GE has a line of water softeners that includes a broad range of models. This means you can find the right model for your circumstance. GE produce both small and large water softeners with different capacity levels to suit every situation.
The “GE water softener” is a softener offering from one of the most famous brands in the home electrical appliance industry. The company has spent many years being an industry leader, producing good quality home electrical appliances and high performing products. GE Water Softener Reviews - The Top 3 Systems. With that being said, lets take a look at 3 of the most popular GE water softeners on the market, which are almost identical to each other, apart from their size and power.
The GE water softener’s mentioned below show 2 different sizes and grain capacity. They cover both ends of the spectrum of water softening needs. Let’s see how they compare:
GE GXSH40V 40,000 Grain Water Softener | GE GXSH45V 45,000 Grain Water Softener |
Capacity: 40,200 grain | Capacity: 45,000 grain |
Salt capacity: 230 lbs | Salt capacity: 230 lbs |
Technical Features: Water saving technology, SmartSoft technology and custom select blending valve | Technical Features: SmartSoft technology, high flow valve, salt saving technology, custom select blending valve, sediment filter and water saving. |
Its hardness removal capacity is 125 gpg | Its hardness removal capacity is 160 gpg |
Dimensions are 0.1 x 50 x 26 inches | Dimensions are 22 7/16 x 47 5/8 x 14 7/16 inches |
Cost: $$$ | Cost: $$$$ |
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: GE 40,000 Grain at Home Depot
'GE's SmartSoft technology adaptively learns the home's standard water usage so it can better adapt the softening process.'
Best Budget: Aquasana SimplySoft at Home Depot
'A relatively low-tech solution for people wanting an easy-to-use water softener option.'
Best for Well Water:iSpring 6-Stage RCC7 AK System at Amazon
'The result is healthy, great-tasting water that many say is as good or better than bottled.'
Best Liquid Water Softener:Calgon Liquid at Amazon
'A great choice for people needing a better laundry or dishwashing experience.'
Best Pellet Water Softener:Diamond Crystal Soft and Bright at Home Depot
'Each pellet contains 99.8% pure salt so you don't have to worry about harmful chemicals.'
Best Electronic Water Softener:Eddy Water Descaler at Amazon
'Can handle a variety of minerals without any leftover particles in the water.'
Best Heavy Duty Water Softener:Aquasana Rhino 5-Stage at Home Depot
'Installation is as simple as hooking it up to your existing plumbing.'
Best Salt-Free Water Softener:Pelican Water Natursoft at Home Depot
'Tailored to remove harmful minerals while retaining nutritional ones.'
Best Twin Tank:48K Dual Tank Alternating Water Softener at Amazon
'A great pick for large families or those with particularly hard water.'
Best Overall: GE 40,000 Grain
This top pick for best overall water softener will take care of the entire home. While liquid and pellet softeners are great for specific tasks like laundry, they are too limited to handle a home’s whole water supply. The GE 40,000 Grain, however, has the capability to tackle every watering task since it hooks up directly to the plumbing, filtering the water well before it reaches a faucet.The water softener removes around 125 grains per gallon of hard materials such as iron using its salt-storage capacity of 230 pounds. For some customizability, it comes with a digital display with programmable settings, an alarm, and memory for saving your preferred settings. GE’s SmartSoft technology adaptively learns the home’s standard water usage so it can better adapt the softening process to things like laundry and bathing automatically.Best Budget: Aquasana SimplySoft
Since water softeners can range from a few to thousands of dollars, it is helpful to know what your budget is before buying one. Budget-conscious customers can stick with task-specific softeners that are cheap but limited in quality. The better option, however, is an affordable permanent softener like the Aquasana SimplySoft. Using a salt-free design that sits right hooks up right to the water source, this softener can handle a variety of small tasks without needing a refill.This is a relatively low tech solution for people wanting an easy-to-use water softener option. Using a salt-free water softener, it naturally removes the hardness without adding any salt or harmful chemicals back into the water. Simply put the device into the waters you are using and wait for it to soften before moving forward.Best for Well Water: iSpring 6-Stage RCC7 AK Sytem
While having your own well comes with its advantages, well water doesn’t always taste so great. This six-stage water softener from iSpring promises to remove 99-percent of more than 1,000 different contaminants like asbestos, bacteria and other stuff you definitely don’t want your family drinking. The result is healthy, great-tasting water that many say is as good or better than bottled water you’d buy in a store. Because the process also takes out some healthy minerals, this softener come with an additional filter that adds some of them back in so you don’t miss out on their benefits.It’s designed to be mounted under the sink, and it comes with detailed instructions to help aid installation. It can also be connected to your refrigerator or coffee maker. The company offers live phone support in case you run into trouble during installation, but customers say it’s a relatively easy process. Many also note that using it has eliminated their need to buy bottled water, so it helps save money (and the planet!) too.Best Liquid Water Softener: Calgon Liquid
Liquid softeners are common in laundry and dishwashing settings when people need to remove the mineral buildup from the water. Such buildup can shorten the lifespan of clothes and washing machines alike. Removing this buildup will make the laundry detergent more effective since only the dirt and grim will remain. The Calgon Liquid softener is a great choice for people needing a better laundry or dishwashing experience.The liquid softener mixes with the water during the cleaning process. During this process, it will remove minerals and residue in combination with the laundry or dishwashing detergent. In the end, your clothes and dishes will be free of dirt, minerals, residue, and harmful chemicals all at once.Best Pellet Water Softener: Diamond Crystal Soft and Bright
Whole home water softening systems require a softening source such as salt to get the job done. Typically, this can involve dumping pounds of specifically formulated salt directly into a brine tank. Since this can get rather messy, a good alternative is a salt pellet like the Diamond Crystal Soft and Bright which comes as a single, packed unit of salt.When placed in the brine tank, the pellet will naturally dissolve into the water to automatically soften it while in use. Each pellet contains 99.8% pure salt so you don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals getting into the water. Once the pellet runs out, simply add a new one to keep the system running.Best Electronic Water Softener: Eddy Water Descaler
An electronic water softener is the best option to consider when you want a modern way of removing minerals from the water. Electronic softeners such as the Eddy Water Descaler produce an electromagnetic wave that naturally breaks up minerals in the water as it passes through the pipes in a home. Compared to salt, this process can handle a variety of minerals without any leftover particles in the water.The unit hooks up directly to the existing plumbing and filters the water without any need for salt or other chemicals. Specifically made for removing calcium, magnesium, and manganese compounds, the softener does a good job of dealing with limestone buildup that can damage tubs, sinks, showers, and other fixtures hooked up to the plumbing.Best Heavy Duty Water Softener: Aquasana Rhino 5-Stage
Large-scale water softening can be necessary for big homes or businesses where the quality of the water really matters. Liquid and pellet softeners will simply fail for these large tasks. Even common softeners that hook up to the plumbing might lack the capacity to effectively treat the water at the rate you need. Should you need the most in terms of capacity, the only real option is the Aquasana Rhino 5-Stage.The Rhino is a whole water filtration system that uses a salt-free softening process to deal with hard water. Beyond just softening, the filtration system also removes chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides, and other chemicals that are harmful to the water and air during evaporation. The system doesn’t rely on any electricity, so installation is as simple as hooking it up to your existing plumbing.Best Salt Free Water Softener: Pelican Water Natursoft
Salt-free water softeners are a common alternative to laundry, dishwater, and pellet softeners. While salt gets the job done, some people don’t like the aftertaste or extra presence of sodium leftover. Salt can also remove nutritional minerals from the water. The Pelican Water Natursoft is an effective salt-free water softener that gets the job done.The unit attaches to the plumbing from inside or out of the house. The stainless steel outer casing is waterproof for exterior use in cold temperatures. The salt-free softening process is tailored to remove harmful minerals will retaining nutritional ones that can enhance cooked foods.Best Twin Tank: 48K Dual Tank Alternating Water Softener with Fleck 9100
If your water is particularly hard and full of iron or you use more water than the average household, you may want to invest in a twin tank water softener to avoid any bouts of hard water while a single-tank model regenerates. This one from Fleck promises to deliver soft water 24 hours/seven days week and is a great pick for large families or those with particularly hard water. When one tank runs out of water and begins to regenerate, the other gets to work, meaning there’s no interruption in the flow of soft waterIt’s a heavy-duty, salt-based system that will treat water for the entire house, capable of removing up to 48,000 grains of hardness. That can help with everything from making your laundry soap more effective (meaning you don’t have to use as much) to making your tap water taste better. Customers say the detailed instructions make it reasonably easy to install yourself. If you choose to have a plumber do it for you, the manufacturer say it’s about a 1- to 2-hour job.