Water filter vs water softener - what's good in 2019

December 16, 2019 12:03 PM

We have hard water, and we're thinking about getting a water softener. We already have GE SmartWater whole house filters (photo). How might these compare to what we could get from a water softener, and what are the best softeners (or filters) for the money these days? [In the U.S., specifically New Mexico, on municipal water]

Confession: we have never replaced the filters. We keep talking about it, and I finally bought new official GE filters, which are supposed to reduce sand, soil, rust and chlorine taste and odor. I haven't put them in yet, but I haven't noticed any of that in the water with the (rather) old filters still in place. So our thought is to get rid of the old filters and get a water softener.

Which brings me to the next question: what are good water softeners, and what are the pros and cons, in terms of water and energy usage, keeping in mind that we're in a very dry climate? Thanks!

posted by filthy light thief to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

Before you change anything, you can do a quick test to see how much mineral is in your water by boiling away a cup of water and seeing how much residue you get (Corning Visions is ideal for this).

Then you could put in the GE filters you already have and see how that compares, and then you could decide if you need a softener.
posted by jamjam at 12:29 PM on December 16, 2019 [1 favorite]

You only really need a water softener if you have a lot of minerals in your water, and you run them in conjunction with (not in replace of) standard filters. A simple test like jamjam suggests is a good starting point, or you could find a water testing lab nearby if you want complete peace of mind. The test will tell you not just whether you have mineral sediments that are getting past your filter but exactly what kinds, which can guide your research for water softeners.
posted by tobascodagama at 12:49 PM on December 16, 2019

And to throw another wrench -- if your main concern is taste, you might consider installing a reverse osmosis unit under your kitchen sink.
posted by nosila at 6:33 AM on December 17, 2019

Response by poster: arabidopsis, thanks for that summary of the processes of a filter and softener.

We're not concerned about the taste of our water, and drink from our refrigerator's water dispenser, but the calcification on our appliances and fixtures is our concern.

Which brings me to softener recommendations -- does anyone have one? I found a comment from ten years ago that talks generally about what I assume is the high-end versus basic models, and this question from last year, asking for a very efficient water softener, where the only solid recommendation is for was the high-end brand in the prior AskMe.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:21 AM on December 17, 2019

I have super hard well water here in East Tennessee. About a year ago I ripped out an old Kinetico salt system and installed a Pelican saltless softener and UV sterilizer. I'm extremely happy with the results. My city water friends literally bring bottles to fill when they visit - my tap water tastes slightly sweet like Evian. The mineral content is reasonable now too; I don't have to empty pebbles from the shower head every few days and it doesn't make my hair gummy in the shower.

Unless your water is very hard, though, this system is overkill. You should have your water tested to prioritize correctly. Do you want to remediate taste, odor or mineral content? They're separate (but related) issues.
posted by workerant at 8:10 PM on December 17, 2019 [2 favorites]