Best Salt-Free Water Softeners in Australia (Reviewed And Top Rated Picks )
Are you searching online for the best salt-free water softeners in Australia ? Do you want to buy a new one for your home or office? If yes, you have stumbled upon the right page. Read on.
In this review, we will list the 8 best salt-free water softeners in Australia for you to choose from. We will also explore how salt-free water softeners in Australia work, their advantages, and much more.
Hard water is one of the most common water problems that homeowners face. An excess of minerals like magnesium, calcium, and other hard metals present in the water makes the water hard. This hard water damages the pipes and other water appliances in the house. This is where best water softeners in Australia step in and solve all the hard water problems one might face.
Best Salt-based water softeners in Australia use salts to soften the water. But salt-free water softeners function in a different manner. As the name suggests, a best salt-free water softener in Australia works without any salts. If you are looking for a water softener that requires the least amount of maintenance and the least amount of expenses after purchase, then a salt-free water softener may be a smart investment.
However, it is crucial that you buy a quality salt-free water softener. Poor quality softeners break down easily and may cost you more in the long run.
The internet is one of the best places to buy one of these machines. And, even though the internet provides you with many options, it can also be overwhelming to know which one is the best one for you.
For this reason, we have put together this best salt-free water softeners in Australia list. We have chosen these 8 salt-free softeners after intensive market research and critical analysis.
8 Best Salt-Free Water Softeners in Australia – 2023 Top Picks
Aquios AQFS220 Full House Salt-Free Water Softener
This premium-quality best salt-free water softener in Australia by Aquios made it to our list for a few solid reasons. If you have any doubts in your mind about salt-free water softeners in Australia and whether they actually work, this salt-free softener will put all those doubts to sleep. It efficiently and effectively conditions the water and helps prevent scaling in the water system.
At the heart of this powerful softener is a Siliphos additive. This additive acts as a natural polyphosphate substance that transforms the magnesium and calcium in the water. It changes the form of the calcium and magnesium so that they do not cause a limescale buildup in the pipes and water appliances.
Even though this conditioner changes the form of the minerals, the good thing is that you still get magnesium and calcium in your water in a healthy quantity.
These minerals are vital for bone health. If you have issues with excessive levels of sodium in the water, then this is one of the best salt-free water softeners in Australia for you. With this system, you do not need to add any salts to it, and therefore you can enjoy salt-free water.
What’s even more impressive is that this salt-free system comes with a water filter. While average salt-free systems only change the nature of the water, this system additionally removes various contaminants from the water. So, not only does this system increase the lifespan of your pipes and appliances, but it also gives you filtered water that is safe for you.
Features
- Stops corrosion
- Comes with a Siliphos additive
- Retains minerals in the water
- Comes with a built-in water filter
- Water filter pore size – 5 microns
- Can filter up to 40000 gallons of water
- Buy here
Tier1 Essential Certified Series Salt-Free Water Softener
One of the downsides of using best salt-based water softeners in Australia is that the water contains a lot of salt. So, if you have a sodium intolerance or health issues like high blood pressure, then using salt-based systems can be problematic. This where salt-free systems like this Tier1 water softener can save the day by providing salt-free/sodium-free water.
What we like about this Salt-free water softener is that it comes with a pre-filter. The pre-filter removes a lot of the contaminants from the water like large particles, sediments, etc. And not only do you get filtered water with this salt-free water softener, but you also end up saving a lot of money on electricity as it does not require any electricity to work.
Speaking of saving money, you also save money on the salts, as this salt-free system does not require any salts to work its magic. The design of this softener is also simple and straightforward. It comes with two separate canisters that are joined by connectors. One cannister takes care of the filtration while the other takes care of conditioning the water.
To add to that, The system comes with NSF and ANSI 61 certification, which ensures its superior and durable quality. What’s even more impressive is that this water conditioner can tackle the hardest of water. This means that this salt-free system can handle high levels of hard metals and minerals effectively and efficiently.
Features
- Comes with a pre-filter
- Works without electricity
- Cost-saving
- Simple and straightforward design
- Leak-free design
- NSF and ANSI 61 certification
- Reduces chlorine in the water
- Buy here
APEC Water Systems FUTURA-15
Another trustworthy salt-free water softener is this APEC water softener. It made it to our best salt-free water softener list for many good reasons. One of the main reasons this system made it to our list is because of the brand it comes from. APEC is one of the most reliable brands and has been delivering quality water systems for many years.
This is another high-quality water softener by APEC that is maintenance-free. Not only that, it guarantees to prevent scaling in your pipes and water appliances. What’s even impressive about this system is its durable construction, which ensures that it will last you for many years to come.
This sleek-looking salt-free water softener’s main focus is to prevent the pipes and water appliances from corrosion and scale buildup. With this system, you can rest assured that your plumbing system is safe and will stay in good condition for a long time. Just like all premium-quality softeners, this one too does not require electricity and salt to work, and so you save a ton of money there.
Features
- Prevents scale and corrosion
- Sleek looking design
- Durable construction
- Increases lifespan of water appliances and pipes
- Works without electricity
- Buy here
SpringWell Water Salt-Free Water Softener
If there is another brand we wholeheartedly trust and recommend for water systems, it is SpringWell. SpringWell has been making high-quality water softening and filtering systems for many years and has been doing a phenomenal job at it. This brand is loved and trusted by thousands of users, not only in the US but all around the world.
This salt-free system is another one of their amazing system that will protect your pipes and water appliances from the troubles caused by hard water. This descaler/conditioner is easy to install and provides you with water that is gentler for your skin, hair, and body.
What we love even more about this softener is that it also removes impurities from the water, further protecting your health. This system comes with a unique ActivFlo technology, which contains 4 powerful stages of water filtration. Most of the contaminants are removed in this potent 4 stage filtration process.
Features
- Protects your pipes and water appliances
- Acts a conditioner and water filter
- Removes most contaminants from water
- Comes with a unique ActivFlo technology
- Removes chlorine odor and taste
- Retains necessary minerals in the water
- Maintenance and electricity-free
- Buy here
Aquasana EQ-1000-AST Whole House Water Filter System
Lastly, we have this Aquasana salt-free water softener that effectively changes the form of the hardness ions to protect your water appliances and pipes. Aquasana is popular and known for provided high-quality water softeners are reasonable prices. This salt-free kit is perfect for those who want to remove most of the contaminants and impurities from the water.
Not only does this system remove contaminants from the water, but it also conditions the water to increase the lifespan of your water appliances and pipes. Mercury, chlorine, lead, chemicals, industrial solvents are some of the contaminants that this water softening system removes. To add to that, it also reduces the quantity of chloramine in the water.
Features
- Comes with pre and post filter
- Removes contaminants from water
- Reduces chloramine from water
- Acts as a water conditioner and water filter
- Buy here
Complete Buying Guide Best Salt-Free Water Softeners
Salt-Free Water Softeners in Australia – What is it? Do They Work?
Before we dive into what a salt-free water softener is, let’s explore a little bit more about hard water and the challenges that come with it. Hard water is one of the most common problems that homeowners face. And contrary to popular belief, it is also one of the most dangerous water problems.
While hard water isn’t life-threatening, it can greatly damage your health in the long run. Hard water contains an excess of minerals like copper, calcium, zinc, aluminum, magnesium, manganese, and others. While some of these minerals, like magnesium and calcium, when present in a healthy quantity, are beneficial for us, an excess of them and other minerals is harmful to us.
For example, if you drink or cook food using hard water that contains aluminum, iron, etc., it can affect your health adversely. While consuming these metals once may not be so harmful, but consuming them every day and consistently can be lethal and even life-threatening. Heavy metal poisoning is one of the most common problems that occur due to the consistent consumption of hard water.
Not only is your health in danger, but so is your plumbing system, pipes, and water appliances in the house. When hard water passes through the pipes and water appliances, it causes a buildup of limescale and other substances in them. This buildup blocks the pipes and further causes rust and erosion in the pipes and water appliances.
Hard water not only increases your medical bills but increases the costs that come with replacing and repairing the water appliances and pipes. To avoid all the hassle and expenses, it is crucial to install a quality water softener. Traditional water softeners use salt to remove these metals and excess minerals from the water and give you soft water that is healthy and safe.
On the other hand, salt-free water softener does not use any salts. Even though the salt-free systems are called water softeners, they act more like descalers. Unlike saltwater softeners, salt-free softeners do not remove the metals and excess minerals from the water. Instead, they change the composition of these harmful substances in the water and prevent them from building up in the pipes and water appliances.
Best Salt-free water softeners in Australia are perfect if you want to increase the lifespan of your pipes and water appliances. With the salt-free systems, you will no longer have to worry about any limescale and other metals building up in your plumbing system and water appliances.
How Does A Salt-Free Water Softener Work?
Hardness ions are the metals and excessive minerals that make water hard. While salt-based water softeners remove almost all of the hardness ions from the hard water, salt-free systems work differently. Instead of removing the hardness ions, they alter the form of the hardness minerals present in the water.
Salt-free systems are also known as water conditioners and work on a system known as template-assisted crystallization (TAC). The TAC system is what causes the mineral alteration process. The salt-free water softeners come with a TAC media tank. Water must first flow through this tank where the “nucleation sites” are present. These nucleation sites contain tiny polymer beads and are crater-covered.
The sites act as templates that catch all the hard minerals present in the water. Small micro-crystals are formed from hard minerals and metals during the process of building up and catching. And then, once these crystals reach a particular size, they break and go into the water again. This is how the salt-free free systems change the form of hardness ions.
Since these micro-crystals are very stable, they retain their size, shape, and form when they travel through the pipes, plumbing systems, and water appliances. As they retain their size, they do not deposit any layers inside the pipes and water appliances, thus protecting them and increasing their lifespan. Due to their crystal form, the hard metals and minerals do not attach to any flat surfaces.
However, an important thing to keep in mind is that the water still contains these heavy metals and excessive minerals. It is not feasible to drink or consume in any way. For that reason, the water that comes from best salt-free water softeners in Australia is only suitable to protect the pipes and water appliances. To consume this water internally, you may still have to install a salt-based water softener.
What Are the Various Types of Salt-free Water Softeners?
Best Salt-free water softeners in Australia are just one type of water softeners in Australia among the other different types of water softeners present in the market. The softeners that do not use salt are also known as water conditioners or descalers. In this section, we will explore the different types of water softeners to give you a better understanding of their differences.
Salt-based Water Softeners in Australia
Water softeners that use salt to remove the hard metals and minerals from the water are known as salt-based water softeners. These systems use an ion exchange process to soften water. In the ion exchange process, the salt ions present in the softener’s resin beads take the place of hardness ions present in the hard water. Once salt ions exchange places with the hardness ions, what remains is soft water.
The resin beads serve as a magnet that attracts the hardness ions to them, and then the exchange takes place. Due to the ion exchange process, the resin beads eventually become fully of hardness ions. Once the resin beads are saturated, the softener goes through a regeneration process to remove these hardness ions from the resin beads and flush them out from the system.
Water produced by best salt-based water softeners in Australia is safe to drink and consume. It also increases the lifespan of your pipes and water appliances. However, these systems require maintenance and replacing the resin from time-to-time. The soft water that comes from salt-based softeners also tastes salty.
Salt-free Water Softeners – Best Salt-Free Water Softeners Review
These water softeners are more commonly known as water conditioners and descalers. They do not remove the hardness ions from the water at all. However, what they do is they change the form of these hardness ions in such a way that they do not cause a buildup in pipes and water appliances. Once these softeners change the form of hardness ions, they cannot cling to the surfaces they pass through.
A Best Salt-free water softeners use a process known as template-assisted crystallization (TAC). These softeners come with cartridges or magnets that support the mineral alteration process. In this process, the ions present in the minerals change form and realign so that they do not cling to any surface.
Not only are salt-free softeners good for reducing scale buildup, they are also maintenance-free and easy to use.
Dual Tank Water Softeners
Dual water softeners give you soft water 24/7. In traditional single tank water softeners, you do not have access to soft water when the tank is in the regeneration process. The dual tank systems solve that problem. In the dual tank system, when one tank goes into the regeneration process, the other tank activates for softening the water. The tank tanks alternate when the other one is going through a cleansing and regeneration cycle.
This alternation assures that you always soft water running through your pipes and water appliances.
Frequently Asked Questions on Best Salt-Free Water Softeners in Australia
What are the best salt-free water softener brands?
There are many different brands in the markets that manufacture different types of salt-free water softeners. Some of them do not deliver the best quality systems. So, it is important to choose a salt-free softener that comes from a trusted brand. Choosing a softener from a trusted brand will ensure a smooth operational experience.
The most trusted brands are Tier1, Aquios, APEC Water Systems, and other brands that made it to our list.
Does a salt-free water softener remove iron? Do salt free water softeners really work?
A salt-free water softener does not remove the hard metals and minerals from the water. All they do is, change the form of hard minerals and metals so that they do not stick to the pipes and water appliances and cause scale buildup. For example, well water has a high content of iron. And unfortunately, a salt-free water softener will not remove the iron from the water. It will only change the iron’s form to protect your pipes and water appliances from rust and limescale buildup.
If you want to remove iron from your water supply, you will need a water softener or a water filter.
How much does a salt-free water softener cost? What is the best salt-free water softener for the money?
One of the main reasons many people prefer best salt-free water softeners in Australia is because they require 99 percent less care and maintenance than salt-based softeners. Since the salt-free softeners do not use any salt, these systems do not go through a regeneration cycle. So, not only do you save money on all the salt, but you also end up saving a ton of water.
Salt-free systems also do not require extra storage space for brine tanks or valves to monitor the water flow. The only thing you need to maintain is the TAC media. The Template Assisted Crystallization media needs to be replaced every three to five years. These systems also do not require any electricity to function, so you won’t need to worry about corrosion and cables.
Conclusion
Having a high-quality salt-free water softener can make your life easier on many levels. If you are looking for a softener that will protect your pipes and water appliances and increase their lifespan, then installing a salt-free system is a smart investment. Unlike a salt-based system, salt-free systems do not require maintenance. They work smoothly and efficiently in the background to maintain the quality of water appliances and pipes.
We hope the 8 best salt-free water softeners in Australia list we have provided you with has given you enough quality options to choose from. And we also hope our elaborative buying guide has given you quality information to help you make the right choice.
