[JLM]

We moved into a new house (previous owner had installed new flooring and windows throughout) and have made upgrades (wall insulation, furnace, air conditioner, water heater, and central humidifier).  But the water softener is dead (city water that is minimally treated).  We're signing up for a HELOC to finance solar panels and pay off the wall insulation.  Wifey wants a new dishwasher but we want to replace the water softener first.  Had a guy out who tested the water (sort of) and bad mouthed our existing softener (hate that) and gave us a price of $3300 which shocked me.  He also recommended against any salt-free models. 

We installed a $300 softener nearly 20 years ago in our last house (well water) which worked fine.  What model/brand do you recommend?  It's freaking my wife out that we're running without a softener.  So we're looking to move fairly quickly on this.  Thanks for your input.

[jtwrace]

My softener guy swears only by Clack valves.  https://www.clackcorp.com/


$3300 is actually pretty darn good if it includes the two tanks and the pellet tank.  My unit was $4800. 



I'd never not have one. 

[richidoo]

The plastic ion exchange pellets in the softener tank can easily be ruined. Chlorine can kill them, and other chemicals.
If the system is otherwise OK except "doesn't work anymore" then just have the pellets replaced.

Beware the water treatment sales people who "come test your water." You have city water, so you don't need him.
Just call a local company that does water softener repair and maintenance.

PS: get a Bosch dishwasher

[SoCalWJS]

Why do you think you need water treatment?

The answer will probably dictate what type of system you need. We live in an area with very hard water and when we checked around (my Wife is a Cilvil Engineer/Plans Examiner so has good access to resources), we were advised that one of the tank exchange systems was the most practical/cost effective solution.

If your concern is taste and/or removal of other things, a different system is better. (Life Source or similar)

If water usage is of concern, watch out for Reverse Osmosis systems.

[avta]

Seems a bit steep to me. We live in Los Angeles and our new salt system was about half that cost.( 8 years ago ) Not sure how much competition there is in your area. There's lots here so that may be relevant. Try and get some other bids if possible.

[JLM]

Forgot to mention, we're in Michigan and the village we live in does a very minimal job of treating the water.

[Theronbo]

I installed a decent sized softener a year & half ago.

$800 … all in. $600 for the softener. $40 for particulate filter.

But, I had to do all the plumbing…

I have a well. Water is extremely hard. Now is extremely soft.

Use potassium salt… since I drain the regen cycle output to a grey water septic.

If you already have a system installed… even if you install a new system… $1,000 seems reasonable.
Basically you should simply be swapping out components.  Not building the whole plumbing setup.

I had nothing, took me a day of trenching & two more days of designing & building the plumbing infrastructure.

Notes:
- water softener is the most rewarding DIY project I’ve done for my house.
- saltwater works. If your water isn’t too hard maybe reverse osmosis.
- potassium is 7x more but well worth it.  Water feels luxurious not slimy. Can water house plants from the tap.

I don’t understand what they’re charging you thousands for when the base unit is $600 at HD & you already have a unit installed.

[JLM]

Thanks for the replies!

[artur9]

Definitely do the softener before the dishwasher.

In one of our previous residences the hardness and iron content of the water killed a new dishwasher within 6 months.  We had thought the old one was just crap, turns out it was the water.