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Independent water treatment guides

Water softeners, filters and well water, without the sales pitch

Plain-English guides to water softeners, whole-house filters and well water. Start with what's in your water, size the system to your home, then compare models on facts.

I have hard waterSpots, scale, dry skin and crusty fixtures: what actually fixes it.I'm on a private wellTest first, then match iron, sulfur, sediment or bacteria to the right system.I want cleaner water at every tapChlorine taste, chloramine and sediment on city water.Size a softener in 30 secondsEnter your household and hardness, get a grain capacity.

How to choose, in three steps

  1. 1Test your waterHardness, iron, sulfur and bacteria decide the equipment. Wells need a lab test.
  2. 2Size it to your homeGrain capacity for softeners, flow rate (GPM) for whole-house filters.
  3. 3Compare on factsCertifications, running costs and warranty matter more than marketing claims.

Free tools and original data

Water hardness by cityOfficial hardness figures for 35 large U.S. cities, from each water utility.Compare every modelKey specs and prices side by side, with our verdict.CalculatorsWork out size and cost with your own numbers.

Browse by topic

Buying guidesWhich type and size fits your water and your home.10 guidesModel reviewsSingle models, read against their published specs.4 guidesComparisons & costsSide-by-side choices and what they really cost.7 guidesFix a water problemMatch a symptom or test result to the fix.8 guidesHow-toInstall, clean and maintain what you own.4 guidesCalculatorsSize equipment with your own numbers.3 tools

Buying guides

Which type and size fits your water and your home.

Best Water Softener System for Your HomeStart with a 48,000-grain Fleck for most homes, then size by grains, flow rate and warranty.Read guideBest Well Water Filter, Matched to Your Test ResultsMatch your lab test to the right well filter, from a $69.99 sediment screen to a UV system.Read guideBest Whole House Water Filter for City WaterStart with the $1,998 Aquasana Rhino for chlorine, then size by peak flow and check each certification.Read guide
See all 10 guides

Model reviews

Single models, read against their published specs.

Aquasana Rhino Whole House Filter ReviewWhat the $1,998 Aquasana Rhino filters, its flow and filter schedule, and who should skip it.Read guideFleck 5600SXT Water Softener ReviewWhat the Fleck 5600SXT valve does, and what a $1,995 48,000-grain setup includes and leaves out.Read guideSpringWell CF1 Whole House Filter ReviewWhat the SpringWell CF filter costs from $1,092, how it is sized, and who should skip it.Read guide
See all 4 guides

Comparisons & costs

Side-by-side choices and what they really cost.

How Much Does a Water Softener Cost?Unit price, install, salt and a 10-year total for a water softener, with the ranges behind each number.Read guideHow Much Does Water Softener Installation Cost?What a softener hookup costs in labor and extras, plus DIY risks, permits and what to ask in a quote.Read guidePotassium Chloride vs Salt in a Water SoftenerPotassium chloride avoids added sodium but costs more and works less efficiently than salt.Read guide
See all 7 guides

Fix a water problem

Match a symptom or test result to the fix.

Hard Water Treatment: Start With a TestTest your hardness first, then choose between a softener and a conditioner; here is how.Read guideIron in Well Water: Stains, Tests and Next StepsOrange stains or red water from a well: how to tell the type of iron and what to test first.Read guideManganese in Well Water: Filters That Remove ItBlack stains from a well: what manganese is, which numbers to test for, and what removes it.Read guide
See all 8 guides

How-to

Install, clean and maintain what you own.

Bypassing a Water Softener With a Bypass ValveWhat a softener bypass valve does, when to use it, and what to ask your installer.Read guideHow to Clean a Water SoftenerKeep the brine tank clear, use the right salt, and know when fouled resin needs a pro.Read guideHow to Install a Whole-House Water FilterWhat goes on the main line, why you need a bypass, and when to call a plumber for a whole-house filter.Read guide
See all 4 guides

Calculators

Size equipment with your own numbers.

Water Hardness ConverterTurn ppm into grains per gallon, read which hardness band you are in, and find your own number.Open calculatorWater Softener Size CalculatorEnter people, water use, hardness and iron to see the grains your softener must hold.Open calculatorWhole House Filter Flow Rate CalculatorEstimate your peak water demand in GPM from the showers, faucets and washer running at once.Open calculator