Best Water Softener And Filtration System

Premium combination units offering both
water softening and multi-stage filtration benefits.

Transform your home’s water quality with advanced systems that purify, soften, and protect your plumbing and appliances.

Quick Overview:

  • APEC Water Softener + RO Bundle: Combines reverse osmosis purity with salt-efficient water softening.
  • 20″ Big Blue 2-Stage System: Budget-friendly sediment and chlorine removal for city water.
  • Whirlpool Hybrid Softener: Smart regeneration tech reduces salt usage by 25%.
  • Aquasure Harmony Softener: High-efficiency model with triple pre-filtration.
  • Aquasana Well Water System: UV purification for untreated well water sources.
Product Name Key Features Price Rating
APEC Water Softener + RO Bundle ROES-PH75 alkaline filter • 30K grain softener • Microprocessor-controlled salt use $737.99 4.5/5
20″ Big Blue 2-Stage 5-micron sediment filter • Carbon block chlorine reduction • 15 GPM flow rate $295.00 Not available
Whirlpool Hybrid Softener 40K grain capacity • Self-cleaning filter • 8 GPM flow rate $749.00 4.5/5
Aquasure Harmony 48K grain capacity • Triple pre-filter • Digital metered controls $549.00 4.4/5
Aquasana Well System UV purification • Salt-free descaler • 500,000-gallon capacity $2,113.00 4/5

APEC Water Softener + RO Bundle

APEC Water Softener + RO Bundle

Features Overview:

  • Dual-action system with alkaline mineral restoration
  • Removes 99% of 1,000+ contaminants including PFAs
  • Digital control valve optimizes salt/water consumption

What’s Good & What’s Not:

  • Good: Exceptional water purity with mineral retention enhances both drinking quality and skin feel. Users report visible reductions in appliance scale within weeks of installation.
  • Not Good: Installation requires moderate plumbing skills

Price & Value Assessment: Mid-range price for premium dual functionality. Saves $300+ versus buying systems separately.

What Customers Are Saying: Users praise the spa-like water quality and easy-to-program controls. Several noted reduced soap usage in laundry.

Why Should You Buy It? Ideal for households needing both water purification and softening. The system addresses multiple water quality issues simultaneously, combining WQA-certified contaminant removal with efficient salt usage. Families with skin sensitivity benefit from its mineral-balanced output, while the 30K grain softener handles moderate hardness levels effectively.


20″ Big Blue 2-Stage System

20 Big Blue 2-Stage

Features Overview:

  • 5-micron sediment filtration
  • Coconut carbon reduces 90%+ chlorine
  • 1″ NPT connections for easy integration

What’s Good & What’s Not:

  • Good: Outstanding entry-level option for municipal water treatment. Users appreciate the simple wall-mount design and included pressure gauges for maintenance tracking.
  • Not Good: Lacks softening capabilities

Price & Value Assessment: Most affordable system reviewed. Filters last 6-9 months.

What Customers Are Saying: Early adopters report clearer ice cubes and reduced chemical taste in shower water.

Why Should You Buy It? Perfect for renters or homeowners seeking basic protection against sediment and chlorine without complex installation. Its compact footprint and 15 GPM flow rate suit small-to-medium homes. Those with already soft water will find this sufficient for maintaining clean pipes and appliances.


Whirlpool Hybrid Softener

Whirlpool Hybrid Softener

Features Overview:

  • Smart demand-initiated regeneration
  • Removes 3 ppm iron
  • No filter replacements needed

What’s Good & What’s Not:

  • Good: Intelligent usage tracking cuts salt consumption significantly. Owners note consistently soft water even during peak usage times with minimal maintenance effort.
  • Not Good: Requires electrical outlet

Price & Value Assessment: Premium price justified by NSF certification and self-maintenance features.

What Customers Are Saying: Multiple users reported restored water pressure in older homes and brighter laundry results.

Why Should You Buy It? Best for large households (5+ members) needing reliable softening without constant oversight. The hybrid design prevents scale while filtering sediments, making it ideal for areas with both hard water and municipal treatment chemicals. Its self-cleaning mechanism appeals to busy families.


Aquasure Harmony

Aquasure Harmony

Features Overview:

  • Pre-assembled installation
  • Zinc-enhanced scale prevention
  • Backlit digital control panel

What’s Good & What’s Not:

  • Good: Exceptional value in mid-range systems with triple pre-filtration. Users highlight the zinc layer’s effectiveness against existing pipe buildup and clearer shower glass.
  • Not Good: Limited iron removal capacity

Price & Value Assessment: Lowest cost per gallon among softeners. 5-year warranty included.

What Customers Are Saying: Many appreciate the detailed installation manual and responsive US-based support team.

Why Should You Buy It? Ideal solution for hard water areas without excessive iron content. The zinc-enhanced media actively reduces existing scale while preventing new buildup. Its compact design suits homes with 3-4 bathrooms, offering both efficiency and user-friendly maintenance through programmable cycles.


Aquasana Well Water System

Aquasana Well System

Features Overview:

  • UV secondary purification
  • KDF media reduces heavy metals
  • No salt or electricity required

What’s Good & What’s Not:

  • Good: Comprehensive protection for untreated well sources. The UV stage provides critical pathogen defense while maintaining beneficial minerals, preferred by eco-conscious users.
  • Not Good: High initial investment

Price & Value Assessment: Most expensive but longest-lasting (500K gallons). Best for rural installations.

What Customers Are Saying: Well owners report eliminated sulfur smells despite varying water tables. Some experienced longer appliance lifespan.

Why Should You Buy It? Essential for homes relying on untreated well water. The system combines mechanical filtration with UV purification to address biological contaminants missing in other systems. Its salt-free operation appeals to those wanting to avoid sodium discharge, while the 5-year lifespan offsets the upfront cost.


This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.Prices may vary depending on location, promotions, and availability.


Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know which system is right for my home?

It comes down to your water source and what problems you’re facing. If you’re on city water and concerned about chlorine and sediment, the 20″ Big Blue could be a good start. If you have hard water, a softener like the Aquasure Harmony or Whirlpool Hybrid might be necessary. For well water, the Aquasana Well System is specifically designed for that due to its UV purification stage.

What does “grain capacity” mean on the water softeners?

Grain capacity relates to how much hardness a softener can remove before needing to regenerate (clean itself). A higher grain capacity means it can go longer between regenerations. Choose a higher number if you have very hard water or a large household.

Installation looks tricky. Do these systems need a professional?

Some, like the Aquasure Harmony, are designed with pre-assembled components to make it simpler. At the same time, the APEC Water Softener + RO Bundle can require certain plumbing skills. It depends on your comfort level with plumbing. Many find it helpful to have a pro do it, or at least help along the way.

What maintenance is involved with the water softener systems?

For systems that use salt, you’ll need to refill the salt tank periodically. Some softeners also require filter changes, but the Whirlpool Hybrid has a self-cleaning filter, which limits the amount of maintenance you might have to do on other systems. Also, it really depends on your water quality.

I see reverse osmosis mentioned. Is that necessary, or is a softener enough?

A softener tackles hardness (calcium and magnesium), while reverse osmosis (RO) deals with a broader range of contaminants, including heavy metals and chemicals. The APEC bundle gives you both at once; softening protects your appliances, and RO gives you really pure drinking water.

Here’s the full list of products on Amazon


Editorial Team
Editorial Team
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