Best Water Softener Types for Home Use

Written by Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips

Ever feel like you’re spending more time scrubbing mineral stains than enjoying your home? We get it. Hard water can leave scale on fixtures, make soap refuse to lather, and even dull hair and skin. At the same time, city water treatment often adds chlorine or fluoride that some of us prefer to filter out.

That’s why we put together this guide to the best water filters and softeners for home use.

So here’s the thing, we’re on a mission to help homeowners find a cost-effective, whole-house solution that protects plumbing, improves family health, and keeps cleaning time to a minimum.

We’ll show you how to assess your water quality, compare salt-based and salt-free softeners, explore whole-house filtration, and dive into SoftPro Water Systems’ lineup—backed by the Phillips family’s decades of honest, no-pressure expertise.

By the end of this article, we’ll have walked together through testing options, product features, installation paths, and budget considerations. Whether you’re tackling hard water stains or worried about chemical contaminants, trust us—you’re not alone in this.

Let’s explore our options and find the right system for our home.

Assess Water Quality

Knowing what’s in your water is the first step toward choosing the right treatment. Let’s break it down.

Test for contaminants

• Order a professional water test or use test strips to check for chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, and bacteria.
• SoftPro offers a comprehensive 53-point well water test kit for homeowners who want deep insights.
• According to the CDC, matching a filter to specific contaminants ensures you’re not paying for features you don’t need (CDC).

Identify hardness levels

• Hardness typically comes from calcium and magnesium. Use a simple hardness test strip or consult a local lab.
• Regions in the Southwest, Midwest, and Northeast often register high hardness levels, leading to scale buildup and appliance wear.
• A 2018 study found 16 million cases of acute gastroenteritis tied to community water issues each year, and up to 45 million people affected by water quality violations (Clear Water Concepts Blog). That underscores the importance of both softening and filtering.

Once we know our water profile—whether city or well water—we can move on to treatment types.

Explore Softener Options

When it comes to tackling hard water, softeners fall into two main camps. Let’s see which fits our household best.

Salt-based softeners

Salt-based systems use ion exchange to swap hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) for sodium or potassium ions on a resin bed.

Benefits include:

• Virtually complete removal of hardness minerals
• Softer skin and hair, reduced soap scum, fewer scale deposits
• Proven technology with decades of use

That said, they add a small amount of sodium to softened water—around 30 mg per 8 oz serving when removing 18 grains per gallon. Many families find this level negligible, but it’s worth knowing.

Salt-free softeners

Salt-free units use template assisted crystallization (TAC) or electromagnetic methods to change hardness minerals into a form that won’t cling to surfaces.

Key points:

• Prevents scale without adding sodium
• Lower maintenance and no brine discharge
• Best for moderate hardness levels

They don’t actually remove hardness minerals, so in very hard water areas they may not fully protect appliances.

SoftPro water softeners

Here’s a quick look at the SoftPro lineup from Quality Water Treatment, founded by Craig “The Water Guy” Phillips.

Model	Efficiency	Price point	Best for
SoftPro ECO	Standard resin	Most affordable	Entry-level buyers on a budget
SoftPro Elite	High-efficiency	Mid-range	Families seeking long-term savings
SoftPro Smart Home+	IoT-enabled	Premium	Tech-savvy homeowners

ECO water softener

• Robust softening performance at the lowest price in the SoftPro line
• Ideal for first-time buyers who want reliable results without breaking the bank
• Compatible with both city and well water

Elite water softener

• Heavy-duty resin and advanced regeneration settings
• Minimizes salt and water usage for cost savings over time
• Easy-to-program interface, great for moderate to high hardness

Smart Home+ water softener

• Integrates with DROP smart home technology for remote monitoring
• Real-time alerts on leaks, errors, or unusual water usage
• Perfect for homeowners who want peace of mind and convenience

We’ve all been there—standing under a shower that feels more like a sauna. A SoftPro softener can turn hard water headaches into smooth, soap-friendly flows.

Explore Filtration Options

Softening handles minerals, but what about chemicals, VOCs, and other contaminants? Filtration systems tackle those concerns.

Carbon vs reverse osmosis

• Reverse osmosis systems filter down to 0.001 micron, removing around 95–97% of total dissolved solids, including pesticides, heavy metals, and inorganic minerals.
• Carbon filters excel at removing chlorine, chloramine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and improving taste and odor, but typically remove only 10–15% of total dissolved solids.
• Combining carbon filtration with reverse osmosis delivers double-processed water that’s both safe and great-tasting.

Whole-house vs point-of-use

• Pitcher filters (e.g., Brita Elite) are great for drinking water and are ANSI/NSF-certified for lead, mercury, cadmium, PFOA, PFOS, and more (New York Times). They’re inexpensive but can’t handle boil-water notices or high flow demands.
• Under-sink or faucet-mount filters deliver larger volumes of clean water quickly and last longer, making them useful in emergencies.
• Whole-house (point of entry) systems treat every tap, shower, and appliance, ensuring consistent water quality throughout your home.

SoftPro filtration systems

SoftPro’s filtration lineup tackles a range of city and well water challenges.

System	Technology	Removes	Best for
AIO Iron Master	Air injection oxidation	Iron, sulfur, manganese	Well water users with high iron or H₂S
Whole House Fluoride & Carbon Filter	Catalytic carbon plus fluoride media	Fluoride, chlorine, common municipal chemicals	City water households concerned about fluoride
Whole House Catalytic Carbon Filter	Enhanced carbon media	Chlorine, chloramine, VOCs	City or well water users wanting chemical reduction

AIO Iron Master

• Industry-leading iron filtration for well water
• Eliminates rust stains, rotten-egg odors, and protects appliances

Whole House Fluoride & Carbon Filter

• Single-tank solution reducing fluoride, chlorine, and more
• Addresses recent health concerns around fluoride exposure

Whole House Catalytic Carbon Filter

• Breaks down stubborn chemicals more effectively than standard carbon
• Improves taste, smell, and overall water quality

That being said, choosing the right filtration system starts with our initial water test. Once we know which contaminants to target, we can match the right SoftPro filter.

Plan Installation & Budget

Deciding between professional installation and DIY often comes down to comfort level and plumbing know-how.

Professional vs DIY installation

• SoftPro partners with certified local dealers who offer free water analysis and system recommendations.
• Our sales team, led by Jeremy Phillips, takes a consultative approach—no high-pressure tactics.
• DIY installation resources, including videos and written guides, are available from Heather Phillips and the SoftPro support team.

Ongoing maintenance and costs

• Whole-house filters generally need cartridge changes every 6 to 12 months depending on usage and local water quality.
• SoftPro water softeners usually require salt refills every 1 to 3 months based on household size and hardness level.
• Flexible financing options through QuadPay and Affirm make it easier to invest now and pay over time.

Here’s a thought, we all love clarity on costs. By factoring in reduced cleaning supplies, fewer appliance repairs, and potential utility savings, a quality system often pays for itself over a few years.

Make Our Choice…

We’ve walked through testing, softening, and filtration options, and looked under the hood of SoftPro Water Systems. Now it’s decision time.

Think about:

1. Your water quality profile
2. Household size and usage patterns
3. Budget and preferred features (for example, smart home integration)
4. Long-term maintenance commitments

Remember, we’re not robots—we juggle busy lives, kids, and endless to-do lists. Trust us, you’re not alone in wanting safe, great-tasting water without the hassle of constant cleaning. And when you’re ready, the Phillips family and the SoftPro support team are right there with you, cheering you on.

Here’s to turning hard water challenges into simple, reliable solutions. We’ve got this—together.