Deciding
Is a water softener worth it?
Installed$1,200–$3,800published range
To run$50–$150per year
LastsAbout 15 yearstypical
A softener is usually worth it if your water tests hard and you plan to stay in the home. The return comes from protecting appliances and using less soap, not from resale value.
What you pay
- About $1,200 to $3,800 installed
- About $50 to $150 a year to run
- About 15 years of typical life
When it pays off
- Your water tests above about 7 grains per gallon
- You keep replacing water heaters or fixtures because of scale
- Spotting and soap use bother you every day
When to look at something else
If your main complaint is chlorine taste or smell, a softener will not fix it. Compare your options or read about chloramine.
These are published ranges and general guidance, not quotes. In the Bay Area, Soft Patagonian offers free water tests.
Quick answers
Does a water softener add home value?
Angi says the return comes almost entirely from cost savings, and that there is not good data showing a softener directly raises a home's price.