How Much Does it Cost to Install a Water Softener?

Hard water can be a nightmare for your home. It can lead to problems that range from shampoo that just doesn’t lather to clothes that don’t get clean to clogged pipes for no apparent reason at all. The hard water buildup makes water treatment a necessity. The good news is that you can combat hard water by understanding what it is, what size of water softener unit you need for your home, and how to maintain it to ensure pleasant, comfortable water that doesn’t wreak havoc on your house. Here’s what you need to know about water softeners, including the water softener installation cost.

Do You Need a Water Softener System?

You can opt to test your water for hardness, which will let you know if you need a softener system. But there are some ways to tell without going to the extra expense of testing your water:

• It’s difficult to get enough lather when using bath products, like shampoo or soap.
• When you use bar soap, you notice a good amount of soap scum left behind.
• Your clothes don’t feel clean after washing, even though you know they are.
• The colors of your clothes tend to fade rather quickly.
• Your hair and skin feel very dry after washing.
• The water leaves stains on countertops, bathtubs, and inside appliances.
• You have frequent clogs in your pipes, showerheads, and faucets.
• Your tap water has an unpleasant taste or smells bad.

How Water Softeners Work

When water flows from underground reservoirs, through a treatment plant or municipal water system and then into your pipes, it draws minerals along with it. Those include dissolved calcium, magnesium, and other minerals naturally found in water. If there is a very high concentration of these minerals, you have hard water.

Having hard water isn’t at all dangerous to your health. But it can certainly be dangerous to your pipes! Hard water leaves behind a residue called scale.

Scale is what creates a film on your hair and skin as you bathe in hard water, makes soaps and shampoos less effective, and leaves sediment behind in your water heater and your pipes. As the scale builds up in the pipes, you can eventually have serious problems with water flow.

Water softeners are a solution to this problem. They remove or neutralize the minerals. There are numerous types of water softeners on the market, and they work in different ways, but they all serve the same purpose: To remove the minerals and give you “soft” water.

Figuring Out the Cost of a Water Softener

When researching the cost of a water softener system, you will find more than a few conflicting answers. That’s because the cost depends on several factors, including the size of your home, the capacity of the water softener, the type of system you choose, and even your geographical location.

Let’s break it down.

Water Softener Cost by Capacity and House Size

The size of your home is closely related to the capacity you need in a water softener system. Larger homes or those with many people living there will need a larger system, and that drives your expenses up. For example, a basic descaler system can run about $500, but a whole-house water softener for a home with several bedrooms could hit the $7,000 mark.

To put size in perspective, most homes with four people living there will need about a 24,000-grain capacity water softener. “Grains” refers to grains per gallon, or GPG. The GPG is a number between 0 and 20 — anything above a six is considered hard water. To figure this out, you can use a water testing kit, or you can send a water sample off to a lab to determine water hardness for you.

To find the right water softener capacity for your home, follow these simple steps:

1. Calculate Your GPG Score: Determine your water’s grains per gallon (GPG) score.
2. Estimate Water Usage:
   • The average person uses about 90 gallons of water per day.
   • Multiply the number of people in your home by 90 to get your daily water usage.
3. Example Calculation:
   • If your GPG score is 11 and you have four people in your home, calculate daily water usage:
     • 4 people x 90 gallons = 360 gallons per day.
   • Multiply daily water usage by your GPG score:
     • 360 gallons x 11 GPG = 3,960.
   • Multiply the result by 10 to find your ideal system capacity:
     • 3,960 x 10 = 39,600.

Thus, for a home with four people and a GPG of 11, your ideal water softener system capacity would be 39,600 grains.

So how much will that cost you? Here’s a chart based on grains to help you figure it out.

• Up to 24,000: $300 – $600
• 24,000 to 32,000 grains: $400 – $1,000
• 32,000 to 48,000 grains: $500 – $1,200
• 48,000 to 64,000 grains: $1,000 – $1,500
• 64,000 to 80,000 grains: $1,200 – $1,800
• 80,000 to 96,000 grains or more: $1,500 – $2,500

Keep in mind these costs are for the water softener only and don’t include installation. Though there are some small systems you can install by yourself if you’re a handy homeowner, most systems will require the work of a professional contractor. You might also need the services of a licensed plumber.

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Water Softener Cost by Type

There are several types of water softeners you can choose.

• Ion Exchange Systems. These are the most common type of water softener. Water flows through sodium ions in a resin tank. An exchange process happens, which switches out clean sodium ions for hard ones. You can get a single or dual tank, and must refill the salt tank on a regular basis. These can cost between $400 and $3,000.
• Reverse Osmosis Systems. These are designed to handle high mineral buildup and can work in conjunction with other systems. A small system that is attached to a single fixture in your home might be as little as $100, but most systems cost anywhere from $1,000 to $11,000.
• Magnetic Systems. These are new, innovative systems that use magnets to neutralize the mineralized irons. These work well for areas with low mineral content and cost between $200 and $600. Many choose these to work on just one or two faucets.
• Salt-Free Systems. These systems use potassium instead of sodium to exchange the ions. As a bonus, these work very well for those who are on low-sodium diets. Expect to pay between $500 and $4,000 for these systems.
• Dual Tank Systems. These are salt-based systems that can handle a significant amount of water, making them great for large homes or those that use a great deal of water. As the name suggests, they use one, two, or even three tanks to handle hard water. The cost tends to run between $1,000 and $5,000.
• Water Distiller Systems. These unique systems boil the water, catch the vapor, and get rid of minerals, heavy metals, and bacteria. These are great for drinking water but not the best idea for handling the whole house. They cost anywhere from $1,200 to $4,000 and are great for those who want to do the installation themselves.

Water Softener Cost by Location

The cost of a water softener system depends greatly upon your location — essentially, the harder the water in that geographical area, the more expensive it might be to filter it and remove the minerals.

Remember when we talked about grains per gallon? The GPG will be much higher in some areas of the country than it is in others. The higher that number in your area, the more you can expect water softeners to cost. If you’re curious about your area, the United States Geological Survey can tell you how what the water hardness is like in your neck of the woods.

To give you an idea of what to expect from water hardness in your area and how that affects the capacity of a water softener, check out this chart:

It’s important to note that if you have a GPG that is higher than 20, your home softener systems might need additional servicing throughout the year. Speak to your contractor, water servicing company, or installer about that issue.

Other Costs for Water Softener Systems

• Installation Costs: The installation of a water softener system usually ranges from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on the type of system and the size of your home.
• Labor Costs: Labor costs vary by geographical location; urban areas typically have higher labor costs than rural areas. Special plumbing work can further increase costs.
• Ongoing Maintenance: Regular maintenance is essential for the longevity of your water softener. This includes:
  • Water Filters: Filters often cost less than $100 each and usually need replacement every three to four months.
  • Salt or Potassium Refills: Salt-based systems require refills every few months, usually costing about $40. Potassium systems have similar refill needs, with costs around $60.
  • Annual Maintenance: Maintenance costs typically range between $150 and $900 annually, depending on the system’s size and complexity.
• Inspections and Permits: Inspections and permits may be required in some areas, adding to the overall cost.
• Additional Plumbing: Extra plumbing work might be necessary, which can increase expenses.
• Lifespan and Replacement: A water softener system generally lasts up to 15 years before needing a full replacement.

Understanding Water Softener Costs: Final Thoughts

Investing in a water softener system can significantly improve your home’s water quality, protect your plumbing, and enhance your daily living experience. Costs can vary widely, from as low as $300 for basic systems to upwards of $7,000 for more advanced units, with additional expenses for installation and maintenance. By considering factors such as home size, water hardness, and the type of system that best fits your needs, you can make an informed decision that ensures long-term benefits and value for your investment. Properly budgeting for these costs and understanding the options available will help you choose the right water softener to keep your water clean and your home protected.

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