If you have an RV or smaller home, and looking for a portable water softener, this is the right article for you to read!
Here you can find useful information about compact water softener models that will help you while buying the most suitable model for your RV or household. I’ll describe features, functions, design and system capacity of 5 best compact water softeners. Compare their reviews and find out which one is the best for you!
Things To Know Before Buying Portable Water Softener
Where To Buy Best Portable Water Softener?
Online retailers such as Amazon are the best for quick check out of all water softener brands. And you can find lower prices in comparison to those offered on the brand’s official websites. If you’re not for Internet shopping go to specialized stores for house appliances where the professional salesman will help you. Also, you can go to any local store with a wide offer to check if they’re selling any water softeners.
The Price Range Of Compact Water Softeners
Portable water softeners are usually having lower prices, but that isn’t general rule because the price is determined by many other factors such as materials, water softening system type, brand and much more. The general price range is between $200 and $3000.
The Water Softening System Type
There are two main types of compact water softener systems: salt-based and saltless. Salt-based are having tanks that can require bigger space for installation, in comparison to saltless which are one of the smallest units on the market. For example, magnetic or electric softener can be connected on the pipe, while salt-based must be placed somewhere in the room.
How Big Is Your Home?
According to other compact water softener reviews, it’s important to know if the unit is having high enough capacity to process enough water for your household. So it’s not only important if it will fit into the room, but also if you’ll need more than one softener unit to cover the whole household.
Warranty And Certificates
Portable soft water systems should have a certificate that will approve that they’ve been tested for safety and health. Also, the unit should have at least a 1-year limited warranty. A longer warranty is often guaranteed for higher quality and durability of the unit.
The Best 5 Compact Water Softener Reviews
The Best Portable Water Softener For RV:
On The Go Portable Water Softener
The System Capacity
This RV water softener On The Go model has 16 000 grain system capacity, which is one of the highest capacities for processing the amount of water needed for smaller households or RV. Additionally, it produces twice the gallons compared to the standard model.
Dimensions And Installation
This On The Go water softener is 22” high and 9.5” wide, so it’s very compact and it will easily fit into any room or in RV. The top of the unit has a handle for even easier carrying. The unit is very easy to install. You don’t need any tools or electricity for assemblage.
Standard Hose Connection And Anti-Leakage
With the On The Go double standard water softener, you’ll get a standard garden hose connection for assembling the park faucet to your RV. Another great user-friendly feature is the cap & plug design that prevents water leakage.
Fast Regeneration
The inlet hose has a 360-degree swivel, which makes this RV water softener even easier to install. Besides fast installation, another great function of this portable water softener for RV is quick regeneration that lasts up to 30 minutes.
Flow Rate And Pressure
RV water softener regeneration is using the salt for resetting the resin in the mineral tank, which is processing water by removing hard ions with the salt exchange. The On The Go portable double standard water softener & conditioner has a high flow rate with low-pressure drop.
- 16000-grain system capacity
- 360-degree swivel
- 30 minutes long regeneration
- high flow rate
- low-pressure drop
The Best Portable Water Softener Car Wash Model:
Mobile Soft-Water Portable Water Softener
Lightweight And Compact Design
This is a great portable water softener that is lightweight and compact, therefore ideal for day trips, small spaces, RVs or car washing. It weighs only 14 pounds and it’s easy to carry. The unit is 16” high, 6” wide and long.
High-Quality Resin
Its water softening system is salt-based which means the hard ions are exchanged with the salt ions for producing soft water. The mineral tank has 0.1 cubic feet of highly charged cation resin 8% cross-link styrene resin.
Efficient And Fast Regeneration
The resin is highly efficient in removing the hard ions. To maintain the efficiency of the softening process, the mineral tank needs to be regenerated with salt. The regeneration cycle is fast and doesn’t require electricity which is energy saving.
Capacity Of Hardness Removal
The system capacity to remove hardness is up to 3 200 grains. It can treat up to 5 gallons per minute (GPM) of water with an efficiency of 10 grains per gallon. Therefore, altogether it can process up to 320 gallons of water before regeneration.
POE Connection Types
It condition water with calcium, magnesium, iron, lead and other heavy metals, so it’s also ideal for processing well water. The device is a POE (point-of-entry) model that’s easy to install to water pipes with a garden hose. Both inlet and outlet are nylon male hose connections that are made from NSF 61 listed materials.
- 16” high, 6” wide and long
- materials are NSF 61 listed
- 3200 grains system capacity
- includes high-quality 8% cross-link styrene resin
The Best Portable Water Softener For Apartments:
Pro + Aqua Small Water Softener For Apartments
System Capacity And Dimensions
Like the previous unit, this small water softener for the apartment also has system capacity to remove up to 16 000 grains of hardness, which is one of the largest capacity among compact units. The tank is 10” long and 19.5” high.
High Flow Rate
Another user-friendly feature is a high flow rate of 5 GPM and minimal pressure drop. The base of this portable water softener for apartments is 10” wide and ensures high stability on uneven surfaces.
Process Up To 2000 Gallons
With this unit, you can process up to 2000 gallons of water before the regeneration cycle is required. This unit, therefore, produces many more gallons in comparison to other compact models on the market.
Regeneration And NSF Certified Materials
The device has a salt-based system, therefore the tank must be regenerated to maintain high performance. Regeneration lasts only 30 minutes which is fast. It requires a maximum of 2 boxes of table salt. All materials used in construction are NSF listed.
Package Content
The package includes an additional female adapter for backwash and 3/4” big high flow in/out garden hose connections. The softener system is efficient in softening well and city water. It will reduce calcium, magnesium, iron, lead, radium and other heavy metals from water.
- 5” high and 10” long and wide
- 16 000 grains system capacity
- 5 GPM flow rate and fast regeneration
The Best Portable Water Softener For Shower:
Dewifier Compact Water Softener
2in1 Filtration And Softener System For Shower
This device is one of the most compact water softener models on the market. It’s designed as a shower head that has a filtration system that works as both a softening system and a filter for removing bacteria and other contaminants.
Test Kit Included
The great user-friendly feature is the test kit which is included and you can use it to do water tests for chlorine presence after the treatment with the showerhead. Besides that, it’s easy to install and it will fit any 0.5” wide shower system.
Easy Installation Without Tools
For the installation, you won’t need any tools. After the treatment, water will be cleaned from all chemicals and bacteria, and without any hard ions that cause mineral build-ups or irritations on skin and hair.
First And Second Stage As Pre-Filters
The filtration system is very efficient because it’s multistaged. The first stage is made from high-density stainless steel mesh which prevents medium-sized sediment to enter other filters. The second stage is the polypropylene cotton which removes small sediment and dust. These two are pre-filters that ensure the longevity of other filters.
Other Stages Of Filtration System
The third stage is granulated activated coconut carbon that removes chlorine, THMS, and organic particles. Kinetic degradation fluxion (KDF-55) is the fourth stage that removes chlorine and heavy metals. The fifth stage is ceramic balls that are making chlorine removal even more efficient. The last stage is a resin which removes hard ions from water.
- multistaged filtration system
- resin is used for softening the water
The Best Compact Whole House Water Softener:
Hardness Compact Whole House Water Filter And Softener
Compact Filtration And Softening System
Like the previous model, this is also both filtration and softener system. It’s easily attached to the main water pipe, and because of the small and compact design, you can put it anywhere in your house.
Valve Mechanism For Easy Maintenance
It’s easy to maintain because it has a unique mechanism of valve. Turn the valve for 30 seconds and the filters will be flushed and cleaned. You should do this at least once a month. Also, unlike previous models, it’s salt-free so you don’t have to buy additional salt.
Eco-Friendly Salt-Free Multistaged System
Because it’s salt-free, you won’t drink water with an excess concentration of salt, which is also very eco-friendly. Also, it doesn’t reduce your water pressure and doesn’t produce any wastewater. The result of the process through a multistaged system is soft and clean water with better taste.
First And Second Stage For Softening
The first stage of this filtration and softening system is the til rod which begins the conditioning process. The cartridge makes the second stage that contains slow phos crystals which change the structure of minerals in the water that passes through. In that way that loses the ability to form limescale build-up.
Filtration And Magnetic Conditioning
The third stage is the mesh filter which reduces larger particles from softened water. It’s made from 26-micron stainless steel mesh. The fourth stage includes a 2-micron filter, while the fifth stage is a magnetic band that further softens the water with the electromagnetic field.
- chemical and magnetic conditioning of water
- valve mechanism for cleaning filters
- 26-micron stainless steel mesh
- 2-micron filter for smaller contaminants
- eco-friendly unit
Conclusion: Which Two Models Are The Best Compact Water Softeners?
In my opinion, you should buy On The Go compact water softener and Pro + Aqua portable water softener because these models have the highest system capacity of hardness removal in comparison to other models. They both have fast regeneration and high flow rate, while the first has 360-degree swivel for easy connection.
To learn more about other water softeners on the market, and to read buying guide, check out this review on the best water softeners. In case you want to check out more shower filter models, read this post on shower softener models. I recommend you this review on home water softener cost to find out more about softeners for home and their price.