Water Softener Cost

• Ion-exchange water softeners start around $400 -$1,000 for a basic unit. Installation costs range from $100 -$500 (depending on the type of equipment, ease of access and whether you need to add new piping and a suitable drain for the unit) for a total cost of $500 -$1,500 for basic water softener in an average-size home.
• Units with the capacity for larger homes start around $1,000 -$2,500 but with installation can go as high as $3,000 -$10,000, depending on the options chosen. Ion-exchange water softeners need to be periodically recharged with fresh brine (salt water). Less expensive units have to be manually recharged or may operate on a clock-based timer; midrange models may include a water-flow meter that triggers recharging after a set amount of use; and deluxe versions may use probes in the tank to detect exactly when recharging is needed.
• A Texas homeowner received five estimates ranging from $2,100 -$3,500 for total costs for installing a standard water softener in an older home (30+ years) that was not pre-plumbed for the unit.

• A typical water softener is a small tank with a tube in the center. The water enters the tank at the top, flows down to the bottom then runs back up the center tube and out to the faucets or water appliances. While the water is inside the tank, it passes through plastic resin beads covered with sodium ions from brine (salt water), which removes the minerals from the water. Periodically the ion-exchange tank needs to be flushed with fresh brine in a process called recharging. North Dakota State University provides an overview.
• Usually a water softener is installed in the garage or basement, next to the water heater. The size of the water softener will depend on the amount of water to be softened (and some systems use more than one tank), but many water softeners are anywhere from 3-1/2 to 5-1/2 feet high and 12-26 inches across. Generally a water softener is hooked into the main water line before any pipes branch out, so it can treat the entire indoor water supply. Usually outdoor faucets are re-connected to the main line in front of the water softener, to save money by not softening water that will be used for outdoor irrigation.
• Popular Mechanics explains how to install a water softener.
• If you have a septic system, experts disagree about whether a water softener will help or hurt your septic. The University of Wisconsin gives an overview of the research on water softeners and septic systems.

• Salt-based units need to have the salt replenished on a regular basis, usually at a cost of anywhere from $2 -$15 a month depending on the cost of the salt ($3 -$8 per 40-pound bag) and the amount of salt used by your system.
• Before buying a water conditioner, find out exactly what impurities are in your water supply. The Water Quality Association provides an online feature to help diagnose your water problems. If you get your water from a community supply, ask the local water agency for a copy of its latest water test results. If you get water from a well or other private supply, testing by a certified laboratory can run $25 -$300 or more, depending on the lab and the scope of the tests. Check with your local cooperative extension office for how to get your water tested.

• A water treatment dealer lists options to consider when buying an ion-exchange water softener.
• Major manufacturers include Fleck, GE, Kinetico, WaterBoss and Whirlpool (Ecodyne). The Culligan company only does direct sales, which means the only way to buy one is to have a Culligan representative come to your home for an estimate.
• Search the Water Quality Association for manufacturers, suppliers, retailers or dealers of water treatment equipment.

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