There are water softeners available for $600. Typically, they will last 10-15 years, at which point you should just replace them because the resin, which does the ion exchange, will probably have deteriorated. A carbon block filter (Big Blue compatible 20" x 4.5" is a popular choice and readily available on Amazon and other sites), before the water softener, may extend the life of the resin by removing chlorine, which deteriorates the resin. While you might be able to replace the resin, why bother? Virtually all water softeners will provide bypassed unsoftened water during regeneration; the water does not cut off. Some actually have 2 resin tanks, which alternate regenerating, so you never have bypassed unsoftened water during regeneration. I don’t really think that is necessary. Mine regenerates in about 20 minutes at 2AM and bypasses unsoftenened water during regeneration. I paid about $600 and put it in myself. Regarding whether you need a water softener in our location, it is a personal chance. Our water is pretty hard at 12 grains per gallon, which I measured. To provide context, there are areas in the country with twice that level. Softened water has essentially 0 grains per gallon. I measure mine each year to verify that the water softener is functioning correctly.
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Originally Posted by jrref
I just wanted to point out, everyone has their own opinion on which water softener works best and that's fine. But be aware most systems work on the same exact principal, except for the saltless systems, and are all basically the same except for the price. You can get a Pegasus for $2,700 or a Nova softener for about $1,200 and at the end of the day, the longevity and effectiveness will be basically the same. The only feature that the more expensive systems might have is a bypass valve that diverts non-softened water to your home while the regeneration process is running. This means you won't have the water cut-off at 2:00 am whenever the regeneration process is running.
Before you purchase a water softener do your research. There are many YouTube videos on the topic which will enable you to make an informed decision.
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