Due to hard water in most communities, Water Softeners have become a necessity for every family by eliminating the minerals (calcium and magnesium) that create the soap crud residue that blocks pores and leaves fabrics rough and dingy. With a water softener you get softer, healthier skin and hair as well as brighter, cleaner, longer-lasting clothes. You save money by using up to 75% less soap and other cleaning products and by extending the life and improving the efficiency of all of your water-using appliances. Your home will be much easier to keep clean and you will have spotless dishes, tile, sinks, faucets, showers and appliances. And you will reduce your home energy consumption and save up to 48% on water heating bills.
Aquamaster high-efficiency water softeners use 80% less water and about 1/3 of the salt compared to the average water softener, meet NSF and ENERGY STAR specifications to save you money while helping the environment. Their patented design packs more softening power into a very small space using less water, salt and time to regenerate. The built in sediment filter and resin are self cleaning and there are no cartridges to change. The included KDF process media helps to eliminate odd odours from your water too. The Aquamaster Water Softener's reliability is guaranteed as every unit is fully tested and backed by a 10 year warranty.
So how does the Aquamaster AMS 900 Water Softener compare?
Performance - 10/10 This water softener consistently produces soft water while using very little salt and water to get the job done. Aquamaster water softeners are NSF and WQA certified to ensure their consistent performance.
Capacity - 8/10 It's capacity is somewhat limited by it's size. If your water has a hardness of over 40 and there are 6 or more people in your household, you better look for a different brand of water softener, because this is the largest size currently available.
Cost to Operate - 10/10 These only use about $2 worth of hydro annually and due to it’s very low salt and water usage they are very inexpensive to operate.
Ease of Installation/Use - 9/10 Aquamasters' small size with three relatively easy connections make them very easy to install for do it your selfers. They come with excellent instructions, an installation kit and even a drain line. It would be nice if their somewhat finicky fittings could be more easily removed and reinstalled to allow for removal of the water softener for winterizing or major service in the future.
Features - 8/10 - Although the valve takes care of most functions perfectly, I would like to see the availability of an over ride on days between regenerations, which is very beneficial especially for cottages and second homes.
Parts Availability - 8/10 Although parts are readily available from the manufacturer and the distributor it is a proprietary product so parts are only available from Aquamaster dealers.
Longevity - 10/10 I have personally seen these installed in customers homes where they have been in service for over 15 years! One customer has one that is over 25 years old and it’s still going strong.
Reliability and Build Quality - 9/10 They consistently produce soft water but due to their high efficiency they tend to salt clog relatively easily. By waiting until the salt level is at the ¼ mark before refilling tends to minimize or even eliminate this concern.
Initial Investment - 10/10 High efficiency water softeners are very rare and typically the investment to own one is about double the cost of a standard efficiency water softener. The Aquamaster AMS 900 is only a slightly larger investment than a standard efficiency water softener. So when it comes to water softeners for your family this one is a bargain!
Styling/Aesthetics - 10/10 When installed in the utility room in the basement, this means nothing, but often due to limited space a water softener will end up in a laundry room, bathroom or other public area in a home or cottage and this water softener looks great! It is very finished looking and because the valve is under the cover it is very easy to keep clean!
Gary the Water Guy Overall Score 92/100
So what's the Verdict? I rate this as a Gary the Water Guy Best Buy for any family whose water is less than 40 gpg and/or have less than 6 people in their household!