Water conditioner vs chlorine/sediment filter?

5 years ago

We are building a new home and are deciding between:

1) whole-home water conditioner OR

2) whole-home chlorine and sediment filter

Our understanding is that the water conditioner will help with the buildup/water stains you get around faucets, sink handles, etc., and also will reduce buildup/issues in appliances such as the dishwasher, washing machine, etc.

Our understanding of the chlorine/sediment filter is that it will make the water taste better (i.e., a really good Brita filter).

We are interested in both of these things--filtered water from any spout in the house, and also water that's better for our appliances/countertops.

If it matters, we live in Bethesda, MD, where the street water is decent/potable, so not super hard water or anything like that.

We aren't sure if the water conditioner ALSO removes chlorine and sediment, or if we'd need to get BOTH the water conditioner AND the chlorine/sediment filter.

Any info, advice, or opinions would be much appreciated!

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Comments (2)

Jake The Wonderdog
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
There is no such thing as a "Water Conditioner". It's BS. Banish the term from your vocabulary.

"Water Conditioner" is a term that snake oil salesmen use because "water softener" is too specific and their product doesn't actually do that. You often hear "Salt free" in conjunction with "Water conditioner". Run, do not walk, away from anyone talking about a "water conditioner" or "salt free" the term has absolutely no meaning.

If you want to avoid scale, hard water spots, lime buildup, etc. then have your builder provide a "softener loop" in your plumbing design. This usually includes an unsoftened water line to the kitchen for drinking water as well as unsoftened water to the outside hose connections. You will have them install a water softener once things are built or have a third party install one. Test your water for hardness using a Hach test kit - or your water softener provider will do that. The point is that the only way to avoid hard water issues is by softening the water and that's something that you can definitively measure-both before and after-to prove that it's really doing the job. No other "Water conditioner" will do that.

You really only "need" carbon filtered water for drinking and ice/water for the fridge. You don't need to flush your toilets with it, you don't need it for laundry. That said, you can do a whole house carbon filter if you really want to.

Every water filter that does anything requires maintenance. Keep this in mind as you think through what you want. You can get a carbon filter for your drinking water that costs about $50 a year to replace or you can get a backwashing whole-house carbon filter that requires the media to be replaced at a greater cost every few years or so. Water softeners require salt regularly and resin changes every 12-15 years or so.
blinktmb thanked Jake The Wonderdog
blinktmb
Original Author
5 years ago
@Jake The Wonderdog Great, thanks so much for all this info!
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