Whole House Water Filter and Softener Systems

Only if your water has both problems. On city water it usually does: the utility adds chlorine or chloramine, and Aidan puts the average city hardness at "like ten to fifteen grains." Under about 7 grains, a carbon tank alone is enough; with no chlorine taste or smell, a softener alone is. Aidan answers it in a 2-minute video: Which combo do you actually need?

Yes. On city water the carbon tank goes first, then the softener or the salt-free conditioner, then the water heater. Aidan: "you wanna take the chlorine out first before it goes into the softener, 'cause chlorine shortens the life of the softener resin." More in Carbon Filter and Water Softener: Do You Need Both?

Our filter + softener systems run $2,595 to $4,395 and the filter + salt-free systems $3,895 to $4,795 (November 2026 prices, free shipping to the lower 48 states). A plumber adds about $700 to $1,000 for the softener pair, by Aidan's estimate. After that: a carbon refill every 4 to 5 years ($295 per cubic foot of Centaur) and softener salt, about one 40 lb bag every 30 to 45 days in Aidan's house. See water softener cost.

The one sized to your household and hardness, with the carbon tank first. Look for catalytic carbon if your city uses chloramine (ours is Centaur), a carbon tank that grows with the softener, and sizing by people and grains, not bathrooms alone. For most homes Aidan recommends a salt softener pair: it removes the hardness and costs less to run. The salt-free pair fits a spot with no drain or outlet, or a home that does not want salt.

Neither is better; they do different jobs. A carbon filter removes chlorine and chloramine with their taste and smell, and reduces chlorine byproducts and many VOCs, but leaves the hardness. A softener removes the hardness but not the chlorine. If you have both problems you need both tanks. See Water Filter vs Water Softener.

No. Aidan: "They don't remove hard water. They just convert it to a crystal... so it can't attach itself to the plumbing and the water-using appliances." The water still tests hard and will not feel slippery, and glass can still spot. It works up to about 25 grains; above that, or with a tankless water heater, choose the softener pair. More in Salt-Free vs Salt-Based Water Softener.

Aidan has seen softeners last 10, 15, 20 and 30 years, depending on the water and how they are built. The control valve is the part that wears: about 5 to 20 years before it needs work (seals, a piston or a control board), and up to 30 with minor part replacement; the tank lasts longer. Plan on new carbon about every 4 to 5 years and, on the salt-free pair, about 3 years for the SP3. With the iron and chlorine taken out first, he has seen 10% crosslink resin last 30 to 40 years. See how long water softeners last.

We recommend one, ideally a plumber who has installed water treatment before. The softener pair is the bigger job: two tanks in order, a drain line and an outlet for the softener, about 3 to 4 hours and $700 to $1,000 by Aidan's estimate. The salt-free pair is an inlet and an outlet on each tank, about 2 to 4 hours. Aidan supports your plumber by phone at 800-460-5810. If you'd rather do it yourself, you can; text Aidan at 443-277-2204 with any questions.