With water being the basic necessity for human beings, everybody should make sure that the water coming to their homes is clean and safe because if there are any harmful elements present in the water, then that could lead to serious health issues. However, people are smart and already installed different types water filter systems. Some have spent a generous amount of money and bought whole house water filter systems, while others have resorted to countertop water filters or portable ones.
Then, you will find some people who have bought water softeners because their main concern is hard water, and for that, they need the best water softener. However, what about the water, which contains all sorts of harmful chemicals, viruses, bacteria, and pathogens, etc.? That water can’t be fully cleaned with a water filter or a water softener, it needs both. This is the reason I have come up with the reviews of seven best whole house water filtration and softener systems. Therefore, if you want a complete and comprehensive solution to the water problems, you should buy one of the following seven products.
Reviewing 7 Best Whole House Water Filtration & Softener System
1. iSpring RCC7 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System & Ultimate Water Softener
iSpring has the distinction of manufacturing superior Reverse Osmosis (RO) filters, which stand out on all the parameters a filter is supposed to be tested on. The unit is efficient, reliable and durable, as it features a 5-stage, coated filtration, which is premised upon RO technology. The multiple stages of filtration ensure the removal of even the tiniest of harmful elements from the water and making it eligible for human consumption.
This filter system features an RO membrane that is capable of purifying 75 gallons of water every day. If you were looking for an under sink filter system, then this unit can be used as one because of its easy installation. The unit is capable of removing a wide range of unwanted elements from the water such as fluoride, lead, viruses and all other dangerous elements.
The easy availability and affordable price of replacement filters make this filter system quite favorable among people of all backgrounds. Another great feature of the unit is its leak sensors, which triggers acoustic alarm in case it detects any moisture under the unit. Talking more about the leaking, then that is the main issue with this RO system.
2. Fleck 5600SXT 40,000 Grain Water Softener System
Check out this piece of beauty from Fleck, which is one of the best whole house filter and softener combo. It makes use of chlorine resistant 10 percent crosslink resin for getting rid of calcium and magnesium from the water. The water filter and softener combo come with Upflow Catalytic Carbon filter with a capacity of 1.5 Cu. ft. The purpose of having this filter is to eliminate chlorine, chloramines, herbicides, pesticides and other dangerous elements present in the water.
The ability of this water filter is 75 gallons per day, which is what you will find in most water filtration and softener systems. The system comes with ¾ inches quick connect flexible stainless steel hoses, which makes installing quick and effortless. To ensure the smooth functioning of the unit, the company provides 5-year warranty on the electronic control valve of the RO system with the warranty going further up to 10 years on the brine tank and mineral tank.
3. Aquasana Whole House Water Filter System With UV Purifier & Salt-Free Descaler
Aquasana whole house water filter system is a 1,000,000-gallon unit, which comes with all the parts and accessories necessary for installing the system. You will get a pre and post filter, brass fittings, shut-off valves and all the supports required for quick installation. The water softener that comes along with this unit is not just highly effective in softening the water, but it works for a long period of time, i.e., 10 years or more, depending on the water consumption.
The filters added in this system are all top-notch, which you will find while consuming the water. The water that comes out after the filtration process will be clean, odorless and totally safe for your consumption. The only downside of this unit is the requirement of Pex Crimper for installation, and so, you may have to call up a professional plumber to bring this tool and for the installation.
4. Fleck 5600SXT 64,000 Grain Water Softener
We have one more product from Fleck and this one has a high grain filtering capacity, which allows the unit to go for five days or even more without regenerating even in areas with very hard water. The company has added a highly capable control valve with the unit, which measures the water flow rate in your home and ensures that it regenerates at the right time.
A back-up power supply is also present in the unit, which keeps the control head from losing its memory and settings at the time of power outage. The inclusion of a back-up capacitor keeps the unit up and running for up to 2 days. After that, you will have to reprogram the head along with triggering the regeneration to ensure that you don’t miss the cycle.
The valve of the water filter system is responsible for keeping a track of how many gallons of water are processed. It also triggers an automatic regeneration cycle, which is based on the grains per gallon that are programmed by the user. If the water coming out of the filter is still hard, then increase ‘grains per gallon’ setting, so that it can regenerate more frequently and give you soft water.
The unit has one of the highest flow rates at 18 GPM. As for the warranty of the product is concerned, you will get a 5-year warranty on SXT control head and valve, whereas the warranty period extends to 10 years for salt and resin tank.
In a nutshell, it is one of the best water filter and softener systems you can buy these days. However, it may not be able to filter sulfur and iron from the water, which is a small downside to the unit.
5. Pelican Water Systems Whole House Water Filter & Water Softener
This water filter system eliminates chemicals and other unwanted elements that are present in the water without making use of salt. The unit works on ultraviolet (UV) rays, which makes it one of the most effective products on the market. The unit has been certified as 99.6% effective, despite being a salt-free water softener.
Since there is no use of salt, the unit doesn’t need any maintenance. Moreover, it is very energy and water-efficient. The company is so confident about its product that it offers a 90-day satisfaction guarantee along with a 5-year performance guarantee. Not to forget, these are given on top of a limited lifetime warranty on the unit’s tank and parts.
The unit is efficient in eliminating 99.9% of all the dangerous microorganisms that are present in the water such as cryptosporidium, giardia and E. coli. Whereas the UV component will get rid of pathogens by prohibiting their reproduction. Overall, an excellent unit that delivers the best performance day-in and day-out.
6. Discount Water Softeners Genesis 2 Duo Water Filter And Softener System
A simplistic design, easy installation and programming, this water filter and softener system is bound to give you 100% safe and clean water, which will be free from the presence of any harsh chemicals. The unit features set and forgets system, so you just need to set the unit once and that’s it. The unit will work on its own without you having to reset the time or reprogram the unit.
This water filter and softener system feature a clear display, which clearly shows flow rate, last regeneration date along with the volume left until next regeneration. While there are many features available in the unit, but I really like the inclusion of a highly capable chlorine filtration and removal system, automatic flushing of stagnant water and high capacity resin.
7. APEC Water Systems WH-SOLUTION-MAX10 Whole House Water Filter & Salt-Free Water Softener Systems
Check out this particular model, which is a heavy-duty system that will take care of all your water-related needs. This is a maintenance-free model, which comes with self-cleaning properties, so you don’t have to indulge yourself in tedious cleaning and maintenance of the unit. The system’s performance is enhanced with the help of automated backwash feature. An electronic control valve is also included in the unit, which controls many of its functions.
The unit incorporates a 2-stage filtration system, which includes salt-free water conditioner and granular activated carbon filter, which together get rid of chlorine and chloramines along with improving the appearance and taste of the water.
The ability of this system to work without salt makes it an excellent choice for many because it purifies the water, conditions it as well, but without increasing sodium levels. The inclusion of electronic control in the unit will also add to your convenience, as you will be able to manage the system a lot easier than you could have using manual gauges. The unit is packed with many incredible features, but then those features add up the price of the unit as well.
Water Softeners vs Water Filters Systems
When it comes to getting clean and safe drinking water, people are presented with two types of cleaning units, one is a water filter and another is water softener. It doesn’t matter which product you buy, it is the end result that you should be worried about, i.e., the quality of water.
Water is a basic necessity for everybody, and when it comes to the most common sources for getting water, then those will be rivers and underground water. No matter what the source of the water that is coming into your house, it is filled with high mineral content and lots of pollutants, thus rendering the water unsafe for human consumption. To get rid of high mineral content and pollutants, water softeners and water filters are used respectively. Let’s find out as to which type of system has got an edge over the other.
Water softeners and water filters are two completely different units with different applications. To find out the differences between these two systems, you better go through the information that follows next.
Water filters are known for eliminating the contaminants from the water. Whereas, water softeners will remove minerals that cause hardness and scale to the water.
A water filter is a broad term, which covers multiple products, and water softener is a part of ‘water filter’ system. You will find many water filtration systems that incorporate back-washing carbon filters, sediment filters, iron and sulfur removal filters, and fluoride adsorption filters. There is no such filter present in water softeners, which is what sets both product poles apart in terms of application.
Different Technology
Both systems make use of different technologies to cope up with unwanted elements that are present in the water. Water filters make use of cutting-edge media beds after which, the water goes through several other process such as catalytic conversion, ion exchange, oxidation, and adsorption. Water after going through various stages of filtration becomes free from heavy chemicals, which were available naturally in the water or by human action. The water at the end is 100% safe for human consumption.
As far as the working of water softeners is concerned, then those make use of salt along with ion-exchange resins to get rid of calcium and magnesium from the water. The resins are coated with a sodium solution, which pushes calcium and magnesium out of water and moves to active sites given on the resin where sodium ions replace them.
Even The Maintenance Of Both These Units Is Different
When it comes to maintenance, you will find a huge difference between both the systems, as salt-based water softeners require regular maintenance, with the main task for you to do is adding consumable salt into the system. As far as non-salt based water softeners are concerned, you need less maintenance, but then, they can be easily damaged when coming in contact with the oil. Then there are magnetic water softeners, which need the least amount of maintenance and can also be installed cheaply. However, these systems are not effective against metallic elements present in the water.
As for the maintenance of water filtration systems, you don’t need to put in many efforts, but their installation can be a bit heavy on your pocket. If your aim is to get soft water, then you should invest in a water softener system, but if you are looking to get rid of a variety of pollutants from the water such as chlorine, bacterial contamination, iron staining, and waterborne pathogens, then you should invest in a water filter.
When it comes to usage, you will find both systems being extensively used by people all around the world. However, most people are using one of these systems, which is like removing half of the unwanted elements from the water. In order to get a complete water treatment, the combination of whole house water filtration and softener needs to be purchased, which will soften the water and also eliminate all sorts of chemicals and hard metals from the water.
Summing Up
When your regular water filter or water softener is incapable to get you clean and safe water, you need to stop using that product and think as to what else you can do to get safe drinking water. The best option for you is to get a whole house water filtration and softener combo. To find out the best product, you don’t have to scour the web, as I have already provided reviews of seven best whole house water filtration and softener systems, so you just need to go through the reviews along with the comparison between water filter and water softener to get the best idea about the product.