Salt-free water systems use a process called Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC) or other catalytic media to transform hardness minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, into a crystalline form that doesn’t adhere to surfaces. This helps prevent scale buildup in pipes and appliances without removing the minerals from the water, as traditional salt-based softeners do​.

Salt-free systems prevent scale rather than remove hardness minerals, meaning they don’t soften water in the traditional sense. Traditional systems use ion exchange to remove calcium and magnesium, replacing them with sodium or potassium. Salt-free systems don’t require salt or electricity and don’t produce wastewater​.

No, salt-free systems won’t eliminate water spots entirely because they don’t remove the hardness minerals. However, they prevent scale from sticking to surfaces, which reduces the severity and frequency of spots on dishes, glassware, and fixtures​.

Salt-free systems are low maintenance. They don’t require salt refills, and some systems may only need the media replaced every 3-5 years. Additionally, they don’t need to be backwashed or flushed, meaning no waste water is produced​.

Yes, salt-free water systems are considered more environmentally friendly because they don’t use salt, chemicals, or electricity. They also don’t produce brine waste that would need to be discharged, and they use significantly less water compared to traditional systems​.

Yes, if you are on a municipal water supply, the water from a salt-free system is safe to drink. Since the system does not add any substances like sodium or remove essential minerals, the water retains its original taste and composition. This is ideal for people who want to avoid extra sodium in their drinking water.If you are on well water, it is important to get a full laboratory water analysis to understand what is in your water before consuming it.

Salt-free systems typically do not remove chemicals like chlorine. However, systems like EcoWater’s EcoProTechT™ with a dual-tank design also include activated carbon filters that can remove chlorine, chloramines, and other impurities, improving taste and odor​.

Salt-free systems are generally effective for moderate to high hardness levels, usually up to 25 grains per gallon (gpg). However, if your water has extreme hardness or other contaminants like iron or hydrogen sulfide, a traditional softener or additional filtration may be recommended​.