If you’re shopping for a water filter and softener, you have an important decision to make: purchase two separate systems or a dual-system setup that filters and softens your water. Both have their benefits and pitfalls, but it’s hard to beat an all-in-one “hybrid” system when you weigh all the factors. Of course, it all depends on what matters to you. But if it’s the cost-savings and convenience you’re after, this guide explains why a water filter/softener combo system might be the ideal choice.
What Exactly is a Dual Water Filter System?
A dual water filter system, or a water filter/softener combo, is a unified water treatment setup designed to filter and soften your water. So, instead of two separate units, it’s a single configuration with both filtration and softening capabilities.
Together, the individual systems work to protect you and your family from harmful pollutants (sediments, chemicals, heavy metals, etc.) while reducing hardness minerals (calcium, magnesium, etc.). And the result? Clean, tasty, filtered water that won’t crust up your once-shiny fixtures, clog your pipes, or leave your hair brittle and skin dry.
Is a Dual Water Filter System Worth It? Consider These Benefits.
Installing a separate water filter and softener might seem like the best way to combat contaminants and hardness in your water supply. But as you learn more about filter/softener dual systems, you’ll quickly realize they offer a range of compelling advantages that’ll help you save money, space, time, and headaches compared to managing two independent treatment solutions.
Read on to learn why this ‘dynamic duo’ might just be what you need to protect your home from potentially toxic elements potentially lurking in your water supply:
1. Save Money Upfront…and For Years to Come
In some cases, purchasing and installing a dual-system setup is much cheaper than buying and managing two standalone filter and softener equivalents. We’re talking up to or over 25% less. Plus, if you aren’t the DIY type, you’d only need to hire a pro to install one system compared to paying twice for two installations. And guess what? You can use the extra dollars for filter replacements, salt refills, and other ongoing maintenance expenses.
2. Combats Multiple Water Quality Issues
Worried about waterborne toxins harming your health? What about those pesky hard minerals that can clog your pipes, stain your fixtures, damage your appliances, and even irritate your hair and skin? The endless research and decision-making in addressing these issues can be a real headache. That’s why many customers prefer dual filter/softener systems.
A dual water filter system can eliminate harmful pollutants like bacteria, lead, and chemicals, ensuring your water is safe and healthy for drinking, cooking, and making beverages. But it isn’t just about cleaner water.
As you probably know, hard water can wreak havoc on your home, causing scale buildup on pipes and appliances, shortening their lifespan, and reducing efficiency. The softening power of a dual system will help protect your valuable investments from the damaging effects of hardness-causing minerals, saving you money in the long run.
Related:
- How Hard Water Damages Your Plumbing and Appliances
- How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Your Plumbing Fixtures: A Detailed Guide
- How Does Hard, Unfiltered Water Affect Laundry?
- Hard Water: The Sneaky Culprit Behind Your Crunchy Hair and Dry Skin?
3. Occupies Less Space
Space is likely a significant concern if you live in a smaller house, condo, or apartment. So, imagine moving in a bulky standalone filter and a softener when space is limited. The beauty of some dual systems is that they combine the functionalities of both systems in a single, efficient unit to ensure you get all the benefits of clean, soft water without sacrificing valuable indoor real estate. Even if space isn’t an issue, you might still want to leave enough room in your basement or garage for things like workshops, extra laundry machines, and other utilities or gear you may need to store later.
4. Fewer Connections, Fewer Chances for Leaks
With standalone systems, you must hook both units up to your home’s main water lines independently. That means twice as many opportunities for leaks, cracks, and other connection issues. Dual systems only need a single set of hookups—no additional junctions or extra joints that could fail; just one simple in and out. This minimizes the risk of potential issues during installation and fewer points for failure if that’s something you’re concerned about.
5. Smoother Installation
Installing any water treatment system takes some know-how, but dual-system units keep things as simple as possible. Since it’s just one appliance rather than two, there’s much less time spent sweating pipes, wrangling tubes and fittings, drilling extra holes to run lines between units, etc.
Fewer connection points and components to set up also means faster, easier professional installation if you hire someone to do the work. Either way, getting the system running takes less time and effort than performing two separate installations.
6. One Warranty
With standalone filters and softeners, you get two separate warranty coverages. This might not seem like a big deal, but it means keeping track of coverage details potentially from two different companies—twice the paperwork to file, twice the chance of losing important documents. And if something breaks outside warranty periods, you might have to wrestle with both companies over who should cover repair costs.
Combo filter/softener systems make life much easier. One manufacturer provides a single warranty for the all-in-one system—one set of coverage terms to understand and store in your files. And if repairs or replacements are ever needed, it will be clear which company is responsible for dealing with them.
Shop Springwell for the Best Dual Water Filter Systems on the Market
Now that you know what a dual water filter system is and its unique benefits, you’re probably wondering what your options are. Fortunately, Springwell offers a slick lineup of affordable, powerful, and super-efficient combo systems tailored to different needs or priorities.
1. Whole-House Water Filter + Salt-Free Softener Alternative
If you want filtered, softened water flowing throughout every tap without the hassle of constant salt refills, our powerful and environmentally friendly Water Filter and Salt-Free Softener System might be your best bet.
This dual system includes a whole-house filter that uses the highest quality catalytic carbon to produce clean, great-tasting water free from harmful chemicals, tastes, and odors. It also incorporates our FutureSoft® salt-free conditioner, which uses Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC) to neutralize hardness-causing minerals in the water.
But unlike ion exchange (used in traditional salt-based softeners), TAC doesn’t remove hardness-causing minerals from water. Instead, it converts them to crystals that can’t stick to your pipes or other surfaces in your home. And because salt-free systems don’t actually trap the minerals, there’s no need for salt or a cleaning cycle to remove the captured ions. Talk about sustainability and eco-friendliness!
2. Whole-House Water Filter + Salt-Based Water Softener
Our Water Filter and Salt Based Water Softener System uses the same high-tech whole-house filter as the aforementioned dual system, but differs in the type of softener. This system incorporates a salt-based system that actually removes hardness-causing minerals from the water rather than crystallizing them.
Ion exchange (as the removal process is called) involves exchanging the hardness minerals in the water with sodium ions (salt) attached to the resin beads. This mechanism helps produce soft water that’s gentler on your skin, pipes, and appliances.
Once the resin bed becomes saturated with the hard minerals, a cleaning cycle begins to flush the trapped minerals out of the system. The resin beads are then “recharged” with a brine (salt) solution so the system can remove more hardness minerals. But unlike traditional salt-based softeners, our salt-based softener calculates the exact amount of water passing through the system, ensuring the system regenerates only when necessary, depending on your water usage.
Speaking of salt, remember that you’ll need to refill the brine tank occasionally (about one a week for most homes). You’ll also need to clean the brine tank and components once per month. And also keep in mind that these traditional water softeners are notably larger than salt-free alternatives (thanks to their brine tank), which may not be ideal for smaller spaces. There might also be a hint of salt in the treated water.
Learn more:
- Explained: The Difference Between Salt-Based and Salt-Free Water Softeners
- The Best Type of Salt to Use in Your Water Softener
3. 2 in 1 Filter + Salt Softener Dual System
If harmful contaminants and hardness-causing minerals in your water supply have driven you up the wall, installing a water filter and a softener is the obvious fix. But given the sheer size of some of these systems, squeezing them into a small utility room might be impossible. That’s where our 2-in-1 Filter and Salt Softener Combo System shines!
A whole-house system and a salt-based softener typically combine three tanks (the brine tank being the third). Our space-saving 2-in-1 dual system combines all three into ONE compact tank without sacrificing performance and efficiency. This saves you valuable space, making it ideal for smaller homes and apartments.
4. Whole-House Lead & Cyst Removal System with Salt-Free Softener
The fact that there’s no known safe level of lead exposure gives us an idea of how incredibly toxic it is—particularly to more vulnerable groups like babies, young children, pregnant women, and older folks. Cysts like Cryptosporidium are also dangerous, as many are linked to scores of potentially deadly illnesses and diseases. And let’s not forget hard water and its destructive effects on pipes, fixtures, surfaces, appliances, hair, and skin. But what if you could effortlessly protect your home and family from these elements with one system?
Our innovative Whole-House Lead & Cyst Removal System with Salt-Free Softener features a 0.5-micron filter specifically designed to capture up to 99.95% of particulate and soluble lead and parasitic cysts and large microorganisms that can cause gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, headaches, etc.
Essentially, the filter has tiny holes that allow water molecules to pass through while blocking elements with dimensions larger than the filter’s pore size. Its small micron rating also means it can remove chlorine, chloramine, and other harmful contaminants, ensuring your water is safer for consumption and use.
Beyond protecting against lead and cysts, this combo system also incorporates our FutureSoft® Salt-Free Softening technology to condition or neutralize hardness-causing minerals in water.
5. Whole-House Lead & Cyst Removal System with Salt-Based Softener
Like the combo system described above (number four, to be exact), this Whole-House Lead & Cyst Removal System with Salt-Based Softener also removes lead, cysts, and other contaminants from your water supply. However, instead of a salt-free softener, it uses a salt-based system to remove hardness-causing minerals from water. So, this dual system might be an excellent choice if you don’t mind the regular salt refills, backwashing and regeneration cycles, and overall maintenance associated with traditional salt-using softeners.
Need Help Choosing a Dual Water Filter System for Your Home?
At Springwell, we understand the importance of clean, healthy, great-tasting water. That’s why we only use premium, certified components in our systems to ensure durability and long-lasting performance. We also offer a lifetime warranty and an industry-leading six-month money-back guarantee for your peace of mind.
With over 20 years of experience in the water industry, Springwell is your trusted partner in achieving the clean, safe water your family deserves. As you’ve seen in this guide, we offer a unique line of dual systems tailored for different situations. If you need help choosing the one that best suits your needs and budget, request a free consultation, and we’ll reach out to discuss your best options and answer any questions or concerns. You can also call us at 800-589-5592 or click the live chat bubble at the bottom-right of our website to talk directly to one of our friendly water experts.
