How to Buy The Best Outdoor Water Softener in 2023 – Get rid of hard water now

Hard water can often cause a host of problems ranging from health problems like dry skin and hair to scalp itchiness and plumbing problems in your home. Nearly 85% of the USA has hard water, so this isn’t an unusual problem. The odds that the city or state you live in supplies hard water is very likely.

Let’s begin by understanding what makes water “hard” or “soft.” Unlike softened water, hard water tends to be high in mineral content. For various reasons, minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium are usually residues from limestone, chalk, or gypsum deposits found in water supplies. One way to confirm if you have “hard” or “soft” water is to observe how quickly insoluble deposits or soap curds form on your bathtubs or appear in your laundry equipment. If it’s frequent, then you most likely have hard water. However, this is an easy fix and can be resolved simply by installing a water softener.

In making this decision, various factors must be considered, such as the space available, local weather conditions, and the terrain around your home. In our article, we have compiled the expertise of experienced users and combed through extensive research to help you choose the best outdoor water softener on the market.

According to Chicago Tribune, only 15% of Americans have access to soft water zones who are usually those living in the Pacific Northwest, parts of the Southeast, the Gulf States, and New England. A large percentage of the hard water lies from the Midwest to the West coast. The Midwest region is ranked to have some of the hardest water in the country.

However, as we mentioned earlier, this is an easy fix and can be remedied by installing a hard water softener.

Can water softener be installed outdoors?

Water softeners can be installed outdoors. However, the most significant deciding factors will be temperature and climate. In parts of the country that experiences freezing temperatures, it might be best to install softeners in an accessible basement or within a protective enclosure. It is best if the installation site is determined by a water softener professional.

Things To Consider Before Buying An Outdoor Water Softener

A few simple things to remember when installing an outdoor water softener are listed below.

• The location of the water softener concerning the water’s entry point into the home. This means it should ideally be near a water meter or pressure tank in case the water is supplied from wells.
• Easy accessibility to power supply since the controller will operate on power.
• Safe drainage nearby allows for all the hard minerals to be disposed of regularly.
• Plenty of room around the water softening unit and easy accessibility in case of any problems.

Once you have considered these factors, read on to learn more about the finer details. Attention to the following will help you make a more informed decision when selecting a water softener for your home.

1. The climate of your living region 

The water softener must be kept away from direct sunlight. Harsh sun rays can cause undue damage to the controller and tank. Temperatures that don’t drop below freezing during the winters and don’t get too hot in the summertime would be ideal– a temperate and pleasant climate is ideal for an outdoor water softener. We understand this kind of weather condition may be tricky to establish. However, based on the weather, you can make adjustments to your setup. It would simply mean choosing a device suited to the weather conditions around you.

2. Available space for installing water softeners

The best location for a water softener is a flat, level, and accessible space. It is also vital that the softener is located close to the house’s water supply entry. Examples of such areas could be a heated or insulated basement, a storage room, or a conveniently located crawlspace. In all of these examples, it’s best to have plenty of space around the softener.

3. Cost of protecting the water softener

Outdoor water softeners tend to be somewhat durable in contrast to indoor units since they are built to withstand various elements. However, they may still require protection at different levels. One way is to do it yourself. You can do it by using electrical heat wrap tape or building an insulated enclosure for the unit. Another budget-friendly alternative is to bury it into the ground. If making your enclosure sounds like a lot of work, you can also go down a simpler route and buy an enclosure. These enclosures and external cabinets range anywhere from $50 to $150. The price largely depends on your enclosure’s material, quality, size, and durability.

4. Grain capacity of the water softener

Every water softener unit has a different grain capacity depending on its brand and model. The grain capacity refers to the maximum number of grains of water hardness the softener can remove before regeneration. Choosing the right capacity is relative to the amount of water being used in the house. The ideal size for a unit should be such that it doesn’t regenerate more often than three days nor takes over 14 days to regenerate. In both extremes, it can cause damage to the softener unit.

5. Warranty included

While purchasing a device with a warranty may seem like a no-brainer, many often skip this step. When it comes to water softeners, not all warranties are created equal. The standard for these devices is a one-year limit on parts (which does not include labor), a three-year limit on the electronic monitor, and a 10-year limit on the resin and water brine tank.

However, softener tanks are rarely the issue regarding water softener problems, so don’t be fooled by the duration. It’s usually the valve or electronic component that falls short, so you must get a warranty extension for those parts if that option is available. This would also mean always purchasing a water softener device from a trusted store that offers you a warranty.

List of 6 Best Outdoor Water Softeners

4. Portable: On the Go OTG3NTP3M Portable Water Softener

How to protect outdoor water softener

The best way to protect an outdoor water softener is to build an enclosure around it. This could range from wrapping it in insulated tape or fabric or building a sturdy enclosure for it. There are many readily available enclosures on the market for various budgets. The ideal conditions for an outdoor softener are cool, dry, and shaded places protected from natural elements. It should also be placed on flat terrain where it will experience minimal disruption.

Indoor Water Softener Vs. Outdoor Water Softener

A water softener has to be placed on level ground and close to the water’s point of entry into the house. If this is not possible outdoors, you may have to consider an indoor water softener. However, most entry points are next to the pressure tank if your home uses water from a well. If your home uses city water, it can be found near the water meter. Other factors to consider include easy access to a drain, ample space, and a power source (some devices don’t require electricity).

Most homes require a fairly standard-sized water softener, so the requirement for space is not very much. This space ideally should be protected against extreme weather conditions, the elements, and pests. The best temperature for a water softener is somewhere between 35 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be controlled with insulation and a well-designed enclosure. Depending on these, a water softener can be placed indoors or outdoors.

The Verdict

Our verdict on the best outdoor water softener is the SpringWell Salt-Based Water Softener System.

We have reviewed the various water softeners in the market today and compared them based on budget, capacity, energy efficiency, space demands, customer reviews, etc. This short list of products and each one’s pros and cons are here to guide you in your selection process. Now that you know some factors to consider, your decision ought to be easier.

Our research shows that the highly efficient salt-based SpringWell water softener is a winner. Not only does it prevent hard water scale and build-up, but it also uses 40% less detergent. It works on an ion exchange system that is much more efficient in this model and produces far less waste than before.

This unit has two tanks: a brine tank for the salty brine solution that cleans the resin beads and a resin tank where the water enters the softener. It also has a neoprene jacket that protects the tank from temperature changes. This efficient salt-based SpringWell water softener is easily the most reliable system on the market. It also comes with a mobile app to control your salt-based system, making monitoring the softener easy and ensuring it runs smoothly.

Conclusion

Once you have understood the requirements of your home and the extent to which hard water impacts your residential or commercial property, selecting a water softener can become easy. Suppose you are experiencing an unusual taste in your water, finding that it takes far more detergent to create lather, limescale build-up on your tiles and pipes, or suffering from persistent skin conditions. In that case, you may need to invest in a water softening system. We hope our guide will make the process of matching your needs with a suitable device easier.