For homeowners everywhere who have a hard water problem in their home installing a water softener system can make a real difference. Dishes are cleaner, laundry is whiter and showering is far more pleasant as the filmy residue left on skin and hair by hard water, that it seems will never wash away however hard you try disappears.
There are of course a lot of different water softening systems on the market and reading basic water softener reviews does not always provide homeowners with enough information about the various differences between these models to make a really good, informed choice.
To help you with these water softener comparisons we have this table which compares, side by side, the properties of a number of different popular models, including their water softener ratings and information about their overall capacity as well as some of the maintenance costs attached to each one of them.
We are not responsible for the creation of this table but are sharing it in the hope that it will help you make the right choice when it comes to choosing the water softener model that is just right for your unique home and needs.
| Manufacturer | NuvoH20 | APEC | Removed at the request of copyright owner | CrystalQuest | Fleck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | ***** | **** | ** | ** | |
| Model | nuvoH20 Home Complete System | FUTURA-10 | Crystal Quest Water Softener | Fleck 7000 Total Home Treatment | |
| Softening Method | Salt-Free / *Chelation | Salt-Free / Catalytic Media | Salt Based | Salt Based | |
| Salt/Resin/Chemicals | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Safe for Drink & Garden | Yes for Municipal Well water to be tested | Yes for Municipal Well water to be tested | No | No | |
| Removes Healthy Minerals | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Price | $233 x 3 months or $668 inc ship | $ 1 190.00 | $ 1 145.00 | $ 1 051.00 | |
| Shipping | Included (US) | Est $50 | $110 | $125 | |
| Total Year 1 Costs | $ 938.0 | $ 1 540.00 | $ 1 855.00 | $ 1 776.00 | |
| Total Year 1 Savings due to Soft Water Benefits | Est $1 000 | Est $1 000 | Est $1 000 | Est $1 000 | |
| Pays for itself within 1 year? | Yes | No | No | No | |
| Certified Performance | NSF/FDA certified | NSF certified | NSF certified | NSF certified | |
| Maintenance Required | Yearly $120 | No | Yes / Salt / Resin $250 per year | Yes / Salt / Resin $250 per year | |
| Backwashing / Drain Required | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Wastes Water | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Monthhly Cost | None | None | Salt Bags | Salt Bags | |
| Electricity Required | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Removes Exisiting Scale | Yes | No | No | No | |
| Money Back Gaurentee | (180 Days) / 6 Months | 90 Days | None | None | |
| Warranty | Lifetime Warranty | 10 Year Warranty | 1 Year Warranty | 3 Year Warranty | |
| Install Difficulty | Very Easy | Easy | Difficult | Difficult | |
| Ave Plumber Install Cost | $150 | $300 | $400 | $400 | |
| Professional Installation Required For Warranty | No | No | No | No | |
| City/Well? | City / Well | City / Well | City / Well | City / Well | |
| Flow Rate/GPM | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
| Eco Friendly | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| Ease of Use | Very Easy | Easy | Difficult / Programming | Difficult / Programming | |
| Size | Very Small (5” x 24”) | Small | Large | Large | |
| Hardness Capacity | 30 Grains | 25 Grains | 48 – 60 Grains | 30 Grains | |
| Bonus | No | Yes (free $220 whole house filter) | No | No |
