Many factors affect the price and quality of your shower head water softener, so sometimes, it is difficult to say what you should expect beforehand.
However, the first step would be to figure out what type of softener you want as well as how much space you have in your home.
In this article, you will learn the common types of water softeners available as well as the factors that affect their price and quality – let's get started.
What a top-rated shower head water softener is all about
People often wonder what a water softener shower head is. There are many different types of water softeners out there and each one is unique in its way. The most common form of water softener is the whole home water softener, which is installed in your main water line to reduce or eliminate hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium from your water.
The other, a more popular form of water softener is the showerhead type water softener, which can either be installed on the pipe coming out of your main water line or on your showerhead itself.
Water softening system types
First of all, when you are looking for a shower head water softener, there are two different types that you need to know about. The second type is known as the 2-in-1 shower head filter and softener which has an activated carbon filter combined with a water softening cartridge.
The main advantage of this design is that it will filter out chlorine from your drinking water while also removing hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium from your showering experience. However, if you have hard water issues in your sink or bathtubs then you may want to consider using two separate kinds of systems to effectively eliminate hard mineral buildup.
Showerhead water softeners are also sometimes referred to as “spa-like shower” systems and are designed to improve the quality of your showers without sacrificing convenience; for example, they can be installed on your existing showerhead so you don't have to do any construction work.
This is a great option for anyone who does not want to bother with installing plumbing lines although they must be properly installed by a professional for softeners to truly work well. As the name suggests these types of water softening systems utilize special shower heads which spray water into specially designed tanks to reduce or eliminate hard minerals from your drinking and bathing experience.
The benefit of this type of system is that it does not take up much space and they can be installed using the existing plumbing connection in your tub or shower.
Factors affect price & quality of shower head water softeners
Several factors affect the price and quality of your shower head water softener, so it is difficult to say what you should expect beforehand.
However, the first step would be to figure out what type of softener you want as well as how much space you have in your home.
Understanding the different features of each type of system will give you a good idea of what to look for when comparing and contrasting them to find the perfect water softening solution for your home.
After that, you need to figure out what is important when shopping for a water softener shower head so that you can narrow down the field and choose the one with the best price/quality ratio.
Features of top rated shower head water softeners
There are many different types of showerhead water softeners as well as various brands to choose from; however, not all systems have the same type or quality. Here are some tips on how to determine which ones are best suited for your needs:
1. Look at reviews online before making a purchasing decision.
There are many different places on the internet whose sole purpose is to review and compare water softening systems, which can be very helpful when choosing the right one for your needs.
2. Installation costs
Consider what installation costs will be if you don't want to do any of the work yourself: (most companies charge around $200-300 dollars for installations)
If you need help installing these systems then make sure that you take into account how much money it will cost to have a professional do it.
3. Choose models with separate tanks
Some systems have the tank built directly onto the showerhead, while others have them separated which allows you more room to store items inside of it.
4. Pick a system that has high flow rates and is Energy Star compliant
These systems will use less water when showering which also conserves energy. This will save money on your electricity bill and is an important factor to consider when choosing the right shower head water softener. The water pressure will be higher as well with a high flow rate.
5. Look out for scams.
There are dishonest companies who sell these systems as well, so make sure that you choose one from a reputable dealer or company. Do your research and choose a company that has a great reputation.
Key terms needed to understand quality & price of shower head water softener
There are several important factors when determining the quality and price of your showerhead water softener which include flow rate, hardness of your water, gallons per minute (GPM), and several stages.
Flow rate ( gpm)
This refers to how much water is used by the system each time it cycles on. This measurement is generally measured in gallons per minute (GPM). The higher the flow rate, the faster that your shower will drain which is exactly what you want.
For instance:
- 1st stage- 4 gpm
- 2nd stage = 8 gpm
- 3rd stage = 10 gpm
- Average flow rates are 6–8 gpm.
The more stages or filters that it has, the lower the chance of clogging or restricting water flow; however, these systems are more expensive to buy and can be difficult to maintain.
Hardness of your water
This is a measurement of the number of minerals dissolved in the water which makes it difficult for soap or softeners to lather up. There are two types; temporary and permanent hardness.
Temporary Hardness comes from dissolved calcium; this is common when there is an abundance of limestone surrounding your area, but these levels will drop over time as you shower less and less.
Permanent Hardness, on the other hand, refers to the sodium ions that are left behind once all calcium has been removed; this type is common in areas like Florida or New Mexico where there isn't much rainfall which allows large amounts of salt to collect in the ground.
Gallons per minute (GPM)
The number of gallons that pass through one point every 60 seconds when used under specific conditions. With showerhead water softeners, they generally range between 2 and 10 GPM; however, there are some rare cases where they can go as high as 50 or even 100 GPM.
Factors affecting price & quality
With so many different products in the market today, you will be able to find a unit that fits your needs exactly; however, it is important to pay attention to certain things before making a purchase:
Use water test kits to determine if you have hard water or not
Depending on the manufacturer that you choose, some systems might not be able to perform as well in areas with harder water. There are entire brands dedicated to treating hard water which cost less than 50 dollars; however, they will only treat your bathtub and not your showerhead.
Know how much space you have inside of your home.
If you don't want to install a separate tank for storage then it's important to make sure that this has been taken into account when taking measurements. This ensures that there is enough space to get your shower head water softener installed.
Reverse Osmosis Filtration Systems to filter water
The third type of water softening system is called reverse osmosis (RO) filtration system. Some showerhead filters contain integrated RO systems to filter your drinking and bathing experience.
The main advantage of this design is that it will disinfect your water by eliminating bacteria, cysts, and viruses from your home's pipes and faucets while also removing any contaminants that could make you sick if ingested such as chlorine, mercury, lead, etc.
This is an effective system for people who don't want to worry about maintaining their water softener system or are looking for the highest quality source of drinking water.
Final thoughts on how to shop for shower head water softener
In conclusion, when shopping around for a showerhead water softener, it's important to know the factors that affect the price and quality of most products before making a purchase.
Making the right choice can be difficult with all of the marketing terms out there, but knowing what you want beforehand will make things much easier for you.
