water Softeners vs Water Filtration: Which is Best for Your Home?

Are you dealing with dry, irritated skin or stubborn mineral buildup on your faucets and appliances? Or does your laundry feel stiff, and your dishes are covered in spots no matter how often you wash them? These are common signs of hard water. But what’s the best solution – a water softener or a water filtration system?

Understanding Water Softeners and Filtration Systems

To decide whether a water softener or a filtration system is best for your home, it’s important to understand what each system does and how it impacts your water quality. After all, they serve different purposes.

A water softener addresses, surprise! Hard water. Hard water contains high levels of minerals, like calcium and magnesium, which leads to clogged pipes and damaged appliances and fixtures. Water softeners remove these minerals, making the water “softer” and less likely to cause issues in your house.

On the other end, a water filtration system focuses on removing contaminants and impurities. This includes anything from chlorine and sediment to bacteria and heavy metals. Filtration systems improve taste, odor, and overall safety of drinking water.

As you’re reading, keep in mind that water filters don’t remove the minerals that water softeners do. All the while, water softeners don’t remove contaminants like water filters do.

Know that these systems have separate jobs and one isn’t necessarily better than the other. They just do different things. Hard water has the biggest impact on appliances like water heaters, washing machines, and dishwashers, reducing their efficiency and lifespan.

Contaminated water, on the other hand, poses potentially serious health risks and affects the taste and odor of drinking water. Whether you decide one or the other is more beneficial, each system will ensure you’re happy with your water.

The Difference Between Water Softeners and Water Filtration Systems

What Does a Water Softener Do?

Hard water plagues nearly 85% of the homes in America. A large majority of American homes deal with gross soap scum, red ring iron stains in toilets, damaged plumbing, and dull clothing.

To stop this, water softeners use an ion exchange process, where hard water passes through a resin bed that exchanges calcium and magnesium ions for sodium or potassium ions. This effectively lowers the soap scum and mineral deposits from hard water.

The ion exchange process introduces very small amounts of salt into your water. If consuming salt is a concern, there are also salt-free water conditioners.

Water conditioners use template-assisted crystallization to transform hard minerals into softened crystals. The minerals will stay, but they’ll be much easier to clean than if you didn’t have a water conditioner.

People buy salt-free water conditioners because they don’t want to bother with replacing the salt every few months or have health conditions that may be affected by the salt content of the standard water softener.

Quick Tip From Aquasure

Water conditioners aren’t generally suitable for well water. The hardness of well water is more than likely too great for the conditioner to work effectively. Check Your Water Hardness

Benefits of Using a Water Softener

• Reduction in Scale Buildup: Water softeners heavily reduce mineral build-up from city and well water. No more water spots on dishes, sinks, bathroom mirrors, or shower doors!
• Improved Soap Efficiency: Soft water helps soap and detergents lather better for cleaner dishes and laundry.
• Extended Appliance Life: Appliances that use water, such as dishwashers and washing machines, benefit from softened water. They are less likely to need costly repairs or replacements since there isn’t nearly as much mineral buildup.

Drawbacks of Water Softeners

• Maintenance Requirements: Water softeners need regular maintenance to function properly. This includes refilling the salt or potassium in the brine tank. How often you need to replenish the salt or potassium depends on the water's hardness. The harder the water, the more often you’ll add salt to the brine tank.
• Initial and Ongoing Costs: The upfront cost of purchasing and installing a water softener can be significant at first. Consider the long-term benefits as you look at the price tag.

What is a Water Filtration System?

Water filtration systems refer to systems that remove certain contaminants. Common types include:

Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filters

To get into the sciencey bit of it, these filters remove chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other chemicals that affect taste and odor. Activated carbon filtration systems are best described as the star standard in water filtration.

It’s the perfect baseline for more fine water filters like reverse osmosis and UV filtration systems to remove the smaller toxins such as pharmaceuticals, or agricultural chemicals, creating drinkable water.

Compare Carbon-Based Filtration Systems

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems

Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems are distinguished by their use of a semi-permeable membrane. This advanced technology effectively removes a broad spectrum of contaminants from your water supply, including dissolved solids, PFAs, heavy metals, and harmful microorganisms. By ensuring the purity of your drinking water, RO systems contribute significantly to your health and well-being.

Benefits of Water Filtration Systems

• Removal of Contaminants: Filtration systems can effectively remove a broad spectrum of contaminants, making water safer to drink and cook with.
• Improved Taste and Odor: Many filters remove chlorine and other substances that affect the taste and smell of water, providing a more pleasant drinking experience.
• Health and Safety: Ensuring that your water is free from harmful contaminants contributes to better health and peace of mind.

Drawbacks of Water Filtration Systems

• Filter Replacement Costs: Replacement filter costs depend on the filter type and how often you need to replace them. For whole-house filtration systems like our Fortitude Series, the replacement cost average is about $35-$60 every 6-12 months. For more powerful systems, expect the price range to increase quite a bit more.
• Maintenance: Regular maintenance is required to ensure the filtration system functions properly and efficiently.
• Limited Contaminant Removal: Not all filtration systems remove the same types of contaminants, so selecting the right system based on your water quality is important. We recommend purchasing a water test kit to check water quality.

Which System is Best for Specific Needs?

• For Hard Water Issues: A water softener is likely the best choice. It will address the root cause of hard water problems and improve the overall efficiency of your home’s appliances.

• For Contaminants and Purity: If your primary concerns are contaminants or improving the taste and safety of your drinking water, a filtration system will be more suitable.

It is common to install both system types to handle all your needs. 

Imagine you’re in an area with extremely hard water. After installing a water softener, you’ll notice a significant reduction in scale buildup on appliances and a great improvement in the performance of soap and detergents. This not only lengthens the lifespan of your appliances but also reduces your cleaning product expenses.

On the other hand, if you and your family live near an industrial area with high levels of contaminants in your water, you’ll likely benefit more from a comprehensive filtration system. Combining a water treatment system with a reverse osmosis system would give you clean, safe drinking water.

Making the Right Choice for Your Home

Assessing Your Water Quality Needs

To determine the best system for your home, start by assessing your water quality. You can test for water hardness, use a water test kit for contaminants, and check your city for other issues.

Whether your skin is drying out from the hard water or your water is undrinkable because of its taste, there are plenty of affordable options to make your water exactly as it should be: clear, tasteless, and pure.

Cost and Maintenance Considerations

As mentioned earlier, consider the initial investment and the long-term maintenance and operation costs. Water softeners may have higher upfront costs and ongoing expenses for salt or potassium.

Filtration systems need regular filter replacements and maintenance. Evaluate these costs against your budget to make an informed decision.

Consider the benefits you’ll gain and how they’ll outweigh the costs, like using less soap, maintaining clothing quality, and reducing doctor visits due to fewer illnesses.

Expert Recommendations

Water softeners and filtration systems each have their unique positives and negatives. Combining a water softener and a filtration system may offer the most complete solution for most households. It ultimately depends on your specific needs.

Consult with our water treatment professionals who can provide personalized advice based on your water quality and household needs. They can help you select the right system and ensure proper installation and maintenance.

Water Softener and Filtration Support

Ready to improve your water quality? Explore our range of water softeners and filtration systems to find the perfect solution for your home. Whether you need to address hard water issues or ensure cleaner, safer drinking water, we have the right options for you.