Hard Water Is Wrecking Your Plumbing — Here's What to Do About It Finding the best soft water system for your home doesn't have to be complicated. Here's a quick-reference breakdown of the top options: System Type Best For Top Pick Price Range Salt-Based Softener True softening, high hardness SpringWell SS / SoftPro Elite $1,000–$2,700 Salt-Free Conditioner Scale prevention, no sodium SpringWell FutureSoft $1,500–$2,900 Budget Salt-Based Tight budget, whole home Fleck 5600SXT