We’re on well water and we have extremely hard water. We originally tried Springwell’s water conditioner, but we weren’t happy with it (maybe no scale buildup, but it still left water stains on everything, and it still was like having hard water). Springwell let us exchange it free of charger for the SS4 and we couldn’t be happier. I grew up with hard water and no softener, and I had no idea what I was missing! We use the potassium chloride to avoid the sodium issue. And I’ll add that this (plus the CF4 and the UV filter) was my first ever plumbing project and it went well. We’re extremely happy with the Springwell system.
Hey David - That's awesome to hear they let you exchange the salt-free conditioner for the salt-based ion exchange system free of charge. Thanks for sharing!
I have a different installed from Springwell that has been working great, I would be interested to the TapScore before and after with this system shown in the video.
Test results coming soon! It will be interesting to see how the hardness changes, though. This home has been using untreated water with a hardness of 13.71 GPG (extremely hard) for 20+ years! This means there is sure to be scale buildup inside the plumbing which will be absorbed back into solution as the newly softened water passes through. Stay tuned!
Can you explain how you would have a slight increase in electricity usage? I would assume that soft water would enable the water heater to heat more efficiently therefore lowering the electricity bill even over the small amount of usage the machine uses.
The control valve (head) requires an electrical connection. That being said, you do bring up a great point - if there is already existing scale on the water heater element, installing a salt-based ion exchange system will work to break that down and thus increase efficiency as you say, so the electricity bill might even be lower.
Thanks for the vids. I'm not quite a prepper, but I was wondering if you could recommend a system that I can use to filter and drink pool water in an emergency?
Hello from Denver! I am looking to increase the overall quality of the city water. Would you recommend Water Filter + Salt Based Water Softener System Combo from SpringWell for Denver city water? Or you know of a better options?
Hi thanks for your comment! As a first step, I always recommend testing your water, then using the data to guide your purchase decision. Have you had your water tested by a certified lab yet? What water issues are you trying to solve? How hard is the water?
There's no point in offering any smaller bypass hookups than 1". If the unit is to be operated at max rated flow, 1" will be necessary. To run smaller pipe, use a simple inexpensive bushing in each of the two ports. PVC pressure bushings are better here than brass because they have no drawbacks for less cost, plus less stressful on the plastic bypass body due to having some "give". Getting what you pay for is not synonymous with suitability, efficiency nor with value.
I need your help with a question! The FutureSoft® Salt-Free Water Softener- do I need a water loop? I’m in a newer home that was built without one. I’m in need of something to get rid of hard water. Advice?
Great question! No water softener loop needed for a salt-free TAC conditioner like the Futuresoft. The primary purposes of the loop is to keep the softened water inside the home, so that indoor and outdoor water systems are separated. Because TAC conditioners don't actually softener the water, this isn't necessary. The conditioner would simply be installed at the water point of entry, in line. If you want to actually softener water and completely remove hard water minerals, an ion exchange water softener is the only way to go.
How much water does it waste? I live in Vegas they are NOW HEAVILY FINING people with a lot OVER 30x30 and more than ONE person in the home WITH NO ROCKS for landscaping which ONLY INCREASES THE HEAT IN VEGAS. I have a half acre so was fined 700.00 for ONE month on top of the BASIC water bill I used to pay which was SIGNIFICANTLY reduced water usage. Our water company is CORRUPT.
I have a problem with sediment clogging the faucets and lime stains in the showers as well as sensitive skin. Do you think the springwell salt based or non salt based would be better for me? We have 2.5 bath. Which size do you think would be better if we don't want to lose water pressure? We do have a tankless waterheater and do not have a sprinkler system. Would any of these systems complicate matters with our tankless or if we were to install a sprinkler system?
A salt-based ion exchange water softener (like the Springwell SS bit.ly/3xUMjJ1 ) hands down. Only ion exchange will completely remove the minerals responsible for limscale buildup. This is the best way to protect your tankless water heater, too. You can install a soft water loop so that your outdoor faucets and sprinkler system use raw, untreated water - this way you won't waste softening capacity on water used for those needs.
Thank you for the video it was very helpful! Do you have a preference between salt based and salt free? I want the salt based for the soft water feel but it would be nice not to need install a loop. Also I did not see a coupon code in the comments is there one available? Thank you very much!!
How hard is your water? I typically lean towards recommending salt based ion exchange over conditioners (salt-free). Ion exchange softeners actually remove the hardness minerals, conditioners don't. You'll have overall better results. You might find this article helpful too waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-vs-water-conditioner/ You can get a discount code for the Springwell SS here motivated-painter-4204.ck.page/027ece69e9
It depends on the hardness and iron levels, but we just installed a Springwell WSS bit.ly/3LpWCg5 (AIO iron filter + water softener) and the results are amazing. Make sure your subscribed, we'll be uploading a video covering that test data in the next few days. As for the iron bacteria, I would start by shocking your well. waterfilterguru.com/how-to-shock-a-well/ If the issue persists, you might need a chemical feed system to chlorinate the water. Check out this article too: waterfilterguru.com/how-to-treat-iron-bacteria-in-well-water/
A water softener is the recommended treatment for hard water, which may be the cause of the hair issues you describe. That said, I'd highly recommend testing your water using a certified lab before purchasing any treatment equipment
Hi, I am currently reading your "8 Best Water Softener Systems (August 2023)" reviews guide. In the guide, you state that the SpringWell SS1 Salt-Based Water Softener System is the best overall. However, you also state in the same guide that the DROP Smart Water Softener is the best premium choice. This has me confused on which system you are actually saying is the best. If price and maintenance costs were not a factor, which water softening system would be your #1 choice? Thank you for the work that you do!
Great question - The Springwell SS is our overall top choice for most folks. Cost is one of the many factors we consider when selecting which systems are best, and the expensive cost of the DROP system puts it out of consideration for many folks. This is why it's the best premium pick. If cost isn't a factor the DROP is the most advanced, modern unit we've come accross tinyurl.com/4avdm5w5
I just reached out to follow up with the folks over at Springwell about this. They said "certification is coming soon" - so, current state the system is not NSF/ANSI 44 certified, but apparently they are working to change that. You do not need the app and bluetooth to set the settings, it can be done manually on the control valve (head)
Thank you for your reviews snd testing. How does Kinetico compare, i like the regen tech, but also when no electricity to operate ths system is involved.
All modern water softeners require electricity. Are you talking about a TAC conditioner that doesn't need electricity? If so, those cannot compared apples to apples with an ion exchange water softener
It depends, what other water issues besides hardness are present that need to be treated? A whole home filter may or may not be recommended. I lean towards always using a reverse osmosis system for drinking/ cooking water, as they provide broad contaminant reduction. There are many better options than what Springwell offers in terms of RO - check out the Cloud RO for example geni.us/9ClI8J3 For city water, UV installed downstream of a whole house filter serves to remove any bacteria that might grow in the filtration system once the disinfectant residual (typically chlorine) is removed by the filter. In well water applications, UV can be used to disinfect the water, depending on the situation.
@@CoreyTXdad Not yet, but they use the exact same filter technology in all their systems. We've tested the Aquatru twice: Classic th-cam.com/video/NubOZMtj68g/w-d-xo.html With Remineralization Filter th-cam.com/video/xQCllBCJAHY/w-d-xo.html And also the carafe, which I'll be making a video about soon
This system was recommended as removing nitrates, however in tour review i dont see anything about nitrates. have you tested nitrate polluted water with it?
Water softeners (like this one) use CATION exchange resin to remove water hardness minerals. However, these systems can be loaded with ANION exchange resin which is one of the best methods for reducing nitrates. That said, this unit does not come loaded with anion exchange resin, so it would not be capable of addressing nitrates out of the box.
I found your video to be very informative. Can you give your opinion on the EVO E-3000? It's a salt free unit, but it looks pretty good from what I can tell. I would really appreciate an unbiased opinion. Thanks!
Ion exchange water softeners (like the one in this video) will completely eliminate hard water minerals, and are the very best way to deal with hard water issues. Water conditioners (often called "salt-free water softeners") on the other hand do not remove the minerals. These systems alter the chemical structure of the minerals, preventing them from sticking to each other or surfaces to form difficult to remove limescale. You will still see scale deposits, but they should be easily wiped away. Check out this article to learn all about the differences between water softeners and water conditioners: waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-vs-water-conditioner/
We havent had a chance to look to closely into the Puronics Defender C yet - that being said, I did a quick Google search and it looks like that's a 2 in 1 filter/ softener combo system. These types of systems can have issues, it's probably better to keep them separate (1 softener, 1 filter)
It all depends on your specific situation and what functionality you're looking for in a system. Do you know your softening capacity requirements? Are you looking for a system with Bluetooth functionality & app control? Do you want to integrate the system with additional treatment?
It depends on what you're looking for. If you are happy to pay a premium to have a company conduct your water testing, identify what treatment system you need, install the system and provide ongoing maintenance (and upsell you other equipment), then they are a great option. If you're a DIY type, you can save a lot of $.
@@waterfilterguru Yes, the water was tested and passed as safe/drinkable. I didn't get eyes on the test, so not sure if that's of any use. I do find if we let the water sit in the fridge, the smell goes away after several hours.
@@the_adam_gallant Are you sure the smell isn't chlorine? This would explain why it goes away after sitting. Chlorine is the most commonly used disinfectant, and a water softener does not remove it
@@waterfilterguru Thank you so much for this reply! I am certain it is not chlorine. It is rural well-water and no part of our system adds chlorine. I wonder if the resin in the filter takes time to disipate some kind of plastic taste? It's been many months now we've had this issue. I've heard of some people putting vinegar in and doing a back-wash. Would love to hear your thoughts on this solution.
thanks for the detailed video about SpringWell. Two questions: 1. Does NSF-44 certification for resin important? I learned most of the China made units are not NSF-44 certified. 2. Does this needs yearly maintenance service? Can a local water systems companies do that easily? The online chat with Sprintwell said, there is no need for annual maintenance.
Great questions! 1. NSF 44 would be certification for the entire system itself for water softening performance. The important certification for resin is NSF/ANSI 61: Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects www.nsf.org/knowledge-library/nsf-ansi-standard-61-drinking-water-system-components-health-effects 2. Yes, all ion exchange water softeners require ongoing maintenance in order to function properly. Learn all about water softener maintenance in our ultimate guide here waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-maintenance/
![Should You Put Water Filter Before Or After Softener? [Math Decoded!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/69v1hgpwMF8/mqdefault.jpg)
🔥 Check out the Springwell SS water softener here ➡ bit.ly/3K7rHEY
Rainsoft #1
We’re on well water and we have extremely hard water. We originally tried Springwell’s water conditioner, but we weren’t happy with it (maybe no scale buildup, but it still left water stains on everything, and it still was like having hard water). Springwell let us exchange it free of charger for the SS4 and we couldn’t be happier. I grew up with hard water and no softener, and I had no idea what I was missing! We use the potassium chloride to avoid the sodium issue. And I’ll add that this (plus the CF4 and the UV filter) was my first ever plumbing project and it went well. We’re extremely happy with the Springwell system.
Hey David - That's awesome to hear they let you exchange the salt-free conditioner for the salt-based ion exchange system free of charge. Thanks for sharing!
I have a different installed from Springwell that has been working great, I would be interested to the TapScore before and after with this system shown in the video.
Test results coming soon! It will be interesting to see how the hardness changes, though. This home has been using untreated water with a hardness of 13.71 GPG (extremely hard) for 20+ years! This means there is sure to be scale buildup inside the plumbing which will be absorbed back into solution as the newly softened water passes through. Stay tuned!
Can you explain how you would have a slight increase in electricity usage? I would assume that soft water would enable the water heater to heat more efficiently therefore lowering the electricity bill even over the small amount of usage the machine uses.
The control valve (head) requires an electrical connection. That being said, you do bring up a great point - if there is already existing scale on the water heater element, installing a salt-based ion exchange system will work to break that down and thus increase efficiency as you say, so the electricity bill might even be lower.
Thanks for the vids. I'm not quite a prepper, but I was wondering if you could recommend a system that I can use to filter and drink pool water in an emergency?
The Portawell bit.ly/3KFCjLt making sure to use the carbon block filter in one of the housings!
Hello from Denver! I am looking to increase the overall quality of the city water. Would you recommend Water Filter + Salt Based Water Softener System Combo from SpringWell for Denver city water? Or you know of a better options?
Hi thanks for your comment! As a first step, I always recommend testing your water, then using the data to guide your purchase decision. Have you had your water tested by a certified lab yet? What water issues are you trying to solve? How hard is the water?
There's no point in offering any smaller bypass hookups than 1". If the unit is to be operated at max rated flow, 1" will be necessary. To run smaller pipe, use a simple inexpensive bushing in each of the two ports. PVC pressure bushings are better here than brass because they have no drawbacks for less cost, plus less stressful on the plastic bypass body due to having some "give". Getting what you pay for is not synonymous with suitability, efficiency nor with value.
Thanks for your input!
I need your help with a question! The FutureSoft® Salt-Free Water Softener- do I need a water loop? I’m in a newer home that was built without one. I’m in need of something to get rid of hard water. Advice?
Great question! No water softener loop needed for a salt-free TAC conditioner like the Futuresoft. The primary purposes of the loop is to keep the softened water inside the home, so that indoor and outdoor water systems are separated.
Because TAC conditioners don't actually softener the water, this isn't necessary. The conditioner would simply be installed at the water point of entry, in line.
If you want to actually softener water and completely remove hard water minerals, an ion exchange water softener is the only way to go.
Give me Kenitco anyday. No electrical needed, no gears to go bad.
Fair enough. Not an option for folks who prefer to DIY though
How much water does it waste? I live in Vegas they are NOW HEAVILY FINING people with a lot OVER 30x30 and more than ONE person in the home WITH NO ROCKS for landscaping which ONLY INCREASES THE HEAT IN VEGAS. I have a half acre so was fined 700.00 for ONE month on top of the BASIC water bill I used to pay which was SIGNIFICANTLY reduced water usage. Our water company is CORRUPT.
50-60 gallons per backwash cycle - how often the system backwashes is dependent on your water consumption.
I have a problem with sediment clogging the faucets and lime stains in the showers as well as sensitive skin. Do you think the springwell salt based or non salt based would be better for me? We have 2.5 bath. Which size do you think would be better if we don't want to lose water pressure? We do have a tankless waterheater and do not have a sprinkler system. Would any of these systems complicate matters with our tankless or if we were to install a sprinkler system?
A salt-based ion exchange water softener (like the Springwell SS bit.ly/3xUMjJ1 ) hands down. Only ion exchange will completely remove the minerals responsible for limscale buildup. This is the best way to protect your tankless water heater, too. You can install a soft water loop so that your outdoor faucets and sprinkler system use raw, untreated water - this way you won't waste softening capacity on water used for those needs.
Thank you for the video it was very helpful! Do you have a preference between salt based and salt free? I want the salt based for the soft water feel but it would be nice not to need install a loop. Also I did not see a coupon code in the comments is there one available? Thank you very much!!
How hard is your water? I typically lean towards recommending salt based ion exchange over conditioners (salt-free). Ion exchange softeners actually remove the hardness minerals, conditioners don't. You'll have overall better results. You might find this article helpful too waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-vs-water-conditioner/
You can get a discount code for the Springwell SS here motivated-painter-4204.ck.page/027ece69e9
What would you recommend for hard water + iron + iron bacteria?
It depends on the hardness and iron levels, but we just installed a Springwell WSS bit.ly/3LpWCg5 (AIO iron filter + water softener) and the results are amazing. Make sure your subscribed, we'll be uploading a video covering that test data in the next few days.
As for the iron bacteria, I would start by shocking your well. waterfilterguru.com/how-to-shock-a-well/
If the issue persists, you might need a chemical feed system to chlorinate the water.
Check out this article too: waterfilterguru.com/how-to-treat-iron-bacteria-in-well-water/
Do you ever test US Water Systems inc or are you just a Springwell guy?
Working on getting a US Water project lined up currently!
Will a water softener or conditioner filter my city water I think my city water is making my hair feel terrible
A water softener is the recommended treatment for hard water, which may be the cause of the hair issues you describe. That said, I'd highly recommend testing your water using a certified lab before purchasing any treatment equipment
Hi, I am currently reading your "8 Best Water Softener Systems (August 2023)" reviews guide. In the guide, you state that the SpringWell SS1 Salt-Based Water Softener System is the best overall. However, you also state in the same guide that the DROP Smart Water Softener is the best premium choice. This has me confused on which system you are actually saying is the best. If price and maintenance costs were not a factor, which water softening system would be your #1 choice? Thank you for the work that you do!
Great question - The Springwell SS is our overall top choice for most folks. Cost is one of the many factors we consider when selecting which systems are best, and the expensive cost of the DROP system puts it out of consideration for many folks. This is why it's the best premium pick. If cost isn't a factor the DROP is the most advanced, modern unit we've come accross tinyurl.com/4avdm5w5
Is this system NSF/ANSI 44 certified? I'm also hesitant to buy it because you cannot set it without using their app.
I just reached out to follow up with the folks over at Springwell about this. They said "certification is coming soon" - so, current state the system is not NSF/ANSI 44 certified, but apparently they are working to change that.
You do not need the app and bluetooth to set the settings, it can be done manually on the control valve (head)
Thank you for your reviews snd testing. How does Kinetico compare, i like the regen tech, but also when no electricity to operate ths system is involved.
All modern water softeners require electricity. Are you talking about a TAC conditioner that doesn't need electricity? If so, those cannot compared apples to apples with an ion exchange water softener
are you paid to do this video?
No, this video is not a paid promotion
I see that Springwell also have whole home filter and also under sink RO units too. Would you recommend these as well? Also is UV purification needed?
It depends, what other water issues besides hardness are present that need to be treated? A whole home filter may or may not be recommended. I lean towards always using a reverse osmosis system for drinking/ cooking water, as they provide broad contaminant reduction. There are many better options than what Springwell offers in terms of RO - check out the Cloud RO for example geni.us/9ClI8J3
For city water, UV installed downstream of a whole house filter serves to remove any bacteria that might grow in the filtration system once the disinfectant residual (typically chlorine) is removed by the filter. In well water applications, UV can be used to disinfect the water, depending on the situation.
@@waterfilterguru have you tested the AquaTru undersink RO?
@@CoreyTXdad Not yet, but they use the exact same filter technology in all their systems. We've tested the Aquatru twice:
Classic th-cam.com/video/NubOZMtj68g/w-d-xo.html
With Remineralization Filter th-cam.com/video/xQCllBCJAHY/w-d-xo.html
And also the carafe, which I'll be making a video about soon
This system was recommended as removing nitrates, however in tour review i dont see anything about nitrates. have you tested nitrate polluted water with it?
Water softeners (like this one) use CATION exchange resin to remove water hardness minerals.
However, these systems can be loaded with ANION exchange resin which is one of the best methods for reducing nitrates.
That said, this unit does not come loaded with anion exchange resin, so it would not be capable of addressing nitrates out of the box.
I found your video to be very informative. Can you give your opinion on the EVO E-3000? It's a salt free unit, but it looks pretty good from what I can tell. I would really appreciate an unbiased opinion. Thanks!
Ion exchange water softeners (like the one in this video) will completely eliminate hard water minerals, and are the very best way to deal with hard water issues.
Water conditioners (often called "salt-free water softeners") on the other hand do not remove the minerals. These systems alter the chemical structure of the minerals, preventing them from sticking to each other or surfaces to form difficult to remove limescale. You will still see scale deposits, but they should be easily wiped away.
Check out this article to learn all about the differences between water softeners and water conditioners: waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-vs-water-conditioner/
Is it a problem to get a bigger unit even if i only have 2.5 bathrooms to ensure there is no water pressure drop?
It's important to properly size the unit. Check out this article all about sizing waterfilterguru.com/what-size-water-softener-do-i-need/
I have a Simply Pure water filer that filers into a a bag, Wandering if you have tested the tye n what you thought. Thank you
Hey Sam, we have not. I'm not even sure what product that is. Can you share a link?
I’m checking into home pure 385. What do you think about this system ?
Never heard of it, so can't provide any insight at this point. Let me know if you have any questions about another system
Music wa soooo... distracting, couldn't watch it.
Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it 🤙
How does this compare to the puronics defender C?
We havent had a chance to look to closely into the Puronics Defender C yet - that being said, I did a quick Google search and it looks like that's a 2 in 1 filter/ softener combo system. These types of systems can have issues, it's probably better to keep them separate (1 softener, 1 filter)
Is this unit better than the US Water version?
It all depends on your specific situation and what functionality you're looking for in a system. Do you know your softening capacity requirements? Are you looking for a system with Bluetooth functionality & app control? Do you want to integrate the system with additional treatment?
How do you feel about Culligan?
It depends on what you're looking for. If you are happy to pay a premium to have a company conduct your water testing, identify what treatment system you need, install the system and provide ongoing maintenance (and upsell you other equipment), then they are a great option. If you're a DIY type, you can save a lot of $.
Hi, we have a system like this and the water has a plastic kind of smell. Any ideas how to get rid of this smell?
Have you had the water tested to verify the cause of the smell is the water softener system?
@@waterfilterguru Yes, the water was tested and passed as safe/drinkable. I didn't get eyes on the test, so not sure if that's of any use. I do find if we let the water sit in the fridge, the smell goes away after several hours.
@@the_adam_gallant Are you sure the smell isn't chlorine? This would explain why it goes away after sitting. Chlorine is the most commonly used disinfectant, and a water softener does not remove it
@@waterfilterguru Thank you so much for this reply! I am certain it is not chlorine. It is rural well-water and no part of our system adds chlorine. I wonder if the resin in the filter takes time to disipate some kind of plastic taste? It's been many months now we've had this issue. I've heard of some people putting vinegar in and doing a back-wash. Would love to hear your thoughts on this solution.
@@the_adam_gallant Gotcha, I didn't realized you were on a private well. Your best bet would be to reach out to the manufacturer for assistance
$1500 or $2000 can buy a lot of vinegar.
Truth
Can it be used WITHOUT using the BT based app?
I have no desire to send my usage data etc to the manufacturer.
Yes it can be used without the bluetooth app
Awesome. 😃😃😃
Glad you liked it
thanks for the detailed video about SpringWell. Two questions:
1. Does NSF-44 certification for resin important? I learned most of the China made units are not NSF-44 certified.
2. Does this needs yearly maintenance service? Can a local water systems companies do that easily? The online chat with Sprintwell said, there is no need for annual maintenance.
Great questions!
1. NSF 44 would be certification for the entire system itself for water softening performance. The important certification for resin is NSF/ANSI 61: Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects www.nsf.org/knowledge-library/nsf-ansi-standard-61-drinking-water-system-components-health-effects
2. Yes, all ion exchange water softeners require ongoing maintenance in order to function properly. Learn all about water softener maintenance in our ultimate guide here waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-maintenance/
Hi Krishna do you happen to use this softener? If so, do you recommend it? I planning to get one for my home in Austin.