When it comes to household appliances, Kenmore is a well-known and highly trusted brand. However, a good reputation doesn’t necessarily translate into great products.
So, are Kenmore’s water softeners actually good?
To answer this question, we’ve reviewed all of Kenmore's water softeners. We’ve broken down their technical specs, best features, and prices to give you a rounded picture. We’ll also share some excellent alternatives if you decide a Kenmore water softener isn’t for you, so let’s get to it.
- Type: Ion Exchange
- Grain Capacity: 32,000 – 80,000 grains
- Flow Rate: 11 – 20 GPM
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Type: Template Assisted Crystallization
- Grain Capacity: N/A
- Flow Rate: 15 GPM
- Warranty: Lifetime
Who Manufactures Kenmore Water Softeners?
Kenmore doesn’t have its own factories. Instead, products manufactured by numerous other brands, including industry leaders such as Samsung and Whirlpool, are sold under the umbrella of Kenmore.
Kenmore was founded in Chicago in 1913. The first household appliance sold by the Kenmore brand name was a sewing machine. By 1932, the brand had added washing machines and vacuum cleaners to its catalog.
During the 1970s, they significantly broadened their range to include refrigerators, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. Nowadays, you can see the brand’s name on almost anything, from stoves and washing machines to dryers and grills.
As mentioned, none of these products are produced in Kenmore factories. They’re manufactured by other well-established companies like Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, Panasonic, and Electrolux. They’re then rebranded and distributed under the brand name Kenmore.
List of Kenmore Water Softeners
Currently, there are three Kenmore water softeners on the market. Two of these, the Kenmore 350 and the Kenmore 420, are traditional water softeners. The third Kenmore water softener, the Kenmore Elite 520, is a hybrid device that combines the features of a softener and a water filtration system.
Now, let’s delve into their technical specifications in a bit more detail. We’ll also provide you with a comparison table that shows how these units fare against each other.
Kenmore 350 With High Flow Valve
The Kenmore 350 is an NSF-certified, salt-based water softener that effectively reduces the calcium, magnesium, and iron levels in hard water via ion exchange up to 90 grains per gallon (gpg).
It has a grain capacity of 32,000 and a flow rate of 7.2gpm (gallons per minute), both of which are ideal for households that have 1 to 4 bathrooms. Thanks to its ¾” high flow valve, it can maintain a steady water pressure at all faucets.
Its installation requires someone with plumbing experience and knowledge as it needs to be connected to the main water pipe of your house. That said, unlike many other water softeners that have separate tanks for the resin and brine, the Kenmore 350 is quite compact, with a single-tank design.
It also features an IntelliSoft design that automatically adjusts the salt levels required to regenerate the resin, saving salt and energy. Additionally, the regen system and water hardness levels can easily be monitored via the small screen on top of the device.
The limited warranty, however, is cause for concern, despite the affordability of the product ($803). Kenmore only offers a 1-year warranty for parts, 3 years for the electronic system, and 10 years for the tank, which is far below the industry standard. This is particularly poor when you consider that brands like Springwell or SoftPRO offer a lifetime warranty on their tanks.
Kenmore 420 With Ultra Flow Valve
The Kenmore 420 is an upgrade on the Kenmore 350 with its 40,000-grain capacity, 9gpm flow rate, and ability to reduce hard water minerals by 120gpg, which makes it suitable for households that have up to 5 bathrooms. Like its more basic sibling, the 350, it’s NSF-certified.
On top of all this, the Kenmore 420 also provides you with water usage statistics. That way, you can keep an eye on the volume of water flowing through your softening device.
This particular feature really shows its worth when the device isn’t functioning properly. Even a tiny drop in the water flow can indicate a clogged part inside the device, and the earlier you’re aware of it, the better.
Lastly, this Kenmore model has a 1” flow valve. So, in comparison to the ¾” valve of the 350 above, it’s able to maintain better water pressure. This is especially useful if you have a large family with high water demands.
Of course, all these upgrades mean that you have to pay more for this device than for the 350. Still, at $893, it’s only $90 more than the more basic unit.
Kenmore Elite 520 Softener & Filter
This hybrid unit doesn’t only soften water, it also removes contaminants like barium, radium, and chlorine thanks to its carbon filter. The carbon filter is independently tested and holds an NSF-42 certification, so you can trust its removal capabilities.
That said, the Kenmore Elite 520’s water-softening capacities pale in comparison to the two softener models above. It only has a 31,000-grain capacity, which is lower than both of the previous options, and it can only remove up to 100gpg of hardness.
Although it has a 1” ultra flow valve like the Kenmore 420, its flow rate is lower at 8gpm. So, depending on how high your home’s water demands are, you may experience a drop in water pressure.
Most water filtration systems require filter replacements on at least an annual basis. However, that’s not a concern with the Kenmore Elite 520 since the filter is also cleaned during the water softener regeneration process.
Unsurprisingly, the hybrid system is more expensive than the two previous models. At $977, it’s the most costly Kenmore water-softening device.
Comparison Table
Below is a table that compares the three Kenmore devices by their technology, grain capacity, flow rate, capacity to eliminate water hardness, warranty, and price.
Kenmore 350 | Kenmore 420 | Kenmore Elite 520 | |
Technology | Ion exchange | Ion exchange | Ion exchange + carbon filter |
Grain capacity | 32k | 40k | 31k |
Flow rate | 7.2ppm | 9ppm | 8ppm |
Max. water hardness | 90gpg | 120gpg | 100gpg |
Warranty | 1-year on parts, 3-year on the electronic system, 10-year on the tank | 1-year on parts, 3-year on the electronic system, 10-year on the tank | 1-year on parts, 3-year on the electronic system, 10-year on the tank |
Price | $803.00 | $893.00 | $977.00 |
Kenmore Water Softener Reviews: Users Feedback
The Amazon ratings of the Kenmore water softeners are:
- Kenmore 350: 4.2/5
- Kenmore 420: 3.7/5
- Kenmore 520: 4/5
Customers are, overall, happy with the compact single-tank design and the affordability of the Kenmore devices. However, some customers report issues with salt bridges, parts that break up or get clogged too easily, and complicated installation.
Most water softeners come with two tanks: the resin tank, where the softening process happens, and the brine tank, where the brine solution that recharges the resin is produced. This two-tank design tends to create placement problems for homeowners, but that’s not the case with the single-tank Kenmore units, which customers like a lot.
However, that design is also the central theme of the complaints as it’s the reason for the formation of salt bridges. Additionally, when the device can’t make good use of salt, its parts are likely to get clogged, reducing the water flow and the effectiveness of the softening, which is another customer complaint.
Lastly, although the instruction manual insists that the installation is DIY-friendly, most customers report difficulties when trying to install the device. That’s partly because the claim that DIYers can handle it is misleading and partly because the instruction manual isn’t that helpful.
As a result, many customers have had to hire a professional plumber to install their devices for them. Of course, this adds to the overall cost of the units.
Kenmore Water Softener Prices
The price tags of Kenmore’s water softener models are as follows:
- Kenmore 350: $803
- Kenmore 420: $893
- Kenmore 520: $977
Considering that the best water softeners currently on the market are in the range of $1,200 – $5,000, these are affordable products.
Kenmore Water Softener Alternatives
Here are 2 high-quality Kenmore water softener alternatives you could go for instead: :
- Type: Ion Exchange
- Grain Capacity: 32,000 – 80,000 grains
- Flow Rate: 11 – 20 GPM
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Type: Template Assisted Crystallization
- Grain Capacity: N/A
- Flow Rate: 15 GPM
- Warranty: Lifetime
Pros & Cons of Kenmore Softeners
The affordability of the Kenmore softeners makes them an appealing choice for those looking to soften their water, but is that enough? What are the other advantages of these devices, and do they cancel out the disadvantages?
Let’s find out.
PROS
- Affordability: As we established, the Kenmore devices are some of the most affordable softeners on the market.
- Compact design: The single-tank design saves space which means Kenmore softeners are ideal for apartments or smaller homes.
- Efficiency: The grain capacities and flow rates of all three units are more than capable of handling the soft water needs of small households (1 – 3 bathrooms).
- IntelliSoft technology: This technology uses only as much salt as needed during the regeneration process, which reduces waste and the frequency with which you have to replenish the salt.
- NSF certification: As water softeners don’t remove hazardous contaminants, manufacturers don’t usually bother to have them NSF-certified. However, Kenmore still has its devices certified to build trust in customers.
- Great customer service: Kenmore has responsive customer service that offers great help when the instruction manual fails or the device malfunctions.
CONS
- Salt bridges: A salt bridge is a solidified layer of salt that forms a crust across the top of the brine tank, preventing the water from reaching the salt above it. When the softening process and brine production take place in the same tank, it’s impossible to protect the salt from moisture, so the device will inevitably suffer from salt bridges.
- Clogged or broken parts: When the salt isn’t employed properly as a result of salt bridges, it can clog channels, get into electronic parts of the system, and cause breakdowns. That’s a common problem with Kenmore products.
- No salt-free option: Nowadays, many leading names in the water-softening industry, like Aquasana and Springwell, have salt-free and eco-friendly options in their catalog. Kenmore doesn’t.
- Warranty: The warranty options Kenmore offers are unsatisfying, especially for devices with parts that are prone to malfunction due to salt bridges. When you consider that other brands like Springwell have lifetime warranties on both tanks and valves, Kenmore’s warranty doesn’t inspire trust.
Is Kenmore a Good Water Softener?
Kenmore’s water softener options are compact, effective, and maybe most importantly, affordable.
However, bearing in mind the limited warranty options Kenmore offers and the fact its devices have been known to malfunction, there are many better options on the market.
If you’re open to spending a little bit more, you can purchase the Springwell SS1. It has better technical specs overall, a lifetime warranty, and more high-quality parts.
If you want to stay in the Kenmore price range, we’d recommend the Aquasana Salt-Free Water Conditioner. At $799, it’s more affordable than the cheapest Kenmore softener. It also has a better grain capacity of 42k and is eco-friendly since it’s salt-free.
Conclusion
Kenmore produces three water softener models: the Kenmore 350, the Kenmore 420, and the Kenmore Elite 520.
These water softeners are highly effective at eliminating hard water minerals. Plus, their single-tank design makes them compact and they’re an excellent choice if you live in an apartment or a small home. They’re also a good option if you’re on a tight budget as they’re much more affordable than other similar devices on the market.
That said, they’re quite prone to salt bridges and clogging, and their warranty options are limited. So, if this concerns you, you may want to consider alternatives.