The Best Salt Free Water Softeners
The quality of water in your household affects your health, your hair, skin and nails, and your appliances.
If you have hard water in the household, you may have already encountered negative effects.
The good news is that there are many models of water softeners at various price ranges, to help you deal with this issue.
Some of the use salt to soften the water, and therefore create water with more sodium taste.
Also, you should keep an eye on those units to make sure they do not run out of salt, because they can cause damage to your water pipes.
If you prefer a salt-free water softener, here is a list of top ten devices that can be a suitable choice for you.
Highest Rated Salt Free Water Softeners (by Customer Reviews)
- 1Pelican Water Salt-Free Water Softener & Conditioner
- 2Pelican Water 34 GPM Whole House Water Filtration and NaturSoft Salt-Free Softener System
- 3Magna-Soft Salt Free Magnetic Water Conditioner
- 4Hard Water Genie Salt-Free Treatment Conditioner
- 5Pelican PSE 2000 Whole House Water Filter & Water Softener
- 6Aquasana THD-AS20 SimplySoft 2-Year 20 in. Salt-Free Water Softener
- 7Pelican WF10 Iron/Manganese Whole House Water Filter & Salt-Free Softener
- 8LiquaGen – Whole House Home Water Filtration System
- 9Nuvo H2O DPHB Home Salt Water Softener System
- 10Aquasana 10-Year, 1,000,000 Gallon Whole House Water Filter with Salt-Free Softener
1
Pelican Water Salt-Free Water Softener & Conditioner
This water softening system from Pelican keeps your pipes free of minerals buildup and improves the water quality.
It is suitable to use in houses with one to three bathrooms and it easy to install.
The Pelican system features zero wastewater performance and a flow rate of 10 gallons per minute.
It also comes with the lifetime manufacturers warranty.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Keeps the pipes free of mineral buildup
- No electricity operation
- Keeps the good water minerals
Cons
- You should replace the sediment pre-filter every six or nine months
- Not suitable for larger homes
Jake's TakeIf you want your water to have a better taste and still contain helpful minerals, this one is for you.
The Pelican water softener system is easy to install in smaller households and has high performance.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
2
Pelican Water 34 GPM Whole House Water Filtration and NaturSoft Salt-Free Softener System
This water filtration and softening system from Pelican is a whole-house unit that you can install both inside or outside.
However, if you choose to install it outside, you should keep it safe from freezing during the winter.
The system operates as it treats the whole house, including all taps as one system, which ensures a simple setup.
It also reduces chlorine from the water and provides better-tasting drinking water while removing mineral buildup in the pipes.
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Pros
- Provides better-tasting water
- Removes chlorine
- Can be used for outdoors taps
Cons
- Takes a lot of space
- Need a professional plumber for setup
Jake's TakeIf you wish to have tasteful water all around the house, including your outdoor taps, this Pelican system can be a proper choice.
Just make sure to call a professional to provide you perfect setup.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
3
Magna-Soft Salt Free Magnetic Water Conditioner
The Magna-Soft Salt-Free Magnetic Water Conditioner is based on magnetic technology to provide effortless water softening.
It removes minerals from the water and reduces the hard water effect on your pipes, appliances, and skin.
The system has a positive effect on the soap and ensures easier soap rinsing.
The carbon filter removes odors and chemicals from the water.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Uses no salt and still provide efficient water filtration
- Carbon filter for removing odors
- Powerful magnet – capacity of 500 pounds
Cons
- Hard to setup
- Suitable for smaller space
Jake's TakeSmaller households can get many benefits from this magnetic water filtration system.
The carbon filter is a useful touch to help you deal with the chemicals and unpleasant smells.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
4
Hard Water Genie Salt-Free Treatment Conditioner
The Hard Water Genie Salt-Free treatment is free of any chemicals and requires no backflushing.
The system requires no maintenance after you install it properly.
It removes the minerals from the water and keeps your pipes free of limescale buildup.
The system is based on RF radio sine wave technology and DIC electromagnetic technology.
The Hard Water Genie comes with everything you need for a complete installation, including a manual guide.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Affordable price
- No salt or any chemicals
- High performance
Cons
- Cannot remove odors or chlorine
- Not suitable for larger households
Jake's TakeThe Hard Water Genie is a budget-friendly option for people seeking a simple solution to hard water issues.
It features new technology in the water softening system and isn’t very hard to install.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
5
Pelican PSE 2000 Whole House Water Filter & Water Softener
This Pelican water filtration system is suitable for use in larger houses, with four to six bathrooms.
The system can filter around 1.000.000 gallons of water with an impeccable performance.
The filtration system consists of four stages, resulting in 99.6 scales reducing.
The tanks are durable due to a stainless coat.
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Pros
- Simple maintenance and filter changing
- Water flow rate – 15 gallons per minute
- Suitable for large houses
Cons
- Not removing fluoride
- Can have difficulties in extreme weather conditions
Jake's TakeNot many salt-free water filtration system has a high performance in large houses.
This Pelican system comes with an excellent flow rate, so you don’t have to worry about water pressure.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
6
Aquasana THD-AS20 SimplySoft 2-Year 20 in. Salt-Free Water Softener
This Aquasana salt-free water softener is easy to install in a single room, for example, under the kitchen sink.
It is small and compact and doesn’t require extensive plumbing knowledge for installment.
The product comes with everything you need to start using it immediately.
On top of everything, it comes with the necessary brackets for wall mounting.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Small and compact
- Easy cartridge replacement
- Designed to last up to two years
Cons
- If the water is very hard, the cartridges should be replaced more often
- Only for small households.
Jake's TakeThe Aquasana single water softener doesn’t need salt to have high-performance.
If you are wondering how to know when the cartridge should be replaced, you will feel the difference in taste as soon as it gets full.
That’s how effective it is.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
7
Pelican WF10 Iron/Manganese Whole House Water Filter & Salt-Free Softener
This Pelican water filtration system model WF10 is suitable for water with high iron or manganese concentration.
It features a non-electrical self-priming pump and salt-free performance.
The capacity goes up to 10 ppm iron removal.
You can use it with the septic system, and it comes fully prepared for instant water filtration.
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Pros
- Iron removing water system
- High capacity
- Safe for use with septic systems
Cons
- Large and heavy system
- The higher-end water filtration unit
Jake's TakeIf the iron is your most common issue with water, invest some money in a suitable water filtration system.
This Pelican system is proper for use in large households, and its top performance will pay for itself.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
8
LiquaGen – Whole House Home Water Filtration System
The LiquaGen water filtration system comes with the pre-loaded tank for easier setup and instant use.
The tank is large and designed for whole-house use, and keep your appliances safe from the hard water damage.
The system also features a carbon filter for chemical removing and odor-less water without chlorine.
The water taste is significantly better and the lifespan of the appliance is prolonged.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Full water filtration system: sediment removes rust, dust, and sand
- Carbon removes chlorine and odors
- No extra costs for setup
Cons
- The installment demands plumbing experience
- If you wish to install it outside, the pipes should be under a roof
Jake's TakeBecause it uses standard connectors, you don’t have to spend extra money to make it work for your pipes.
The filtration system is complete and it provides clean, fresh and tasteful, soft water.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
9
Nuvo H2O DPHB Home Salt Water Softener System
This Nuvo H2O product uses revolutionary technology based on the latest scientific achievements.
The filtration system is based on a chelating agent that bonds minerals ions from hard water, primarily calcium and magnesium.
The product comes with FDA approval and presents the future in the water filtration systems.
The water flow is 15 gallons per minute, so you won’t feel the difference in the water pressure.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- New and improved technology
- Removes build-up from faucets, sinks, pipes
- Budget-friendly system
Cons
- The cartridges price may vary
- The proper choice for small households
Jake's TakeIf you and your partner need a water softener for your home, check the Nuvo product and the results will amaze you.
To get the cartridges on discounts, follow sales and you will save extra money.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
10
Aquasana 10-Year, 1,000,000 Gallon Whole House Water Filter with Salt-Free Softener
This water filtration and softening system from Aquasana is durable and eco-friendly.
It is a long-term solution for hard water issues and it doesn’t produce wastewater, nor require draining or backflushing.
The system features a SimplySoft tank with pre-filter and shut-off valves.
It is designed for use on .75″ pipes.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- The life span of 10 years and a water capacity of 1.000.000 gallons
- High performance
- Capable of removing chlorine
Cons
- You may need to hire a professional plumber to help you with the setup
Jake's TakeIf you are looking for long-term help in dealing with hard water, this model from Aquasana could be your choice.
It is long-lasting and it has a complete filtration system and water softening process.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
Salt Free Water Softeners Buying Guide
If you are looking for a water softener system for your whole house, your starting point is the level of hardness in your water.
In other words, how much mineral does your water contain?
Water Quality Association classifies the water with 0-3.5 mineral grains per gallon (gpg) as soft, the water with 3.5-7.0 gpg as moderate.
A hard contains 7.0-10.5 gpg.
To find out the level of hardness in your water, you can check with local authorities, or you can buy a kit for testing water hardness.
The salt-based water softeners are very popular and very efficient, but they are not an eco-friendly option.
The water softener that uses salt can utilize electricity, create wastewater, and deteriorate some health conditions.
Because the regular softener replaces the mineral ions with sodium, it increases the daily salt intake through the water.
For people on strict diets and eco-conscious individuals, salt-based water softeners are not an option.
The Salt-free Water Softener Performance
The traditional technology of water softening includes regeneration and ion exchange.
People use salt in their tanks to enable suitable performance.
However, salt-free water softeners operate differently.
There are various technological solutions to salt-free operation, and some include electromagnetic technology and different types of filtering.
Polyphosphates Filtering
The salt-free system that uses polyphosphates filters cannot reduce the smaller mineral grains but can keep your pipes free of mineral buildup.
Instead, the polyphosphates filter can hold bigger grains, but tiny can pass through the filter.
Polyphosphates are chemicals for improving water quality and are safe to use in the drinking water.
The polyphosphate systems utilize simple technology but need cleaning and chemical refills.
Complete Filtration Systems
The salt-free softeners which provide total water filtration and chemical removal are more efficient than the previous type.
The full filtration system removes chlorine, fluoride, bacteria, pesticide from the water, and prevents mineral buildup and limescale inside the pipes.
They work more like a water conditioner, improving taste and chemical concentration.
The frequency of filter replacement depends on the water, but you should do it approximately every six months.
If the water in your household contains high mineral concentration, you might need a supplementary system for removing minerals.
All salt-free softeners have better performance in removing chemicals than metals.
Electromagnetic
The electromagnetic type of a salt-free water softener is suitable for use with water which contains less than 15 grains per gallon of mineral.
The unit works by sending electromagnetic waves into your pipes and magnetizes the grains so they cannot cling to the pipes.
You plug them into an electrical outlet on the wall.
Magnetic
The magnetic type features the same technology as electromagnetic softeners, just without the electricity.
However, the magnetic systems are not as efficient, despite the magnets’ capacity.
Installation
The installment process of a water softener depends on a type.
Some are easier to install using only essential tools and manual guides that come with the product.
Others may require some plumbing experience or professional help.
When looking for a softener, make sure to check whether you will need additional tools, tubing, or costs for plumbers.
Sometimes the product seems more affordable, but it isn’t.
However, when you calculate the maintenance, the costs, and tools, the price goes high.
Why Should you Get a Salt-free Water Softener?
The benefits of a water softener are many. Those include appliances protection, better washing, healthier skin, less limescale buildup.
Appliances Protection
Your household devices that work with water can get damaged after a long time of hard water utilization.
For example, water heater, dishwasher, washing machine, etc.
The minerals can deposit inside the device and cause malfunction.
Sometimes, there is no fixing possible, you will have to buy a new device.
Better Washing
If you have ever wondered why your white sheets aren’t white anymore, the answer is hard water.
The grey dots on your dishes are also a result of minerals getting in touch with hot water.
Furthermore, when you shower with hard water, the soap is difficult to rinse, causing dryness on the skin and scalp.
Less Limescale Buildup
You sink and faucets can stop being shiny after the limescale buildup.
You can struggle to clean it properly, but if you have hard water the buildup will continue to develop.
Therefore, softer water means shinier sinks and less time for house cleaning.
The Water Taste Difference
If you use a salt-based softener the water will get a more oily taste.
Opposite, with a salt-free water softener the taste will be different more pleasant.
Benefits of Choosing Salt-free Water softener over Salt-based Softener
The salt-free water softeners are generally less expensive and they require less maintenance.
If you don’t like adding salt in your water for diet, the salt-free process is your way to go.
On the other side, salt-free softeners don’t remove the minerals from the water entirely.
They just keep them away from any surface.
It is a benefit in the long term if you have moderately hard water because calcium and magnesium are useful for your health.
The benefits include less risk for cardiovascular diseases, some sorts of cancer, cerebrovascular mortality, Alchaimers disease, diabetes, etc.
However, more studies should provide solid proves for these terms.
The softeners that operate without salt are easier to install and come with everything you need for a proper setup.
Flow Rate
To make sure your softening system isn’t reducing the water pressure, pay attention to the product specifications.
Most of the softeners come with the precalculated flow rate, so you can identify whether it is suitable for you.
An average flow rate that won’t disturb your water pressure is 15 gallons per minute.
Ending Thoughts
Even though regular water softeners appear as more efficient and capable of removing minerals from the water, the decision on which one is better depends on your preferences.
Both have many advantages and can be necessary for proper household functioning.
While salt-based are more expensive and harder to install, they create wastewater and use electricity.
The salt-free is an eco-friendly option for keeping the appliances safe and saving money on maintenance.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a solution to hard water, salt-free water softening systems are suitable.
They can reduce limescale and prevent mineral buildup in your pipes and appliances.
Therefore, your devices won’t malfunction and their performance will be better.
The salt-free softener is more of a water conditioner, as it can preserve some of the minerals in the water.
They use different technologies, such as filtration, magnetic or reverse osmosis for improving water quality.
The softeners that operate without salt are easy to install and cost less money than salt-based systems.
What's your take on Salt Free Water Softeners? You think they're just a luxury or a must-have item? Don't hesitate to share your comment below with your opinion!
