Pricing
What this usually costs, and what moves it.
Ranges rather than promises. Every one of these gets replaced by a written figure from the installer once they have measured your water and looked at the plumbing.
Softeners, installed
| System | Suits | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| 24,000 grain | 1–2 people | $1,100–$1,600 |
| 32,000 grain | 3–4 people | $1,300–$1,900 |
| 48,000 grain | 5–6 people | $1,600–$2,400 |
| 64,000 grain | 7+ or very high hardness | $2,000–$3,000 |
Assumes an existing soft-water loop. No loop adds roughly $350–$900 of plumbing, shown separately on the quote rather than folded in.
Everything else
| Item | Notes | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Salt-free conditioner | Whole home, no drain needed | $900–$1,700 |
| Reverse osmosis | Under the kitchen sink | $450–$900 |
| Diagnostic visit | Includes a hardness test | $95–$150 |
| Resin replacement | Existing unit worth keeping | $350–$650 |
| Salt delivery | Per visit, plus salt | $45–$75 |
The cheapest outcome is sometimes nothing. If your existing unit is salt-bridged or set to a timer, a service call fixes what you were about to spend two thousand dollars replacing. A good installer checks that first.
Questions about price
Why is everything a range?
Because the two things that move the price — your measured hardness and what the plumbing looks like — are unknown until someone stands in your garage. A precise number quoted sight-unseen is a number that gets revised on the day, and that costs more trust than a wide range costs sales.
What makes a quote go up?
No soft-water loop, so new plumbing is needed. A drain that is nowhere near where the unit has to go. Very high measured hardness pushing you a size up. An old unit that has to come out and be disposed of.
Is the water test free?
Usually, as part of a quote. If you want a test with no intention of buying anything, ask the installer for the visit fee up front. A test that is “free” and then recovered in the equipment price is not free.
Is financing available?
Ask the installer when you get the quote. It is better discussed against a real number than as a monthly payment that assumes a purchase you have not chosen yet.