There’s a lot that homeowners need to consider when trying to understand the factors around water softener system cost, and this page is meant to help you gauge what you can expect from these plumbing investments from a financial standpoint.
Water softeners are crucial for every household these days, particularly because hard water is such a pervasive problem within municipal water supplies. Water softener systems can range anywhere between $200-$6,000, but the average cost for these systems is $1,500.
Because this range is so broad, it’s important for homeowners to understand the many factors that go into calculating water softener system costs. Below are some of those cost factors that you should keep in mind!
Factors That Contribute To Water Softener System Cost
It can be difficult for homeowners to differentiate their best options when they’re looking to invest in a water softener, and that’s why it’s always crucial to consult with experienced plumbing specialists when making these types of decisions.
When it comes to installation and maintenance costs, there are many major differences that you’ll need to know about. Some of the factors that contribute to water softener system costs include the following:
The Type Of Water Softener System
There are several different types of water softener systems, including:
- Ion exchangers that use brine and salt
- Salt-free water softeners
- Water distillers
- Reverse osmosis systems
- Magnetic systems
- Well water systems
- Dual-tank systems
All of these systems come in at various costs, with dual-tank models likely being the most expensive. The type of system that you invest in, as well as the size of your system, will play a major role in determining the price. The larger your water softener’s capacity, the more water it’ll ultimately treat. This directly correlates to higher costs.
Water Softener System Capacity
The capacity for most water softener systems will be determined by its grains per gallon measurements, which is commonly abbreviated to GPG rate. This type of capacity measurement dictates how much hard water will be able to be filtered by the system.
Determining your needed water softener system capacity will largely depend upon the amount of people living in your household and the overall size of your home. Lower GPG rates will typically correlate to lower costs, as compared to higher GPG rates correlating to higher costs.
Your Home’s Size
Larger homes subsequently will have more plumbing fixtures, bathrooms, pipes, and a larger plumbing system in general. In order for a water softener system to properly treat the amount of water needed for a larger home, the system will require a significantly large GPG rate.
Homeowners can consider the below calculations to help them determine their proper water softener system size:
- Multiply the number of household occupants by 90, which is generally the number of gallons of water that people use on a daily basis.
- Multiply this number by your municipality’s average water hardness. The average number for this metric is 10, but this number will generally range between 0 and 17.
- Multiply this number by 10.
Under-Counter Water Softeners vs. Whole-Home Water Softeners
If you feel as though a whole-home water softener installation seems a bit daunting from a financial perspective, then you could consider installing an under-the-counter water softener that supports specific rooms or fixtures throughout your property.
This is a good option for bathrooms or kitchens that you know will be used on a frequent basis. These much more basic water softener systems cost around $150-$600, and they can be installed relatively easily.
Labor Costs
Labor costs also need to be factored into the overall water softener system equation, and labor will generally be around $150-$1,000 for whole-home system installations.
This is a pretty wide range, so it’s important to remember that your installation fees will be higher when you’re trying to install a rather complex system, and this is partly because you may need to install new pipes within your plumbing system.
Geographic Location
Another cost factor to keep in mind is your actual geographic location, because most urban areas will tend to require higher material and labor costs. This is partly due to a higher demand for water softeners in cities, as well as the general higher cost of living in metropolitan areas.
Your geographic region may also dictate the overall amount of hardness within your municipal water supply, which can increase or decrease water softener prices.
Other Water Softener System Cost Considerations
Some other factors to keep in mind when it comes to water softener system costs include:
- Inspections and permits
- Maintenance and service
- Water tests
- Electrical or framing modifications
- Energy efficiency
- Salt replacement
Contact The Beehive Plumbing Experts To Learn More About Water Softeners!
Home and business owners all throughout the United States are waking up to the reality of hard water, and this is subsequently making water softeners very popular plumbing commodities.
Understanding water softener system costs is crucial when it comes to preparing for these types of investments, and the Beehive Plumbing team can answer your questions about water softeners when you click on the link to their website located at the top of this article!
