Adriano Valerio If you're shopping for a water softener and comparing options, you’ve likely seen the price difference between salt-based and salt-free systems. At first glance, a salt-based unit might seem more affordable, but that’s only the beginning of the story.
When you factor in salt, maintenance, wasted water, service calls, and local regulations, salt systems can become far more expensive over time. A salt-free water softener, like LifeSource, offers savings that compound year after year.
Let’s break it down.
Salt-based softeners often come with lower upfront pricing, but they make up for it with recurring expenses.
Here’s what most homeowners don’t realize:
Salt Refills:
Monthly salt purchases can range from $15 to $40, adding up to $200 to $500 per year, depending on household size and hardness level.
Water Waste from Regeneration:
Salt-based softeners use up to 50 gallons of water per cycle to flush out minerals. That adds up on your water bill.
Ongoing Maintenance:
Parts wear down. Filters need replacing. Brine tanks require cleaning. And when things break? You’ll need a technician.
What If Your City Bans Water Softeners?
More cities and states are banning salt-based softeners due to their brine discharge and environmental impact. If your city enacts a ban, you'll be forced to remove or replace your system, an unexpected and costly disruption.
Over a 10-year period, these costs can far exceed the original purchase price of the unit.
Salt-free systems like LifeSource have a higher upfront investment, but they’re engineered to be maintenance-free and last for decades.
Here’s what you won’t pay for:
- No salt bags.
- No filters to replace.
- No wastewater or backwashing.
- No service calls or tune-ups.
Related Resource: Salt-Free vs. Salt-Based Softeners
Instead, you get clean, great-tasting water and scale protection for your entire home, without lifting a finger.
Over 10 years, the savings add up. A salt-based softener may cost $2,000–$3,000 to purchase and install, but you could spend an additional $3,000–$5,000 in salt, maintenance, and repairs.
A LifeSource system includes:
- A 10-year warranty on the system, tested and certified to be the longest-lasting system in the industry.
- No consumables or hidden costs.
- Certified scale prevention and whole-home filtration in one.
- Over 41 years in business serving customers nationwide.
- Repeat customers who return when they move or upgrade their homes.
Real Homeowners Say:
“We paid more upfront for LifeSource, but we haven’t spent a dime since. And our water is better than ever.”