SOFTENERS AND CONDITIONERS
Water Conditioner
Reviews
Water Conditioners are systems designed to address minimally hard water, which occurs when there’s a concentration of minerals in tap water. Find out if you need one and how to make the best choice for your home.
What is a Water Conditioner?
A water conditioner is a system that addresses hard water by binding to minerals and altering their chemical structure to render them harmless. These systems may also be known as descalers or salt-free conditioners. The term salt-free is used because water conditioners operate without using salt, which is required by their softener counterparts.
Water conditioners are designed to address minimally hard water, which occurs when there’s a concentration of minerals in tap water. The high mineral content of hard water leads to several issues including:
- Damage to plumbing and appliances
- Residue on dishes
- Fading, stains, and damage to clothes
- Dries out hair and skin
What Does a Water Conditioner Do?
Water conditioners alter the chemical structure of minerals in hard water so that they can no longer stick to things and form scale build-up. Conditioners do this by using a process called template-assisted crystallization (TAC). Water conditioners have TAC media that water must pas through, and when it does — the minerals react and form harmless, nanometer-sized crystals. So instead of hard water minerals binding to your plumbing to form scale, they bind to each other to form these crystals. The crystals are completely harmless ant you won’t be able to see or feel them.
Buyer’s Guide for Water Conditioners
Beyond product reviews, this page contains additional information to help you get a better understanding of water conditioners.
Conditioners
Aquasana - Salt-Free Water Conditioner - EQ-AST-WH
Salt-free water descaling for 6 years or 600,000 gallons. Helps to extend the life of your appliances and plumbing. This system does not remove beneficial minerals from your water or put excess salt waste into our environment.
Learn More about the Aquasana - EQ-AST-WHBest Price*
Cost Per Gallon*
<$0.01
System
$639.99
Performance
Capacity
600,000 gal
Flow Rate (gpm)
14.4 gpm
Replacement Cadence (years)
6
Best Price*
Cost Per Gallon*
<$0.01
System
$639.99
Performance
Capacity
600,000 gal
Flow Rate (gpm)
14.4 gpm
Replacement Cadence (years)
6
Other Benefits:
- Replacement subscription option
- 90-day satisfaction gurantee
- 6-year warranty
- Upflow tank design
A.O. Smith - Whole House Water Softener Alternative - AO-WH-DSCLR
This system reduces scale build-up in pipes and plumbing using a salt and chemical-free technology. Lasts for 6 years or 600,000 gallons. No electricity or drain lines needed.
Learn More about the A.O. Smith - AO-WH-DSCLRBest Price*
Cost Per Gallon*
<$0.01
System
$329.00
Performance
Capacity
600,000 gal
Flow Rate (gpm)
7 gpm
Replacement Cadence (years)
6
Best Price*
Cost Per Gallon*
<$0.01
System
$329.00
Performance
Capacity
600,000 gal
Flow Rate (gpm)
7 gpm
Replacement Cadence (years)
6
Other Benefits:
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee
- 6-year warranty
nuvoh2o - Home Water Softener - 12001
Designed for home less than 1,500 square feet. Prevents hard water scale buildup. Features a compact design adn simple cartridge replacement.
Learn More about the nuvoh2o - 12001Best Price*
Cost Per Gallon*
<$0.01
System
$779.99
Performance
Capacity
20,000 gal
Flow Rate (gpm)
15 gpm
Replacement Cadence (years)
6 months
Best Price*
Cost Per Gallon*
<$0.01
System
$779.99
Performance
Capacity
20,000 gal
Flow Rate (gpm)
15 gpm
Replacement Cadence (years)
6 months
Other Benefits:
- Replacement subscription option
- 90-day satisfaction guranteex
- 5-year warranty
Water Conditioners vs. Water Softeners
Water softeners and water conditioners both aim to address hard water, but there are a few differences between these types of systems.
The primary difference between water softeners and conditioners is how they work. Water softeners remove hard water minerals through ion exchange — which replaces hard water ions with salt. Water conditioners don’t remove hard water minerals, these systems alter the chemical structure of the minerals to render them harmless.
Typically, water conditioners can only tackle minimally hard water. If your home has very hard water, you will likely need to use a water softener.
Another major difference between water softeners and conditioners is maintenance. Water softeners require frequent salt bag replacements to continue working, along with electricity that can increase your utility bill. By comparison, water conditioners have neither of these requirements, which makes them a low-maintenance and eco-friendly alternative.
Resources
How To Read Your Water Quality Report
Just because your tap water looks and tastes fine doesn’t mean it is. Sometimes, tap water contains chemicals and impurities that could harm you and cause problems to your appliances.
Bottled Water vs Filtered Tap Water: Important Facts
Americans consume around 1,500 disposable plastic water bottles each second, or nearly 2.2 million each day. Many Americans place a high trust in bottled water, and assume it’s safer than tap water. The truth is there are virtually no real benefits to consuming bottled water. Most bottled water is little more than over-priced tap water in a bottle that contributes to over 2 million tons of plastic waste in our landfills every year.
Comparing Water Filter Technology
Depending on the type of water filter you’re interested in, you may be able to choose from a range of different water filter technologies including mechanical, activated carbon, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and ultraviolet light filtration. With so many options to choose from, it’s important to understand these filter technologies to determine which option is best suited for your needs. To assist you with the buying process, we’ll explain how each of them work.
Why Do I Need a Water Filter?
Just because your tap water looks and tastes fine doesn’t mean it is. Sometimes, tap water contains chemicals and impurities that could harm you and cause problems to your appliances. Yes, it happens. We’re not saying this applies to all homes but in many cases, unfiltered tap water just isn’t safe enough.
Need Help?
Get expert advice choosing a water filter
*Product performance claims and prices were taken from publicly available information on Amazon, are accurate as of 9/1/2022, and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Cost per gallon is calculated as replacement filter price/capacity. Not all contaminants will be listed in charts. If you find information that is inaccurate, please send the correct info with supporting documentation to info@waterfiltercomparisons.com, and we will address any errors. As an Amazon Associate, Water Filter Comparisons receives a commission on purchases made through our Amazon links.