Best Water Softener for Well Water 2021

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The majority of households in the US get their household water from private wells, while this is a good idea as it saves you money, you’ll need it tested before drinking it or put it into other use. We’ve reviewed six of the best well water softeners for well water. 

For this reason, it is essential to soften the well water before it gets into your home. The water softening system is the chemical process that uses the potassium or sodium in salts to eliminate calcium and magnesium ions present in the well water.  

Best Water Softener for Well Water With Iron

Iron Pro 2 Combination water softener iron water filter

Fleck brand was patented way back in 1955. For this reason, the product’s name is trusted and respected in the water treatment industry. Moreover, the US Water System sells Fleck softeners and parts, plus backwash filters and replacement valves.

As earlier mentioned, many people use hard well water drawn from wells that generally have high calcium, magnesium, and iron levels. The Iron Pro 2 Combination System is one of the most effective well water treatment systems for combating contaminants found in well waters. Ideally, it combines both features of a water softening system and an iron filter.

The Iron Pro 2 Combination Whole House Water Softener and Iron Filter come with many features that make it a desirable unit for treating the well water

Iron pro 2 boasts a digital and tested Fleck 5600 control valve. Further, this best water softener is housed in a rust-resistant fiber-reinforced polymer body. With its digital touchpad control, it easy to operate.  Not to mention, the digital controller includes a backlit LCD, touchpad controls, and 48-hour internal power backup, just in case of a sudden power outage.

The regeneration cycle of this water softener for well water is capable of providing a double-backwash, i.e., a speedy and slow backwash with limited water usage. This way, iron pro 2 increases the efficiency of the regeneration process.

Another critical point is the metered regeneration process. Indeed, its technology uses either an electronic sensor or a mechanical water meter to quantify water consumption. As such, the softening system starts a regeneration cycle only when necessary. Yes, you’ll benefit from its high water efficiency and save money too.

Notably, Iron Pro 2 Water Softener and Iron water Filter contain unique mesh resin designed to treat well water with high iron levels. Also, the resin will last long particularly in the presence of iron yet eliminated all the undesired effects caused by iron particles

The majority of users like this system since it allows at least four modes of operation; In this case, you’ll have the luxury of choosing the most convenient for you. Usually, the  immediate meter regeneration takes place when the volume of water set on the control has been treated while the delayed meter regeneration takes place at a preset time i.e. after the required quantity of well water is treated;

On the other hand, delayed time clock regeneration takes place after a preset amount of time has passed. Lastly, the day of the week regeneration process takes place weekly on a particular day of the week.

Another unique feature of the iron pro 2 well water softening system is its turbine-electronic flow meter.  you’ll note that it uses an automated flow instead of a timer or manual flow meter, giving you a more accurate measure of the amount of well water treated by the system, and ultimately a more effective rate of regeneration.

Features

• Capacity  64000
• Resin 1.5ft3
• Salt-based water softener
• Suitable home size –Small to very large
• Water flow rate Up to 20 gallons per minute
• Regeneration- Meter based
• Warranty- 10 years of the tank and 5 Years of valve
• Remove Hard well Water Minerals easily 
• Digital control head which controls the regeneration system 
• Dual Tank Water Softener
• Water softener iron filter
• Fleck control head

What I Like 

• Combined iron water filter and hard water softening system;
• Its LCD  provides useful information;
• User-friendly Programmable regeneration settings
• It includes a 48-hour memory backup to caution against power failure
• Comes with Fine mesh resin for improved performance;
• Double backwash for high-efficiency regeneration.

What I Don’t Like 

• The system needs a larger space to install;
• The installation process and instructions may be a bit challenging to follow;
• It is costly compared to purchasing two separate systems

Summary

This system allows you to set the regeneration cycle at your convenience; for this reason, well water is unlikely to enter into pipes during the regeneration cycle.

Springwell Well Water Salt-Free Water Conditioner

The benefit of using the Springwell water conditioner system is that it doesn’t use salt: You don’t have to keep on buying salt, so save that money.

Salt-Free Water Softener systems don’t use electricity, so you don’t have to keep on reprogramming it every time power goes out.  

Springwell Salt-free water softening system does not have to be backwash, so there is no need to use any water to flush the system. This system is practically maintenance-free.

The only extra cost of running this system is changing the pre-filter once per year at a cost of about $ 50. You will not need to change the filtration media until the system reaches One million gallons of filtered water. This should be in about 10 years.  

A great thing about Springwell is their on-point customer service. You just need to go to their website, choose the product, and make the payment.

The water softener for well water will show up on your front door. You don’t deal with pushy salespeople trying to up-sell other stuff. The Installation is simple, you don’t need professional help. 

How it works

Hard well water first flows into the pre-filter which removes sediments such as sand, clay, and silt. From there the water flows into the carbon filter. It’s at this point that chemicals such as chlorine, chloramines are filtered out.

Carbon tank the water runs into the softener also called the conditioner. At this point hardness causing minerals, calcium, and magnesium are neutralized making the water soft.  

Unlike saltwater softener, salt-free water conditioners don’t take out hardness minerals from water. Instead, water conditioners alter the hardness minerals and physically convert them into crystals.

In this form, the minerals crystals are not able to come out of the soluble state and create limescale. Inside the softener tank is anti-scale media.

When hardness minerals come into contact with anti-scale media, they’re physically altered into small crystals which are soluble in water. 

AFWFilters Fleck 64k water softener, 64,000 Grains

The design of AFW filters allows it to get rid of hard water and the scale buildup connected with it. Boasting over 35 years of experience, no doubt, every AFWFilters system delivers high-quality water. As a result, you’ll no doubt significantly reduce your maintenance cost and yet enjoy the use of safe water

Similarly, the system is backed by friendly and knowledgeable support staff to assist any time you need help.  Not to mention, the installation instructions guidelines are straightforward such that any homeowner can comfortably install the system on their own; besides, the video installation tips are readily available too.

This system comes with a Fleck 5600SXT digital valve as well. Usually, this valve quantifies the well water entering through the softeners water tank and regenerates when needed. Because of this, you’re able to save on water and salt.

Additionally, the valve has an LCD that indicates the current status of the system together with codes, and therefore, you’re able to troubleshoot problems. Moreover, with its touchpad controls, you can adjust and program the settings to allow you to take full control.

What’s more, it comes with a Standard 1″ MNPT thread for secure connection to your plumbing, and the bypass valve allows the system to be a bypass for any reason without necessarily shutting off the main water supply.

Also, with the bypass valve, you can easily disconnect the softener system from the system, especially when you want to clean the brine tank or renew the resin.

We like to mention that after you purchase the system, the manufacture offers technical support and amazing after-sales care to help you install your unit with ease together with a ten-year warranty of tanks and a five-year warranty on the valve. Therefore you can rest assured of quality performance.

Features

• Capacity  6400           
• Water flow rate 14-16 gallons per minute (one of the highest flow rates)
• Digital metered -regeneration system 
• Warranty- 10 years of tank and 5 Years of valves
• Salt-based water softener with digital control
• Dual Tank Water Softener
• 64 000 grain and flow rate
• Fleck control head

What I Like

• Proven Fleck control head with automatic bypass valve
• It includes a prefilter
• A high-capacity brine tank requires minimal maintenance
• Its overflow system protects your floors from accidental spills
• 100% poly-glass tank with superior anti-corrosion
• Ten-year dual tank warranty

What I Don’t Like 

• The installation process may need a bit of polishing
• It costs more

DURAWATER Iron Pro Fleck 56,000

Durawater Fleck Iron Pro 48, 000 grain features a fantastic combo of water softener for well water and iron remover. We note that this product is capable of removing 48,000 grain of hardness from water using its Fine Mesh Resin whole house water filter, due to its design it can eliminate high levels of iron from water.

When it comes to well water, this softener works both as an iron water filter as well and a water softener too. Powered by Abcwaters Inc.  One of the renowned brands specializing in making well water equipment, you can rest assured of the highest quality materials and exceptional customer care service

Features

What I Like 

• It is excellent  for iron removal
• The product features a bypass valve
• It has a high capacity of 48,000 grains and 64 000 grain
• A high flow rate.
• Automatic control head
• Features a DIY installation process is not too challenging

What I Don’t Like

• The product costs more

Summary

The product is capable of removing up to 6-8 ppm of Iron from water. As such, it expressively improves the quality of hard water and also eliminates the awful metallic smell of iron. In terms of removing contaminants, Dura Iron Pro removes 6.8 pounds of dissolved magnesium and calcium before it requires regeneration.

This water softener can serve up to five people in the whole house, alternatively a three bedroomed house.

More so, you have the option to bypass the softener using a valve that is on top of the tank. The bypass valve is useful when you don’t want to use the softener for well water or when it is regenerating. 

SoftPro Elite High Efficiency 48,00 Grain 

One of the outstanding features of the 48,000 Grain system is it comes pre-loaded with resin media to make installation effortless.

Also, the filter system eliminates the bad smell in waters and leaves better smelling and tasting water throughout the home.

Similarly, it does not require electricity and drain, making it very easy to install. Besides, they will cost you less compared to others in the market of the same caliber.

More so, the non-backwashing carbon water filter works perfectly in hard water applications to remove all the harmful contaminants.

The Softpro Elite boasts a smart digital automatic control valve, a sizeable four-line touchpad LCD.  The results? No more confusing symbols or codes. Furthermore, the reverse flow regeneration preserves the available softening system bed from the unnecessary exchange. Thus it saves salt and wastewater.

Notably, with this water softener, you’ll get soft clean well water from your home appliances such as a showerhead, dishwasher, washing machine, bathroom faucet. Consequently, you’ll save on laundry detergent and protect your devices in the entire home.

One more unique feature of the Softpro System is it automatically flushes stagnant water after seven days of non-use; in effect, it prevents the growth of harmful bacterial.

We like to mention that you’ll run your washing machine, dishwasher, more than one shower head, bath, and more simultaneously without worrying about a drop in the flow rate.

The other features we like to mention is that the Water Softener System Includes a protective tank jacket to insulate the dual tank in colder weather, keep the container from sweating in hotter climate as well as protect it from direct sunlight.

Features

• Capacity 48,000 grain and a high flow rate.
• Water flow rate 10 gallons per minute
• Smart Digital on-demand control valve
• 10-year warranty on the control valve lifetime on tanks
• 6 Months money-back guarantee
• Water flow rate: 10-13 GPM

What I Like 

• Provides soft silky water
• Spa-like showers for healthier skin and hair
• Saves you the laundry detergent
• Delivers chlorine-free water to the entire home
• Provides safe drinking waters
• High-efficiency reverse osmosis water filtration system
• High Water flow rate

What I Don’t Like

• Limited grain capacity
• The system is a bit costly

As shown above, the Softpro-water softener system includes a protective tank jacket to protect the tank in varying weather conditions.

Aquasana Whole House Water Filter System

The next on our review list is the Aquasana Rhino water softener. We need to mention that Aquasana Inc. corporation is one of the top filtration system makers for decades. Owing to this, they’ve built a reputation for delivering among the best water filtration products.

In essence, Aquasana Rhino whole house is a saltless water softener. In regards to this, it uses a series filtration process, which includes sediment filter, starlight UV light, activated carbon, and a salt-free water softener.

Notably, the sequenced filtration process can eliminate many of the contaminants present in water. Most importantly, it will deliver safe drinking water.-and if you have chlorine in the water. This system will filter all these chemicals from tap water.

It is important to note that this system softens water without using salt; therefore, it will save you a lot of water, which is wasted by salt-based systems in the process.

In terms of effectiveness, this product has a more effective way of killing viruses, bacteria, and other micro-organisms that are present in well water using ultraviolet light technology. For that reason, this is a better process in comparison to the other methods that handle chemicals, and it so also less costly.

Unlike other water softeners in the market that didn’t have sediment filters installed, this reduces solid particles such as dust from the well water before the softening process. Hence it will deliver pure clean and safe drinking water.

Also, this fantastic system uses micro-filtration to remove organic particles that are too tiny for other filtration methods. This capability is not available to units that don’t use the Sub-micron post filter.

Features

What I Like

• Manufacturers guarantee to repair or replace the units for 10 years.
• Bypass loop for more natural filter change
• Pro Grade install kit
• It eliminates a variety of contaminants.
• Suitable for commercial users due to its massive capacity
• Salt-free water softener
• It removes scale build-ups.
• Removes hard metals
• A high flow rate. 

What I Don’t Like

• It requires  a professional to install
• Salt-free softeners are less effective

The softener uses chloramine to treat its water, and this way, the system is one of the few purification systems that remove chloramine.

Read More: Aquasana whole house Water Softeners and Filter Review

iSpring ED2000 Whole House Electronic Descaler

ED2000 Electronic Descaler is a super salt-free contemporary water softener for well water manufactured by the iSpring Water System.

Although traditional water softeners work by turning the hard minerals into relatively soft minerals, thereby generating a lot of unhealthy sodium. This system, on the other hand, does not follow that process, and that what makes this electronic solution stand out from typical models.

Unlike other water softeners in the market, ED2000 doesn’t soften the water. Instead, it uses a patented electric circuit that emits the right magnetic wave frequency into the water.  As a result, the well water molecules get charged, and in effect, they pick all the existing hard mineral ions along the way. Consequently, this saves you the pricey plumbing fixtures and appliances.

Certainly, iSpring ED2000 descales your entire water system and averts scale buildup in pipes. As such, your energy consumption significantly reduces. Ultimately, you save money on electricity bills

You’ll like this system since it solves hard water issues without the need for chemicals, salt, or maintenance. At the same time, it keeps healthy minerals in the well water by eliminating scale deposits from forming and allows the existing scale to break down. Similarly, it offers safe drinking water for people on a strict sodium diet.

Features

What I Like 

• Very simple to install
• It is a Lightweight product
• Though it doesn’t soften water, it is highly effective
• Reliable customer service
• Suitable for people on a strict diet
• Saves energy and money
• A high flow rate.

What I Don’t Like

• It is only useful within 50 feet long water pipe
• It does not soften water

Summary

The system minimizes the hazards associated with hard water. Besides, it will not cost you more or challenging to install. If you’re looking for an advanced solution for your plumbing system, this is the right choice for you.

Eddy Electronic Water Descaler

Notably, this is the first hard water descaling machine on our list. Typically, a water descaling machine doesn’t soften hard water. On the contrary, it works through magnetic fields to charge the adhesion and gluing contents of hard ions in water temporarily.

It is only prudent to choose a descaler when the concentration of impurities in well water is low nonetheless. Despite this, many test result proves this electronic descaling device can prevent lime scales from building up inside the home appliances. Usually, limescale will form soluble water compounds like magnesium, calcium, and manganese.

Generally, the consistency of maintenance determines the longevity of your softening system. Indeed, well water descalers are popular due to their low maintenance. With this simple system, you will enjoy not only the optimal performance but also the long lifespan of your plumbing lines.

As earlier discussed, this descaler weakens the adhesion features of hard water minerals and retains vital water minerals that don’t make water hard. Nevertheless, the atomic structures of water minerals remain unaltered since this descaling machine is not a water softener. Despite this mechanism, it’s a win-win situation for the user of the descaler since with them the benefits of healthy minerals outweigh the shortcomings

If you have a low-budget, you don’t need to worry, since this alternative descaler comes in handy. This electronic water descaler includes looped cables to fit pipes that have a standard diameter of 1.5 inches.

Features

What I Like 

• Its descaling strength  extends the life of your fixtures
• It helps to prevent scale build-ups.
• Although it doesn’t alter water minerals’ structure, it weakens their adhesion strength instead
• It is economical
• Low-cost maintenance.
• Easy installation

What I Don’t Like 

• It is compatible with all types of water pipe materials apart from iron and lead

Eddy Electronic Water Descaler is a water softener alternative; it is suitable for small family units. When you use at homes and offices, you’ll end up saving money since the system doesn’t work with any additive. Instead, it preserves healthy minerals and imitates softened water efficiently.

FAQs: Read about our favorite water softener in our Best Salt-Free Water Softener

Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener

Does your well water have too much iron? Well, you need to get a water softener to solve the issue, and the 5600SXT might prove a viable option. It comes with a digital meter, which makes it easy for you to use.

The Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain well a Water Softener is designed to eliminate the hard water that reduces soap efficiency while spotting your kitchen appliances. It features an on-demand control valve and high capacity extra-long life resin.  It uses the ion exchange process to remove the minerals that cause hard water.

This is a meter-based regeneration water softener which means that the water you use in your home and the system only regenerate when it is needed. And whenever the water needs in your home rise, the system regeneration will increase to keep up with the demand.

It features the SXT controller which is the newest controller from the Fleck and it is built on the tried and true 5600-valve. The valve comes with an outstanding 5-year warranty and has been tested to run continuously for 27 years.

The SXT controller also comes with great features such as a backlit LCD display, touchpad controls, a user-friendly interface, and a 48-hour internal power backup. It comes with a long-lasting tank that is backed with a 10-year warranty. The standard brine tank is designed to hold up to 250 pounds of salt. 

The Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener comes with a safety float to prevent overfilling while the overflow drain works as a backup to avoid water messes. When it comes to installation, this unit will require about 1 to 2 hours for a full installation with some basic plumbing skills. 

This softener for well water features a bypass valve and a one-inch male threaded yoke connection. It has a 48,000-grain capacity and can treat up to 12 GPM service flow rates. It’s ideal for a home with up to six persons. 

What I Like

• Has pre-filled resin
• Easy to install
• Comes with a safety feature to safeguard against overfill and overflow
• Easy to use interface
• A high flow rate.
• It’s economically priced
• Customer care is effective

What I Don’t Like 

• The bypass knob might be leaky
• Poorly designed valve

WATER BOSS 74016 Big Boss 

Water Boss 74016 is a premium choice that’s going to provide you with great service for many years to come. A great thing with this water system is it has an inbuilt iron filter and a sediment filter which makes it ideal water softeners for well water.

It has a compact design of 105 pounds which makes it ideal for a small family. It can soften up to 70 grains per gallon and uses less well water and salt. Another great thing with this system is that it uses less time to regenerate.

It takes only 20 minutes to regenerate. The LCD display makes it’s very user friendly and will show you all the error messages like when the salt level gets low so that you can refill the salt. Adding salt is super easy as you use a slid door to pour in the salt.

while you get a lot of value from this water softener, its capacity is a bit low. You will get only 36,500 grains and a high flow rate. This makes it ideal for small homes and not a large family.

This water softener for well water can serve big families or handle water with extreme hardness. It is also fitted with user-friendly settings, which make the softening process quite easy. This water softener has a 35,600-grain capacity, and 10 ppm iron removal. 

What I Like 

• Comes with an installation CD
• Ideal for large families
• A high flow rate.
• Includes user-friendly controls

What I Don’t Like 

• Maintenance is an uphill task

ABCwaters Built Fleck 5600sxt 48,000 Black Water Softener

The ABCwaters Built Fleck 5600sxt is designed with impressive quality and is meant to ensure softer water no matter the quality of well water you’ve in your home. It incorporates the top-notch control head Fleck 5600sxt, which makes it a good option for both well water or city supplied water.

The water softener comes with two tanks: The round one has a diameter of 10″ and a brine tank is 36-inch, both tanks have a 10-year warranty.

Unlike the Iron pro and Durawater, this does not have an iron filter, so it will get rid of magnesium and calcium sulfate only. These are the two minerals that make water hard. To remove iron from well water you need a water softener that has an iron filter.

The ABCwaters Built Fleck 5600sxt 48,000 Black Water Softener is a complete whole-house system that is controlled by the popular Fleck 5600sxt digital valve meter. It features a 48,000-grain high flow rate softening system that utilizes an upgrade 10% cross-linked resin for durability. 

This is the best quality softener in the industry and its recommended service flow is up to 12 GPM which is great for a household of 2 to 5 people. The entire system is made using top-notch components and it is assembled you experienced ABCwaters technicians. The installation process is easy that you won’t have to contract a professional to have it fixed in your home.

What I Like 

• It is eco-friendly
• Easy to install and simple to use
• High-quality water softener
• A high flow rate.
• FLOW RATE: 12 GPM

What I Don’t Like 

• Brine tank may fill too much water

Water Softeners Buying Guide

Ideal Water softeners work by having well water flowing over resin a process popularly known as ion exchange. Usually, the softeners contain several beads of resin. And during ion-exchange, the resin is covered with negative ions that attract positive ions present in hard water.

Consequently, the +ve calcium and magnesium ions adhere to the resin, while sodium ions are released into the water.

After the resin gets soaked with calcium and magnesium ions, the system regeneration process begins by rinsing the resin with concentrated sodium chloride.

Mostly, people who use salt-based water softeners must add a bag of salt to the unit to prepare the rinsing solution.

FAQs: Read about our favorite water softeners in our Best water softeners salt

What is Water Hardness?

From Far, all water seems to be the same. But once you take a deep look, there are many types of water. It can be soft, hard, distilled, filtered, kosher, bottle, or tap water.

When we talk of hard or softened water it is not about how the well water feels. It has to do with the mineral content of water. Water is said to be hard when it has a higher than normal concentration of hard water minerals primarily calcium and magnesium. Water picks these hard water minerals as it seeps through rocks as it makes its way into the underground aquifers. 

Soft on the other hand, has a low concentration of calcium and magnesium minerals because it has not flowed through rocks like underground water, or it has not flown through rocks that are made up of these hard minerals. 

Because of the hydrologic cycle, water evaporates and forms clouds which precipitate and form rain. As the rainwater seeps through the rocks into underground aquifers, it comes into contact with rocks rich in calcium and magnesium. 

Most people who get their water supply from wells tend to have hard water problems. It’s important to know that water can’t just be said to be soft or hard. Water hardness is a spectrum with well water becoming harder as the levels of calcium and magnesium increase. 

 Water Hardness Spectrum

The easiest way to know if you have hard water is in your bathtub. Normally the ingredients of soap dissolve in softened water causing a good lather, but with hard water, the ingredients of soap react with the minerals and form insoluble compounds. This makes it more difficult to get a good lather. This causes soap scum in the bathtub. Hard water also causes the accumulation of limescale which happens when minerals solidify. 

Types of water hardness. 

• Temporary hardness: This hardness can be removed by the boiling of water. Boiling water causes the calcium carbonate to evaporate, and you remain with soft water.
• Permanent hardness: This hardness can not be removed by boiling. Well water gets this type of hardness if it has come into contact with calcium sulfate which can’t be removed by boiling. Permanent hardness can be removed using a saltwater softener which replaces the calcium minerals with sodium minerals which are soft.

Both softened water and hard water are safe to drink and cook with. The only disadvantage of hard water is it makes it difficult to bathe, and do laundry. Hard well water also tends to shorten the life of hot water appliances such as heaters and dishwashers because hard water minerals accumulate on the heating element reducing its efficiency. 

Testing Hard water 

After you have experienced the annoying hard water problems in your home, you will need to fix this challenge fast. The first step is to establish the level of hardness in your water supply. There are several ways of testing hard water. The easiest way to find water hardness level is to check with your city if you get your water from the city water supply. Cities regularly publish water quality reports which tell people where your water comes from and the quality of the water.  The water quality report will include the mineral levels in grains per gallon. 

Testing Hard Water WIth Water and Soap. 

A simple home test for hard water is to mix soap with water in a bottle. If you have soft water, you will have lots of bubbles and clear water at the bottom of the bottle. In the case of hard water, the water will be cloudy water at the bottom of the bottle and minimal bubbles at the top. 

Testing Hard Water with a  Test Kit

Although the soap and water method is good at indicating whether or not you have hard water, it doesn’t tell you the level of hardness in your water supply. To get the exact level of hardness, you have to use a hard water test kit.  You can buy one at your local home improvement store or order online.

Using the test strip is super simple. You only need to fill a glass with tap water. Next, deep the test strip in the well water and remove it.

Compare the final color of the test strip to the chart.  It gives you Grains per Gallon (GPG). 

Knowing the exact hardness number helps to find the best water softeners for the level of hard well water. 

Effects of Hard water on your Skin and Hair

Dermatologists have for a long time indicated the negative effects that hard water has on the skin. Bathing with hard water triggers dry irritated skin. This is because hard water is rich in calcium, magnesium, and iron.

The ideal skin pH is between 4.0 to 4.5 which is slightly acidic. Showering with hard water affects your skin pH levels because hard water is has a higher pH level. Soft water is has a pH of around 4.0 which helps balance the skin’s natural pH level. 

In addition, showering with hard water with soap leaves a sticky scum on your skin which makes it hard to rinse away dirt and bacteria. 

Types of water softeners

Hard water can be a headache and in the long term can cost you lots of money because of damaged plumbing and appliances. The biggest challenge for most people is how to fix it. 

If you research online, you will find the main options for Water Softener and magnetic water Conditioners. For your information, any time you see a salt-free water softener know it mean a water conditioner. 

Both water softeners and magnetic water conditioners can help you deal with the challenges of hard water.

• Water softener: This system uses a system called ionic exchange. The hard water passes through the bed or resin which traps the minerals and replaces them with sodium ions from the salt. The minerals are then flushed out of your well water supply and you are left with soft water. They can be a single tank or a dual tank.
• Water Conditioner: This is a different type of technology from water softeners. These systems don’t remove minerals from the well water completely. They change the chemical structure of the calcium and magnesium minerals in the water in order to stop the minerals from sticking together and forming a scale. Water conditioners are not true water softeners because the calcium and magnesium minerals are left in the water. Although magnetic water conditioners are not true water softeners, they are still a good option in many homes. 

Water Softeners Vs Water Conditioners Comparision

Water Softeners 

• It gives true soft water because all the hard minerals are removed.
• This results in reduced scaling in pipes and no spotting on faucets. 
• Soft water is good for the skin
• In creases soap lather.

• It requires salt to operate
• Soft water has a slick feeling which some people don’t like.
• You’ve to reset after power blackout

Water Conditioners

• Will protect your pipes from scale buildup.
• Environmentally friendly
• salt-free water softeners
• Saves water: don’t backwash like water softeners. 
• Doesn’t use salt which saves you time and money.

Since minerals are still present you have some issues with well water quality.

You will not have the benefit of using less soap and detergents. 

How to remove Iron from  water 

Iron and manganese are removed from water through oxidation, precipitation, and filtration.  Water from underground sources can sometimes have a high concentration of iron and manganese. The iron can be solution form (clear water iron) or in solid form. 

If we don’t deal with this high concentration of iron and manganese, it brings about annoying problems. When iron and manganese become oxidized they cause staining of sinks, toilets, plates, and cloths.  The exposure of iron to air makes it come off solution form into solid-state.  

The best method of solving the problem of iron and manganese while it’s still in solution is to oxidize it. There are several ways we can oxidize iron in solution form.

1) The first method is aeration. You can use an air compressor and inject air which contains oxygen into the flow stream. This causes oxidation and the iron and manganese that is in solution precipitate out of solution. When it comes out of the solution, we can then filter it out using an iron filter.

 2) Chemical oxidation. Here a chemical is used to oxidize iron and manganese from water. Examples of chemical oxidants include potassium permanganate, chlorine, or ozone. The chemical is injected into the well water supply and it causes oxidation to happen. Once the iron has been oxidized it precipitates and is then filtered out by a sediment filter or iron filter.

 

How to choose the best water softener for well water with iron 

What’s the Best Water Softener for Well Water? Well, these are the factors you consider when choosing the best water softeners for well water. The first thing you should know is you need a softener that has an iron filter. This is because although water softeners resin is able to capture some of the iron, you need an iron filter especially if you have a high amount of iron. Most modern softening systems come with an iron filter.

• Level of hardness in your well water supply
• Do you have ferrous (clear water iron)  or  ferric iron 
• Level of iron present in water supply
• Do you’ve sulfur in the water supply?
• Number of people in the household: If you have more people it means you will need high flow rates
• Water pressure

Maintenance of water softener 

1. Cleaning the Brine Tank

There comes a time when you need to clean the brine tank of a water softener. This is because salt tends to accumulate at the bottom of the tank and form solid brick which is known as a salt bridge. It’s recommended to clean the brine tank at least once per year. The first step when cleaning the brine tank is to open the lid and use a sharp object to loosen the salt bridge. Use something like a broomstick to shake things up. You should not be too aggressive to avoid damaging the tank. The next step is to flush the tank with water.

2. Using the best salt for water softeners

The best water softeners require saltwater to regenerate. There are many brands of water softener salts on the market. The question is which is the best type to use. You should bear in mind that not all types of salt are compatible with some types of water softeners. The type of salt you use affects a number of things like how effective it regenerates and it affects how often you have to clean the brine tank. In addition, the salt you use determines the amount of sodium left in your well water after the softening process. The following are types of salt. 

• Rock salt: This is the type of salt that has been processed the least. Although rock salt is the cheapest one, it’s not the best because it has lots of impurities.
• Crystal Plus Salt: Although this type of salt is processed, it clogs the water softener easily. 
• Potassium chloride: Unlike other salts which are sodium chloride, this potassium chloride. It is very septic friendly and there is no sodium residue after regeneration. The challenge with this salt is very expensive. You’ve to change the setting of your water softener if you’re using potassium chloride. 
• Rust Remover salt:  This salt is mixed with a chemical cleaner to remove iron from the water supply. If you have iron and manganese in your water supply this is the best salt. 

3. Cleaning resin bed

If you have a saltwater softener, you might wonder what you can do to keep your resin bead working optimally. The resin clean scrub the resin and make work like-new condition. It’s recommended that you clean your resin at least once per year. There are many brands of resin cleaners in the market. 

The most popular one being iron out. You should mix one cup of resin clean with half a gallon of cold water and mix. Take the solution of the resin cleaner and pour it into the brine tank. The next step is to trigger a regeneration cycle. Maintaining your resin bead is very important because it saves you money and protects your plumbing.

4. Steps in Replacing Resin bed

To replace resin you need a bag of gravel, a bag of resin, and a water softener funnel. 

1. The first step is to make sure the new gravel doesn’t have dirt by rinsing it with lots of water. 
2. Put the water softener into bypass mode. 
3. Let off the water pressure from the mineral tank. 
4. Cut off the power supply.
5. Disconnect the brine hose.
6. Remove the control head. 
7. Get the well water inside the mineral tank out.
8. Take the tank outside and remove the resin. 
9. Rinse the tank with a hose. 
10. Place the funnel on top of the mineral tank. 
11. Put in the gravel first.
12. Next put in the new resin. 
13. Put back the control valve and reconnect the water softener.

How to Properly Size a Water Softener

To correctly size water softeners you need to know the following things. 

1. Water hardness levels

You will need to have your water tested to know the level of hardness. Mineral levels are measured in grains per gallon. For example 10 grains per gallon. 

2. How much iron is in your water

This is especially important for people using well water because you will need to compensate for the iron content. For every 1 ppm of iron present, you need to adjust your hardness level by 3 GPG. For example, if you have hardness levels of 8 GPG and 1 PPM of iron, For the purpose of sizing your water softener, you take your hardness to be 8 + 3 = 11 GPG. 

3. The number of people in the household.

The number of people in a household determines the amount of water consumed per day. For example,  On average a person consumes 70 gallons of water per day. If you have three people, you need 210 gallons per day. 

Daily softening requirements = 11 grains per gallon X 210 gallons per day=  2,310

Water softeners are set to regenerate once per week, so you will need a water softener that will remove 2310  X 7 = 16,170. In this case, you need a softener that can remove up to 16,170 grains of hardness before it requires regeneration. 

4. The efficiency of the water softener system

To be on the safe side: You should not take a water softener to be 100% efficient.  Typically most water softeners are efficient at 65%. For this example, you need a 16,170/0.65= 24,877 grains water softener to get the best results. In this case, you can invest in a 25,000-grain water softener. 

Problems Associated with softeners

1. Deteriorating water quality

Ideally, all salt-based water softeners require salt to function. At some point, however, you might find a situation where the system is not working correctly, or rather it is not depleting the salt, and at the same time, the quality of water is worsening.

A salt bridge causes this. What happens is the molecules on top adhere tightly to form a thick solid in a way that water won’t mix with salt. This solid crust is known as a bridge.

Generally, when a bridge forms, it will inhibit the ion exchange process. This mainly occurs due to high humidity and adding too much salt in the tank.

All is not lost nonetheless, since the solution for dealing with a salt bridge it to break up the crust into small chunks. It is crucial to ensure that you have turned off the incoming water.

2. Blocked water softeners

Just like the majority of appliances, water softeners also face the risk of accumulation of minerals that creates a blockage, thereby preventing well water from flowing into the softeners. The good thing is that you can quickly fix the blockage by following user guide manuals.

3. Defective Resin Beans

The majority of salt-based softeners usually have resin beads installed inside to ensure that the unit is functioning correctly.

 Although this resin is durable, sometimes it gets depleted and hence the need to replace it.

When the resin starts appearing on the surface of the water, it is an indication that you need to replace is. Another sign that you have a damaged resin bed is when the system regenerates, and you can’t notice the improved quality of water.

Water softeners frequently asked question