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Adding a water softener to your home can significantly reduce a buildup of limescale in pipes and on surfaces which, in turn, can lead to other benefits like softer skin, silkier hair, and fluffier laundered clothing. While this sounds wonderful, selecting the right one for your home isn’t always as straightforward as you may have hoped. It all depends on how many people you live with and a few other factors that can improve its efficiency.
How We Compared Water Softeners
To find the right water softeners, we considered multiple factors, including:
- Capacity
- Size
- Ease of Installation
- Cleaning
- Efficiency
Our team planned comparison points and specifically looked for products that would cater to all kinds of needs. We spent countless hours researching, consulting customer reviews and comparing features to come up with this list.
Water Softeners Reviews
Water2Buy W2B200 (Editor’s Choice)
This water softener is the winner of our Editor’s Choice Award. With a flow rate that produces about 1,250 litres of softened water per day, it is functional for a home with up to four people. For versatility, it is capable of filtering city and well water.
The Water2Buy W2B200 water softener features an automatic digital meter control, enabling better efficiency. It consumes less water and salt than comparable options, and the meter measures water consumption, ensuring it only regenerates when needed. The device is also programmed to conduct its automatic self-cleaning cycle at 3 AM, so it shouldn’t impact your normal water usage.
This water softener uses an app for easy installation and assurance of peak performance while operating. It is equipped with a pre-fitted water bypass valve to ensure optimal water pressure in every room of your home.
Pros:
- Suitable for up to four people
- Automatic digital water meter
- Easy installation via an app
- Automatic self-cleaning mode
- Compatible with city and well water
Cons:
- It may use more salt than other options
- This product might be too large to fit in a standard under-sink cupboard
BWT WS555 (Luxury Choice)
This water softener was developed to be perfect for your plumbing system. It has a luxury quality build and a high flow rate capable of filtering enough water for up to six people daily.
The BWT WS555 water softener is easy to set up and includes an installation kit. Even with its high flow rate, it is compact enough to fit inside a kitchen cupboard. Comparatively, this water softener has low water and salt usage. It also has a convenient, low salt reminder to help you keep the device running smoothly.
With this selection, better efficiency is achieved through intelligent water monitoring. The electronic control system also allows the water softener to adapt to your lifestyle and regenerate accordingly.
Pros:
- Uses a minimal amount of salt
- High flow accommodates up to six people
- Easy to install with included kit
- Compact design for in-cabinet storage
- Intelligent water monitoring for better efficiency
Cons:
- The device covering might be less secure
- Some of the hoses supplied could be longer than necessary
Eddy Electronic Descaler (Best Value)
This option is an effective alternative to traditional water softener devices. If you are searching for the one that comes at a great value, look no further.
The Eddy Electronic Descaler is proudly made in Britain, bringing you a high-quality standard. This type of water softener does not require any salt for operation. It produces soft water but does not alter the water hardness. This feature minimises limescale, but unlike other options, the healthy minerals in the water are not removed.
Another perk to choosing this water softener is that it is straightforward to install. It features cables that quickly and easily wrap around metal or plastic pipes reaching up to 28mm in diameter. Once the wires are positioned and wrapped correctly, the device is all set and starts working its magic.
Pros:
- Excellent value option
- Practical alternative to water softener
- No salt needed
- Leaves healthy minerals in your water
- Simplified installation process
Cons:
- It may not be ideal for larger homes
- This product might take longer to start showing improvements
Water2Buy W2B800 (Best for Large Families)
With the ability to filter and expel about 3,680 litres of softened water per day, this water softener is perfect for larger families with up to 10 members. It is efficient and has a top-quality design and build for optimal performance.
Engineered to function with city and well water, the Water2Buy W2B800 is convenient and versatile. It utilises a web app for an easy setup process and, once connected, only consumes a minimal amount of power.
This water softener measures water consumption in your home to increase efficiency. Using a digital meter helps it consume less water and salt. It also eliminates excess restarts. Hassle-free, it automatically initiates a self-cleaning function as needed. It also regenerates at 3 AM to prevent disrupting your natural water consumption patterns.
Pros:
- Great for large families of up to 10 people
- Top-quality design and build
- Digital meter facilitates better efficiency
- Automatic self-cleaning function
- It uses an app for simplified installation
Cons:
- The salt container and lid may be a bit flimsy
- The app may not be compatible with Android devices
Water2Buy W2B500 (Best Automatic Cleaning)
This water softener can produce about 1,417 litres of softened water per day, making it a fantastic choice for homes with up to seven people. It has a durable build and advanced self-cleaning functions that make using it straightforward.
The Water2Buy W2B500 water softener is capable of processing city and well water. Using an app, you can speed through the setup process. It maintains optimal water pressure thanks to a pre-fitted bypass valve.
In order to reduce water and salt consumption and improve efficiency overall, this selection features a digital water meter. It measures your home’s water usage to eliminate unnecessary regeneration cycles. It regenerates when needed at three in the morning to reduce disruptions to typical water usage times.
Pros:
- Digital water meter for better efficiency
- Automatic self-cleaning cycle
- Suitable for up to seven people
- Regeneration at 3 AM to reduce the impact on water usage
- Pre-fitted bypass valve for optimal water pressure
Cons:
- It might consume more significant amounts of salt
- The app may not be compatible with Android devices
Little Plumber LP1 (Best for Small Families)
This water softener makes a fantastic choice for small families. It is proudly made in Britain by a reputable company based in Oxfordshire and is exceptionally straightforward to install.
Thanks to computerised microchip technology, the Little Plumber LP1 makes limescale easier to clean away without adding salt or chemicals. It takes up to seven weeks to achieve optimal results in homes with up to four bedrooms.
Easy to install, this water descaler’s wires wrap around copper or plastic water pipes with a diameter reaching up to 50 mm. Plus, its two-metre mains lead also features a convenient USB power adapter, and once it is plugged in, you are good to go.
Pros:
- Straightforward and easy to install
- Computerised microchip technology
- No salt or chemicals needed
- Long two-metre mains cable
- Suitable for homes with up to four bedrooms
Cons:
- It might not be the best option for larger families
- This product could take longer to start noticing the effects
BWT WS455 (Best Easy to Install)
This water softener is suitable for homes with up to four people and will work wonderfully with your plumbing system. It makes an excellent choice if you want an unchallenging setup and installation process.
The BWT WS455 was designed to fit inside a standard-sized kitchen cupboard. It includes an installation kit and gives you the option to use block or tablet salt for added convenience. A low voltage transformer allows you to plug this water softener into a typical electrical socket.
Efficiency is another way this water softener excels. Thanks to the well-planned inlet and outlet sizing, it boasts lower salt and water usage as well as consistent and reliable flow rates. It also features counter-current regeneration to improve efficiency. Lastly, a memory function allows this water softener to predict when renewal is needed based on your water usage history and patterns.
Pros:
- Simple installation process
- Improved regeneration efficiency
- Smart water monitoring system
- Block or tablet salt options for added convenience
- Designed to fit inside a kitchen cupboard
Cons:
- It may not be ideal for larger families
- This product might have a relatively high minimum flow rate for operation
How to Choose a Water Softener
Capacity
When selecting a water softener for your home, the best place to start is with the machine’s capacity. This translates into how many people it can successfully filter water for daily.
Large devices can filter vast quantities of water. Some options on our list can provide water for a family of seven to ten people. However, this capacity could be overkill if you have a smaller family. Start narrowing down your options for a water softener by comparing products that accommodate the number of family members in your home without going overboard.
Size
The size of a particular water softener should also be considered when selecting one for your home. Think about where you wish to install it and your available space. Traditional machines can be pretty bulky, especially when you get into the higher capacity options. Smaller water softeners can often be installed inside a kitchen cupboard, but a basement or garage also works nicely. If you want to position your water softener under a kitchen cabinet, make sure you take into account the extra space required for the connected hoses, not just the dimensions of the device, or you may be disappointed.
Alternative descaler and water softener devices are the most compact options. They tend to be about the size of a large smartphone and can be installed anywhere you like without needing additional space.
Ease of Installation
We think installing your new water softener should be as easy or at least as straightforward as possible. Look for options that come with an installation kit included or an app to make things more transparent. For the most part, you should be able to connect a few hoses and the power supply to achieve an effortless installation.
Smaller descaler and water softener devices are the easiest to install. They only require you to wrap a couple of wires around your pipes and possibly connect a small power source. This is extremely simple but remember that these alternative devices may not function as well for homes with more than a couple of people. They may also take longer to start exhibiting results.
Cleaning
Many water softeners are also equipped with an automatic self-cleaning function known as a regeneration cycle. Of course, you could initiate a cleaning cycle manually, but intuitive functionality is highly convenient. Often, you can program automatic self-cleaning functions to run at hours when your water isn’t typically used. Since regeneration can take some time, doing it in the middle of the night shouldn’t interfere with your routine.
Efficiency
Good water softeners will also be efficient. In addition to consuming minimal amounts of power, they should also be able to filter and soften your water quickly and effectively. One way this is achieved is with an inbuilt water meter. A meter will measure and keep track of your water consumption so that it does not regenerate unnecessarily, which typically consumes a significant amount of water.
Summary
Our Editor’s Choice for the best water softener was awarded to the Water2Buy W2B200. This water softener has a top-quality design capable of filtering softened water for up to four people. It is easily installed with help from an app and is compatible with city and well water alike. It features a digital water meter for improved efficiency and functionality overall. It is also equipped with an automatic self-cleaning mode that is programmed to run at 3 AM, so it shouldn’t interrupt your typical daily water usage.
Emily is a woman of many talents. She has a B.A. in English and enjoys writing. Emily loves accessorising her home with quality products that not only serve a purpose but also enhance the overall convenience and tranquillity of her living space; there’s nothing like coming home to your own personal sanctuary after a long day! She loves anything that can make life easier or more comfortable—from dishware to furniture to lighting fixtures.