When it comes to choosing either a water softener or a water filter, there is actually a significant difference. In general, the best water filter for hard water is designed to remove contaminants from the water, and it can be a whole house system or designed just for one particular tap.
A water softener is designed to remove the calcium and magnesium from hard water to make it more appealing for use. This includes making the water less “slippery” feeling for bathing and showering, allowing soap to be easily removed from surfaces and reducing or eliminating the buildup of lime scale in pipes and on the surfaces of the plumbing system.
Some water softens may also be paired with a water filter for hard water to provide whole house water solutions. This will double the space required for the system and it will also add to the cost of installation and the actual space required to simple house the softener and filtering units.
Maintenance
Keeping up with the maintenance on water softeners and filters is an ongoing chore if you don’t choose the latest in technology and options. Today, the best water filter for hard water on the market is completely maintenance free, eliminating the need to constantly replace filters, plus it also provides the water softening needed all in one simple unit.
With a no-maintenance option, it is basically just a simple installation. Unlike the old styles of softeners and filter combinations, there are no big tanks and complicated plumbing systems, just a simple wall mount unit that has an incredibly small footprint.
Cost
The cost of the best water filter for hard water needs to be carefully compared over the lifetime of use. Old styles of softener and filter combinations are going to be the lowest initial price, but they only last about 10 years and there is the constant and continual need to buy salt.
With the latest in electronic wave technology in the filter and the softener system, the initial purchase price is all that it will cost to continue to operate the unit. Given these systems typically last about 25 years, they will be cheaper over the long run.
Additionally, with the use of the salt-free, filter-free systems, there is no damage to the environment and they are much more energy efficient, further saving on your energy bill throughout the life of the system.
