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Home » Water Softeners » Rheem Water Softener Reviews 

Rheem Water Softener Reviews 

By: Craig Smith
Last Updated:
Rheem Water Softener Reviews

Most people associate the name Rheem with a very reputable line of central air conditioning products but the salt-based water-softening equipment they make is very good too. 

You will see that with each Rheem water softener review that I do here as they do a very good job eliminating the typical problems such as scale build up that are caused by hard water minerals. This is especially true of the company’s best-selling Rheem Preferred Plus Water Softener models. 

I will give you enough detail in the following Rheem water softener reviews that will help you decide if they may be the best water-softening solution for you.

About Rheem 

Rheem Manufacturing Company is a business that has established a reputation for innovation and excellence over the years. The company was opened in Emeryville, CA, in 1925 by the Rheem brothers Richard and Donald.  Rheem Manufacturing has a ‘History of Comfort’ as they have developed some of the most advanced heating, cooling, and water heater products that can be found in the marketplace today.

Even though the company has been around for a long time, soft water technology is relatively new to them. That fact makes me a little apprehensive about the thoroughness of their water softening process. This gives some of the other top water softener models that we have reviewed such as Aquasure and Springwell an advantage over them in my eyes.  

One other big drawback with Rheem water softeners is that they are only available for purchase at The Home Depot. That often leads to non-negotiable prices.

Rheem Water Softeners Reviewed

Here is a quick comparison of the different Rheem home water softeners that are available:

Best Used ForModelKey Features$$

Ok for use in all-size homes

It has a 42,000-grain capacity and can also remove up to 11 ppm of iron

Rheem Preferred Platinum Water Softener
  • Included Wi-Fi technology for remote water management
  • Effective Salt-based ion-exchange water softening
  • Highest-rated Rheem water softener
  • Rheem learning technology
  • Space-saving single cabinet design with angled tank for easy salt loading
$609.00

Ok for use in all-size homes

It has a 42,000-grain capacity and can also remove up to 11 ppm of iron

Rheem Preferred Plus Water Softene
  • No included Wi-Fi controls
  • Effective Salt-based ion-exchange water softening
  • Rheem learning technology
  • Space-saving single cabinet design with angled tank for easy salt loading
$529.00

Works best in medium size homes with 1 to 3 bathrooms

It has a 32,000-grain capacity and can also remove up to 11 ppm of iron

Rheem Preferred Water Softener
  • Effective Salt-based ion-exchange water softening
  • Rheem learning technology
  • Space-saving single cabinet design with angled tank for easy salt loading
$419.00

Ideal for use in smaller homes, condos, and townhomes

It has an 18,000-grain capacity and can also remove up to 11 ppm of iron

Rheem Compact Water Softener
  • Effective Salt-based ion-exchange water softening
  • Measures just 32” high, 18” wide, and 24” deep
  • Rheem learning technology
  • Space-saving single cabinet design with angled tank for easy salt loading
$399.00

Common Highlight Features of All Rheem Salt-Based Ion Exchange Water Softener Systems

Here are some traits that each Rheem salt-based water softener model has:

  • Includes Rheem Learning Technology – This is special technology built into each water softener that learns your water usage patterns. This helps you use less salt and provides on-demand soft water for your home which also saves water consumption. These learned water usage patterns combined with an on-demand regeneration cycle will also save you some money over a year too.
  • Space Saving Cabinet Design – All Rheem water softening products have their brine tanks (salt tanks) and resin tanks encapsulated in a single shell. This allows them to fit in some spaces that many dual-tank water softeners cannot. Their cabinets also look good and are angled to make salt loading easier.
  • Industry Leading Flow Rates – If you are concerned that your water pressure will drop too much after you install a water softener, then you will be comfortable purchasing a Rheem water softener. That’s because they have flow rates through them that range from a very acceptable 7 to 10 gallons that tend not to impact your water supply.
  • Built-In Sediment Filter – These water softeners have a sediment pre-filter built right into them. That means there is less chance of large-size particles getting into the main water softener tanks and causing problems such as blockages.
  • NSF Certified – Each Rheem house water softener is NSF Standard 44 certified as far as hardness reduction and the reduction of Barium and radium 226/228. They are also NSF Standard 372 certified which means no components contain lead.
  • Included DIY Installation Kit – Almost everything that you need to install this water softener is included in the package except the parts needed to hook up to your incoming water supply.
  • Built-in Low Salt Monitor – With a built-in low salt monitor, you never have to guess when it’s time to add more potassium chloride or sodium chloride salt.

Rheem Preferred Platinum Water Softener

Rheem Preferred Platinum Water Softener

If you are looking for a quality salt-based water softener system that has many bells and whistles, then you will want to take a closer look at this one. Not only does the Rheem Preferred Platinum Water Softener do a very good job of eliminating most hard water minerals, but it also has included Wi-Fi smart technology for remote water management. It can be controlled with any smart device that has Rheem’s iQua remote water management smartphone app loaded on it.

This Rheem product is great for any size household with any number of bathrooms and is a 42,000-grain water softener that can also remove up to 11 ppm of iron.

Price: $609

 Rheem Preferred Plus Water Softener

 Rheem Preferred Plus Water Softener

If you think the cabinet on the Rheem Preferred Plus Water Softener looks the same as that of the Rheem Preferred Platinum Water Softening system, your eyes are not deceiving you. That’s because this Rheem Preferred Plus Water Softener is identical to the Rheem Preferred Platinum Water Softener minus that system’s Wi-Fi technology.

This model works well for all-size homes too and has a 42,000-grain capacity and can also remove up to 11 ppm of iron.

Price: $569

 Rheem Preferred Water Softener

 Rheem Preferred Plus Water Softener

Here is a water softener from Rheem that’s designed to perform impactful hard water mineral removal in mid-size homes with 3 to 5 occupants and 1 to 3 bathrooms. It too features a space-saving single cabinet design with angled tank for easy salt loading. There is nothing fancy about this Rheem preferred 32,000 grain water softener, but it will provide you with many years of effective removal of calcium and magnesium ions and all the benefits that soft water offers.  

This Rheem model water softener has a 32,000-grain capacity and can also remove up to 11 ppm of iron.

Price: $419

Rheem Compact Water Softener

 Rheem Preferred Water Softener

If you live in a starter home, apartment, condo, or townhome, then this water softener from Rheem may be right for you. It has an extremely compact design which allows it to be inconspicuously placed in laundry rooms, garages, and utility rooms. This model’s space-saving design measures just 32” high, 18” wide, and 24” deep.

 The Rheem Compact Water Softener will provide soft water to homes with 1 to 4 people, and 1 or 2 bathrooms. It has an 18,000-grain capacity and can also remove up to 11 ppm of iron.

 Price: $399

 Rheem Customer Service and Guarantees

This company has a reputation for offering quality customer service. This was mentioned in many of the reviews on Rheem water softeners that I read. Most purchasers of this water softener brand feel that the company’s customer service reps are very knowledgeable and the wait times to get in touch with one are not very long compared to other companies in the industry.

Rheem’s warranties are very favorable too. They compare very favorably to some of the best water softeners that are made. Their warranty is 1 year for parts and labor, 3 years for the electronics, and 10 years for the resin and brine tanks. It’s also worth noting that the 1-year warranty can be extended up to 5 years with regular use of Rheem’s water softener cleaner.

Rheem Water Softener Cleaner

How Does Rheem Compare to Competitors

Rheem vs Springwell

 Make no mistake about it, I feel Rheem water softeners offer very good quality for the price that you pay for them. With that being said, most of Springwell’s water treatment products are top-of-the-line and their salt-based water softeners are no exception (Although you will pay significantly more for them). 

Even though Rheem’s highest-rated Preferred Platinum Water Softener has all the bells and whistles that you want, it still is not in the same league as Springwell’s salt-based water softeners. That’s because they all are more solidly built, have bigger tank capacities (which means less maintenance), offer lifetime warranties, and are fully automated on-demand regeneration water softening systems.  

 If you are interested in learning more about a top-rated Springwell water softener, then you can read more about them on our review below.


 Rheem vs Aquasana

When taking a closer look at Rheem and Aquasana water softeners, you will quickly find that you are comparing apples with oranges. That’s because Rheem’s products are more traditional water softeners that are salt-based and use sodium ions that eliminate most hard water minerals.

 Aquasana water softeners are highly rated salt free water softeners that only condition hard water minerals to inhibit their ability to form scale. Rheem’s products are also USA-made while Aquasana products are manufactured in the UK.

Conclusion

When you purchase a Rheem water softener it definitely gives you some advantages. This includes their products’ single cabinet space-saving design, the company’s learning technology, and water softeners that have among the best flow rates in the industry. 

You will also find they are priced lower than many comparable-sized water softeners and their warranties compare favorably with many top-rated water softener models. Some of the drawbacks with purchasing Rheem water softening systems include their short time making these products and the fact you can only shop for them at The Home Depot, so there is no wiggle room on the price. When all is said and done, this is a good budget water softener, but I feel there are other water softeners that we have reviewed that will give you more bang for your buck like Springwell Water. 

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AUTHOR
Craig Smith
Craig got his start in water working in the swimming pool and spa industry. Water treatment would grow into his main career but he ended up working in the pool industry for over 26 years where much of his time was spent balancing the water in customer's swimming pools and installing water filtration equipment. Craig offers an abundance of water treatment knowledge after helping homeowners get pure water for 26 years.

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