How Much Does a Water Softener Cost in Texas?

Texans deal with hard water more than most Americans, ranking approximately sixth in the country for hard water levels. Hard water is when calcium and magnesium levels are higher than normal or ideal, which can lead to several issues including soap scum (due to the way soap reacts with the calcium) and buildup in metal pipes that can eventually lead to corrosion.

The best solution to combat hard water is a whole-home water softener.

So, how much does it cost to install a water softener in Texas? On average, a whole-home system is roughly $1,500. The cost varies depending on a few factors, including:

• Type of softener

• Capacity

• Efficiency

In this blog, we’ll go over each of the cost factors above to help you find the best solution that works for your needs and budget.

Ready to install a water softener in your Texas home? Contact Jon Wayne for an accurate estimate based on your home's specific needs. Call us at 210-293-5550 or....

A whole-home water softener can help protect your appliances (and the dishes and clothes that use them), pipes and reduce soap scum, but there’s more than one type of softener than can accomplish this.

There are two main types, specifically: ion exchangers and salt-free softeners. Both of these cost about the same to install, but the benefits of a salt-free softener will cost more over time.

Here’s what they have in common:

• Hard water is filtered through a tank where it removes minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

• A managing agent (depending on the type of softener) is brought in to get rid of the minerals and is refilled when necessary.

• The softener goes through regeneration cycles to wash the minerals out of the system.

Differences:

• Ion exchangers (less expensive) use sodium-based catalysts that attract positively-charged minerals like calcium and magnesium and replace them with sodium to soften your water. It’s a bit of physics magic that makes the process work! The newly-softened water will have some salt but it’s perfectly safe to drink as long as you don’t have sodium restrictions in your diet.

• Salt-free softeners (more expensive), like the name implies, soften your home’s water without using sodium to replace harsh minerals. It uses potassium-chloride as the catalyst to crystalize calcium and magnesium to render them harmless in that water that comes out the other side. Softened water, no salt. Seems better, right? There’s a small catch — the potassium-chloride is more expensive to replace than the sodium-based catalysts in ion exchanger softeners, so that’s something to consider.

The capacity of a water softener is measured by its ability to hold a certain amount of harsh minerals (measured in grains) before it needs to go through another regeneration cycle.

The easy equation here is: the bigger the capacity, the more expensive the installation cost.

The capacity needs of your water softener depend on the size of your home and the hardness of the water in your area. The bigger the home, the harder the water, the bigger capacity you need for a home water softener.

Ah, but there’s good news if you need a large-capacity water softener! Some softeners are more efficient than others—meaning it can run its regeneration cycle faster and save on water and catalyst refills.

More efficient water softeners cost more upfront but save money over time by needing fewer catalyst refills and using less water during regeneration. Look for a water softener that uses upflow regeneration for better efficiency.

Jon Wayne Service Company can help you find the perfect balance between type, capacity, and efficiency to pick the perfect water softener for your home and budget. Call Jon Wayne Service Company and schedule your in-home estimate today!