Salt vs. salt-free water softeners

A salt-based softener removes calcium and magnesium. A salt-free conditioner leaves them in the water but makes them less likely to stick as scale. They solve different problems.

Which should you choose?

If your water is over about 7 grains per gallon (as in Omaha and Lincoln) and you want spot-free dishes, softer skin and less soap, a salt-based softener does the job. If you mainly want to protect your water heater and can't add a drain, a salt-free conditioner is a reasonable compromise.

Common questions

Do salt-free water softeners work?

Salt-free conditioners (often called TAC or template-assisted crystallization) change hardness minerals so they're less likely to form scale. They don't remove the minerals, so you won't get the slick soft-water feel or the soap savings of a true softener.

Does softened water have a lot of sodium?

Softening adds about 8 mg of sodium per liter for each grain per gallon of hardness removed (Nebraska Extension). At 9 grains, that's about 72 mg/L. If you're on a sodium-restricted diet, use potassium chloride or keep one unsoftened tap for drinking.

Sources: Angi 2026 cost data; Nebraska Extension G1491.