Buyers Guide
A water softener is a device that, by mechanical or chemical means, treats water to reduce the content of mineral salts and their incrustations in water pipes and tanks. Water with a high content of calcium or magnesium salts (hard water) tends to form mineral incrustations on the walls of pipes. In some cases they block almost the entire pipe section.
The salts most often adhere to hot water pipes as well as to the surfaces of machines that work or produce hot water. An example of this is coffee machines and water heaters. Calcium and magnesium when adhering to heating elements form a layer that prevents the water from coming into contact with the elements, causing overheating and element breakage.
Hard water, when it comes into contact with soap, reduces its capacity to create foam, forcing an increase in the time of use. Detergents are also affected, forcing them to use a higher concentration of the product to fulfill their washing mission.
Galvanic corrosion worsens in the presence of the ions of these metals. The walls of a heater corrode more quickly, forcing more frequent replacement of the sacrificial anodes.
Water hardness (the lime ions in the water) can be measured in French degrees, ºHf, so it is understood that it is soft water when we talk about 0ºHf to 12ºHf, from 18ºHf it is understood that the water is hard (with a lot of lime).
Annoying limescale deposits forms around the tap and the coffee machine requires descaling… a water softening system can help to prevent that.
What is the best water softening system for you? The most popular water softening systems can be found in the comparison table. Click here for the current top product. Any questions? This purchase guide provides you with the most important information.
A descaling system prepares the water in your house and frees it of lime. If you have very hard water, you have a lot of calcium and magnesium compounds in your water. In other words, the water is healthy for drinking but leaves ugly white spots on the taps in the bathroom and the kitchen. The residues on taps and showerheads are difficult to remove with special cleaning agents and therefore annoy many homeowners. On the other hand, those who have soft water have less to struggle with these unsightly spots. Because of this, many are considering having a decalcification system installed in their house.
However, there are a few points to consider. Initially, the installation is only worthwhile in your own single-family house (or apartment building), since the systems are located directly on the Water connection installed become. This becomes relatively difficult with a rental apartment since many different parties are supplied via the pipe system. Besides, it is only worth buying if the water is “hard” and needs to be softened. You should also check how many liters of soft water you need each day. Depending on the size, the descaling system can provide different amounts of soft water, which should then also be removed. Otherwise, the purchase may not be worth it at all.
Hard water, is not harmful to health. Hard water is also no problem for the fittings in the bathroom or kitchen. If you have hard water, you often have to use vinegar essence or lime cleaners, but the white spots are not harmful. Hard water is no worse than soft water for hair and skin. Calcareous water often leaves residues in the hair that make the hair look dull and dull. If you want to counteract this, you should use a little more of the care product (e.g. shampoo) and rinse it out thoroughly and for a long time. This also removes limescale from the hair.
If you are tired of worrying about the annoying lime and its consequences, you should consider buying a water softener. Hard water has no negative effects on your health, but the consequences of hard water are far more serious for your household. If the obvious veil on your glasses is rather unpleasant, calcareous deposits in water pipes, washing machines, and dishwashers can be very damaged. This results in high repair costs and the lifespan of the devices are significantly reduced.
The subsequent installation of a water softening system can be a solution for this. Water softening systems work primarily with two different processes: water softening by cation exchange with salt and water softening by reverse osmosis without salt. Here you can find out what you should pay particular attention to when buying a water softening system.
Many experts consider water softening systems to be useful if the hardness of the water in your household is significantly above the hardness of 7 ° dH. In order to bring hard water back to the optimum degree of hardness and to keep it long-term, it is necessary to connect a decalcification system that is suitable for the performance. An electronically controlled module will be connected to the main water pipe, which ensures the regulation of the desired water quality.
There are two methods on the market for descaling systems, but only one can be found to be helpful. According to scientific studies and Stiftung Warentest, the so-called physical process, which is supposed to change the structure of the lime crystals via magnetic or electrical fields, is to be regarded as doubtful. So far, no noteworthy results have been achieved with this method of water softening.
The second, effective method is called cation exchange. In this form of water softening, calcium and magnesium ions in the water are effectively removed – through so-called exchange resin. The ions are responsible for the lime production and can cause blockages especially in your water pipes. However, the reaction has no further effects on the remaining compounds in the water.
Over time, the exchange resin becomes saturated with the ions and has to be regenerated. This can be done by adding a saline solution. Overall, the form of water softening can be viewed as very gentle. The drinking quality of your water is not affected. Only the degree of hardness is reduced. In order for the replacement resin in your decalcification system to work optimally at all times, you must regularly refill the salt container.
The decision for the best water softening system depends, among other things, on the degree of hardness, size, and possible additional costs. You decide which properties have priority with your test winner.
A large number of dissolved calcium and magnesium ions and other dissolved minerals are mainly responsible for the lime in the water. These minerals form residues from calcium carbonate and magnesium calcium carbonate – the visible lime that is deposited and is difficult to remove. Lime is only at a depositing temperature above 60 ° C. The hardness of the water is given in degrees of German hardness (° DH). A distinction is made between the following:
You can inquire about the hardness of your drinking water from your local water supplier or determine it yourself using a test kit. The water softening system is set to this initial value, but should never completely soften the water. The goal is a degree of hardness of 5 to 7 ° dH.
There are different water softening systems that are designed for a single apartment, for single-family houses and, of course, for entire apartment buildings. They also vary in the sizes of the water connection. This is usually 1 or 2 inches of pipe outside diameter. The correct size of the water softening system can be found out using a special computer. Correct design is very important to avoid unnecessary costs for salt, wastewater, and energy.
This is the best water softening system for apartment buildings:
Perla duplex soft water system
• suitable for max. 12 people
• Ion exchange
• Nominal flow 3.2 m³ / h
• Max. Regeneration salt supply 32 kg
A water softening system is either connected to the main water pipe in the basement or directly to the water connection under the sink in the kitchen. If the water softening system is to soften all the water in the house, it must be installed in one place before the water enters the main water pipe of the house. During installation, a power connection and access to the wastewater are usually required, since contaminated water must be disposed of when the system is being regenerated.
The German Gas and Water Association (DVGW) test various materials and systems in the field of gas and water provision and has the status of an independent test center similar to the TÜV. Lifetime and user-friendliness are just as important in tests as the materials that have to meet high hygienic standards in the drinking water sector. An inspection of the water softening system by the DVGW means security for your purchase.
Depending on the design of the system, you may have to expect somewhat higher water consumption and additional costs for salt or filters, which must be replaced at certain intervals. You should also follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and carry out appropriate maintenance. The overall operating costs are relatively low.
Ion exchanger water softeners regularly need salt to remove the bound lime from the resin of the ion exchanger. There are 3 types of salts that you can use:
The benefits of soft water in the home are many. All devices and pipes are reliably protected against limescale and therefore have a longer service life. If electrical devices such as kettles, coffee machines, or water aerators are not calcified, they also require less energy. Incidentally, the cleaning effort also drops significantly since you no longer have to struggle with the annoying deposits.
Water softening systems have different functions. Basically, a distinction is made between water softening through cation exchange and reverse osmosis. The effectiveness of both methods has been scientifically proven. There is insufficient information about the actual effectiveness of water softening through electrical or magnetic fields.
The water softener contains a resin, on the surface of which sodium ions are deposited. When the hard water is passed over this resin, the calcium and magnesium ions contained in the water displace the sodium ions from the surface and accumulate there: there is an exchange. When all the binding sites on the resin are occupied by calcium and magnesium ions, the resin is exhausted and can no longer soften the water.
This is the point in time when the plant goes into regeneration. The resin is rinsed with a salt solution, which displaces the calcium and magnesium ions from the resin and replenishes them with sodium ions. The salt solution with the calcium and magnesium ions is removed via the wastewater and the process cycle starts again.
These are the advantages of ion exchangers:
Unfortunately, these models also have disadvantages:
This is the best ion exchange softening system:
Perla duplex soft water system
• suitable for max. 12 people
• Ion exchange
• Nominal flow 3.2 m³ / h
• Max. Regeneration salt supply 32 kg
Reverse osmosis is a filtration process that can be used to filter out even the smallest suspended matter in water. The water is pressed through a semi-permeable membrane, which allows the water molecules to pass through, but traps other ingredients in the filter. The pollutants accumulate on one side of the membrane and are separated from the wastewater. On the other hand, this creates completely clean water. Reverse osmosis systems also use different pre-filter stages.
So that the water can diffuse through the dense membrane, a certain pressure is necessary, which is usually generated by the water pressure in the pipe. However, sometimes this pressure is not sufficient and a support pump must be used. The higher the pressure at the membrane, the better the filtered water will be demineralized.
Another factor for the purity of the water is the amount of wastewater with which the filter is rinsed. The better rinsing, the longer the durability and filter function of the membrane. Therefore, the biggest challenge facing manufacturers of reverse osmosis systems is finding a balance between wastewater costs and the filter effect.
The advantages of reverse osmosis are:
Unfortunately, these models also have disadvantages :
If you want to protect the pipes and electrical devices from limescale in your family home, a water softening system based on the cation exchanger principle is recommended. If the system is installed right from the start, you will reliably protect your property from limescale damage in the future. It is also no problem to retrofit your house later. It would be an advantage if the system were to regenerate every 3 to 4 days. In the case of a family home, it can be assumed that the system will have paid for itself within 7 to 10 years.
This is the best water softening system for single-family houses:
Perla duplex soft water system
• suitable for max. 12 people
• Ion exchange
• Nominal flow 3.2 m³ / h
• Max. Regeneration salt supply 32 kg
For small apartments, water softening systems with salt are worthwhile, which are associated with very low purchase costs. The dimensions of the device are also an important factor in a small household. The easiest way to place it under the water connection in the sink. If the dishwasher and washing machine are also operated via this connection, these devices are also protected against limescale.
In principle, water softening systems based on the cation principle are suitable for smaller apartments, but systems based on the reverse osmosis principle are also possible. Note, however, that there is often not enough space under the sink. A connection to electricity and wastewater must also be nearby.
This is the best water softening system for homes
Judo
SOFTwell S
• Ion exchange
• Nominal flow rate 1.2 m³ / h
• Max. Flow rate 3.5 m³ / h
• Max. Regeneration salt supply 50 kg
Drinking water in Germany is subject to very strict regulations, but ultimately only certain substances that can be found are searched for. If you want to be on the safe side and enjoy truly pollutant-free drinking water, you should opt for the reverse osmosis process.
Reverse osmosis is a very expensive process, but not only lime but also all other types of pollutants are reliably filtered out of the water. When you drink the water, you can be sure that you are drinking completely pure water. Pollutants that are not the focus of drinking water monitoring are also removed with this method.
Smart technology is your hobbyhorse? – Then you certainly don’t want to cut back on your water softening system. Very high-quality water softening systems have a colored display that shows you the most important parameters.
Some plants come up with an intelligent system that adjusts the water consumption times to the regeneration times. With an Eco mode, you can also convert the system to, particularly energy-saving operation. Although these systems are more expensive to buy, you can save money by optimizing operating costs.
This is the best water softening system that can be controlled by an app
BWT
Perla duplex soft water system
• suitable for max. 12 people
• Ion exchange
• Nominal flow 3.2 m³ / h
• Max. Regeneration salt supply 32 kg
The Stiftung Warentest has unfortunately not yet dealt with the subject of water softening systems, but some specialist magazines have dealt with individual softening systems. From there it should be emphasized that manufacturers such as BWT, Juno, and Grünbeck also produce good devices that are of interest to you. Some manufacturers also offer water softening systems using both recognized methods.
Water softening system: This is our buying tip
Grunbeck
softliQ: SD21
• suitable for max. 9 people
• Nominal flow 3.5 m³ / h
• Max. Regeneration salt supply 35 kg
The price of a water softening system is not easy to determine because it always depends on the size of the system and the system behind it. It is therefore important to know in advance what water your household needs. Use an appropriate calculator to determine the size of the system.
You can get a simple water softening system with a cation exchanger for smaller households from around 350 euros. These are mainly ion exchangers, so you have to expect additional costs for salt. The simple devices still lack a little luxury, but you already get reliably soft water.
This is the best water softening system from 1,000 euros
Aquintos Water Treatment
MKC 40 TOP Line
• Ion exchange
• Max. Flow rate 1.2 m³ / h
• Max. Regeneration salt supply 50 kg
You have to budget around 1,000 euros for a good device for medium-sized households. For this, you get a solid system that you can enjoy for many years.
Smaller systems using the reverse osmosis process are somewhat more expensive. Here you should plan for a good entry-level device from as little as EUR 1,000. Larger plants using this method are correspondingly more expensive. However, the price can pay off, because you get healthy water from which most pollutants have already been filtered. You have never drunk so healthy before.
This is the best water softening system from 1,000 euros
Grunbeck
softliQ: SD21
• suitable for max. 9 people
• Nominal flow 3.5 m³ / h
• Max. Regeneration salt supply 35 kg
Plants from Grünbeck, for example, can cost between 2,000 and 3,000 euros. But you get high-quality water softening systems that make your life easier. Partly equipped with smart functions and provided with a colored display, you always have an overview of how the device works.
This is the best water softening system from 2,000 euros
BWT
Perla duplex soft water system
• suitable for max. 12 people
• Ion exchange
• Nominal flow 3.2 m³ / h
• Max. Regeneration salt supply 32 kg
The use of a descaling system primarily serves to protect your drinking water pipes. Deposits of just two millimeters on the surface are enough to record a sharp increase in energy consumption. Even with this small thickness, your consumption can increase by up to 15 percent. The decision to buy a water softening system can prevent these deposits and thus additional costs.
Descaling your system with a water softening system protects your fittings from limescale. In this way, you can not only prevent unnecessary repairs or, in the worst case, even new acquisitions, but cost savings through water softening are also possible on many levels. If you reduce the level of hardness by around 3, you can expect annual savings of 62 to 84 euros per person. In a four-person household, that’s already well over 200 euros.
At the same time, they protect your fittings with inexpensive water softening systems and thus ensure a longer service life for your facility. Water softening system tests show that lime does not only damage the appearance of your fittings, the deposited lime also becomes a load test for the material over time.
Advantages
• Your clothes will cuddle longer and have a longer lifespan
• Less limescale also means less cleaning work
• If your household appliances do not calcify, the energy requirement drops
• You can look forward to softer skin and smoother hair
• Maintenance of water pipes and pipes is rarely necessary
Disadvantages
• With decalcification, the carbon dioxide content of the water increases, which increases
• Long-term damage to water pipes can result
After comparing the various water softening systems and their properties, you have a good overview of your purchase options. Analyze your requirements in advance to dimension the system correctly. Once these key data and the decision for a certain procedure have been made, you can make the right choice. The most relevant information is summarized here for a better overview:
• Lime causes a lot of damage to pipes and electrical equipment, so you need a water softening system
• Water softening systems with ion exchangers also require salt
• Water softening systems with reverse osmosis, on the other hand, do not require salt, but you need regular regeneration times for this
• A water hardness between 5 and 7 ° DH is ideal
• A water softening system for the entire house is usually located directly at the house water connection in the basement
• The reverse osmosis principle is particularly suitable for drinking water in the kitchen
• You can get simple water softening systems from around 350 euros
• Large water softening systems can cost over 2000 euros
After this purchase advice, you will hopefully know which water softening system best suits your household. Here you will find a small selection of recommended models.