Our top choice when it comes to compact water softeners is the Springwell Futuresoft model. The ease of use is unparalleled and it prevents limescale deposits excellently. This model faced stiff competition from the portable water softener American Water Escort and the salt-free softener SoftPro Elite. Check out these three renowned compact water softeners that fit perfectly in even the tightest of spaces.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | CHARACTERISTICS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
better in general  | better in general | Nr. 1 Springwell Futuresoft |
| CHECK THE PRICE |
other  | other | Number 2 US Water Escort portable water softener |
| CHECK THE PRICE |
The best fabric softener without salt  | The best fabric softener without salt | #3 SoftPro Elite without sin |
| CHECK THE PRICE |
These are just three of the six high-performance water softeners ideal for installation in smaller spaces that we'll take a closer look at in this article.
One of the main factors we will consider when evaluating is what they are best for, their size, the degree of water hardness they can remove (or their grit capacity), whether they are salt or salt free models, the maintenance they need and their price.
Once you know the above water softener features that we will discuss here, it will be easier for you to determine which one best suits your needs and budget. You can also determine which one best fits the allotted space you have available for a water softener and whether it is suitable for use in an RV or any other situation where portability is essential.
contents
- 1 best compact water softener in comparison
- Reviews of 2 compact water softeners for small spaces
- 3 Buying guide for compact water softeners
- 4. Conclusion
Comparison of the best compact water softeners
| Product | Springwell Futuresoft | US Water Escort portable water softener | SoftPro Elite sin | PRO+Water | portable for on the go | Vaios RV Pro |
| best use | Preventing limescale build-up throughout the house | RV, RV, light vehicle manufacturing, marine and non-electric applications | Preventing limescale build-up throughout the house | Protection for caravans, trailers, boats and mobile car washes and high-pressure cleaners | Protection for caravans, trailers, boats and mobile car washes and high-pressure cleaners | Specially designed for towing caravans and trailers |
| The maximum level of grain hardness or capacity treated | 81 GGP | Capacity 22,000 grains | 17 GGP | Capacity 16,000 grains | Capacity 16,000 grains | Capacity 10,000 grains |
| Sal of Sin Sal | without salt | Sal | without salt | Sal | Sal | Sal |
| Maat | 52 "x 9" | 35 "x 8" | 48 "x 9" | 19,5 "x 10" | 24 "x 10" | 22 "x 10" |
| Maintenance required | Virtually maintenance free | Manual salt regeneration and backwash | Virtually maintenance free | Manual salt regeneration and backwash | Manual salt regeneration and backwash | Manual salt regeneration and backwash |
| Precio | $$$$ | p.s | $$ | p.s | p.s | p.s |
Reviews of compact water softeners for small spaces
View Order
- Springwell Futuresoft
- US Water Escort portable water softener
- SoftPro Elite sin
- PRO+Water
- portable for on the go
- Vaios RV Pro
Below we have described six compact water softeners in the table above with extensive review information so that you can make the best choice.
1. Springwell Futuresoft (The Best Compact Water Softener)
Like all Springwell water treatment products, the Springwell Futuresoft Compact Water Softener is elite in every way. It is an easy choice among the compact water softeners and is even number 1 in our list of water softeners.the best water softeners made. The Springwell FutureSoft is a free-standing unit that requires only a few square feet of space to install and does a great job of preventing scaling when used in large and small home applications.
People love the fact that it is the closest thing to a forget-me-not water softener and that it is eco-friendly, uses no salt or waste water, saves money and maintenance. All that is required is periodic cleaning or replacement of the media in the included sediment filter. Customers always love the ease of operation and the 60-day money-back guarantee and lifetime warranty on key parts.
Best used for:Preventing limescale build-up throughout the house
Maat:52 "x 9"
Maximum softening degree/grain capacity:81 GGP
Sal o Sin Sal:without salt
Maintenance:Virtually maintenance free
price:Higher end of the price spectrum, but well worth the money
advantages
- Well educated
- Virtually maintenance free
- A 60-day money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty on key components.
Contrast
- not transferable
- It doesn't fit everyone's budget.
2. US Water Escort Portable Water Softener (Best Portable Water Softener)
Here's a beautifully designed salt-based water softener that works just as well whether installed on a small home water supply or used as a portable water softener for RVs, boats and more. It uses a premium cross-linked cation exchange resin in the main tank to enable a highly efficient ion exchange process. A process that effectively removes almost all minerals from the hard water that passes through it. This makes it one of the best models of portable water softeners.
As it can be easily assembled and disassembled, it is practical for various water softening purposes. The 5-year warranty on parts, the lifetime tank warranty and the low price are major advantages.
Best used for:Small houses, RVs, mobile homes, light manufacturing, marine and non-electrical applications
Maat:35 "x 8"
Maximum softening degree/grain capacity:Capacity 22,000 grains
Sal o Sin Sal:Sal
Maintenance:Manual salt regeneration and backwash
price:Lowest price around $400, good investment
advantages
- extremely portable
- Enables affordable and effective removal of hard water minerals
- A big plus is a 5-year warranty on the parts and a lifetime warranty on the tank.
Contrast
- The salt regeneration process is performed manually.
- Slow flow can be a concern
3. SoftPro Elite without sin
This is also a very good compact salt-free water softener. It is one of the few salt-free water softener models that even comes close to the quality of the Springwell Futuresoft. It is a freestanding water softener that only requires a small space of 48" x 9" to install its single tank. This model of water softener does not require electricity to operate and the only maintenance required is periodic cleaning or replacement of the media in the included sediment filter.
People also like the fact that it's a compact softener that can be used in small and large homes with 5 bathrooms or less. The lifetime warranty on key parts also gives customers a welcome purchase.
Best used for:Preventing limescale build-up throughout the house
Maat:48 "x 9"
Maximum softening degree/grain capacity:17 GGP
Sal o Sin Sal:without salt
Maintenance:Virtually maintenance free
price:Average price of a quality water softener. It's worth the money.
advantages
- It is fine for large and small home use
- Lifetime warranty on major components
- almost maintenance free
Contrast
- Not a good option for those who want maximum portability.
- it can be expensive
4. PRO+Water
This is the most portable of all the water softeners we've reviewed to date. This makes it suitable for a wide range of small and rare water softening tasks. PRO+AQUA has created a very nice design here for one of the best and most compact (19.5" x 10" tank) water softeners you can find. It uses a salt-based ion exchange process that is the most effective way to remove minerals that cause hard water.
Moving, setting up and taking apart this salt-based water softener is very easy, and it's also a smaller, less expensive salt-based water softener that gives you great value for money. Aside from the manual process of salt regeneration, it doesn't take much effort or cost to operate.
Best used for:Protection for very small homes, caravans, trailers, boats and mobile cars and high-pressure cleaners
Maat:19,5 "x 10"
Maximum softening degree/grain capacity:Capacity 16,000 grains
Sal o Sin Sal:Sal
Maintenance:Manual salt regeneration and backwash
price:The lowest price for a quality water softener
advantages
- very portable
- Economical
- Easy assembly and disassembly
Contrast
- Requires manual salt regeneration.
- It is not practical even for small home use
- weak current
5. Portable to carry
The On-The-Go Portable Water Softener is another great option when it comes to softening water in small amounts in a variety of locations. It is well made and designed for easy assembly and disassembly. It can be easily used to soften water used on your boat, in your RV or to protect sensitive water with equipment such as pressure washers.
It is very easy to use and even has a built-in handle to increase portability. You must also love the fact that this device uses the most effective form of mineral removal from hard water. It is a salt based ion exchange process. The price of this compact softener is also very attractive.
Best used for:Protection for caravans, trailers, boats and mobile cars and high-pressure cleaners
Maat:24 "x 10"
Maximum softening degree/grain capacity:Capacity 16,000 grains
Sal o Sin Sal:Sal
Maintenance:Manual salt regeneration and backwash
price:Lowest price and good value for money
advantages
- affordable price
- An effective procedure for removing minerals from salt-based hard water.
- extreme portability
Contrast
- Requires manual backwash and salt regeneration.
- Very low flow of 3 GPM
- weighs 35 pounds
6. Watt RV Pro (Best Water Softener for RVs)
This is a compact water softener specifically designed to meet the unique water softening needs of RVs and trailers. Design features such as the 9-pound weight, easy attachment and removal, and built-in drain line flow limiter make it very easy to operate. Combined with the affordable price, you can't go wrong with Watts RV if you want properly softened water for your RV or trailer.
It also utilizes the preferred salt-based demineralization process of hard water with ion exchange. While the manual salt regeneration process can be labor intensive, its extremely portable size and ease of installation and disassembly make it easy to overlook.
Best used for:Towed caravans and caravans
Maat:22 "x 10"
Maximum softening degree/grain capacity:Capacity 10,000 grains
Sal o Sin Sal:Sal
Maintenance:Manual salt regeneration and backwash
price:Lowest price
advantages
- Effective removal of hard water minerals
- low price
- very portable
Contrast
- Requires manual backwash and salt regeneration.
- It has a disturbing flow rate of 3 GPM.
Buying guide for compact water softeners
Here is some useful information that can help you make a decision to buy a good compact water softener.
Criteria to consider before purchasing a compact water softener:
Sal vs sin sal
This could be the most important criterion on which you base your purchasing decision for a water softener. This is because salt-based and salt-free water softeners work very differently.
Compact salt-based water softening systems use an ion exchange process that almost completely removes minerals from the hard water that passes through it. They also often require hand washing and salt regeneration to work properly. Therefore, they require more maintenance than salt-free water softeners.
Salt-free water softeners "condition" only the water that passes through them, thereby preventing scale build-up. This makes salt-free water softeners less practical for use in homes with well or city water with a high mineral content. Once installed, these systems require almost no maintenance and are ideal for those of medium hardness who only need limescale protection.
see oursa guide to water conditioners vs water softenersFor more information.
Elimination of grain capacity and maximum water hardness
The grain capacity of a salt-based water softener model is the amount of hard water-causing minerals it can remove before going through the regeneration cycle. To correctly determine which grain capacity water softener you need, you need to know the hardness of the water in grains per gallon and calculate your household's daily water consumption. As these numbers increase, so should the grain capacity required for your water softener.
Grain capacity is something that does not apply to salt-free water softeners. Instead, manufacturers rate salt-free water softeners based on the maximum grains per gallon (GPG) they can treat.
Again, you'll have tocheck the water hardness in your hometo find out if a particular model of salt-free water softener is right for you.
water flow rate
Different water softener models have different flow rates. This is something that especially applies to salt-based water softeners, as most salt-free water softeners don't affect water pressure much.
This is a feature that you should look for when buying a salt water softener. This is because the low flow rate provided by a water softener can significantly reduce the amount of water coming out of your home's taps, faucets, and shower heads. The larger your home and the more bathrooms you have, the more important it is to know the flow rate of your water softener system.
size and dimensions
I think if you are looking for a compact water softener, finding a suitable place to place the water softener can be a problem for you. That is why it is important to measure the available space where you want to place your new compact water softener before buying one. Most manufacturers list the dimensions of each water softener model they make on their website or on the product packaging.
Also keep in mind that just because a compact water softener is small doesn't mean it's a good portable water softener. This is especially true for salt-free water softeners, as they require a fixed installation and electrical supply.
useful functions
This is especially true for salt-based water softeners. This is because salt-free water softeners operate static and have no conditions that you can monitor or change. The opposite is true for salt (ion exchange) water softeners, which require periodic flushing and then salting.
Most compact water softeners do not have automatic regeneration or salt water tanks. This means that you will have to perform this function yourself. So look for models that come with a small water and salt mixing tank in the box that connects very easily to the main resin tank. This saves you a lot of time and effort.
where you can use it
We previously discussed the importance of the grain capacity of salt-based water softeners. Due to their smaller size, compact water softeners inherently have a smaller grain capacity than full-size water softeners.
This makes them more practical for use in smaller houses, apartments, campers and in situations where the house is supplied with city water. Conversely, they are not suitable for larger homes, homes with many bathrooms, and may not even have a significant impact on water hardness in homes fed by wells with a high mineral content.
The situation is slightly different for compact salt-free water softeners. Each manufacturer rates their models based on the maximum hardness of the incoming water they can successfully treat. Therefore, if you are going to install a compact salt-free water softener, you must strictly adhere to the maximum hardness specified by the manufacturer and how many people and bathrooms the unit will practically serve.
Compact Water Softener Frequently Asked Questions
How much salt do compact salt-based water softeners use?
This is not an easy question to answer, as it has more to do with the hardness of the water entering your home than the inner workings of your water softener. In general, a home with a lower water hardness will use less salt than a home with a high level of minerals in the water that cause hard water. Usually about two boxes of table salt are used to replace the salt when the compact water softener needs to be regenerated.
Where can compact water softeners be used?
Just using the word compact should be an indication of what kind of answer you're going to get here. Due to their smaller size, most compact water softeners are best used in small homes, mobile homes, offshore and RVs with less than 4 people and one bathroom. They may also struggle to make an impact if your home is fed from a source of water with a high mineral content. There are some exceptions to this rule for salt-based water softeners. Consult the manufacturer's specifications to determine if your water softener model is suitable for use in your water softening situation.
For how many people can a compact water softener serve?
In most situations, compact salt-based water softeners are only practical when a small home, mobile home or RV has 1-4 occupants and only one bathroom. This is due to their smaller grain capacity, which would require constant manual salt regeneration for larger applications.
It is just the opposite for compact salt-free water softeners. Some of them can easily be used in homes with 1-6 people and 1-3 bathrooms. Again, check each manufacturer's specifications to find out under what conditions their water softener model is practical to use.
What happens if the water softener is too small?
Buying an undersized salt based water softener will give you a lot of headaches when it comes to keeping it running efficiently. This is because if you choose a model with too little grain capacity for your needs, it will have to be constantly manually regenerated (cleaned and salted). This can make it very tiring when it comes to your search for softened water in your smaller home, mobile home, boat or RV.
The same applies to salt-free water softeners that are considered too small for the water softener's intended function. It will perform worse and may not alleviate your hard water problems.
Conclusion
As you can see here, just because you have a mobile home, RV, boat, or condo doesn't mean you can't enjoy the benefits of softer water. You just need to make sure that the model you buy fits your unique water softening needs. This will take more effort than you probably thought before reading this article.
After processing all the above information, Springwell Futuresoft stands out as the best compact water softener, American Water Escort comes out as the best portable water softener, and Watts RV Pro is considered the best RV water softener behind travel trailers. .