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Book NowTap water is federally regulated and is safe for household use in most cases. But is there a way to improve water quality? Whole-house carbon filters and water softeners are ideal systems for treating water, but they treat water differently. Let’s dive into whole-house carbon filters vs. water softeners comparison!
We’ve been in the water treatment field since 2007 and have installed water softeners and whole-house carbon filters in homes throughout the Los Angeles area. During those years, we’ve come to understand that not every water treatment option is the right fit for each home.
Although both whole-house carbon filters and water softeners treat water, we’ll compare how they differ in the following categories.
- Effectiveness
- Technology
- Environmental Impact
- Warranty
- Cost
- Maintenance
We’ll start with the main difference between these two systems before jumping into each category. By the end of this article, you can confidently differentiate between water softeners and whole-house carbon filters to see if either is a suitable fit for your home. Let’s get started.
What’s the Difference Between Water Softeners and Whole-House Carbon Filters?
The biggest difference between water softening and whole-house carbon filtration is how the water is treated. Water softeners do precisely as their name entails; soften hard water flowing in a home. Whole-house carbon filters will improve the taste and odor of water and prevent chemical contaminants from remaining in the water.
One question to ponder is whether you want soft or carbon-filtered water in your home. It is possible to have both systems installed and working simultaneously, so you’ll have carbon-filtered soft water.
Now that we’ve established how these systems treat water differently, it’s worth looking at how effective they are at treating water.
Effectiveness
Water softeners and whole-house carbon filtration are highly effective and provide certain benefits. Despite providing their own set of unique benefits, both systems are designed to serve an entire household, so you’ll have treated water in every water source.
Carbon filtration systems can benefit a home in many ways, such as by providing better-tasting drinking water. Whole-house carbon filters will remove contaminants such as chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOC). Besides taste, whole-house carbon filtration can remove any lingering foul odors in tap water. Carbon filters achieve these benefits by filtering out over 90% of particles.
Many homes in Los Angeles deal with hard water, which can be 100% treated with water softeners. By treating hard water, water softening systems can produce soft water with various benefits, such as reducing limescale buildup and soap scum formation.
While both systems have proven highly effective for decades, the technology they use to promote their efficacy is vastly different.
Technology
Water softening and whole-house carbon filtration systems have unique designs that enable them to treat water effectively. Both systems are installed right after a home’s main water line. Any water entering a property will first have to be treated by these systems.
Whole-house carbon filters are single tank systems with built-in activated carbon that covers the inside of the unit. Through a process called adsorption, carbon filters attract chlorine and other contaminants, similar to how metal filings stick to magnets. The filtered water is then released for use in a home.
A water softening system is usually a dual tank system with a resin and brine tank. The resin tank is where hard water minerals are replaced by sodium through a process called ion exchange. The process requires salt, which is stored in the brine tank.
Both systems have backwash cycles that clean out the tanks of wastewater. Whole-house carbon filters and water softeners will treat water but require a small amount of water to backwash any waste gathered from the treatment process.
Wastewater is part of the design of these two water treatment systems, but does that mean they’re no longer environmentally friendly?
Environmental Impact
Water softeners have a bigger environmental impact than whole-house carbon filters. Water softening systems produce wastewater concentrated with salt, which can impact ecosystems near rivers and streams. Due to their potential adverse effects on habitats, some areas in Los Angeles have banned water softener installations within their cities.
On the other hand, whole-house carbon filters produce wastewater that can be drained into a yard without damaging plants or wildlife. These systems also reduce the need for plastic bottled water because they produce high-quality drinking water.
Whole-house carbon filtration and water softening systems impact the environment differently but have similar warranties.
Warranty
Both systems are made up of individual components that have their own warranties. Each warranty varies depending on the brand of water softener and whole-house carbon filter.
The average warranty time for a whole-house carbon filter tank is 10 years. A water softener’s resin and brine tanks usually have a 10-year limited warranty.
Water softeners have a control unit mounted on top of the resin tank, including a timer and control board. These components have a one to three-year warranty, depending on the brand. Most water softener systems have a one-year warranty on the entire appliance.
Most warranties do not cover filter replacement for a whole-house carbon filter or salt replenishment for a water softener. The homeowner is responsible for purchasing these items for their water treatment system. Filter and salt replacement are just a few factors of the costs associated with water softeners and whole-house carbon filters.
Cost
Whole-house carbon filtration and water softening systems have various price ranges. On average, whole-house carbon filters cost less than water softeners, although their price ranges can overlap depending on multiple cost factors, such as installation.
If you decide to have soft water throughout your home, you can expect to invest between $1,200 to $2,500 without installation and $5,200 to $7,600 with installation for a water softener.
The price for a whole-house carbon filter installation can cost anywhere from $4,800 to $7,200. This filtration system can cost between $800 to $2,000 without installation.
Installation fees and purchase costs comprise a large portion of the whole-house water treatment prices. However, both of these systems have additional expenses in the form of maintenance.
Maintenance
Water treatment systems require maintenance to continue operating efficiently. Water softening systems require monthly maintenance, while whole-house carbon filters require maintenance once to twice a year.
Water softeners will not be able to soften hard water without salt. It is recommended to check a softener’s brine tank for salt levels once a month. Homeowners should also inspect their brine tank for any solidified layers of salt that can limit the amount of sodium mixed with water.
The filters inside a whole-house carbon filter can last six to 12 months and should be replaced to ensure the system properly filters tap water. With adequate care and maintenance, whole-house carbon filters and water softeners can last up to 10 years.
Which Whole-House Water Treatment System is Right for Me?
A water softener or whole-house carbon filter in your home is optional but can provide you and your family with plenty of benefits. It may be difficult to tell both of these systems apart at first. But now that you know how to differentiate them, you can decide which suits your home.
We’ve spent the last 15 years installing these water treatment units and can help homeowners decide which is a good fit for their house based on our experience in the field. Every home is different, and so are a homeowner’s filtered water needs, which is why it’s important to speak with a certified technician before jumping in head first.
If you have questions regarding these water treatment options, contact us using one of the buttons below to speak with one of our knowledgeable representatives. For an in-person consultation, book an appointment through our water filtration scheduler.
Water softeners and whole-house carbon filters are two of the best in-home water treatment options, but did you know there are other ways to treat the water in your home? Check out how each of these options has different costs and features.
