by Carl Jensen
Plumber, Welder, Contractor
> 4 min read
A great water softener can dramatically increase the quality of your water, even if you live in an area with only moderately hard water. Hard water wears away at your clothes when you wash them and can even leave your skin feeling dry and itchy.
Although water with iron in it is not as unsafe as other contaminated water, it’s still less than optimal for your family’s health.
Whirlpool is a trusted appliance brand and is a mainstay in many American kitchens and laundry rooms. Whirlpool also makes water softeners to bring better water quality to your entire home. Here are the best Whirlpool water softener reviews for residential models.
Top Choices on the Market
- Screen and indicator lights help remove guesswork
- Computerized system for smarter water regeneration calculations
- NSF certification for reliability and peace of mind
- Savings without compromising on overall quality
- Warranty can be extended with special cleaning solution
- Fully U.S. made with commitment to quality
- Combines water filtration and softening into one unit
- Noticeably reduces odor and taste of water
- Self-cleaning filter minimizes maintenance
Best Whirlpool Water Softener Reviews
1. Whirlpool WHES40E 40,000 Grain Water Softener: Best Water Softener for City Water
Top Choice
Whirlpool WHES40E 40,000 Grain Water Softener
Instead of relying on a massive primary tank and separate brine tank, this sleek water softener puts everything into one appliance. The resulting system uses cutting-edge computer technology to manage water flow and precise settings, giving you the water quality you need with no hassle.
The 40,000-grain capacity is more than sufficient for most families. It’s enough to help with laundry, showering, and even drinking water. Buy it for your family’s home right away so you can see and taste the difference.
FEATURES
PROS | CONS |
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Since Whirlpool is mostly known for its kitchen appliances, it’s no surprise that its water softeners are designed to be attractive and intuitive in addition to functional. They are just as easy to use as a laundry machine or dryer, and you rarely have to consult with an instruction manual to use it. Installation is simple, and many families can finish it without help from a specialized technician.
This model gets excellent user reviews for reliability and technical support. Users can reach out to Whirlpool anytime with questions about usage or installation, and the included warranty makes it easy to get help with a part or the onboard electronics. Once everything is installed, the softer water reduces wear-and-tear on your clothing and home appliances.
The 40,000 grain softener takes all of the basic features of the smaller models and adds an extra few thousand in grain capacity. It’s one of the highest grain capacities Whirlpool makes, yet it’s still reasonably priced, making it a sound investment for the future no matter how old your home is.
One of the overall strengths of the Whirlpool water softeners is that they’re relatively compact. Many other water softener brands require a separate brine tank or have a twin tank system. The Whirlpool systems are generally better for small- to medium-sized homes, especially homes without basements.
2. Whirlpool WHES30E 30,000 Grain Softener: Best Whirlpool Water Softener for the Money
PROS | CONS |
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This 30,000 grain capacity softener is very similar to the above 40,000 grain model. It has clear and easy-to-understand controls that make setup and adjustment easy. Most people don’t even have to make any adjustments to the water softening settings and only need to add salt occasionally.
The key difference between the 40,000 and 30,000 grain models is that the 30,000 grain model might not be sufficient for residents in areas with very hard water. User reviews also indicate that the water pressure for this softener is also slightly lower than the 40,000 grain model.
However, it’s sufficient for 4-person homes in most areas of the country with standard household appliances. It removes calcium, magnesium, and iron, so families should see a dramatic reduction or elimination of rust rings and scale.
It uses a single-tank design to save on space without dramatically diminishing water quality. The softener’s special software makes the most of its limited grain capacity. The difference may be subtle, but if you’ve been struggling with hard water for years, the investment in a water softener can significantly boost your quality of life.
3. Whirlpool WHESFC Pro Series – Softener/Whole Home Filter Hybrid: Best Softener and Filter Combo
PROS | CONS |
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Every 2 weeks, the filter of this water softener cleans itself to keep chlorine, iron, and sediment from building up inside. The result is stunning water quality that keeps your family clean, happy, and healthy. Instead of having to rely on multiple appliances to keep your water looking and feeling great, you can just buy this one and save valuable space in your home.
Your other household appliances can stay cleaner and run more smoothly as well, especially thanks to this softener’s aggressive sediment filtration using a carbon bed and specialized filter. If you’ve struggled with water quality in the past, you may find that this softener is the solution, whether you use well water or simply have poor municipal water quality.
Although the settings and controls are a little more complex than other Whirlpool models, this is necessary due to the included filter. You can leave the water softener untouched for weeks at a time, and making necessary adjustments is easy once installation is complete.
Even with its advanced filtration and softening, this model uses up to 25% less salt than comparable softeners. Once your salt runs low, a small indicator light lets you know, giving you time to replenish it before the harshness of hard water has a chance to creep back in.
4. Whirlpool WHES18 18,000 Grain Compact Home Water Softener: Best Softener for Small Families
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Most water softeners are designed for medium-to-large families and take up at least 3 feet of vertical space in order to accomplish this goal. Smaller families don’t need nearly as much softening capacity. Couples and individuals in small condos or homes may also be short on space, making full-size softeners impractical.
Whirlpool’s 18,000-grain model is just 32” high, making it easier to squeeze into a laundry room or closet. It works just as efficiently as its larger peers, and its programming takes care to minimize wasted water caused by excessive regeneration. It only regenerates water when water has actually been used, which cuts down on salt use and allows you to go longer between salt refills.
The display on top is very similar to the larger Whirlpool models’ and is very intuitive overall. Use the buttons to adjust water filtration settings, then leave the softener alone until it needs more salt. Busy young professionals in particular can appreciate the effortless improvement in their water quality.
Users can extend the 1-year parts warranty to 5 years by using the optional cleaning solution Whirlpool recommends. The internal electronics have a 3-year warranty and the tank has a 10-year warranty. This makes the product an excellent overall investment for individuals and couples trying to improve the quality of life in a small home.
Final Verdict
WHES40E 40000 Grain
Water softeners play a critical role in maintaining your home’s other appliances and even your clothing. Whirlpool makes excellent water softeners for homes of all sizes, so don’t feel like you have to miss out on a softener just because you live alone and are on a smaller budget.
The best Whirlpool water softener is the Whirlpool WHES40E 40,000 Grain Water Softener, which balances a large capacity and overall ease of use. It’s simple to install and start using, especially since it fits in laundry rooms, basements, and even closets. Its lifespan can be extended with a specialized cleaner that’s easy to pour in thanks to the softener’s flip-top lid.
It serves families of up to 6 people, so it’s great for larger families that live in areas with very hard water. It’s also less expensive than many softeners from competing brands. Get it today to make your water work better for your family’s needs. This is also good water for pets to keep them healthy and live long with your side.
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Carl Jensen
About the Author
Carl Jensen is a plumber with over 50 years of experience in the industry, as well as related jobs like underwater welding. He runs a successful plumbing practice in Tampa, Florida, and contributes his plumbing expertise to our DIY articles, and helps to fact check and consult on most of our other stuff to boot.
