Short answer
A softener fixes hard water. A filter fixes chlorine taste, smell and chemicals. They solve different problems, so many East Valley homes use both, combined in one whole house system. For drinking water, add reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink.
What a water softener fixes
Hard water: the calcium and magnesium behind spots on glass, crust on faucets, scale in your water heater, stiff laundry and dry skin. A softener removes those minerals. It doesn’t remove chemicals.
What a whole house filter fixes
Chlorine and its byproducts, sediment, and the pool-water taste and smell. Cities add chlorine to keep water safe in the pipes. In places like Queen Creek and San Tan Valley, levels around 0.7 to 1.0 mg/L are easy to notice. A filter doesn’t fix hard water.
Why most homes here use both
- Softener: removes the minerals that cause scale
- Filter: removes chlorine and improves taste and smell
Our Whole House Combo does both in one system, from $2,550. The carbon filter also protects the softener’s resin from chlorine, so it lasts longer.
What about drinking water?
Neither a softener nor a whole house filter reliably removes PFAS, arsenic or lead. For that, add reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink ($775).
Not sure what you need?
Use our system finder. Pick what’s bothering you and see the system and price that fits.
Common questions
Can a water softener and filter be one system?
Yes. A whole house combo puts a carbon filter and a softener in one setup, so every tap gets filtered, soft water.
Do I need a filter if I already have a softener?
If chlorine taste, smell or dry skin bothers you, yes. A softener doesn’t remove chlorine.