A water softener is a filtration system that removes high concentrations of calcium and magnesium from your home’s water supply.
Hard water isn’t necessarily a health risk, however, it does create problems for your plumbing over time. Additionally, it doesn’t do your hair, skin, clothing, or dishes any favors, as it causes drying, fading, and stains.
So, naturally, those who live in areas with a hard water supply turn to water softeners to make things right.
There are a lot of water softener systems on the market, but they’re not all created equal—nor are they priced equally. Many people decide to invest in an AO Smith Water Softener System, primarily because they’re affordable, secondly because they’re easily attainable.
Most of the reviews we have gathered about this product focuses on the $300 to $700 items in their product line with 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. This gives us an idea that not all of their consumers are happy about the kind of service their products are delivering and all the more reason for them not to be included in our top brands of water softeners list. Fleck has now recently come out with the 5800 valve in which I from a technicians point of view is a superb model. It has many functions that a technician needs sometimes in order to troubleshoot the water softener when other valves won't allow you to do so and when that occurs you must rely on total experience in order to troubleshoot the valve and fix the problem. Clack Water Softener Review – Read Before Buying! May 14, 2021 / Mark Tilden. Water softeners and filters can be an important and necessary part of homeownership, and it is just as important and necessary to find the right one to suit your needs. There are so many things to consider, such as the price of the unit, how big your house is, how. APEC Water Systems FUTURA-15 Premium 15 GPM Whole House Salt-Free Water Softener & Water Conditioner 4.1 out of 5 stars 24 $1,301.07 $ 1,301. 07 $1,399.00 $1,399.00. Clack Water Softener Review – Read Before Buying! May 14, 2021 / Mark Tilden Water softeners and filters can be an important and necessary part of homeownership, and it is just as important and necessary to find the right one to suit your needs.
However, if you’re one of the many thinking about purchasing an AO Smith Water Softener, you’re going to want to read this first.
Common Issues Concerning the AO Smith Water Softener
As we’ve mentioned, AO Smith Water Softener Systems are popular because they’re affordable and they’re a recognizable brand put out by Lowe’s. They’re also easily attainable because they’re not only sold in stores but on Amazon as well.
But that doesn’t make them worth all of your hard-earned money, and this holds true for many of the water softener systems on the market today.
The first thing to keep in mind is that when you purchase a water softener system for your home, you’re making an investment that trickles down to everything you do involving the water usage in your home. From laundry and dishwashing to showering and saving your plumbing, soft water will save you from spending more money in the long run on expensive skin and hair care products, plumbing repairs, your water bill, and more.
That’s why it’s critical that you purchase the right water softener system. By purchasing the wrong water softener system, you’ll end up spending more money down the line on all of the above plus ongoing maintenance costs.
Here’s what you need to know about AO Smith Water Softener Systems:
1. They’re Lacking in Certifications
You probably didn’t know this, but there are actually three independent organizations that certify water softener products to ensure they meet specific standards: The Water Quality Association (WQA), NSF International, and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).
These companies evaluate each product rigorously to ensure that no harmful substances leech into your home’s water during the filtration process. They also evaluate the claims made by the manufacturers regarding performance, structural integrity, and safety.
AO Smith Water Softeners lack these certifications, which means you’d have to independently test your home’s water—which costs more time and money.
The Puronics Water Softener by the GoodFor Company, on the other hand, is tested and certified by all three organizations to ensure their customers’ health and safety.
2. Their System Is NOT an All-in-One Solution
Most of AO Smith’s water softeners require multiple products to make each system work efficiently. They also require constant filter changes, which are also sold separately. Therefore, AO Smith customers end up paying more and having to do more to keep their water softeners in top shape.
Puronics IS an all-in-one water softener system. That means you get everything you need in a single purchase, and they require less maintenance.
4. Their Warranty Is Limited
AO Smith only offers a six-year warranty on its products. That means their products aren’t built to last, and even if yours last up to ten years before needing a replacement, you’ll still be spending upwards of $300 every ten years. Plus the filters and ongoing maintenance costs.
When a product manufacturer only offers a limited-time warranty, it means they’re aware of a designated time frame in which their products will no longer work efficiently—or break. They do this to ensure repeat customers for a larger revenue stream.
Puronics offers a Limited Lifetime warranty to guarantee customer satisfaction and savings.
5. They Require More Frequent Servicing
A typical AO Smith water softener will filter out 600,000 gallons before needing a new filter or servicing. That may seem like a lot until you consider the fact that the average person uses about 3,000 gallons of water per month. That’s 12,000 gallons per month for a household of four people.
Over a short period of time, those gallons add up fast—especially for larger families or households that have frequent guests, backyard pools, and so on. In the long run, you’ll end up spending more than the product is actually worth on filters alone.
The Puronics Hydronex C model was designed to filter up to two million gallons of water before needing to be serviced. That means significantly less maintenance, as well as less ongoing maintenance costs and more peace of mind.
5 They’re Not Transparent About Their Materials
The materials used to manufacture your water softener system are incredibly important. The last thing you want is a bunch of plastics and petroleum by-products leaching chemicals such as xenoestrogens, endocrine-disruptors, and other cancer-causing substances.
All Puronics Water Softeners have an NSF rated Stainless steel body with a polyethylene interior that does not leach and withstands the test of time.
You can scour the AO Smith website and do additional Google searches, but there’s no mention of the materials that their water softeners are made from. Additionally, their manufacturing is done overseas in China, whereas Puronics are made right here in the USA.
Puronics Is the Wiser Choice
Don’t waste your time or money on an unreliable product that doesn’t come with the necessary certifications OR isn’t transparent about their materials and manufacturing processes. It’s not worth the headache—or putting your family’s health at risk.
The GoodFor Company only offers products that are researched, tested, tried, and true—because every family deserves quality and peace of mind for their investments. At GoodFor, We ensure our products have the backing of reputable organizations because we believe in backing up our work with science.
Water softeners and filters can be an important and necessary part of homeownership, and it is just as important and necessary to find the right one to suit your needs.
There are so many things to consider, such as the price of the unit, how big your house is, how many people are living in the house, what type of water you have, how handy you are, and how much you would like to spend. Here, we’ve broken down the details on one of the top water softening and filtering brands today, Clack.
Water softeners come in two main types: salt-based and salt-free water softeners. There are pros and cons to both types of water softener, and perhaps the main argument for using a salt-based system is that it softens the water in a traditional sense.
They are great for larger capacities and extremely effective, but they also remove the water’s healthy minerals, cost more, and aren’t as environmentally friendly. If you choose to go with a salt-based system, Clack offers some high-quality component parts for your water softening system.
Sale
Soft Water Supply Clack WS1 Interior Parts Kit Bundle with Seal Pack, Piston and Brine Piston - Kit contains 3 Clack part #'s for the Clack WS1 Control Valve
Why Purchase A Softener?
Hard water is an issue that plagues many homeowners. There are diverse issues hard water can cause, such as limescale buildup and staining of sinks, appliances, or anything else it touches. Additionally, it can decrease the life of appliances like dishwashers and washing machines, costing homeowners more down the line.
Glasses and cutlery come out of dishwashers spotted, and clothing, skin, and hair can feel less clean as hard water prevents soaps from performing optimally.
Certain skin issues like rosacea and eczema can often be exacerbated by hard water. Pipes, showerheads, and faucets can be ruined by hard water as well, and water flow can be reduced because of limescale buildup.
If you find that you are having issues like these, you may have hard water. The minerals that are generally found in hard water include calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and iron. If you are unsure whether or not you have hard water and would like to know, testing kits are available. The ideal mineral count in water is below 7.1 mg/l or ppm.
It is always good to do your research (that’s why you’re reading this) and get some professional advice before you dive into any big purchase or any decision that will affect your quality of life.
Water is imperative, we need it to survive, and it is crucial for our daily tasks. It’s important to make sure you are getting the best quality water softener for your money, and this is why we researched for this Clack water softener review.
This is a company that started as a small father and son business in Wisconsin in 1944.
The company expanded its business to grow into what it is today and is still family-owned and operating out of Wisconsin.
Clack Corporation has put a notice on its web page specifically for homeowners stating that it does not sell complete home water softening systems but is a manufacturer of component parts.
Here are some quick facts:
- Clack valves have a flow rate of 27 GPM
- They are manufactured from composite plastics
- They are one of the most trusted and recommended names in the business
- They are the go-to brand for water treatment professionals for very hard or problem water
- The valves are not available online, only through water treatment professionals and retailers
- They are easy to install and easy to repair if necessary
- A professional should have it up and running within two to three hours
- All Clack manuals are published online
- They come with a comprehensive five-year warranty
What Is a Clack?
Clack designs and manufactures salt-based water softening system components. Through ion exchange, scale-causing minerals, like calcium and magnesium, are exchanged with sodium from the salt and washed away during the softeners regeneration process.
Because of this process, your pipes and appliances last longer, and you will notice a difference in your hair, skin, and laundry. Those with skin issues such as eczema or rosacea can notice beneficial effects once the dryness-causing minerals have been removed from their water.
Generally speaking, it will be a water treatment professional who will be using or recommending Clack parts. Additionally, you can purchase their parts on amazon.com
But what makes Clack stand out? In this Clack water softener review, we’re going to take a look at their water softener components and determine if they would be a good addition to your salt-based water softening system.
Warranty
The warranty itself is almost enough to get us to trust Clack system components. Clack offers an overarching five-year warranty on all its parts, which really stands out in the water softening system world.
Water softening valves are very sensitive equipment, and salt-based softening systems often need maintenance, so the fact that Clack backs their valves with this comprehensive warranty means they have confidence in their effectiveness.
Assembly
It is recommended that any Clack valves you purchase for your water softening system are installed by a professional. As stated above, water softening valves are very sensitive equipment, and unless you are an accomplished DIY-er, it’s best to make sure your water softening system is working the way it’s meant to.
If you do have confidence in your DIY installation and repair ability, Clack is known for its ease of assembly and use. Additionally, they publish the manuals for all their parts online, so you will never have trouble looking something up should you lose your hard copy.
Sale Soft Water Supply Clack WS1 Interior Parts Kit Bundle with Seal Pack, Piston and Brine Piston- Kit contains 3 Clack part #'s for the Clack WS1 Control Valve
At the time of publication, this kit costs $58.99 on amazon.com
This kit contains three Clack components for the Clack WS1 Control Valve:
- Downflow Piston V3011
- Brine Regenerant Piston V3174
- Spacer Stack V3005
Water treatment professionals will often recommend Clack parts as they have been the industry standard for almost 20 years. Clack valves are used in many industrial and commercial locations and are also used in residential locations. The valves are available in many button configurations and with or without chlorine removal capabilities.
What To Expect From Clack
You may find Clack valves installed on your saltwater softener system. They are manufactured from composite plastics and have a flow rate of 27 GPM. Clack is known for producing some of the most reliable, long-lasting, and user-friendly valves on the market. Here is what some water treatment professionals have to say about Clack:
Cost
Clack is known for having good efficiency. They can use as little as $2-3 of hydro annually. Although there are higher efficiency valves on the market, they will be much more efficient than any older valve and softener combination.
Total cost, of course, varies depending on water costs in your area, how much water you use, and the quality of your water. The cost of the valve itself will vary from retailer to retailer, and of course, if you are going through a plumber or other water treatment expert for installation, there will be the added costs for labor.
Performance
Clack is the valve most recommended by professionals because they are rarely ever replaced. They are known specifically to be the brand to go to when a client has particularly hard water or other problem water like high iron or sediment. The success rate with Clack valves has been proven over and over again.
In general, the initial investment in a Clack valve and the cost of having it installed will pay off in the long run due to its efficiency and longevity. Many water treatment specialists will use these component parts in their own homes and have them on hand for emergencies.
As stated above, water treatment professionals are often fond of Clack. There are some technical reasons for this: they only use a single-piston, plus spacers and shafts, so there is only one moving part in the system. This is very different from some water treatment component manufacturers who have several moving parts in their valves, which can cause repairs to be needed on a more frequent basis.
Are Clack Water Softeners Good
Unfortunately, Clack valves are not available to purchase online, only to traditional water dealers, which can drive up the initial price. Repair costs for a Clack valve, however infrequent, are usually quite low as the repair itself is quite easily done.
The Results
Clack is a high-quality, well-known brand. Here is what you can expect from your water after having your Clack water softener installed:
- Softer hair and skin
- The decrease in skin issues like eczema and rosacea
- Cleaner, softer clothes
- Less money spent on soaps, detergents, shampoos
- Fewer spots on glasses, dishes, and cutlery
- Little to no limescale buildup on appliances
- Longer appliance life
- Better appliance performance
- Little to no staining on tubs, sinks, and other surfaces
- No need for expensive and abrasive lime-specific cleaning chemicals
FAQ
Just in case you want a quick Q and A instead of reading through the above article, here it is. All of the information from our Clack water softener reviews, at your fingertips:
Can I purchase a Clack water softener?
No, Clack is a manufacturer of component parts. Some of their items are available at online retailers, such as amazon.com. Still, their residential salt-based water softening system valves, for which they are known, are only available through water treatment retailers.
Can I install my own Clack valve?
Yes, you can. Clack publishes all of their manuals online, so you should be able to access them and install your valve yourself. Troubleshooting and repairs can be done by you as well if you are confident in your DIY skills. If you chose to go the professional way, your new Clack valve should be installed and functioning within 2 to 3 hours, and repairs will be few and far between.
Is Clack an expensive brand?
That depends entirely on who you are buying it from. As stated above, Clack is only available through water treatment retailers, so the price will be set by them. The reduction in the cost of soaps and detergents once your hard water problem is solved, as well as the increased longevity of your water-based appliances, will more than justify the cost of your water softener.
What is the warranty like?
Clack has the utmost confidence in their valves, and their warranty proves it. Considering that most salt-based water softening systems need regular maintenance and repair throughout their lifetime, the five-year warranty Clack has put on all its valves speaks volumes.
I have a problem with water. Will a Clack valve work for me?
Clack Water Softeners Reviews Consumer Reports
Clack is the valve most water treatment professionals will recommend for problem water. They are well known for being the go-to brand for extremely hard water or has other issues, including high iron and sediment.
What is the flow rate on a Clack valve?
The flow rate on a Clack valve is 27 GPM.
The Roundup
Clack is a well-known, much-trusted brand of valves and component parts. They will add to your savings on bills as well as cleaning agents, soaps, and detergents by successfully allowing your salt-based water softening system to function.
Clack is known for ease of installation and reliability, and repair and maintenance costs are generally quite low because of this fact. I have yet to run across a negative Clack water softener review. Everything I have heard from water treatment experts and online information points to Clack component parts being reliable and cost-efficient.