Water Softeners · Houston, TX
Water softener installation in Houston
Houston's own water report shows hardness that swings a lot by source and location. We size your softener to your tap, not a citywide average.
What Houston's water report says about hardness
- Houston Public Works says its system serves about 5.5 million people and draws on surface water (Trinity River/Lake Livingston and San Jacinto River/Lake Conroe & Lake Houston) plus groundwater from the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers.
- Its 2025 Water Quality Report lists Main System total hardness from 43.5 to 229 mg/L, averaging 135.5 mg/L. That works out to roughly 2.5 to 13.4 grains per gallon, about 7.9 on average (our conversion at 17.1 mg/L per grain).
- Hardness changes with source and location, and many Houston-area homes are on a MUD or other utility rather than the City system, so your tap can differ from the average.
Water varies by home, utility and MUD. Figures come from the public reports linked below.
How we install your water softener
We test your water, recommend a softener sized for your hardness and household, and install it with a manufacturer warranty plus 1-year labor. Pair it with whole-home carbon filtration or reverse osmosis if you want better-tasting water too.
- Water softener installation and whole-home carbon filtration: manufacturer warranty + 1-year labor.
- Reverse osmosis drinking water at the kitchen sink.
- Free mailed water test: the mailed test is free. Booking takes a $20 deposit, credited toward your system when installed; non-refundable if you choose not to install.
- Financing available, subject to approval.
- See all packages.
Seasonal offer: From Nov 18, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027, get $150 off the Softener + Carbon + RO package or the Premium Whole-Home package. The offer does not apply to other packages.
Start a free water consult Call (832) 639-4127
Hardness, chloramine, salt, and upkeep
A softener removes the calcium and magnesium that leave spots and scale. It does not remove chloramine. Many Houston-area systems, including the City of Houston Main System, disinfect with chloramine; carbon filtration made for chloramine is the stage that targets its taste and smell. That is why a lot of homes pair a softener with a whole-home carbon filter.
A salt-based softener uses salt to remove hardness minerals. You add salt to the brine tank periodically. A salt-free conditioner does not remove hardness the same way, so a hardness test still reads hard. We recommend a system after your mailed water test.
The Water Softener starts at $2,589. If you also want carbon and drinking water, Softener + Carbon, Softener + Carbon + RO, and Premium Whole-Home are tiers quoted after your free mailed water test. After installation you can add the RO Filter Plan ($12/month) or ask about the Whole-Home Care Plan (RO filters, a yearly softener check-up, and carbon media refills). Both can be canceled anytime.
Package prices
- Water Softener — starting at $2,589
- Standalone under-sink RO — $795
- RO add-on — $595
- Essentials Whole-Home, Softener + Whole-Home Carbon, Softener + Carbon + RO, and Premium Whole-Home — quoted after your free mailed water test
A written proposal after your water test confirms the price for your home. You pay 30% when you approve the proposal (that orders your system, which ships to your home) and the remaining 70% after it is installed and working.
Seasonal offer: From Nov 18, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027, get $150 off the Softener + Carbon + RO package or the Premium Whole-Home package. Those tiers are quoted after your free mailed water test. The offer does not apply to other packages.
Financing available, subject to approval.
Related reading: What to look for in a water softener for hard water in Houston
Common questions
Do I need a water softener in Houston?
It depends on your hardness. Houston’s 2025 Main System report ranges from about 2.5 to 13.4 grains per gallon, so some homes see much more scale than others. A water test tells you where your home falls.
How is a water softener sized?
By your water hardness and how much water your household uses. That’s why we test before we recommend a system.
Do you install water softeners outside the City of Houston?
Yes. We serve homes within 35 miles of Richmond, TX, including Sugar Land, Rosenberg, Fulshear, Missouri City, Katy, Houston, and nearby MUD neighborhoods.
Is financing available?
Financing available, subject to approval. See our financing page. We do not publish rates on this page.
Does a water softener remove chloramine?
A water softener does not remove chloramine. Carbon filtration made for chloramine is the stage that targets chloramine taste and smell. The City of Houston Main System is disinfected with chloramine, as are several nearby systems, but MUDs and wells can differ, so we test your tap first.
How much does a water softener cost?
The Water Softener starts at $2,589. Essentials, Softener + Carbon, Softener + Carbon + RO, and Premium are tiers quoted after your free mailed water test. A written proposal after your water test confirms the price for your home. You pay 30% when you approve the proposal and the remaining 70% after installation. From Nov 18, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027, get $150 off the Softener + Carbon + RO package or the Premium Whole-Home package.
How long does installation take?
After you approve the written proposal, a 30% deposit orders your system, which ships to your home. A licensed installer then does a quick on-site reading to confirm your numbers and installs the system. We will give you a scheduled install date once the equipment is on the way. Call (832) 639-4127 if you want to talk through what to expect for your package.
Do I have to add salt?
Yes, if you choose a salt-based softener. It uses salt to remove hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium), and you add salt to the brine tank periodically. A salt-free conditioner does not remove hardness the same way, so a hardness test still reads hard. We recommend a system after your mailed water test.
What maintenance does a softener need?
A salt-based softener needs salt added to the brine tank periodically. Carbon filters and reverse osmosis systems need media or filters replaced on a schedule, which we go over with you at install. After installation you can add the RO Filter Plan ($12/month) or ask about the Whole-Home Care Plan, which covers RO filters, a yearly softener check-up, and carbon media refills. Both can be canceled anytime. Manufacturer equipment warranty plus 1-year labor is included; the Premium Whole-Home package includes 5 years of labor coverage.
How much is the water test?
The mailed water test is free. Booking takes a $20 deposit, credited toward your system when installed; it is non-refundable if you choose not to install. There is no obligation to buy a system.
Sources: Houston Public Works: 2025 Water Quality Report
Areas we serve: Sugar Land · Richmond · Rosenberg · Fulshear · Missouri City · Katy · Houston