Home Water Softener & Filter Systems

Knowing that home water filter systems and home water softener systems are both designed to improve your water quality, you may be curious about which one you need for your home. After all, surely they both do the same job?

You may consider a home water softener system if you’re worried about the effect your water’s hardness has on your pipes, clothing, skin, dishware, and appliances. Installing a good water softener system can remedy those problems.

However, if you’re worried about the purity and cleanliness of your home water supply, you may consider water filter systems for home use. They remove harmful contaminants to ensure clean and safe drinking water in your home.

Still, what if you have both hard water and concerns about its cleanliness? Talk to your local plumber about a whole house water softener and filtration system. A whole home water filter and softener combine the best features of both to address water hardness and cleanliness.

Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing® to learn more about whole house water filter and softener combos.

If you want to improve your water’s cleanliness and softness, you may be on the lookout for a water softener filter system that can take care of both issues. While you can buy both systems separately, you can also purchase combination units known as a water softener and filter combo that work in harmony.

Whether you have a whole home water filter, a distillation system, or another type of filter system, you should replace their filters every three to six months. The timeframe for replacing your entire system can depend on many factors, but they can typically last up to 10 years. If you want to replace your whole house water filtration and softener system less often, ask Mr. Rooter Plumbing^® about the quality units they recommend.

Determining an ‘average’ water softener system price can be challenging due to the number of variables. The price tag for a water softener filter system can depend on the brand, where you live, your home size, capacity, and whether your local authorities require maintenance fees and permits.

Some people buy entry-level systems and pay very little, while others buy the best residential water softener they can find and spend far more.

Hard water describes water that absorbs mineral content from rocks and soil before reaching the municipal water supply. Alongside making soap less effective in your home, minerals like calcium and magnesium can lead to limescale buildup that harms plumbing and home appliances.

Service professionals can measure your water hardness or softness with a grains-per-gallon (gpg) measurement.

One grain = 0.002 ounces of calcium carbonate dissolved in 1 gallon of water

• Soft water = 0.3 gpg
• Moderate/ideal water = 3.5-7 gpg
• Hard water = >7.5 gpg

The best home water filter systems are designed to filter contaminants from your drinking water before they reach your home. There are a range of water filters on the market, with some designed to remove specific contaminants or a broad range.

For example, activated carbon filters remove metals like lead and copper but don’t remove nitrates, bacteria, or dissolved minerals. Ion exchange units with activated alumina remove minerals, radium, barium, and fluoride. If you install a distillation unit, you can expect it to remove bacteria, nitrates, sodium, water hardness, dissolved solids, heavy metals, and more.

Are you unsure which home water filter system and filters you need for clean, fresh drinking water? Talk to your locally owned and operated Mr. Rooter Plumbing^® for advice. There are also many factors to consider before hitting the ‘buy now’ button:

• Your water quality issues
• The cost
• How much space you have
• System certifications – NSF/ANSI
• What the filter removes
• The volume of filtered water you need
• How the system will fit in your home
• Consumer and professional reviews
• Plumber recommendations – some plumbers recommend purchasing a whole home water filter and softener combo rather than an individual water filter system

Residential water softener systems remove heavy minerals from your water supply, such as iron, magnesium, and calcium. While there are many different options on the market that work in various ways, they mostly use a chemical process that substitutes sodium or potassium for the minerals that make your water hard.

Water softener systems for homes can help prevent many problems related to hard water, such as scale buildup and mineral deposits that can sometimes lead to clogged pipes, leaky faucets, and damaged appliances. Hard water can even fade clothing from your washing machine and cause dry skin and hair after showering.

Your chosen plumbing professional may recommend a salt-based or salt-free residential water softener, including dual-tank and magnetic systems.

You don’t have to purchase the first whole home water softener you find. You can make your buying decision based on factors like:

• Your home water supply’s hardness
• Your water softener type preferences – salt-based, salt-free, dual tank, magnetic, electronic
• Your household needs – water usage and household size
• System capacity
• Space and maintenance
• Certifications – NSF/ANSI
• Customer and professional reviews
• Plumber recommendations – most plumbers will happily share information on what they think is the best whole home water softener

Water softeners don’t filter water. They remove calcium and magnesium minerals to take care of hard water in your home. If you want to remove contaminants from your water, you’ll need to install a water filter for home use or a combination water softener filter system. Your local plumber can advise on the best whole house water filter and softener combo to buy.