Salt-Based vs. Salt-Free Water Softener: What’s the Difference?

Choosing the right water softener for your home can significantly impact your water quality and overall comfort. There are two main kinds of systems available on the market: salt-based and salt-free. Both varieties offer unique benefits and address hard water issues, but they function differently and suit different needs. As you shop around, it’s helpful to understand the key differences between salt-based and salt-free water softeners so you can make an informed decision on which is right for your home. 

5 Differences Between Saltless and Salt-based Water Softeners

Hard water underlies most of the United States, meaning most homeowners have the task of coping with it to some degree. Both salt-based and saltless water softeners prevent hard water scale buildup and water spots. How these systems address hard water is very different. 

Salt-based softeners rely on ion exchange to reduce minerals in water. Salt-charged resin beads in these systems swap ions with calcium and magnesium minerals in water, effectively “softening” water that passes through reducing the impact of hard water throughout a home. Salt-free systems, also called water conditioners, don’t actually reduce mineral content. Using Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC), saltless systems alter hard water mineral structure, which stops the minerals from forming sticky scale. 

 

Learn how salt-free water softeners work with TAC media.

 

Performance

Salt-based water softeners are best suited for customers who have hard to very hard water and need an aggressive approach to combat it. Since saltless systems only conditioner water, they are more useful for city water customers with mild or moderate water hardness. However, salt-based softeners lessen the health benefits of drinking water by significantly reducing mineral content, whereas saltless systems allow users to continue to enjoy those benefits. 

Some customers may also prefer how conditioned water from a saltless system feels compared to a salt-based water softener. Without calcium and magnesium, some may find their water feels more slippery or even almost slimy. Saltless water softeners don’t reduce mineral content, so the water they produce won’t feel noticeably different from untreated water. 

Convenience

Both salt-based and salt-free water softener systems are fairly convenient for homeowners to install on their own. Salt-based systems require electricity to function, while saltless conditioners don’t use electricity and can be installed anywhere inside or outside of the home. 

Maintenance

These systems are very different when it comes to maintenance. Salt-based systems must maintain salt levels in the brine tank in order to operate. Customers have to buy bags of salt and routinely fill the brine tank for the best quality water. The brine tank should also be cleaned on a routine basis. Some saltless systems really only require a sediment filter replacement about once a year, though other systems can last several years without any maintenance. They’re extremely hands-off and cost-effective since filter replacements are relatively inexpensive. 

Environmental Friendliness

Saltless systems are more environmentally friendly than their salt-based counterparts because they don’t produce brine. Salt-based systems produce this salty discharge during the regeneration process, which must be flushed out. This discharge can have negative effects on water sources and water treatment processes in addition to plant and animal life. In some municipalities, salt-based systems are actually restricted or completely banned to minimize environmental impacts.

Sizing

Water softening systems come in all different sizes. Kind Water’s Smart Metered Salt-Based Water Softener and Whole House Salt-Free Water Softener and Filter Combo both work well for homes with up to six bathrooms. However, the necessary dimensions for these systems vary: 

• Smart Metered Salt-Based Water Softener: 16” depth X 26” width X 53” height
• Whole House Salt-Free Water Softener and Filter Combo: 8” depth X 23 ¼” width X 29” height

Which Is Better: Salt or Salt-Free Water Softeners?

Kind Water offers both saltless and salt-based softener systems to our customers because both are effective solutions for different situations. Weighing the benefits can help you narrow down your options and choose the best system for your home and needs. 

 

Learn more about choosing the right water softener for your home. 

 

Economic Considerations

While the price may not present the most pressing concern for homeowners concerned about water quality, it undoubtedly contributes to decision-making. Any water softening system, whether salt-based or salt-free, is an investment. However, Kind Water offers a range of solutions at different price points with financing available. Our salt-free and salt-based water softeners are similarly priced and are often packaged together with other key water filtration components for additional savings. Maintenance costs are the main difference, as salt-based systems will require customers to regularly buy bags of salt while salt-free systems only need an annual filter replacement. 

 

SHOP NOW – Whole House Salt-Free Water Softener and Filter Combo with UV

 

Mineral Content

Though hard water is a nuisance, calcium and magnesium minerals are essential for a healthy diet. If you purchase a salt-based system, you will lose out on some of these health benefits unless you reintroduce these minerals back into your drinking water supply through a reverse osmosis system or mineral drops. Salt-free systems maintain mineral levels but severely limit their ability to accumulate as scale.