Whirlpool Water Softeners: Built by a Brand You Can Trust
Whirlpool has become a staple name when it comes to home water systems, be it filtration, pool systems, or water softeners. They're so well known for good reason too, as their products provide a consistent level of quality, solidifying them as a brand you can trust. The trustworthy brand name isn't the only reason you should purchase a whirlpool water softener though.
Why Buy Whirlpool
Without a doubt, the quality of the product is one of the biggest reasons to invest in a whirlpool water softener. All of their products are durable, work well, and fairly well-reviewed. They also offer a wide variety of products to suit the needs of individual homes, based on the current water quality and water softening needs.
The price range of the unit depends on the size of the unit as well as the number of features, grain capacity, and specifications of the unit itself. While the general price range of water softener systems can widely vary, anywhere from $40 to $4000, Whirlpool systems normally don't go above $1000 in terms of price.
When it comes to the system capacity, whirlpool systems can generally circulate enough water to supply a 3-5 person household. This is usually around 30,000 - 48,000 grains of capacity depending on the unit. The higher capacity units do have a longer lifespan though, as they don't have to run a regeneration cycle as often.
When it comes to water softeners, salt-based systems are the best at removing ions from the water. Since Whirlpool systems are all salt-based water softeners, there's no issue with the quality of water softening you'll be seeing in your water.
When it comes to regeneration cycles, most of Whirlpool's water softener systems kick in their cycle as needed. This means that you don't have to manually start a regeneration cycle every few months, and it helps save on water and salt as the cycles only kick in when the system needs it.
What is Water Softening?
The water coming out of your tap isn't just H2O. As groundwater runs up towards your plumbing system, it carries with it natural minerals that have been dissolved from the ground, primarily calcium and magnesium. These ions are what make the water 'hard' so to speak, and can cause a scaly build up on everything from your dishes to your appliances, and even your own body. If your home is suffering from soap scum and corroded piping, hard water is likely to blame.
Water softening uses low charge ions like sodium (found in most neutral salts) to perform ion exchange with the heavier ions in the water. What this means is that the sodium on the regenerated media in the water softener will swap with the hard minerals in your water, leaving only the sodium in the softened water leading into your pipes. When the system needs to go through regeneration, the opposite process happens, and the sodium is flushed into the basin with water to re-bind to the regenerated media, and the remaining hard ions are flushed with the water down the drain.
With the basics of water softening out of the way, it's time to look at some of the best Whirlpool water softeners and why they're so effective.
Our Top Pick for 2020
Whirlpool WHES30E 30,000 Grain Softener
The Whirlpool WHES30E 30,000 Grain Softener is a great system for small to medium-sized homes. It removes up to 8pppm of clear water including ferrous iron, which is invisible to the naked eye.
Best Whirlpool Water Softeners
1. Whirlpool WHES30E 30,000 Grain Softener
The Whirlpool WHES30E 30,000 Grain Softener is a great system for small to medium-sized homes. It removes up to 8pppm of clear water including ferrous iron, which is invisible to the naked eye. The system also calculates your daily water use for you and bases its regeneration cycle on how much water is used on a day to day basis. It also uses a small LED indicator to notify you when it is low on salt and needs to be refilled.
When it comes to installation, it is very simple, and even provides do it yourself instructions. You make have to make a trip to the hardware store to pick up specific connectors for your plumbing hookup, but all you'll really need is the connectors, some tubing, a drain, and a 110V electrical outlet to plug the unit into.
When it comes to cleaning and maintenance, it is recommended you clean the unit once every 4 months. This is super easy since all you need to do is pour a bottle of water softener cleaner into the unit and you'll be good to go. It's a fairly self-sufficient unit requiring very little upkeep or maintenance.
Features:
- Automatic Regeneration Cycle
- Water Use Tracker
- Salt Indicator Light
- 30,000 Grain Sofener
- 1-Year Warranty
- 95 Grains Per Gallon Particle Removal
- 8 PPM Iron Removal
Pros
- Easy Installation
- Leaves no trace of particles
- Self initiating regeneration cycle
- Low-salt alert light
- Compact single-tank design
Cons
- Not ideal for houses with more than 4 people
Verdict
Overall the Whirlpool WHES30E 30,000 Grain Softener is a great unit that will fit the needs of most households. Its low maintenance design makes it great for people who don't want to be bogged down with changing parts or keeping track of regeneration cycles, or people who simply physically can't keep up with a more involved water softening unit. The only real downside is that it's really limited to a maximum household of 3-4 people before it starts struggling to keep up with the demand.
2. Whirlpool Water Softener WHES40 Model
Much like the Whirlpool WHES30E model, the Whirlpool Water Softener WHES40 Model shares a lot of similar features. Much like the smaller model, the WHES40 can calculate the amount of salt and water required for the regeneration cycle, as well as time the cycles in accordance with your water usage.
It also has the same low salt indicator to notify you when the salt needs to be refilled, as well as the same installation requirements in terms of the parts you'll need as well as the quick DIY installation guide.
Where the units really differ, though, is their specs. The Whirlpool Water Softener WHES40 Model is designed to accommodate a larger or more populated home, accomodating up to 6 people.
Features:
- Particle Removal Level of 125 Grains Per Gallon
- 10PPM of Ferrous Iron Removal
- 1 Year Warranty
- Auto Start Regeneration Cycle
- Salt and Water Calculation
- Low Salt LED Indicator
- 40,000 grains per cycle
Pros
•Can accomodate large households
•Low maintenance
•Easy to clean
•Low salt indicator
•Reasonably priced
Cons
This unit is on par with the Whirlpool WHES30E in terms of performance. They both have a lot of the same functionality, with the only difference being the capacity. If you live in a larger home or have higher water usage you'll be better off with the Whirlpool Water Softener WHES40. While smaller homes won't have a negative impact from purchasing the Whirlpool Water Softener WHES40, it might save you a little money to purchase the Whirlpool WHES30E instead if you really don't have the need for the higher capacity unit.
Verdict
Overall the Whirlpool WHES30E 30,000 Grain Softener is a great unit that will fit the needs of most households. Its low maintenance design makes it great for people who don't want to be bogged down with changing parts or keeping track of regeneration cycles, or people who simply physically can't keep up with a more involved water softening unit. The only real downside is that it's really limited to a maximum household of 3-4 people before it starts struggling to keep up with the demand.
3. Whirlpool WHESFC Water Softener
The Whirlpool WHESFC does more than just soften. This hybrid unit essentially combines two systems into one, softening your water by removing hard metal ions while at the same time also filtering your water and lowering the chlorine in your water as well.
This 2-in-1 system follows a similar compact design to the prior units, only requiring a single tank worth of space.
This system also includes all of the benefits of the other two units on this list.
This includes the same water and salt tracking system, the auto regeneration cycle, the low-salt LED light, DIY installation guide, and easy cleaning and maintenance. This unit pretty much does it all, though it does have the price tag to match, as it's the most expensive unit of the three.
Since the unit acts similarly to a water filter as well, there are a few other key things to note though. The filtration unit is combined in the same housing as the water softener, and it uses its own filter to filter out chlorine from your incoming water supply. The filter does not need to be changed like many other water filtration systems though since it goes through a self-cleaning process every 14 days to ensure the filter performs optimally. This means that despite having two separate water treatment systems running, the unit remains relatively maintenance-free. It's still just as easy to clean too, only needing one bottle of water softener cleaner to be poured into the unit every 4 months.
Features:
- Hardness Removal Level of 120 Grains Per Gallon
- 3PPM Iron Removal
- 31,000 Grain Capacity
- Built-in Filtration System
- Automatic Regeneration Cycle
- Water and Salt Tracking
- Low Salt LED Light
- Automatic Filter Cleaning Every 14 Days
Pros
- Both softens and filters your water removing hard ions as well as chemicals
- Easy DIY installation with all parts included for setup
- Low maintenance with automatic regeneration cycle
- Self cleaning filter which cleans every 14 days
- LED indicators for low salt and other maintenance alerts
- Easy to clean
- All-in-one unit
Cons
- Only supports up to around a 4-5 person household
- Due to its weight, might need help installing
- Fairly low iron removal compared to the other models
- Flow rate could be better
- Filter is not as efficient as units specifically designed to just filter water
Verdict
While this is the best system on this list, it doesn't come without its drawbacks. It's ideal for people who want an easy all in one unit that doesn't require heavy maintenance or regular filter changes. Thanks to all of the features of the prior two units, it auto-regenerates, and the filtration system auto-cleans its filter every 14 days so you don't have to worry about filter changes. The LED is still there to let you know when the salt basin gets too low as well, and it's just as easy to clean.
The problem with this machine is it really adheres well to the jack-of-all-trades but master of none adage. The unit has a considerably lower iron removal rate than the other two units, but its hardness removal level is on par with the Whirlpool Water Softener WHES40 Model. The household size it's optimal for is also somewhere in between the Whirlpool WHES30E and the Whirlpool Water Softener WHES40 Model accommodating around 4 people.
While this model does a good job with both filtering out chemicals and softening water, it loses out on effectiveness by trying to do both at once. It does an adequate job, and if you're simply looking for cleaner and clearer water then this machine is going to do everything you're looking for it to do. If you're looking for specific filtration rates and performance quality for health reasons though, or need a specific chemical filtered out due to either using well water or living in an area with high concentrations of something like fluoride, you'd likely be better of purchasing the Whirlpool WHES30E or the Whirlpool Water Softener WHES40 for softening your water and hook it into a water filtration system specifically designed to remove the chemicals or microbes your water supply has issues with.
Conclusions
When it comes to these three water softening systems, the best system really is dependant on your specific needs. They all have their niche to fill, and while the Whirlpool WHESFC Water Softener might be the objectively best option among the three due to the additional features, it might not be the best choice to suit your needs. Before making a choice on a water softener, figure out what your water usage is in terms of your household. If you are a three-person household but have an above-average water usage rate, the Whirlpool WHES30E might not be able to keep up with your demands.
If you're planning to get a water softening unit for your small business, it can be safer to err on the side of caution and go for the larger unit. Since you're likely looking for something both cost-effective and low maintenance, the Whirlpool WHESFC Water Softener would likely be the best option as you're not looking for the absolute perfect results, but enough to ensure both softened and filtered water for yourself and your staff.
Picking the right water softener for your needs is up to you, though when it comes to water softeners, Whirlpool makes some of the best in the industry. While this guide can help point you in the right direction, it's important to do your own research based on your own water usage needs to find the system most suited for your home.