There are 2 ways to own a water softener; you either buy or rent. Most people prefer to have their own water softener, but that’s not always possible, especially if you’re renting your home.
Owning and renting a softener both have their advantages. For one, if you’ve never had a water softener, renting is a way to dip your toes in before going all out and investing in an expensive water softening system.
But that’s not all there is to it. There are many reasons and variables that might push you in either direction. For example, do you know how hard your water is? Do you like the taste of your water without a water softener? Do you own or rent your place? Those are a few questions that you’ll have to answer for yourself before you make a decision.
We’re here to help you look at the problem from every angle and decide which option is the best. Let’s go.
Pros & Cons of Buying
PROS
- Better long-term value
- Monthly payment purchase options
- A new softener
- Warranted high-quality performance
- More options to choose from
- Adds value to your property
CONS
- Up-front costs
- Maintenance and installation fees
- Not suitable for short-term use
Pros & Cons of Rental
PROS
- More affordable
- Better short-term value
- No upfront costs
- Malfunctioning systems are usually replaced at no additional charge
CONS
- Less value than buying a system in the long run
- Installation and maintenance might not be covered by the rental
- No flexibility in the settings
- You’ll likely get a pre-used softener
- Limited choices
Rental vs Purchase: Things to Consider
If your water hardness levels are over 61 mg/L of calcium carbonate, then your water is considered hard. However, if your water is below these levels, but you’d like it to be softer, it might be a good idea to rent a water softener first and see whether you get the desired results.
Since you’re here, you’re probably dealing with hard water, so here are some things to consider before opening your wallet.
Do You Own the Property?
The second thing to consider is the property where you’ll be installing the water softener. Is it a rental, or do you own it? Even if you have a long lease on your rental agreement, installing a whole-house softening system is quite an undertaking. The installation can be an arduous process and might require you to break walls.
If you decide to go through with it and your landlord gives you the green light, then it’s wise to rent the water softening system rather than buy it.
On the other hand, if you own the property, this is a non-factor. Buying makes more sense here since there are benefits you might not have thought of, like added value to your listing if you eventually decide to sell the property.
What’s Your Budget?
Having said all that, your budget is probably the deciding factor on whether you decide to buy or rent a water-softening system.
Renting a softening system is a smaller initial investment, but it offers less value in the long term. Rentals usually make sense for timeframes that extend to about a year.
If you are looking at rentals, you are probably looking at anywhere between $25-$50 per month for an average softener. Of course, this all depends on the type of softener, its quality, the manufacturer, your local area, and the policy on additional maintenance and repair costs.
Water softeners have a lifespan of about 10 to 15 years. This means that if you decide to rent a water softener at $30 per month, over the years of its lifespan, you are looking at a price tag of $3,600. This does not include the expenses for potential repairs and maintenance.
If your rental agreement does not cover maintenance and repairs, you are looking at another $200-500.
In today’s market, you can buy a water softener for about $1,500. This means that it really makes no sense to rent for more than five years unless you have good reason to do so.
Before renting, make sure that you read and understand your agreement in detail so that you can assess the situation from every angle.
Do You Need a Salt-Based or Salt-Free System?
Your decision on whether to buy or rent a water softener also depends on the type of softener that you are after. For the most part, water softeners will either be salt-based or salt-free.
Salt-free softeners are also referred to as conditioners because they don’t actually reduce the amount of minerals in the water, they just minimize the amount of minerals that accumulate in your appliances and plumbing.
Salt-based systems reduce the number of hard minerals in your water through the process of ionization, while salt-free systems crystalize the calcium and magnesium and keep them from damaging your water system infrastructure—they do not soften water, despite what many think.
So, should you rent or buy a salt-free system? Yet again, we don’t have a straightforward answer. In a nutshell, salt-free systems are generally less expensive, and easier to install and maintain compared to salt-based systems. Keep in mind that salt-based systems are banned in certain cities and counties due to environmental concerns. If your city or county bans draining saltwater, a salt-free system is your best option.
Rent to Own
A rent-to-own scenario just might be the best of both worlds for you. Rent-to-own purchases are deals that allow you to keep paying for the unit as a rental on a monthly basis, but once your total rent reaches a certain sum, you end up owning the system.
This option does have interest attached to it and is more expensive than simply walking into a shop and buying a system on the spot. But, there are cases where it makes the most sense from a budget standpoint.
Do note that you won’t own the water softener until the very last payment is made. It’s a rental until the moment that you own it, and you should treat it as such.
This means that you will need a steady source of income because if you miss a payment at any time, you might get the water softener taken away, and all that monthly interest would go to waste.
Where to Rent Water Softeners
When it comes to rentals, it really depends on your location. There are vendors that cover a lot of the US, but a local vendor might have much better offers at better prices.
Culligan Water’s monthly rent fee is on the higher end of the spectrum, starting at $49 per month, but they are renowned for their quality. In order to get a precise offer, you will need to get in touch with one of their representatives and schedule a free water consultation. They will help you find the right solution for your water needs.
Reliance is another excellent choice for water softener rentals because they offer you full coverage for repairs and maintenance, starting at $1 per day. Their most popular offering is the Reliance™ Water Softener, also available in a bundle with a water heater.
If you need something else or require more “horsepower,” you can book a consultation by completing one of the forms on their page or calling their dedicated service phone line.
The best approach is to do a bit of research and get a sense of what the market for rentals is in your area. You can then decide if it’s better to go with a bigger firm with a lot of coverage or go local.
Where to Buy Water Softeners
Much like when renting, you will find the best-suited water softener for your personal needs by researching your local market. That being said, you can always lean on brands and companies that have a proven track record.
SpringWell Water Filtration Systems has been one of the leaders in the water filtration industry for twenty years now. They’re constantly looking to adapt to the latest and greatest technologies in water filtration and softening.
Most of their products are backed by a 6-month money-back guarantee policy, and they offer a wide variety of products, including:
- Salt-Free Water Softeners
- Salt Water Softeners
- Whole House Water Filter Systems
- Well Water Filter Systems
- Reverse Osmosis Systems
- UV Water Purification Systems
- Replacement Water Filters
- Sediment Water Filters
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that you are better off purchasing a water softener if you have prior experience with one and you own your property.
If this is you, then investing in a water softener makes sense when you consider the investment-to-value ratio. If you intend to use a water softener for years on end, you’re likely to pay half as much as you would when renting one, albeit upfront.
Renting a softening unit can be a better idea if you don’t own your place, and/or if you want to try out different water softeners to see what works best for your house.
