Compare whole house systems for hardness removal or salt-free scale control. Explore sizes, current prices and filtration combinations to find the right fit for your water.
Hard waterSoftened
Choose a salt softener to remove hardness minerals, or a salt-free conditioner to help control scale. Compare the care each needs, then configure your system.
$1,531.00 USD
For private wells, very hard water and anyone who wants truly soft water.
$2,147.00 USD
For city water and homes that would rather skip salt. Confirm suitability for your water quality.
Compare system features and starting prices.
One system, configured together. Fiberglass, 1.5 cu ft.
City waterSMART Filter and SoftenerSMART filtration ahead of a salt softener.$2,794.00 USD
Well water with ironMetal Removal Filter and SoftenerMatch iron pretreatment to your water test.$2,494.00 USD
City water, no saltSMART Filter and Salt-FreeSMART filtration with salt-free scale control.$3,630.00 USD
A salt softener removes the minerals behind soap scum, mineral film and scale. A salt-free conditioner focuses on scale control while leaving those minerals in the water.
Hardness minerals react with soap and can leave a film. Removing them helps soap lather more easily and reduces the mineral residue that can linger on shower surfaces.
Softening reduces the hardness minerals that can leave spots as water dries. Detergent residue and etched glass need a different fix, but there is less hardness-related buildup to clean.
Hard water can interfere with detergent and leave mineral deposits in fabrics. Softening reduces that interference, helping clothes and towels wash with less hardness residue.
Softening removes hardness minerals, while salt-free conditioning helps control the scale they form. Both approaches can help with buildup on plumbing and fixtures; a conditioner does not create soft water.
Resin removes hardness minerals. The brine tank supplies the salt used to recharge it. Salt-free conditioners use scale-control media and do not need a brine tank.
01A sediment prefilter catches grit before it reaches the tank. A carbon postfilter helps reduce chlorine, taste and odor on the way out.
02Resin beads exchange calcium and magnesium for sodium or potassium, depending on the regenerant used.
03The control valve manages regeneration. Brine restores the resin, and a rinse carries the released hardness to the drain.
04Designed and hand-assembled in the USA, with replaceable components and support from our water treatment team.
The salt-free conditioner replaces the resin and brine with media that helps reduce hardness scale, so there is no salt and no drain. How water softeners work
Answer the three questions and we will point you to the system that fits your water.
Check the hardness map or a water test. One grain per gallon is about 17 ppm.
On a well with orange stains or a rotten-egg smell? Test your water first so a specialist can match the pretreatment to what is present. Get help with your report.
Both address scale. Only the softener removes hardness minerals and changes how the water feels.
| Compare |
 Water softenerRemoves hardness |
 Salt-free conditionerControls scale |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness removal | Yes | No, the minerals stay in |
| Scale control | Removes hardness minerals | Helps keep hardness from depositing as scale |
| Water feel | Yes, a slippery rinse | No, water feels the same |
| Glassware | Reduces hardness spots | Can still appear |
| Salt | A bag now and then | None |
| Drain line and power | Needs both | Needs neither |
| Best fit | Private wells, 25 gpg and up, anyone who wants truly soft water | City water under 25 gpg, homes that would rather skip salt |
| Pre/post filters included | Starts at $1,531.00 USD | Starts at $2,147.00 USD |
Leaning toward a salt softener? Start with your household size and measured hardness, then use the full calculator to check capacity and flow needs.
A starting size for your household. Confirm the final fit with the full calculator.
Selected reviews from owners of Crystal Quest water treatment systems.
Read customer reviews“The unit was installed about two weeks ago. Thus far I am very pleased with the performance. Additionally, the salesperson Raquel was extremely helpful.”
“Purchased this product due to high level of iron in our system. The purchase was easy and delivery was fast.”
“The staff of Crystal Quest is great. Any time I called in they answer all my questions.”
Cost, sizing, salt and installation, from the people who build the systems.
Talk to a specialistThe displayed fiberglass Whole House Water Softener starts at $1,531.00 USD, and the Salt-Free Water Conditioner at $2,147.00 USD. Both include a sediment prefilter and carbon postfilter. Installation and operating costs vary. Read our water softener cost guide.
Measured hardness and your priorities decide that. At 7 gpg or more, scale and soap residue often make treatment worthwhile. Under 3.5 gpg, you may not need a softener. See signs you need a water softener.
A salt softener needs salt or potassium, water for regeneration, a drain and power. Sodium chloride adds sodium to treated water. A salt-free conditioner avoids regeneration but leaves hardness minerals in the water. Read about softened drinking water.
A salt softener is our usual starting recommendation for a private well. Test for hardness, iron, manganese and other relevant contaminants first. A specialist can match pretreatment to the measured water quality instead of choosing a filter from stains or odor alone.
Salt-free conditioners help control scale without removing calcium and magnesium. The water will not feel like softened water, and mineral spots can remain. Their suitability depends on feedwater quality and sizing. Read how salt-free conditioners work.
Check the product manual, plumbing requirements and local rules first. Our installation guide explains the job. A qualified plumber can handle the installation, and our specialists can help with product questions.
Eligible residential orders of $150 or more ship free in the lower 48; exclusions apply. Whole house systems typically ship within three business days. Systems carry a one-year limited warranty; replacement filters are excluded. Review the warranty and current shipping policy before ordering.
Share your water report or a photo of your setup. We’ll help you choose the treatment and size that fit your home.
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