If scaly buildup suddenly appears on your glassware, or if your skin and hair start to become more itchy and dry, then the famous hard water minerals calcium and magnesium are to blame. Enter the SpringWell FutureSoft Salt Free Water Softener review. We installed and tested this system, and I’ll give you my experience using it so far.
SpringWell Salt-Free Softener Best Overall
Requires no salt or chemicals
Does not require backflushing
No electricity needed to operate
Before we go any further it’s worth clarifying, a salt-free water softener uses a different method than traditional salt-based softeners. Salt-free alternatives utilize a natural crystalization process to condition water, which is why they are also referred to as “water conditioners”[1].
Whereas traditional salt-based water softeners use the ion exchange process [2]. Hard water minerals are removed and exchanged for “softer minerals”.
A Springwell Futuresoft Salt-Free Water Softener is particularly attractive because it treats even existing scale buildup, unlike salt-based softeners that only address future scale. This will reduce electric bills, extend appliances’ lives, and reduce detergent use by 30%.
“After just a few weeks the fixtures are starting to clear up, our skin & hair feel better – and no slick soapy feeling.”
Thurston T. – Verified Buyer
The good news is, we cover all of the essential details, including how the Springwell salt-free water softener works, the benefits of salt-free water softening, along with Springwell salt-free water softener product specifications.
This comprehensive guide provides all the information you need to understand if the Springwell futuresoft salt-free water softener is best for your home’s needs.
Overview Of The Springwell Futuresoft Salt-Free Water Softener
At the core of a Springwell Futuresoft salt-free water softener is a product that will positively impact your health and consistently impress you with its environmentally green footprint. Overall, the salt-free water softener will deliver 99.6% scale prevention with no salt or chemicals, while ensuring no reduction in water pressure.
Springwell’s 20-year innovative mission is crystal clear: you can condition your home’s water easily, without salt, chemicals, or electricity. Provide your family with clean refreshing contaminate-free water “soft” water.
And if you ever have questions about or issues with your Springwell Futuresoft Salt-Free Water Softener their team is dedicated to offering you only the highest quality customer service.
Springwell Futuresoft Salt-Free Water Softener Configurations
Springwell’s salt-free water softener systems boast three impressive configurations. Depending on your water softening needs, Springwell has you covered. Springwell’s three unique salt-free water softeners can handle 20-81 psi and work at a vast range of temperatures.
Furthermore, an up-flow water softener can clean the resin bed much more evenly and efficiently than a downflow water conditioning system. Lastly, the Springwell Futuresoft will keep your pH perfectly balanced between 7.0-9.5.
- FS1: If your home has 1-3 bathrooms, the highly rated SpringWell FutureSoft Salt-Free Water Softener is perfect for a single-use apartment or small family. Guaranteed to provide 99.6% scale prevention, and absolutely no chemical additives or salt. The FS1 softens up to 12 GPM, measures 6” W x 35” H (39” with Bypass Valve).
- FS4: For larger families, and homes with 4-6 bathrooms the FS4 can handle multiple showers and appliances simultaneously. The FS 4 softens 15 GPM, measures 9” W x 48” H (52” with Bypass Valve).
- FS+: If you’re hosting 7+ bathrooms you’re definitely using a high water flow and differentials in water pressure. The FS+ is the gold standard of salt-free water softeners. The FS+ softness a whopping 20 GPM and measures 13” W x 54” H (58” with Bypass Valve).
Importantly, Springwell can condition your home water’s hardness up to a maximum of 81 grains per gallon. This means you’ll never see a film on your dishes and shower doors, and your skin will feel soft-water smooth!
System Specifications
FS-1 | FS-4 | FS+ | |
Bathrooms | 1 – 3 | 4 – 6 | 7+ |
Tank Width | 6″ | 9″ | 13″ |
Tank Height | 39″ | 52″ | 58″ |
Flow Rate | 12 GPM | 15 GPM | 20 GPM |
Flow Direction | Upflow | Upflow | Upflow |
Operating Pressure | 20 – 80 PSI | 20 – 80 PSI | 20 – 80 PSI |
Ph Range | 7.0 – 9.5 | 7.0 – 9.5 | 7.0 – 9.5 |
Hardness GPG Max | 81 | 81 | 81 |
Salinity, Max PPM | 35,000 | 35,000 | 35,000 |
Free Chlorine, Max PPM | 3 | 3 | 3 |
How Does A Springwell Futuresoft Salt-Free Water Softener System Work?
Understanding how a salt-free water softener works is key to understanding what the system is doing to make your water healthier and safer to consume, cook with and run through your appliances.
The performance of the Futuresoft salt-free water softener system is impressive, but it’s the tank design with its ability to fluidize the water that makes it a standout water softener.
Fluidization is a scientific method by which solid particles float in an upward direction to form calcium crystals. Through this process, the FutureSoft or media beads transform calcium and magnesium into crystals that will not stick to your plumbing or appliances.
This means that there is no waste water from backwash cycles. A salt-based system needs to backflush to regenerate the sodium ions and flush the waste water down the drain. Not only does that waste water, but it’s not ideal to send brine concentrate back into your water supply.
We especially like the Springwell FutureSoft ActivFlo Technology guarantees you never feel a drop in water pressure. According to a report from the Water Quality Association, the average home operates with a low 6 to 12 gallon per minute (GPM) flow rate. That’s not enough.
Between the number of showers, loads of laundry and dishes, and glasses of water there are lots of stop and start cycles, and a quality water softener has to keep up – the FutureSoft does just that!
Salt-Free Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC)
Salt-based water softeners process hard water using ion exchange where hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium are removed and exchanged for sodium. These systems come with two tanks, a media tank for the resin and a brine tank for the salt.
A Springwell Futuresoft salt-free water softener uses Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC) to convert and stabilize hardness-causing minerals. The scientific process involves specially coated beads wrapped in a unique resin that make hard water minerals form into suspended micro-crystals that don’t need to be regenerated, backwashed, and won’t cling to metal plumbing. The nice thing is the salt-free system uses on
One of the most important factors to consider about a Springwell Futuresoft salt-free water conditioning system is that they don’t trap minerals. And that means you never spend time scheduling a cleaning cycle or space and drainage for a backwash.
What’s Included With The Springwell FutureSoft System?
Springwell makes it easy for you to install your Futuresoft salt-free water softening system with a comprehensive that rivals the competition.
- Pre-filter housing: removes large dust, hair, pollen and various fibers before it reaches the main TAC filter.
- 5-micron sediment filter: a filter designed to remove particles in municipal and well water smaller than 5 microns, or too small to see without a microscope.
- O-rings and mounting brackets: to ensure your Springwell Futuresoft salt-free water softener system is secured safely in the space you choose for installation.
- Spanner wrench: to easily remove, replace and tighten the recommended Springwell filter.
- Hose Bib Assembly: an attachment that allows water to run from the water source, through the Springwell water softening system and into your home!
- Bypass Valve: one of the most important components, the bypass valve controls the pressure in your water softening system by diverting a portion of the water flow to keep the pressure balanced.
- 1″ MNPT Fittings: helps assemble new hoses or replace old fittings if you realize you have a reduction in pipe size while installing the system.
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty guaranteed from any manufacturing defects and the system’s life, six years or 1 million gallons, whichever comes first.
If you’re a do-it-yourself (DIY) kind of person, Springwell makes installing your Futuresoft salt-free whole house water softening system easy.
No matter the water source, if you have never approached the thought of installing a water conditioner, consider calling for a free estimate from a professional plumber in case you get stuck mid-installation, and get sticker-shocked by the unexpected professional price tag, and delay getting fresh, soft quality water flowing into your home.
Installation and Maintenance
If you are handy around the house, Springwell offers a complete installation pack up to make installing the Futuresoft salt-free water softener easy and time-saving.
The unique bypass valve and 1″ elbow fittings just need to be attached to piping and fittings and you’re off and running. You can even watch an installation video on the SpringWell website!
You’ll experience fresh water free of harsh hard water minerals within minutes of installing your Springwell Futuresoft whole house salt-free water softening system.
Media Filter Longevity And Replacement
Springwell is dedicated to making your whole house water softening experience easy, efficient, time and money saving. To that end, you are guaranteed to enjoy 1,000,000 gallons or 10 years of use!
When it’s time to replace the Springwell signature filter (media) all you have to do is select the media for the size of your current system. Every order of Springwell media comes with easy to read instructions to swap out the media without any mess or stress.
SpringWell FutureSoft Salt-Free Water Softener FAQs
Can the SpringWell Futuresoft be used with well water?
Does the SpringWell Futuresoft filter fluoride?
Are salt-free water softeners better?
Where are SpringWell water softeners made?
Why Trust Freshnss?
Ricky is the founder of Freshnss and product reviewer specializing in water filtration, home, and kitchen products. For this review, he spoke with our water review board of experts. And also with our network of industry professionals who offered qualities that made the SpringWell Salt-Free Water Softener stand out from the competition. Next, he researched today’s best salt-free conditioners, considering dozens of options from various merchants and retailers. The SpringWell 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.
- 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