Houston Water Co.Houston WaterWhole-home systems

Whole-home water softener

A softener removes the hardness minerals that leave scale on fixtures, spots on glass and buildup in your water heater. It treats every tap in the house.

Soft package

$2,999

Starting installed price for a standard installation. Also included in Clean + Soft and Complete Home.

Compare all packages

What it fixes

  • White scale on faucets and showerheads
  • Spots on glass and dishes
  • Soap and shampoo that won't lather
  • Buildup in the water heater and appliances

How it works

Water passes through a tank of resin beads that swap hardness minerals for sodium. When the resin is full, the softener rinses it with salt water from a separate salt tank and starts again. Ours uses a metered valve, so it only regenerates when you've actually used enough water, which saves salt and water.

Softener or filter?

A softener fixes hardness. It doesn't change chlorine taste or smell, remove sediment, or treat iron or sulfur. A carbon filter handles taste and odor. Many homes want both, which is our Clean + Soft package.

What's included

  • Metered downflow softener and salt tank, sized to your measured hardness and household
  • Standard installation at an existing loop or approved main-line connection
  • Bypass valve so you can service it without shutting off the house
  • Setup, programming and a walkthrough
  • 2-year workmanship warranty plus the manufacturer's warranty

What can change the price

  • No existing softener loop (a new loop is quoted separately)
  • No drain or outlet near the install spot
  • Removing old equipment
  • Permit fees in your city
  • Outdoor enclosures or unusual plumbing

Care

Keep the salt tank topped up with the salt we specify, usually every month or two depending on use. We check settings and salt level on service visits.

Common questions

Does a softener make water safe to drink?

No. A softener reduces hardness, which is about scale and cleaning, not safety. For drinking water, people often add a kitchen reverse osmosis system.

Will my water feel different?

Soft water lathers more easily and can feel slick in the shower. That's the soap rinsing differently, not residue.

How much salt does it use?

It depends on your hardness and how much water you use. The metered valve only regenerates when needed, which keeps salt use down.

Can it go on a home with a septic system?

Yes, with a demand-initiated softener and discharge routed the way Texas septic rules allow. We check this on every septic home.

More questions

Our equipment lineup

The equipment behind your package.

Your written equipment schedule confirms the selected size, supplied parts, installation scope and applicable warranty before an order is placed.

Whole-home softening

Metered Downflow Softener

An ion-exchange softener with a metered electronic control valve, cation resin and a separate salt tank. The valve tracks water use to manage regeneration.

Included in: Soft, Clean + Soft and Complete Home

  • Downflow regeneration
  • Electronic metered control
  • Cation resin for hardness treatment
  • Bypass for servicing

Installation

Installed at the home's treatment connection with a suitable drain, electrical supply and protected location. Tank size and programming are selected for measured hardness and household demand.

Care and maintenance

Keep the salt tank supplied with the specified salt. Have settings, salt level and operation checked as part of your service plan.

Not sure what you need? The water test is free.

We test your water at the tap, check your plumbing and tell you what fits, with no obligation to buy.

Results depend on your water, household use and maintenance. Any performance or certification claim applies only to the specific model in your written quote. Field water tests help choose equipment; they don't show whether water is safe to drink.