Crystal QuestSalt-Free Water Conditioner
Salt-free scale control with a 0.2 micron ultrafiltration stage, and no drain or brine tank required.
$2,147
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Usability
Usability
The unusual part of this system is not the anti-scale media, which is a familiar template-assisted crystallisation approach, but the 0.2 micron ultrafiltration membrane on the fourth stage, which puts a microbiological barrier into a scale-control product where competitors put nothing. Crystal Quest is also honest about the limits, stating plainly that hardness at 25 grains per gallon or above needs pre-treatment or additional media and to consult a specialist, which is a caveat most salt-free sellers omit entirely. What it will not do is soften: calcium and magnesium stay in the water, and anyone who wants the slippery feel of soft water or lower soap use should buy the ion exchange softener instead. At 2,147 dollars it costs 616 more than the salt-based softener it replaces, which is a difficult sell given the softener includes filtration too. No service flow, dimensions or media interval is published anywhere on the page, and there is no certifier listing.
- 0.2 micron ultrafiltration stage, which competing salt-free systems do not include
- No salt, no drain line, no brine tank and no backwash discharge
- Honest published limit: 25 grains per gallon and above needs pre-treatment
- Leaves calcium and magnesium in the water, which some buyers want
- Fiberglass or stainless tank, 1.5 or 2.0 cubic foot media volumes
- Costs 616 dollars more than the salt-based softener, which includes filtration too
- No service flow rate published anywhere on the page
- No dimensions or weight published for the assembly
- Does not soften: hardness minerals remain in the water
- No NSF, IAPMO or WQA listing and no media replacement interval
A four-stage salt-free scale control system running a 20 inch sediment cartridge, an Eaglesorb ES3 anti-scale media tank, a 20 inch solid carbon cartridge and a 20 inch 0.2 micron ultrafiltration membrane. It uses template-assisted crystallisation rather than ion exchange, so it adds nothing to the water and produces no backwash discharge. Sold in 1.5 and 2.0 cubic foot media volumes in fiberglass or stainless tanks.
Additional information
Specification: Crystal Quest Salt-Free Water Conditioner
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Questions answered from our data
How much does a water softener cost?The 35 water softeners we list run from $160 to $3,294, with a median of $1,531.
How long do water softener filters last?Of the 35 water softeners we list, 28 state a filter life; the most common is 6-12 months (14).
Does a water softener remove chlorine?Nine of the 35 water softeners we list claim to reduce chlorine.
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