Do you ever wonder about the water you use every day? Is it leaving spots on your dishes or making your skin feel dry? Many people face these common water problems. Hard water, full of minerals like calcium and magnesium, causes soap scum and damages pipes. Water with contaminants can taste bad and even pose health risks. Trying to figure out which system fixes both issuesโfiltering out bad stuff and softening the hard mineralsโcan feel overwhelming. Itโs a big decision for your homeโs health.
Choosing the perfect Whole House Water Filter and Softener Combo means finding the best protection for your family and your appliances. You need a system that works hard without needing constant attention. This post cuts through the confusion. We will explore exactly what these combo units do, how they work together seamlessly, and what key features you must look for before buying. Get ready to discover the simplest path to truly clean, soft water throughout your entire house.
Top Whole House Water Filter And Softener Combo Recommendations
- Perfect for homes with 4 to 5 bathrooms and up to 6 family members, who desires softened water and clean, pure drinking water for the whole family.
- Rated to treat 64,000 grains of hardness by removing skin damaging hard minerals like iron and magnesium that clog up the skin pore and cause irritation.
- Exceptional performance & high efficient Aquatrol control head and Aquasure reverse osmosis membrane help save water and reduce overall maintenance cost.
- Constructed of high strength, premium-quality materials with built-in safety features that ensure your home is protected even during system downtime.
- Up to 5-years manufacturer warranty with lifetime tech support for the life of the system.
- ๐งใ PERFECTLY DESIGNED FOR 3-4 BATHROOMS ใThe Aquasure Harmony Series is the professional grade water softener that delivers ultra-softened water to every outlet throughout your entire home.
- ๐งใ HIGHLY EFFICIENT ใRated to treat 48,000 Grains of hardness by removing skin damaging hard minerals like calcium and magnesium that clog up the skin pore and causes irritation. Triple Purpose Sediment/Carbon/Zinc pre-filter effectively removes 99% of water contaminants such as chlorine, VOCs, pesticides, bad odors, taste, soil, silt, sand, rust, heavy metals, and sediment.
- ๐งใ PROTECTS YOUR APPLIANCES ใReduces water hardness and eliminates scale buildup while preventing damage to your plumbing and prolonging the lifespan of household appliances such as washing machine, dishwasher, water heater, etc.
- ๐งใ AUTOMATIC DIGITAL METERED CONTROL HEAD ใComes with a fully programmable backlit digital display which allows you to easily customize your auto-flush intervals depending on your incoming water quality and water usage. Also allows for easy monitoring and hassle-free maintenance.
- ๐งใ PREMIUM QUALITY ใEvery Aquasure Water Softener is constructed with a high-strength, corrosion-resistant, fiberglass-lined polyethylene tank, durable bypass valve, and prefilled premium-grade resin. Besides the 30-day money-back, Aquasure stands behind its products by providing 5-year extended manufacturer warranty and life-time free US based tech support when you activate your product online within 60 days.
- 5 STAGE ULTIMATE PROTECTION: Specifically designed to provide unmatched filtration performance for well water. This whole house filtration package will provide safe water for your entire home and remove many contaminants found in well water as well as hardness.
- UNMATCHED PERFORMANCE: From small to medium size households on well water. The specially engineered filters are designed to work together in series in order to produce the best healthy, safe, soft, odor-free water.
- PRO-GRADE MATERIALS: Designed for commercial demand but made for your home - With commercial grade parts, the PRO+AQUA systems will outlast any other leading system on the market, your systems will last for many years.
- EASY LOW MAINTENANCE & AUTO REGENERATION: The PRO-100-E offers easy filter changes, the PRO-WELL-1E and PRO-S-80E Systems regenerate automatically for ease of mind maintenance.
- UNMATCHED QUALITY: Quality 100% guaranteed, no-hassle 30-day returns, 1 and 5-year warranty, and free lifetime tech support.
- Delivers cleaner, better-tasting water throughout your entire home, improving everyday use from showering and cooking to drinking and cleaning
- Combines sediment filtration, carbon block filtration, and salt-free softening in one compact whole house system designed specifically for city water applications
- Targets up to 95% of sediment and over 155 chemical contaminants including chlorine, chloramine, VOCs, and pesticides while retaining healthy natural minerals
- Helps prevent and reduce hard water scale naturally without salt, brine discharge, electricity, or bulky tanks, protecting pipes, water heaters, and household appliances with no wastewater or drain line required
- Built with rigorously tested NSF certified components, engineered for low maintenance, and backed by a 120-day satisfaction guarantee for added confidence
- Perfect for Families: Designed for households of any size dealing with hard water and chlorine taste or odor. The Kenmore Elite 520 softens and reduces clear water iron, while also helping to improve taste and odor across your entire home
- Drinking Water Filtration: Combines a water softener with a built-in carbon media filter to reduce chlorine taste and odorโno need for a separate pre filter. Enjoy better-tasting water, softer laundry, spotless dishes, and skin and hair that feel healthier
- IntelliSoft Technology: The IntelliSoft system uses artificial intelligence to learn your familyโs unique water use patterns and regenerate only when needed. This smart, efficient system can use less salt and helps to cut waste and ensure efficient household energy
- Compact, High-Flow Design: Space-saving unit fits into tight basements or utility areas but delivers whole-home coverage. The 1โณ high-flow valve maintains strong water pressure for showers, dishwashers, laundry, and every tap in your home
- Trusted Kenmore Quality with Warranty: Self-cleaning carbon media means no filter replacements. NSF certified and backed by a 1-year full warranty (plus 3 years on electronics, 10 years on the tank)
- Perfect for homes with 3 to 4 bathrooms and up to 4 family members, who desires softened water and clean, pure drinking water for the whole family.
- Rated to treat 48,000 grains of hardness by removing skin damaging hard minerals like iron and magnesium that clog up the skin pore and cause irritation.
- Exceptional performance & high efficient Aquatrol control head and Aquasure reverse osmosis membrane help save water and reduce overall maintenance cost.
- Constructed of high strength, premium-quality materials with built-in safety features that ensure your home is protected even during system downtime.
- Up to 5-years manufacturer warranty with lifetime tech support for the life of the system.
- ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ, ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐: High-performance water filter system for great-tasting water, improved air quality, healthier hair & skin, and protected pipes & appliances.
- ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ก๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ: Multi-stage system combines carbon, KDF, UV, and salt-free Scale Control Media to reduce 97% of chlorine and tackle bacteria, viruses, cysts, and scale while preserving healthy minerals in your water.
- ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ & ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: Enjoy filtered water for under $0.01 per gallon โ saving you up to twice as much compared to other brands. Purifies up to 1 million gallons or lasts 10 years.
- ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ-๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ: Prevent scale buildup in pipes with a salt- and chemical-free solution โ no salt bags, backwashing, cleaning, or electricity required. Does not soften or demineralize water.
- ๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ: Best for water under 15 gpg hardness, 250 mg/L alkalinity, pH below 8.3, and iron under 0.3 ppm. Conditions water for drinking, cooking, and bathing for households of 4+.
- ๐ง Perfectly designed for 1-2 bathrooms homes, the Aquasure Signature Series is the professional grade Whole House Water system that delivers high quality filtered, ultra-softened water to every outlet throughout your entire home. No need for manual regeneration, backwash, draining, this system automatically regenerates and backwash, making it cost efficient and easy to maintain.
- ๐ง Effectively removes water contaminants such as chlorine, VOCs, pesticides, bad odors, bad taste, soil, silt, sand, rust, heavy metals, and sediment. Providing clean, healthy, and great tasting filtered water at all times. KDF media helps to inhibit bacteria and algae growth while prolonging the lifespan of household appliances such as washing machine, dishwasher, water heater, etc.
- ๐ง Rated to treat up to 32,000 grains of hardness by removing skin damaging hard minerals like calcium and magnesium that clog up the skin pore and causes irritation, dryness, cracked skin and hair. It is engineered for both city and well water. Connects to plumbing up to 1-1/4โณ in diameter. Connections out of the softener are 1โ high flow threaded ports. Save twice as much compared to other brands on purified water for 600,000 gallons.
- ๐ง Exceptional performance & highly efficient digital metered control head allows you to easily set your personalized auto-flush intervals depending on your incoming water quality and water usage. Aquasure Reverse Osmosis system helps save water and reduce overall maintenance cost while giving you the highest performance in terms of softening water and rejecting water contaminants. Easily replace filters every 6-12 months for best filtration and flow rate.
- ๐ง Every Aquasure Water Softener is constructed with a high-strength, corrosion-resistant, fiberglass-lined polyethylene tank, durable bypass valve, and prefilled premium-grade resin. Besides the 30-day money-back, Aquasure stands behind its products by providing free life-time U.S. based tech support and a 5-year extended manufacturer warranty when you activate your product online within 60 days.
Choosing Your Whole House Water Filter and Softener Combo: A Buyer’s Guide
Getting clean, soft water in your entire home is a great goal. A whole house water filter and softener combo unit does two important jobs at once. It cleans your water and stops hard water problems. This guide helps you pick the best system for your family.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping, look closely at what the combo unit can actually do. These features make a big difference in performance and convenience.
Filtration Capacity and Media
- Sediment Pre-Filter: This first stage catches big dirt, rust, and sand. A good unit has an easily cleanable or replaceable pre-filter cartridge.
- Carbon Filtration: Look for high-quality activated carbon. This removes chlorine, bad tastes, odors, and many harmful chemicals like pesticides. The amount of carbon (measured in pounds or volume) affects how long it works before needing replacement. More carbon usually means better filtration over time.
- Water Softening Method: Most combos use ion exchange. This means the system trades hard minerals (calcium and magnesium) for harmless sodium or potassium ions.
System Capacity and Flow Rate
- Grain Capacity (Softener): This measures how much hardness the softener can remove before it needs to regenerate (clean itself). Match this number to your water test results and how much water your family uses.
- Flow Rate (GPM): Gallons Per Minute (GPM) is crucial. It tells you how much water the system can handle without losing pressure. For a typical family home, aim for at least 8โ12 GPM. If you have many bathrooms or high-flow fixtures, you need a higher rating.
Smart Technology and Maintenance
- On-Demand Regeneration: The best softeners only regenerate when needed, based on actual water usage. This saves salt and water compared to older timer-based systems.
- Digital Controller: A clear digital screen helps you monitor salt levels, water usage, and system status easily.
Important Materials and Construction
The parts the system is built from affect how long it lasts. You want durable materials.
Tanks and Valves
- Mineral/Resin Tank: This holds the softening beads. Fiberglass-reinforced plastic tanks are common and strong. Check the warranty on the tank itself.
- Brine Tank: This holds the salt for regeneration. Ensure it is made from thick, durable plastic that resists cracking.
- Control Valve: This is the brain of the softener. Look for valves made by reputable brands (like Fleck or Autotrol). High-quality valves handle water flow and regeneration cycles reliably.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Not all combo units perform equally. What makes one better than another?
Quality Enhancers
- Certified Components: Look for certifications like NSF (National Sanitation Foundation). This proves the system meets specific health and safety standards.
- High-Quality Resin: The resin beads in the softener tank do the actual softening. Higher-quality resin lasts longer and softens more efficiently.
- Dual Tank Systems: If you use a lot of water, a dual-tank system provides soft water 24/7, even during the regeneration cycle.
Quality Reducers (Things to Avoid)
- Plastic Fittings: Cheap plastic fittings can crack under pressure over time. Metal or high-grade composite fittings are better.
- No Bypass Valve: A bypass valve lets you easily shut off the system for maintenance without stopping all water flow to the house. If it lacks this, repairs become a major headache.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about how you will live with this system every day.
Daily Use Scenarios
- Easy Salt Refill: Is the brine tank opening wide enough for easy pouring of salt bags?
- Low Maintenance Needs: A system that regenerates efficiently and uses quality media needs less attention from you. You mainly refill the salt.
- Water Test Results: If your water is extremely hard (over 25 GPG) or has high iron content, you might need a specialized filter stage added before the softener, or a larger softener capacity. A standard combo might struggle.
A combo unit saves space and plumbing work compared to installing two separate systems. It provides immediate benefits: soap lathers better, dishes come out spot-free, and your skin and hair feel softer.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Water Filter and Softener Combos
Q: What exactly does a combo unit do?
A: It filters out bad tastes, odors, and contaminants using carbon, and it softens the water by removing hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium.
Q: How often do I add salt?
A: This depends on your water hardness and usage, but most homeowners refill the salt tank every 4 to 8 weeks.
Q: Does the filtered water taste different?
A: Yes, the carbon filter removes chlorine, so the water tastes cleaner and fresher, like bottled water.
Q: Will this system remove *all* minerals from my water?
A: No. The softener removes the hardness minerals. However, it leaves beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium in trace amounts, or replaces them with sodium/potassium. It does not remove everything; the filter handles contaminants.
Q: How long does the filtering media (carbon) last?
A: Carbon media usually needs replacing every 5 to 7 years, depending on the system size and water quality. The softening resin usually lasts 10 to 15 years.
Q: Is installation difficult?
A: Installation requires plumbing skills, as the unit must be plumbed into your main water line after the pressure tank (if you have a well) or the main shut-off valve. Many people hire a professional plumber.
Q: What is GPM and why does it matter?
A: GPM stands for Gallons Per Minute. It is the maximum speed your water can flow through the system. If the GPM is too low, you will lose water pressure when running multiple showers.
Q: Does the softening process add a lot of salt to my diet?
A: The amount of sodium added is very small. If you are on a very strict, low-sodium diet, you should choose a potassium chloride option instead of salt (sodium chloride).
Q: How do I know if my unit is working correctly?
A: Monitor the digital display for error codes. You can also use simple hardness test strips on a shower faucet occasionally to confirm the water is soft.
Q: Can I use any type of salt in the brine tank?
A: Use high-purity water softener salt pellets or crystals. Avoid rock salt, which can clog the system more easily.