What is “true cost” of soft water?
Sticker price is only part of the story. True cost = equipment + installation + ongoing salt + electricity + any service. Hardness level (grains per gallon, gpg) drives how much salt you’ll actually use.
Hardness primer
USGS guidance in grains per gallon (gpg):
- Soft: 0–3.5 gpg
- Moderately hard: 3.5–7 gpg
- Hard: 7–10.5 gpg
- Very hard: 10.5+ gpg
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
2026 water softener true cost by hardness
See modeled 12‑month and 5‑year costs across hardness bands and system types, with assumptions and sources:
Salt vs salt‑free (quick take)
Salt‑based ion‑exchange removes hardness (soft water feel, better lather). Salt‑free conditioners do not remove hardness — they condition minerals to reduce scale; water still tests hard. Good for scale control, not for soft water feel.
Sources: TAC explained