It’s never easy to live with hard water. It crusts up your faucets and fixtures, smears your delicate surfaces, clogs your pipes, damages your water-using appliances, among other things. But how do you get rid of this sneaky, unwanted culprit?
If you ask around for possible solutions, most people will probably tell you that installing a good-quality water softener is the way to go. After all, water softeners are the most reliable devices to prevent hard water in your home. They do an incredible job of removing hardness minerals from water, thus improving water quality.
While water softeners are available for purchase from many local dealers and online merchants, some vendors offer water softener rental packages. If you’re looking to acquire a softener soon, it can be hard to decide whether to purchase the system or choose the rental option.
In this article, we’ll tell you why it makes more sense to buy and own a water softener than to rent one. You’ll also discover several essential things you need to consider before making your purchase.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Water Softener
When deciding to purchase a water softener, you need to consider several factors, such as:
Is your water hard?
The last thing you want to do is to invest in a solution to a non-existent problem. So, before you buy and install a water softener, you should test your water for hardness minerals to be sure that your water is hard. If the water hardness test returns positive, you can install a water softener in your home to protect your plumbing, fixtures, appliances, laundry, and hair and skin against the damaging effects of hard water.
Are you a homeowner or a tenant?
Being a homeowner means that you are free to install a water softener in your home. If you are a tenant, however, you cannot install a water softener in the landlord’s rental space without their consent. Perhaps that’s because you’ll need to cut into the main water line (among other things) to get the softener up and running. Typically, tenants aren’t allowed to make changes to the places they rent.
What is your budget?
The most significant factor when choosing a water softener is, of course, money. With that in mind, ask yourself: Can I comfortably afford to purchase a water softener in full? Keep in mind that even if you cannot cover the total price of the system upfront, some companies allow you to “buy now and pay later.” That way, you don’t have to give in to unhealthy debt to acquire a quality softener. Furthermore, the warranty on some softeners covers unforeseen repairs and replacements for up to a lifetime.
For how long do you intend to use the water softener?
Some people believe that buying a water softener that you don’t intend to use for more than 12 months might not be a smart idea. But the fact is, situations can change, such that you need the softener for longer than you previously thought. Plus, even if you live in a rented home or apartment where you are allowed to install a water softener, you can purchase a portable softener and take it with you wherever you go.
On top of that, when you consider the total amount in recurring monthly fees for renting a premium system for, say, two or three years, you might want to bite the bullet and make the one-time payment for a new unit.
·Are you looking for a salt-free softener or a salt-based system?
There are two different types of water softeners: salt-free softeners and salt-based softeners. The differences between the two types are quite significant, so make sure you are aware of them before making your purchase.
Does your home have enough space to accommodate a water softener?
A water softener should be installed where it has easy access to the central plumbing system in your living space, as well as a way to discharge the wastewater from the system. For that reason, you should ensure that your home is spacious enough to accommodate such a system. Water softeners come in many different sizes, but once installed, they should have enough space around them for easy servicing.
What is the cost of renting a water softener?
The rental cost for a water softener varies between different companies as well as the model of the system. Water softener rental costs range from about $20 to $50 monthly, depending on the dealer, the size of the system, and other feature-related factors. It’s not clear if these monthly fees cover installation costs and on-going maintenance fees, so check with the renter to find out.
What is the cost of buying a water softener?
The average cost of a water softening system depends on its softening capacity, size, and features. If you own a small home with minimal water usage, it’s possible to purchase a softener for around $300 to $600. A larger home with additional family members may require a more substantial unit since a more sizeable household use more “soft” water.
Larger households require a higher capacity system that, on average, are priced between $8000 to $3,000. Some sellers include the price of installation in the retail price. Still, you can install the system by yourself if you have enough plumbing experience or hire a professional plumber in your area.
As for maintenance costs, most softeners are fully automatic, so provided that they are appropriately sized and installed, they can operate for years with minimal maintenance. The most routine water softener maintenance is adding the right kind of salt to the system as needed. This routine only applies to salt-based water softeners.
Should you rent or buy a water softener?
Hard water can be your worst enemy, especially if you’re a homeowner. It often reduces the lifespan of your home appliances like water heaters, washing machines, and dishwashers. It also causes white, chalky limescale buildup around kitchen sinks and faucets, and can even clog your pipes, thus reducing water pressure in your pipes.
Installing a decent-quality water softener is the only proven solution to treat hard water effectively. If you plan to install one of these precious devices in your home, buying and owning it makes more sense than renting it. Here’s why:
Reasons to Buy a Water Softener instead of Renting It
- Renting a water softener for an extended time means that you will likely end up paying more than you would have if you had purchased one in the first place. Let’s say you rent a system for $25 per month. The purchase price of that system is $1000. If you rent that specific softener for at least three and a half years, you will end up paying more over time. What’s even worse is that you still won’t own the system. A decent quality water softener that is properly maintained can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years.
- It is highly likely that you get a used unit, which can cause inconveniences and other possible issues if it doesn’t work as it should.
- If the system breaks due to improper handling or physical damage on your part, accidents or defects caused by fire or freezing, or failure to adhere to the instructions during use, the company may hold you responsible for covering the cost of repair.
- There are some water softener rental plans that will require you to cover on-going maintenance and repair costs.
- When it comes to rentals, you may have limited options. There are many different types of water softeners around, but those used by rental companies require the least amount of installation work and changes to your plumbing system. Unfortunately, this also means that you may not have access to some of the best water softeners on the market because they require extensive installation and plumbing modifications that are not feasible when you are renting a unit for an unknown period.
- Some landlords won’t allow you to install a water softener on their property, else you risk paying for the changes made to the plumbing line, or worse, getting evicted. Keep in mind that installing a softener means cutting into the main water line on the property.
- Individual companies offer rental plans with minimum contracts. That means if the minimum agreement on the system is 24 months and after, say, six months, you want to end the contract, you might still have to pay for the full 24 months.
- The rental fees offered by some companies do not include maintenance and repairs. Therefore, you are left to cover those expenses.
- If you buy a water softener, it’s yours. You own it. You can do whatever you want with it whenever you want, and no one can take it from you.
- There are hundreds of water softeners on the market for sale, which means that you can choose from a wider variety of softener models. It’s almost impossible that you won’t find the exact one that matches your particular needs.
- A water softener can increase the resale value of your property. It also makes an excellent selling point for any potential buyer looking for comfort and safety in their living space.
- In the long run, purchasing a water softener upfront can cost less than renting one. Softeners can last up to 15 years, which is a very long time. If you want to rent one for 15 years, you are likely to pay several times the price of the system.
- When you buy a softener, most dealers will offer a money-back guarantee and warranty on the system. If something goes wrong with the softener, these coverages can protect you against maintenance and repair costs.
- Buying and owning a softener outright give you a more permanent solution when compared to the rental option.
- Some dealers allow you to finance the system in low monthly payments, similar to a rental fee. However, unlike renting, you’ll likely pay off the system in a short time, and you will be the owner of your water softener.
- Should you decide to sell or move out of your home, later on, having had a water softener installed will often save you many headaches when it comes to things like:
- Replacing fixtures and damaged appliances like dishwashers or washing machines
- Repairing pipes
- Installing new water heaters
Remember that hard water shows no mercy! You don’t want to be spending a lot of money on those things while listing your house and preparing to move.
What about the “Rent to Own” option?
The “Rent to Own” option works the same way as paying in installments until you settle the full payment for the water softener. One of the many issues with this approach is that it is usually more expensive than buying. It also means that you have to sign an agreement that you won’t own the system until you make the final payment. In other words, you won’t have total control over it until you pay it off.
Perhaps the riskiest thing about “Rent to Own” is that if you don’t buy the softener – for whatever reason – you lose all the extra money you paid. If you miss a payment, the company can take back the machine or charge you the full purchase price – on top of what you’ve already paid up to that point. Some dealers might even make it difficult or unattractive for you to buy so they can pocket your investment.
All in all, with the “Rent to Own” option, you’ll miss out on all the incredible benefits of owning a water softener until the softener is fully paid off.
Okay, so where can I find premium water softeners at reasonable prices?
Springwell offers premium water softeners at some of the most competitive prices on the market. Your purchase options typically include buying upfront, or short or long term financing. Ultimately, the medium of acquisition is up to you, but both options give you the peace of mind of owning a softener.
Included in our line of premium salt-free and salt-based water softeners are the robust and affordable base-model units: the FutureSoft FS1 Salt-Free Water Softener and the Salt-Based SS1 Water Softener System.
Although both systems operate differently, they are jam-packed with special, useful features that combine to produce high-quality, great-tasting soft water. In turn, these devices help prolong the life of your plumbing system, water heaters, and appliances, and lower utility costs. They also prevent soap scum on your skin and in your hair, so your skin and hair look and feel better and cleaner. The benefits of these water softeners also extend to your laundry and dishes, as both softeners help to eliminate streaky soapy residue and white spots left on your dishes and clothes.
If you purchase either the FS1 or the SS1 today, you can get it factory-direct and enjoy all the great benefits of cutting out the middleman. But that’s not all. Both models use premium components to ensure reliable and optimal performance.
To sweeten the deal, you get a lifetime warranty on the tanks and valves, a six-month money-back guarantee, and free shipping. And if you cannot make the full payment at once, you can finance it with affordable monthly payments – no hidden fees or surprises!
So, purchase the FS1 or the SS1 today and enjoy all the incredible benefits of owning a high-quality water softener. If you need any information about our products or if you have any questions, contact our friendly and highly knowledgeable customer service team.
Final Thoughts
The effects of hard water are nothing short of annoying, irritating, and sometimes terribly problematic. While installing a decent-quality water softener is ideal for tackling this silent enemy, you might have to choose between renting the softener or buying it. Based on the many superior benefits that come with owning a softener, it’s only right that you purchase the system upfront. Remember that even if you cannot buy the softener in full, Springwell offers an excellent financing option that will allow you to buy now and pay later!
