Hard water is as big an issue as water scarcity. The high mineral content in hard water accumulates not only in your body but also your utilities. Kitchen sinks, shower heads, shower hoses, tiles, plumbing joints, mirrors, glassware, and faucets are common targets. To address this issue, you need a water softener.
A water softener is a filtration system that filters out high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals in hard water. The output is ‘softened’ water which then flows through the plumbing lines. It has become a must-have in current times. So, find the top 7 water softeners that effectively treat hard water in this article. You’d also know their types and how to use them for best results.
Table of Contents
Why Should you Buy a Water Softener?
There are several benefits of having a water softener at home. It can-
- Reduce the chlorine content in tap water
- Remove visible impurities
- Eliminate odor from potable water
- Prevent limescale formation on taps, showerheads, faucets, and plumbing lines
- Reduce bacterial and fungal growth in clogged areas
- Prevent hair and skin damage
- Give your brighter and cleaner clothes after laundry
If you facing problems like these, it’s high time you bought a water softener. What’s more- it consumes very little electricity to filter. And so, here are the top 7 water softeners found online and in markets today.
Top 7 Water Softeners in India
1. WaterScience Cleo SFM-419 ABS Plastic Multi-Flow Shower Filter
This easy to install CLEO Multi Flow Shower Filter is an attachment to a shower arm. It eliminates chlorine and hard water salts with its unique 4-Layer Filter designed with patented KDF Technology and Nano Silver Carbon. Your skin and hair would be protected from hard water damage.
This softener has a long-life cartridge of 25,000 litres that may run up to 6 months. You can find its replaceable cartridges available online without any hassle. Above all, while filtering, this softener also saves 70% water with its Mist and luxurious Waterfall modes.
Rating: 4.9/5
2. PURIFIT Shower Head Filter
The PURIFIT Showerhead filter is equipped with a 10-stage filtration system. The layers inside the filter react with chlorine, calcium, and magnesium salts and convert them into harmless, soluble substances. Thus the 98% of hardness gets easily washed away without getting deposited in your hair, skin, plumbing, and shower system.
This softened water is suitable for irritated skin and scalps with dandruff. This device has been tested on various water types found in India. It is also compliant with American and European safety standards (RoHS & CE Certified).
Rating: 4.7/5
3. RIVERSOFT SF-10 Advanced Shower Filter
This shower filter can attach to almost any shower head because of its universal ½inch inlet and outlet. The Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF) technology and Calcium Sulphite remove chlorine in cold and hot showers.
Organic matter, hard salts, and bacteria are effectively solubilized and eliminated. The filter contains mineral stones and alkaline ball which recharge the softened water and adjust its pH suitable to your skin and hair.
Rating: 4.6/5
4. WaterScience CLEO SFU-717 Shower & Tap Filter
This filter fits all 1/2″ standard wall and hand-held showers and taps with 22mm and 24mm, 28mm aerators. With its 4-layer filter with nano-silver carbon the CLEO filter reduces the levels of chlorine, hardness, and impurities to suit your hair and skin.
Although it doesn’t reduce TDS value, this filter can effectively address dry skin, hair fall, and limescale formation issues. It long cartridge life gives you up to 25000 litres or 6 month supply of softened water.
Rating: 4.5/5
5. CARESMITH ABS SIFT Shower and Tap Filter
Caresmith SIFT+ filter comes with bacteriostatic features that inhibit the growth of micro-organisms and bacteria in clogged showerheads and taps. It is carefully engineered to target and remove chlorine and toxic contaminants from your shower water.
Softened water from this filter may relieve your dry and dull hair and flaky skin issues. Moreover, the SIFT+ filter has a unique Replacement reminder- a simple system to let you know it’s time to change the cartridge. Thus it can prevent sudden water quality changes.
Rating: 4.3/5
6. D’Cal Hard Water Softener
The D’Cal water softener requires no installation, no plumbing, and no electricity. All you need to do is drop it in your water tank/storage. It traps the calcium ions and other mineral salts using proprietary technology to give you odourless, tasteless and pH neutral water.
Thus softened water protects your skin, hair, plumbing system, geysers, and bathroom essentials from corrosion and dullness. This product is suitable for 7-10 member families and lasts for ~1 year. When it is time to replace, the softener would float on top of the hard water.
Rating: 4.2/5
7. Kent Bathroom Water Softener
This 5.5-litre water softener from Kent®️ runs on a non-electric process to soften the water supplied to your bathroom. It can protect your water heater, bathtubs, showerheads, taps, tiles, faucets, and washbasins from scaling and corrosion.
Its simple ion-exchange process is carried out by a long-lasting resin which does not need pressure operation. In turn, it can increase the life of your bathroom appliances.
Rating: 3.9/5
These are the top 7 water softeners in India- each with its share of benefits and drawbacks. If you are stuck with shortlisting, use the buying guide below. It gives you key features a good water softener should/would have.
What to Look For While Buying a Water Softener
1. Cartridge Life:
The main function in a water softener is carried out by a cartridge. This cartridge has all the chemical, physical, and electrical components needed to soften hard water. The longer it lasts, the better. It also gets cheaper to maintain a water softener that has a non-electrical, long-lasting cartridge.
2. Ease of Installation:
This could be the biggest hurdle. Always prefer an easy-to-install or a self-installation softener over a brand-provided installation service. Easy-to-install softeners are generally easier to operate and maintain too.
However, if your device needs to be installed by a professional, do not attempt installing it by yourself. It could cause irreparable damage to the device and your belongings.
3. Filtration Capacity:
Latest water softener models give you up to 25000 litres of softened water. Some cartridges run for 6 months to 1 whole year. This also depends on the usage and local water quality.
But, a robust device should not tamper the water flow and consume too much electricity while filtering. Read the specifications carefully for such details before finalizing.
4. Spare Parts and Replacement:
Irrespective of the make or variety, your water softener should have economic and easily available spare parts. Cartridges particularly need to be replaced often. Make sure they are easy-to-order and genuine.
5. Additional Features:
Recent water softener models offer several smart features. Auto-clean, replacement reminder, alarms, and integrated timer control are a few examples. Choose a product that proves its value for money without compromising its primary function.
Another critical factor that could impact the price and efficiency of a water softener is its design. This categorizes water softeners in different types. Read more below.
What are the Different Types of Water Softeners?
The design of a water softener directly affects its function. Based on their design, there are two main types of softeners-
1. Showerhead or Tap Filters:
These resemble a showerhead and work like one. Hence, you just install them on top of your tap and shower. Despite being bulky, these are robust and efficient.
2. In-line Filters:
This type of filters do not come with a showerhead. You will install them between an existing showerhead or a geyser and water line. They tend to last longer and maybe expensive too.
Based on The Principle of Working, Water Softeners Can be Divided into The Following Categories:
1. Salt-Free:
These use a chemical-free filter with a variety of inert particles and sieves. The mineral content in the water is not affected. Therefore, they are not recommended for hard water with high TDS levels.
2. Ion-Exchange:
These exchange the calcium and magnesium ions in hard water with sodium or potassium ions. This removes the hardness, thereby improving the life of appliances. It is important to note that these softeners are not recommended for drinking water due to the high sodium levels.
3. Magnetic:
They use magnets in or around water pipes to trap the mineral ions in hard water. However, this is a temporary effect of the magnetic field lasting only for 48 hours.
4. Reverse Osmosis:
This type uses pressure to remove impurities through a semi-permeable membrane. These devices are effective and remove up to 98% of impurities.
5. KDF Filters:
The Kinetic Degradation Fluxion filters can be used in combination with carbon filters or alone. KDF filters are made of copper and zinc. They are extremely effective in removing heavy metals, bacteria, and viruses along with mineral salts from hard water.
6. Multi-Level Carbon Filters:
These filters lead the water through several physical, chemical, and biological mediums- each designed to remove a specific type of impurity. They are generally made of carbon nanoparticles or activated carbon.
7. Vitamin-C Filters:
These can also be used along with carbon and KDF filters. When it comes to removing chlorine and chloramines particles, this filter is the best. Softeners with this filter may give daily better results on skin and hair issues.
This technical information and listed buying points can help you to finalize the ideal water softener for your household. Compare each feature of the device and pick the one that fits your budget. Ensure on-product warranty is in place before making the purchase.
Bring home a water softener and see the difference for yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ans: No, because it is not a water purifier. A water softener only eliminates the mineral salts and solid impurities but may not make water completely potable. It is, therefore, recommended to pass softened water through a purifier before drinking.
Ans: No. It can only eliminate calcium, magnesium, and other mineral salts from hard water. The TDS level of softened water will be nearly the same as hard water.
Ans: If it takes a while forming lather with soap; if your clothes are stiff, scratchy, and pale after washing; if your skin and hair are drying out; if there’s crusty or chalky build-up around the faucets or pipes; if you are noticing a change in the taste of water- all or one of these situations are common indications. You should immediately consider getting a water softener in such cases.
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