Richard Arconti 
Over 85% of the United States has hard water, so it isn’t a surprise if your home is struggling with elevated hardness levels [1]. The Kind Water Systems E-2000 has quickly become the best cartridge-based salt-free water softener because of its effectiveness in removing not only future scale but existing scale buildup too.
In this Kind E-2000 whole house salt-free water softener review, I test if the system is effective and the benefits of a cartridge-based unit, along with the installation and maintenance requirements. Let’s dive in!
Kind E-2000 Salt-Free Softener Best Overall
Uses no salt or chemicals
Filters out sediment, silt, and debris
High water pressure 15 GPM flow rate
Made in USA with lifetime warranty
How Does The Kind E-2000 Salt-Free Water Softener Work?
Utilizing the latest in high-performance salt-free conditioning technology, the Kind is specifically designed for worry-free water from every tap in your home without the negative effects of salt and hard water scale.
The two-stage filtration system starts with water flowing through the premium 5-micron sediment filter. This extra-large 20 inch sediment filter will remove silt, dirt, rust, and other debris that will cleanse the water and help protect the salt-free softener cartridge in the next stage.
The eSoft salt-free technology works through a water conditioning process called Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC). Once hard water comes into contact with the eSoft media, the calcium and magnesium ions are altered so they are no longer able to stick to plumbing and appliances [2].
I love this system because it will even remove existing scale buildup, unlike traditional salt-based softeners that only address future scale [3]. And it requires no salt or chemicals, while salt-based softener systems utilize an ion exchange chemical alteration process, which mixes sodium into the drinking water supply [4].
The best part is you get all this without a drop in water pressure. The Kind has the capacity to support a house with up to six bathrooms and has a huge max flow rate of up to 15 gallons per minute.
“I was having a lot of limescale build-up and the results are almost all of the build-up is gone in a month of use. I’ve been recommending it to everyone that has been considering a water softener.”
M. Rogers – Verified Buyer
Note that if you have bacteria or boil advisory issues, the Kind E-2000 system can be paired with a UV light purifier to completely sterilize microorganisms [5]. Additionally, if you want to address hundreds of other harmful contaminants, Kind makes a 3-stage system that includes a carbon block filter that you can learn more about in our E-3000 review.
System Specifications
| Kind Water Systems E-2000 | |
| Number Of Stages | 2 Stages (Pre-Sediment, Salt-free Conditioner) |
| System Type | Cartridge Based |
| System Dimensions | 25 ¼”(H) x 15 ½” (W) x 8″ (D) |
| Max Flow Rate | 15 Gallons Per Minute (GPM) |
| Max Capacity | 6 Bathrooms |
| Max Hardness | 75 Grains Per Gallon (GPG) |
| Connection Size | 1″ FNPT |
| Operating Pressure | 25 – 120 psi |
| Operating Temperature | 36 – 120 F |
| Ph Range | 6.5 to 11 |
Simple Kind Water System Install
For a whole house softening system, this is about as easy as it gets. No bulky tanks that require expensive installation and that take up considerable floor space. We installed one of the Kind whole house filters and you can read our full install guide that walks through the process.
The E-2000 is ready for use straight out of the box with its in-line design that consists of only two connections. The water-in and water-out hookup will save you a lot of time and money. As a result, the installation should only take two hours from start to finish.
Depending on your setup, the system can be installed both indoors and outdoors. And since it is not an invasive installation process, you can even take the system with you if you move.
The included installation kit comes with everything you need for a wall mount install. If you run into any issues, the customer support is top notch and can walk you through the process.
Filter Changes and Maintenance
Since the system does not require any salt, electricity, or drain line to operate, it is virtually maintenance-free. And the salt-free cartridge does not need replacement since the eSoft conditioner physically alters the water’s composition, rather than chemically altering it like an ion exchange process.
When it’s time to replace the sediment pre-filter, swapping it out takes only a couple of minutes. The nice thing is it can be washed several times before replacement if your water has heavy sediment. It is recommended to replace the sediment filter once a year. Compare that to other cartridge options that need to be replaced every 3 – 6 months.
For additional savings, Kind Water Systems offers AutoShip, which provides a 15% discount on your sediment filter so it shows up right at your doorstep and you don’t have to keep track of replacement cycles.
Benefits Of A Salt-Free Conditioner
Once installed, you will begin to notice the effects immediately, and over the following months, the existing limescale will begin to peel away. Shower water will not have that slimy feeling anymore so you can enjoy healthier hair and skin. Here are some of the other benefits of a saltless conditioner:
- Environmentally friendly and no wasted water
- Leaves beneficial minerals in the water
- Requires no electricity
- No backwashing or draining
- Lower cost of maintenance
Warranty
The Kind water system is built in the USA using only NSF/ANSI certified components. It is backed with an industry-leading lifetime warranty plus a 120 day money-back satisfaction guarantee.
This means if you install the system and don’t like it for any reason under 120 days, you can send it back for a full refund!
System Comparison
What makes the Kind so special? Let’s look at a comparison between the Kind E-2000 salt-free softener vs salt-based softener systems. Overall, it takes less space, has lower maintenance requirements, but still checks the boxes on a lot of the performance metrics. Expand the section below to see the comparison table.
Comparison: Kind E-2000 VS Salt-Based Softener Systems
FAQs For Kind E-2000 Salt-Free Water Softener Review
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Why Trust Freshnss?
Ricky is the founder of Freshnss and product reviewer specializing in water filtration, home, and kitchen products. For this Kind E-2000 Softener review, he worked with our water review board of experts. And also with our network of industry professionals who offered qualities that made the Kind E-2000 Whole House Water Salt-Free Water Softener stand out from the competition. Next, he researched today’s best whole house water softeners, considering dozens of options from various merchants and retailers. The Kind Water Systems unit stood out based on scale reduction performance, water flow rate, warranty, and overall value. He has read thousands of user reviews, and written hundreds of product reviews. He has also tested and re-tested some of our top picks, and looked for filtration companies for new home water treatment options worth trying.
Article Sources
Freshnss uses only the highest-quality sources to support the facts used in our articles including: government organizations, independent studies, peer-reviewed journals, and lab testing results. Read our editorial review guidelines here to learn more about how we verify and fact-check our writing to keep our content reliable, accurate, and trustworthy.
- Hardness Of Water, United States Geological Survey (USGS)
- Drinking Water Treatment: Salt-Free Water “Softener” Options, University Of Nebraska – Lincoln
- Evaluation of Alternatives to Domestic Ion Exchange Water Softeners: Template Assisted Crystallization, California Water Boards
- Drinking Water Treatment: Water Softening (Ion Exchange), University Of Nebraska – Lincoln
- Ultraviolet Disinfection Of Drinking Water, Government Of Western Australia Department Of Health
