Best Water Softeners in India | 2020 Review

Many residential locations across India suffer from some degree of hard water. This troublesome issue results in accumulated residue and grit on the surface of bathtubs and sinks, as well as causing damage to plumbing and appliances in the home. In this post, we will review best water softener available in India so you can spend less time scrubbing your bath.

Hard water doesn’t only pose a problem for your washing machine but it also means you have to scrub your bathroom more frequently. Sometimes, more mineral-dense hard water can contain toxic substances, so using the best water softener is crucial to keep both you and your home healthy.

But with so on the market, how are you to know which water softener is best for your needs? Read further to know.

List of Best Water Softeners in India

Detailed Review of Best Water Softeners in India

The following list of water softeners are some of the best on the market to suit a range of needs and water types.

1.WaterScience CLEO Shower & Tap Filter

The WaterScience CLEO Shower & Tap Filter is designed to reduce chlorine and other minerals from hard water. It converts harmful contaminants into harmless forms. The showerhead is designed using a 4-layer filtration system that effectively removes 95% chlorine from the water.

The softener uses KDF technology that washes out hard water salts so that it does not deposit on your skin or hair. It works great with both hot water and soft water and thus, can be used with geysers too.

Salient Features

• Life of the cartridge: up to 6 months
• Capacity: 25,000 liters
• Replaceable cartridge: Yes
• The filter has been designed to fit 22, 24, and 28 mm aerator taps.
• It does not reduce the TDS or hardness value of the water.
• The filter is built using KDF technology and nano silver carbon.
• It gives you a healthy and clean shower experience.

Warranty and Service Quality: It comes with a warranty of 2 years on the filter body and 90 days warranty of filter cartridge.

Pros: Good things

• This showerhead is very easy to install.
• The replacement cartridge is available easily.
• It follows a 4-layer filtering system to filter the water.
• The build quality is good and strong.
• It is a great value for money.
• The water softener works great with both hot water and cold water.

Cons: Poor things

• The cartridge does not last as long as it claims.

2. Caresmith SIFT + Shower Tap Filter

The Caresmith SIFT water softener is a heavy-duty device that targets hard water, chlorine and chemicals. It is 50% larger than any regular water softener available in the market. The best part about this device is it features a unique 10-stage filtration system that helps in reducing hair fall, protecting your skin from dryness and eliminating bad odor from the water.

This advanced 10-stage filtration system is highly effective in reducing chlorine, inhibiting bacteria, and diluting the effects of hard water and other impurities present in water. Another thing to note down is this system does not work on reducing the TDS level or hardness value of the water.

Salient Features

• Life of the cartridge: 6-9 months
• Capacity: 25,000 liters
• Replaceable cartridge: Yes
• The water filter is engineered especially for Indian water quality and conditions.
• It helps in reducing chlorine and hardness level from the water.
• The tap filter fits all ½” standard showerheads, hand-held showers, and 24mm aerator taps.

Warranty and Service Quality: It comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of 2 years from the date of purchase.

Pros: Good things

• The installation process is very easy.
• It features an advanced 10-stage filtration system that helps in converting hard water into soft water.
• The water feels soft and fresh.
• The filter provides clean and healthy water for improvised hair and skin.
• The water softener works great with both hot water and cold water.

Cons: Poor things

• You might notice a little bit of water wastage.

3. AquaKing Hard Water Shower Filter for Bathroom

The AquaKing Hard Water Shower Filter is a perfect water softener for bathrooms and fits perfectly on showerheads. It has vitamin C filters that help in softening the minerals present in water so that it becomes soft and reduce hair fall and deal with other skin-related issue.

The water softener has activated carbon ceramic balls that remove suspended particles and reduce the effectiveness of hardness due to chlorine and heavy metals. It is one of the most effective multi-stage shower filters that has a 10-stage health filter.

Salient Features

• Life of the cartridge: 6 months
• Capacity: 30,000 liters
• Replaceable cartridge: Yes
• The water softener is very easy to install, and it takes hardly 3 minutes to install.
• It is a perfect combination of multi-layer filtering materials including KDF 55 and calcium sulfite.
• The activated carbon ceramic balls help in removing suspended particles from the water.
• The showerhead adaptor helps in reducing the fluoride content from water.
• It helps in improving the condition of skin and hair drastically.
• The filter fits all standard ½” overhead or taps with 24mm aerators and 28mm adapters.
• It does not change the TDS level of the water.

Warranty and Service Quality: It comes with a warranty of 2 years on the showerhead and 90 days warranty on the cartridge.

Pros: Good things

• It is very easy to install.
• The softener focusses mainly on skincare and hair fall protection.
• Its 10-stage filtration process help in removing chlorine and its vapor intoxication.
• The filters can remove up to 95% chlorine from the water.
• It works well with both hot and cold water.

4. WaterScience CLEO SFM-419 Multi-Flow Shower Filter

The WaterScience CLEO SFM-419 Water Softener features multi-flow modes that help in efficiently softening the water. The 3 modes include mist mode, pulse mode, and waterfall mode. Mist mode helps in saving up to 70% water from wastage whereas pulse mode help in recharging the softener quickly.

The device also features a unique 4-layer filter namely micro-sieve layer, hardness removal layer, chlorine removal layer, and nano silver-carbon layer. It is compatible with all CLEO Replacement Cartridge variants and it hardly takes 3 minutes to install the filter.

Salient Features

• Life of the cartridge: 6 months
• Capacity: 25,000 liters
• Replaceable cartridge: Yes
• The softener converts all the harmful contaminants into harmless forms.
• The CLEO water softener is not designed to reduce TDS or turbidity from water.
• It is designed specially to reduce chlorine and the effects of hard water salts on skin and hair.

Warranty and Service Quality:It comes with a warranty of 2 years on the showerhead and a replacement policy of 10 days.

Pros: Good things

• The filter fits all standard ½” shower arms.
• It is an affordable water softener that works efficiently.
• The installation process is very easy and quick.
• The softener comes with easily replaceable cartridges.

Cons: Poor things

• Due to high sediment content, the cartridge might get blocked sometimes.

5. Dr Recommends Shower Filter 15 Stage ABS with Vitamin C

The Dr Recommends Shower Filter is a high-quality and efficient water softener that is designed to remove chlorine content from water. Its advanced filtering layers include a 15-stage filter that helps in removing unhealthy impurities, rust, and sediments from showers or taps.

The water softener promotes healing and restoration and is recognized as the best product in dramatically improving the condition of hair and skin. The showerhead contains several filtering layers including activated carbon, KDF 55, tourmaline balls, and calcium sulfite.

Salient Features

• Life of the cartridge: 4-6 months
• Capacity: 35,000-40,000 liters
• Replaceable cartridge: Yes
• It features activated carbon that traps toxins and chemicals present in the water.
• The magnetic energy ceramic balls help in absorbing impurities and heavy metals that play a major role in clogging the pores.

Warranty and Service Quality: It comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of 1 year and a replacement policy of 10 days from the date of purchase.

Pros: Good things

• The softener comes in a compact shape and size and is extremely easy to use.
• It comes with an extra cartridge and is very easy to install.
• The softener has special cotton and mesh filters that prevent the flow of dust, sediments, and rust through the pipeline.
• It is compatible with basin taps too.
• It is a high-output universal shower filter.

Cons: Poor things

• The life of the cartridge is a bit less when compared to other products offering similar features.

6. D’Cal Hard Water Softener

D’Cal Hard Water Softener is a water conditioner that helps in preventing the accumulation of calcium formation that is caused due to hard water. These calcium accumulations the geyser rods of taps lead to internal corrosion and reduces the lifespan of these devices.

The softener uses a technique that helps in making the calcium inert and change its sticky nature. Since it does not filter the water, the maintenance cost is almost negligible.

Salient Features

• Life of the cartridge: up to 1 year
• Capacity: Tank of 2,000 liters
• Replaceable cartridge: No
• The contents of this water softener are tasteless, odorless, colorless, and non-toxic.
• The softener does not remove calcium from water. It just reduces the stickiness of calcium present in the water so that it can flow with clogging or making marks.
• You can simply drop the softener in the overhead water tank, and it starts working.

Warranty and Service Quality: It comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of 1 year and a replacement policy of 10 days from the date of purchase.

Pros: Good things

• The installation process is very easy.
• It does not waste water at all.
• The device is simple and safe to use.
• You get a complimentary water hardness testing kit along with the softener.

Cons: Poor things

• It does not last as long as it promises.
• You cannot replace the cartridge or the filter.
• Once it stops working, you will have to buy a new water softener.

Buyer’s Guide – What to Consider While Buying A Water Softener?

Many shower filters you see in market are ineffective, as the manufacturers implement outdated filter technology in it. It is true that not all tap & shower filters are not as good as they claim. But does that mean that there are no reliable water softeners for a shower in the market?

Not anymore, check below factors to decide how to chose a best water softener online in India.

1.What is the size of the water softener?

It is very important to select a water softener that fits in your requirements. Even though the device must be selected on the basis of the ability and not the size, it also plays a major role in terms of convenience. You can go for a size depending on the average amount of water that is consumed in a day.

2. How long the cartridge last?

The life of the cartridge plays a major role while selecting a water softener because the softeners stop working once the lifespan of the cartridge is over. You must always try to go for one with a maximum lifespan.

3. What features the water softener has?

You must consider features and controls that the water softener provides such as programming levels and display options. It should be easy to use too.

• Timer Controls: The timer controls represent that the water softener follows the automatic regeneration process. This makes it easy to select the time of operation so that it does not interrupt with your regular household chores.
• DIR Controls: The DIR i.e. Demand-Initiated-Regeneration senses whenever the resins need recharging. The controls regenerate only when there is a demand for regeneration.

4. How easy to install?

You can either install the water for the entire house or at a particular tap. It depends on your convenience and your requirements.

5. How much is cartridge filtration capacity?

Even though this is a brand-specific feature, it helps you get an estimate of how much water can this cartridge filter. Usually, cartridge of showerheads or taps last for around 6 months to 1 year and can filter about 25,000-40,000 liters of water. You must always look for a softener that provides the maximum life of the cartridge.

6. What is the cost of cartridge replacement?

The water softeners come with in-built cartridge and most brands also offer an extra cartridge. Once the life of these cartridges exhausts, they need to be replaced. You must always check the price of replacement beforehand so that you must not regret later that the replacement cost is higher than the installation cost.

What Is Hard Water?

“Hard” water is the common descriptor of water flitration through certain types of sedimentary formations, most notably large deposits of limestone, before reaching the level of the local water table. It is particularly common in areas which boast large limestone and other sedimentary rock formations close to the surface of the Earth.

As a result, when this water is drawn upon for drinking and other everyday household and commercial purposes, it picks up unusually large quantities of minerals. These minerals end up being left behind as a residue which accumulates over time.

Difference between hard water and soft water

Hard water contains a high content of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and manganese. These impurities can cause serious damage to your health, especially skin and hair. The hardness of water is measured in PPM i.e. parts per millions or GPG i.e. number of grains per gallon.

Water that contains more than 17.1 PPM (or 1 GPM) or dissolved minerals such as salt or magnesium, it is considered as hard water.

Unlike hard water, soft water is completely safe to use and contains a low concentration of ions, including magnesium and calcium.

Common Minerals In Hard Water

The most common minerals to be found in hard water are manganese, calcium and magnesium. These minerals can cause a variety of problems when excessive accumulation occurs. Most often they leave a gritty film on your bath, shower head, and sink, as well as any dishes, glasses, and tableware which are washed using the hard water.

Such accumulation is difficult and time-consuming to scrub free, and often requires the use of special cleaning agents in order to do so. However, the effects of hard water are not limited to the visual experience of stains. It also produces a gradual build-up of chalky, gritty residue within the pipes and hoses which transport water and sewage into and out of your house, as well as those which carry water to all of the various outlets and appliances you use.

Effects Of Hard Water

The effect of this residue build-up can be compared to the buildup of plaque in an unhealthy person’s arteries, and can eventually lead to catastrophic failure of the water distribution in your home, as well as costly damage to appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines.

As if this wasn’t troubling enough, hard water also contains other dangerous ingredients. One of the more common of these is tiny rust particles, but hard water sources near an industrial or commercial area may also include trace amounts of arsenic as well as other toxic compounds. These can cause skin problems and can pose as a health risk over time.

How Do Water Softeners Work?

The troublesome minerals which are suspended within hard water have already passed through an extensive, natural filtration system, as well as the various water filtration place within your local water supply system. They consist of extremely fine particles, which cannot be reliably filtered out by a simple screen. Instead, additional ingredients are needed to enable this mineral filtration process to work, by means of a chemical process known as “ionization.” Most water softener systems will use salt to enable this process, usually in the form of specially formulated block salt or tablets.

The System

A hard water softener system is made up of a tank, which is filled with thousands of tiny resin beads. These beads are extremely small, but they’re much larger than the individual mineral particles which the water filtration seeks to trap. Importantly, they are large enough to be caught within a standard water filter. When a specially formulated salt is added to the water softener filter tank, it reacts with the resin beads and creates electrically charged ions.

Ionization

The salt particles bond with the resin beads, and because they are electrically charged, they interact with the minerals suspended in hard water when it enters the tank. The electrical charge attracts the minerals, which results in them being pulled towards and becoming attached to the salt particles, and in turn to the resin beads. Therefore, when the beads are caught by the filters in the hard water filtration system, the minerals are trapped as well, and “softened” water escapes through, coming out the other end.

What are the benefits of using a water softener?

Some of the benefits of having a water softener at home are as follows:

1. It helps in converting hard water into soft water

Hard water has a severe impact on water-based appliances. It causes scaling and sediment accumulation over the geysers, washing machines, etc.

Using hard water for a very long time can also cause serious ailments such as hair fall, dry and itchy skin, and eczema (worst case scenario).

2. Water Softener helps in reducing chlorine from water.

Drinking chlorinated water can be very harmful to your health. Chlorine reacts with water and immediately forms toxic by-products such as chloroform. These chemicals tend to absorb quickly via skin and enter the bloodstream. These can be very harmful to your health.

3. They remove odor from water.

Even though water is odorless, the presence of certain chemicals and heavy metals can make it stink. Chlorine is one of the elements that lead to a pungent smell in the water.

4. It prevents the formation of limescale.

Limestone scaling is bound to happen if you have a hard water supply at home and this scaling eventually speeds up the aging process of the appliances. Water softeners work on softening the hard water and preventing your appliances from further damage.

5. Water softeners help in preventing bacteria build-up in shower heads.

Most of the showerheads contain microorganisms that cause pulmonary disorders. These organisms develop in water due to the chemicals present in hard water. Thus, it is very essential to get rid of these bacteria and algae.

What are the different types of water softeners?

Before buying a water softener, you must always look for certain factors such as the filtration technology that they use as these features help you determine the effectiveness of the device. The ion exchange water softeners are the most preferred ones.

1. Ion Exchange Water Softener

These types of water softeners are directly connected to the plumbing system of your house. They contain salt that helps in replacing the minerals that make the water hard including magnesium and calcium. The ion exchange water softeners contain resin beads that help in softening the water by substituting excess minerals and other particles with salts.

2. Salt-free Water Softener

The salt-free water softeners are not as effective as ion exchange water softeners, but these are ideal for those who are worried about their sodium intake. These softeners use potassium chloride to convert hard water into soft water. They also help in preventing the deposit of minerals on the surface of appliances.

3. Magnetic and Electronic Water Softener

The magnetic and electronic water softeners work like descalers and help in reversing the electromagnetic properties of minerals that are responsible for making the water hard. These softeners are great for preventing the clogging of pipes. These softeners generally cost lesser and are easy to install.  

4. Dual Tank Water Softener

To make sure that the softener is working well, we need to take care that it is recharged properly. The dual tank water softeners contain 2 tanks. These tanks work alternatively and make sure it is charged properly.

On the basis of design, there are 2 types of water softeners, namely Showerhead/tap filters and In-line filters. Let’s learn about them in detail!

5. Showerhead or Tap Filters

As the name suggests, you can simply place the filter over the tap, or the showerhead and the softener will start doing its job. These water softeners are easy to install but they look bulky.

6. In-line Filters

These filters are installed between the existing water line and do not come with a showerhead. These models are difficult to install and need to be done by a professional.

The water softeners are also differentiated based on the filtration technology that it uses. Mentioned below are the different types of water softeners as per the filtration technology.

7. Multi-Level Carbon Filters

The multi-level carbon filters are generally used in water filtration devices too. These filters let the water go through several mediums (around 10-12 mediums) and are designed to remove specific types of impurities from the water.

8. Vitamin C Filter

The vitamin C filter is generally used along with carbon and KDF filters and work on removing chlorine and chloramine particles from the water. You can see a quick improvement in your skin and hair with this filter.

9. KDF Filters

The KDF filters can be either used alone or in combination with carbon filters. They are made up using zinc and copper and are effective in removing heavy metals, viruses, and bacteria from water. If you have a municipal water supply at your home, you must consider using these filters.

Common Questions on Water Softener

Over to You

Installing a water softener helps save time and money in the long term. Whilst all of the above water softener reviews showed great choices, in our opinion, the best has to be the WaterScience Softener. We were really impressed with its lightweight, compact design, which allows for easy installation in small spaces.

However, first determine your own preferences and then select a filter that you think will be best suited for you. Visit product page for further detail.