If you live in an area where hard water is a common problem, you must be wondering what can prevent the limescale deposits or buildup that are often left on the surfaces the water comes into contact with. Well, worry no more. You can find the best water descaler on the market and prevent accumulating limescale deposits on your plumbing fixtures, home appliances, taps, and other places.
A water descaler (sometimes called a water conditioner or water softener) is also useful to people who are allergic to salt-based food as well as those with health issues like kidney and heart diseases, will want salt-free water. On the other hand, while it is not a serious health issue, water hardness can give your skin and hair a hard time. Therefore, you will always need a water softener even though you don't have allergic, kidney, or heart disease.
Managing to get the best water descaler may be tricky with the various brands we have in the market, especially if it is the first time you are getting one for your home. For that reason, we have the best water descaler reviews for you. We have also included factors to consider when buying the descaler.
Best Water Descalers
1. Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener
- AFWFilters install kit for easy installation
- Made in the USA, AFWFilters easy to install, easy to use
- The Fleck 5600sxt digital metered, on demand valve. The newest...
- Fleck 5600SXT Digital Control Head with bypass valve and 1"...
- 10" x 54" tank, 15” x 34” brine tank with safety float...
Fleck 5600SXT model is a salt-based water softener that uses ion exchange to remove magnesium and calcium from your water supply with an impressive effect, just like all other salt-based water softeners. It has 48,000 grain capacity for treating medium to large households. It can also be used for treating city water for residents' consumption.
This unit comes with a bypass valve; thus, you don't waste salt on your lawn care needs. Furthermore, the metered regeneration system is programmable using the LCD display, so the system only regenerates the resin on your schedule.
The weight of this unit is something to consider when installing. Fleck 5600SXT grain water softener weighs about 80 pounds when full; therefore, it may require some floor planning before installation.
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2. YARNA Capacitive Electronic Salt-Free Water Softener
- HOW IT WORKS BETTER: Yarna CWD24 is a Patented Water Descaler...
- WHO BENEFITS FROM YARNA: We serve homeowners and small businesses...
- EASY, CLEAN INSTALLATION: All you need is access to a minimum of...
- WHY DESCALING IS BETTER THAN SOFTENING: The Yarna CWD24 Water...
- RISK-FREE 365 DAYS, 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE: You will enjoy a...
You can count on this model to keep your plumbing system at its best performance because limescale deposits won't be a problem anymore. There will be no rust and no replacement of sinks, faucets, fixtures, and other metallic surfaces where water passes through.
YARNA treats the water in your home without adding salt to it versus a water softening system. This means you will have healthier water for consumption, which is also fit for loved ones who may be allergic to salt.
This descaling unit also works effectively in improving the soap lather, which translates to more savings in money as well as time. You can as well achieve healthier hair that will not be prone to split ends and dryness. Besides, you will not have to deal with an itchy scalp and skin.
This unit doesn't require any special tools or professional assistance; therefore, if you don't have plumbing knowledge, count on YARNA. YARNA Capacitive Electronic Salt-Free Water Softener can also work with any pipes up to 1-inch in thickness, including iron, copper, and plastic. Nevertheless, the model's price is high, but it should not stop you from considering it if you are looking for a reliable descaler.
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3. iSpring ED2000 Whole House Electronic Descaler Water Conditioner
- [Improve Water Quality] Solves hard water problems without the...
- [Reliable Descaler] Descales your entire water system and...
- [Environmental Friendly] Designed for very hard water areas...
- [Easy Installation] No plumbing modifications required....
- [No change on Chemistry of Water] Unlike salt water softeners,...
If you want to reduce hard water's harmful effects and improve the water quality, this is the water descaler to go for. The iSpring electronic water descaler (ED2000) model works effectively in descaling the hard water and preventing scale buildup in the pipes and fixtures. Besides, it is compatible with any water pipe, including PEX and PVC.
This electronic water descaler solves hard water problems without the need for chemicals, salt, or maintenance, unlike water softeners that add salt to the water supply. Therefore, if you don't want any salt in your water, consider this unit.
This descaler model can as well prevent scale deposits in your sinks and showerhead. Using it, you can rest assured that these minerals will not collect on the metal surfaces, water-utilizing appliances like washing machines, and on dishes. You can also be sure of these appliances' efficiency and the easier washing of dishes and clothes.
However, this water descaler has drawbacks just like any other descaler on the market. One of these drawbacks is; it can only work for hardness levels from 10-19 grains. On the other hand, it is the best pick for people who want no maintenance requirement and an easy installation.
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4. Eddy Electronic Water Descaler - Water Softener Alternative
- No salt alternative to a water softener. Emulates softened water...
- Made in BRITAIN. 12 month 100% "no quibble" Money-Back Guarantee...
- Easy customer installation on metal or plastic pipes. Helps...
- Descales entire water system. Maintenance-free with great results...
- Environmentally friendly. No salt added to your water and users...
Eddy electronic water softer alternative is an excellent choice overall versus water softeners. People pick this water descaler because it can effectively prevent limescale buildup and deposits in pipes, sinks, showerheads, and faucets.
You don't need to add salt into the Eddy water descaler system and your water supply. This means you will have healthier water for consumption. Speaking of that, this system does not remove minerals like, magnesium and calcium from the water, unlike water softeners. Consequently, your skin, hair, and scalp are healthy and protected every day.
This unit also helps maintain the efficiency of your furnaces and heaters, which includes tank-less models. Besides, it helps lessen the straining of such devices; hence, you can have peace of mind of not having to replace them frequently or spending on their maintenance costs.
Eddy electronic water descaler is easy to install on metal or plastic pipes. Moreover, there is no required plumbing change or wire cutting to install it. If you can install it yourself for its straightforward design, you don't need to hire any plumber.
The main drawback is that this product should not be used for iron or lead pipes. Overall, it descales the entire water system, maintenance-free with excellent results up to 20-gpg. Moreover, it is a money-saving and cost-effective solution that you might want to consider.
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Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Water Descalers
Before buying a water descaler for your home, it is essential to educate yourself on the crucial shopping consideration to keep in mind;
1. The capacity of the water descaler
Water hardness or softness is commonly measured using grains per gallon (gpg), where one grain is equal to 0.002 ounces of calcium carbonate dissolved in 1-gallon 0f water. Water with 0-3 gpg is usually considered soft water, and 3.5-7 gpg is moderate water, while water with more than 7.5 gpg is considered hard water.
A water descaler's capacity is the measurement of grains per week that the unit can handle before replenishing. Small water descalers come with weekly grain capacities from 16,000 to 32,000, while large water descalers have grain capacities from 40,000 to 64,000.
However, bear in mind that the harder your water is, the more grains the system will handle. A 54,000-grain system would operate differently with 3-gpg water running through it than if it had 10-gpg water to manage.
2. Bypass valve
Valves usually control the flow of water through a pipe, closing or opening when necessary. Bypass valves also work in the same way as standard valves; however, their purpose when used with a water descaler is to divert the flow of water away from the system, allowing you to access the hard water running into the home.
If you have just bought a descaler, this feature may seem useless. Nonetheless, a bypass valve can save you time as well as money by preventing your water descaler from using excess salt or energy to soften the water used for washing the deck or watering the lawn.
Therefore, you can use the bypass valve to divert the water flow around the descaler and back into your pipes. Once this action is complete, close the bypass valve and restore water flow through your descaler.
3. Available area for the water descalers
Dual tank, salt-free, and even some salt-based water softeners may require a lot of space. Therefore, you need to measure the area where the water descaler will be installed and compare it to the manufacturer's installation specifications, that is if you are concerned about space.
Most of the salt-free descalers on the market are smaller than salt-based water softeners. Besides, they are installed directly on the waterline and hang down 1 or 2 feet, depending on the brand.
Magnetic water descalers take up the least amount of space, and you can install them without cutting into your plumbing. You can mount these small water softeners directly on the pipe and not interfere with your floor space. These models are the ideal option to save space in smaller houses.
4. Ion exchange capacity
When people mention residential water descalers, they usually refer to traditional salt-based softening that relies on an ion exchange process to replace hard minerals (calcium and magnesium) in the water with sodium or potassium ions. If you are one of the people who have problems with extra salt in their diet, you need to consider a salt-free water softener.
Overall, the ion exchange process is considered the industry standard and is still the preferred choice for most homeowners due to their unique performance. Nevertheless, salt-free softeners are becoming more popular with increasing effectiveness.
5. The Cost of the Water Softeners
The cost of a water softener depends on its size, brand, type, and additional features. You can spend anywhere between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars for a standard ion exchange system. However, water conditioners are slightly cheaper.
When considering the cost, remember to take into account expenses for installation and operation. Furthermore, ensure the water softener can pay for itself down the road in that, even after 15 years, your home appliances and pipes are still in good condition.
6. Water descaler regeneration methods
There are three methods for how water softeners regenerate:
Timed- This timer-based regeneration means that you set a particular regeneration time. Then the system will backwash, recharge and rinse at particular time intervals, using the same amount of salt and water all the time irrespective of your previous water consumption. Consequently, if you use more water than usual, you might run out of soft water prematurely. Using less water means wasting water and salt.
Metered- also known as demand-initiated regeneration is what digital systems use to activate their regen process based on prior water output. This is one of the most cost and environmental-friendly methods because no more salt and water is being used than necessary.
Manual- This method is inconvenient and so only common with portable models. Under this method, you have to add salt directly into the media reservoir and give it time to displace the calcium and magnesium sticking to the resin beads.
7. Warranty and customer support
Purchasing online gives you a variety of products and at the best prices.
Nevertheless, you need to pay attention to warranties, whether you bought the product online or in some stores. Some companies selling these products provide separate warranties for different system components while other after-sale services. A money-back guarantee would not hurt either; however, not every seller is going to give you one.
Lastly, think about the customer support that the company is offering. The item you are about to buy should have great and active support in case of anything. Preferably 24/7 support.
Conclusion
Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener is the best water descaler if you are looking to treat much water. It comes with a bypass valve; thus, you don't waste salt. Furthermore, the metered regeneration system is programmable using the LCD display, so the system only regenerates the resin on your schedule.
For small households, we recommend YARNA Capacitive Electronic Salt-Free Water Softener. This unit treats the water in your home without adding salt. It works effectively in improving the soap lather, which translates to more savings in money and time, and doesn't require any special tools or professional assistance. Moreover, it is compatible with any pipe.
