Waterboss water softeners are well-known for their ability to handle extremely hard water. So, if you’re dealing with this problem, this would be the ideal solution.
Yet, if you don’t know much about water softeners, you’re probably struggling to work out which model is right for your home.
In this guide, we review the best Waterboss water softener models and cover key specifications, such as grain capacity, gpg ratings, flow rates, and all the other important specs you need to know to make an informed decision.
- 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 Waterboss Water Softeners?
Waterboss softeners are manufactured in the USA by Waterboss, which has over 30 years of experience in water filtration and treatment. In addition to producing high-quality water softeners, the company also produces well-renowned water filters.
All Waterboss softeners are incredibly cost-effective, as they use very little water and salt for their regeneration process, making them cheap to run.
This is because all models use a fine mesh resin that minimizes water and salt usage. However, there are still differences in cost-effectiveness between models and in size, water flow ratio, and water capacity. Our comparison table below will give you a better idea of these differences.
Waterboss Water Softener Comparison
Waterboss has 5 different models to choose from. If you’re wondering why there are 7 in the comparison table, it’s because we’ve included the 900 + I.F. and 900 + N.F. as separate models, even though they’re just 900 models with additional filters. This will help you compare the specs of all the different units.
| Model | Waterboss 700 | Waterboss 900 | Waterboss 950 | Waterboss 900 + I.F. | Waterboss 900 + N.F. | Waterboss 180 | Waterboss 380 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 14.75” x 18.75” x 25.75” | 14.75” x 18.75” x 25.75” | 14.75” x 18.75” x 30.75” | 14.75” x 18.75” x 30.75” | 14.75” x 18.75” x 30.75” | 14.75” x 18.75” x 25.5” | 16.25” x 18.75” x 33.5” |
| Weight | 85lbs | 105lbs | 105lbs | 115lbs | 125lbs | 85lbs | 135lbs |
| Regeneration time | 20 minutes | 26 minutes | 20 minutes | 44 minutes | 7 minutes | 21 minutes | 39 minutes |
| Gallons per regeneration | 12 gallons | 14 gallons | 14 gallons | 66 gallons | 35 gallons | 12 gallons | 15 gallons |
| Salt used per regeneration | 2 lbs | 3 lbs | 2.5 lbs | 5 lbs | Uses calcite & corasex | 2 lbs | 4 lbs |
Similar water softener brands to compare with:
- AO Smith Water Softener Reviews & Price Guide
- Rheem Water Softener Reviews & Price Guide
- Kinetico Water Softener Reviews & Price Guide
- Sterling Water Softener Reviews & Price Guide
Waterboss Water Softener Reviews
The section below provides a short summary of the 700, 900, and 950 models.
You’ll notice that we don’t cover the 180 and 380 models. This is because they can only be found in Menards, which makes them significantly more difficult to research, review, or buy.
Waterboss 700 Reviews
- Price: $530
- Grain Capacity: 22k
- Max Water Hardness: 70gpg
The 700 model has the best all-around stats out of the three, which is largely thanks to its decent grain capacity, fast regeneration time, and the fact it’s the lightest Waterboss model. Its low weight means it’s easy to install and can be moved to different locations with minimal effort.
Aside from that, this unit can also soften water with a 70 gpg rating, which means it’s ideal if you have extremely hard water. Plus, it uses the least salt and water per regeneration cycle, making it the most economical model overall.
Waterboss 900 Reviews
- Price: $580
- Grain Capacity: 36.4k
- Max Water Hardness: 90 gpg
On top of the standard softening filter, the 900 model comes with a supplementary dirt and sediment filter that removes additional drinking water contaminants.
It has the largest grain capacity (36.4k) out of the three models, which makes it ideal for larger households with 4 or more people. This is because the large grain capacity allows it to soften a large volume of water before it needs to regenerate.
It also has the highest gpg rating of the three models. So, if your water has incredibly high levels of hard water minerals, this is the unit for you.
The only downside to this model is that the regeneration time is slower than the other two models. However, the difference is only 6 minutes, so we’d say that the slower regeneration time really shouldn’t be a deal breaker if you like this model.
Waterboss 950 Reviews
- Price: $640
- Grain Capacity: 22k
- Max Water Hardness: 35 gpg
Although it has the lowest gpg rating of the three models, 35 gpg means it can still handle extremely hard water. This is because any water with more than 15 gpg is considered to be “extremely” hard.
To be honest, this model doesn’t really have any flaws. The regeneration time is incredibly short, the water and salt usage per regeneration is very conservative, and the built-in self-cleaning feature makes maintenance super easy.
Pros & Cons of Waterboss Softeners
Now that we’ve gone over the general specs, let’s also list some of Waterboss softeners’ overall pros and cons to help you decide if you’re still unsure about this brand.
PROS
- Installation: Waterboss makes compact water softeners, which are much simpler to install than most standard models on the market because there’s no second tank that needs to be connected. In addition to this, Waterboss has made installing their softeners even easier by providing a full video tutorial and an active comment section where they answer questions from customers.
- Warranty: Waterboss offers a 5-year warranty on all parts, including electronics, and a 10-year warranty on the media tank.
- Price: There are definitely cheaper water softeners on the market, and you could probably find something for as low as $200. However, in terms of gpg ratings, grain capacity, and even salt efficiency, the Waterboss models are far superior to any other similarly priced system.
- Efficiency: Waterboss softeners are highly efficient in their use of salt, water, and energy. This saves you money over time and also makes them more eco-friendly than plenty of other water softeners on the market.
- GPG: All of the Waterboss models can handle water with very high gpg ratings, so any of them would be suitable for homes with extremely hard water.
CONS
- Lack of Features: Aside from the self-cleaning feature, these water softeners don’t have any outstanding features. In particular, you’ll notice a lack of any sort of alarm system that warns you when salt levels are getting low. This means you’ll need to manually open the top and check if it needs a fill-up every day.
Is Waterboss a Good Water Softener?
Waterboss softeners are great, as long as you’re not looking for a softener with lots of advanced features.
All of the models are ideal for homes with extremely hard water, and given their large grain capacities, they’re actually pretty affordable. Plus, Waterboss softeners are highly efficient, which means they’re good for both your wallet and the environment.
- 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
