I have been in the water filtration business in some capacity for over 30-years now. So, when I say I realize there are so many choices in water softener models it can be overwhelming when shopping for one, it’s true.
That’s why at Water Tech Advice always do our best to put out accurate and detailed reviews on as many quality water softener models as possible.
By doing that, we know we can help you narrow down your water softener choices quicker, so you can more easily make a sound purchasing decision.
We will continue that trend here by looking at three of the best-selling Whirlpool water softeners.
That’s the company’s popular WHES30, WHES33, and WHES44 water softeners.
Check Out: Our List Of The Top Water Softeners
Table of Contents
Whirlpool Water Softeners Overview
Whirlpool Corporation is the world’s leading appliance manufacturer, and they employ over 90,000 people in some 70 worldwide locations.
So, it’s reasonable to expect some level of innovation when it comes to their water softeners and that’s exactly what you get.
This comes in the form of each Whirlpool water softener having a space saving design, programmable controls, and demand initiated regeneration that cuts down on salt usage and water waste.
Some of that innovation can be deceiving too, so you must be careful. For instance, some refer to these model water softeners as having a single tank design.
In reality, it’s a space-saving ‘single shell’ design that still has two tanks inside of it.
These two tanks (brine tank & resin tank) are always necessary to perform the salt-based based ion-exchange process which makes water softeners so effective at removing hard water minerals.
Despite that, these three water softening systems I feel are well-designed and do offer some subtle differences from other water softener brands that are appealing.
Any one of them will do a great job of reducing limescale causing hard water minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and manganese and protecting your water heating appliances from damaging scale buildup.
Whirlpool water softener prices also compare favorably or are priced lower than similar types of water softening products. Despite their small size, they offer superior hardness removal in their specified hardness range.
You will understand more of what I am talking about as you read on in your quest to find an impactful means to get soft water in your home.
Reviews of Whirlpool’s Water Softeners
Here is a closer look at the 3 above-mentioned Whirlpool water softener models.
1. WHES30 30,000 Grain Water Softener
If you have a smaller size house with occupancy of 4 people or less, then this Whirlpool water softener will do the trick for you.
It’s also a 30,000 grain water softener model that can be easily put in a small space in a garage or basement.
Key Features
Efficient Hard Water Mineral Removal
This Whirlpool water softener model can handle conditions where your water’s hardness level is up to 95 grains per gallon.
That means they will even work if your home is supplied by well water that is considered moderately clean.
Space Saving Single Shell Design
Whirlpool is ahead of the game when it comes to water softening systems that fit better in confined spaces, yet still use proven salt-based hard water mineral removing technology.
This unit only measures 43.5” x 19” x 18”. This is a feature that makes a Whirlpool water softener worth buying for many people.
Uses Technology That Saves on Salt Usage and Limits Wastewater
Whirlpool has made these water softening units with what they call metered technology or demand initiated regeneration. This leads to regeneration cycles taking place less frequently.
As a result of this demand initiated regeneration technology, the WHES30 and its sister model water softeners require less salt to keep them running and this cuts down on wastewater too,
Iron Removal Up To 8 ppm
Here is another trait that makes the WHES30 and its sister model water softeners appealing to use if your water is sourced from a well.
That’s because they are moderately efficient at removing iron too. In the case of this model water softener, that is the ability to remove iron up to 8 ppm (parts per million).
Programmable Controls with Low Salt Indicator Light
On older style water softeners maintaining them can be a headache. That is not the case with the WHES30 because it has programmable controls that handle regeneration cycles (backwashing) and more.
This also includes having a convenient indicator light which tells you when it’s time to add salt.
Pros:
- Efficient hard water mineral removal (up to 95 grains per gallon)
- Space saving single shell design
- Salt saving technology that also cuts down on wastewater
- Iron removal up to 8 ppm
- Programmable controls head w/low salt indicator light
- Easy installation (kit included)
- Made by the world’s largest appliance manufacturer
- Product of the USA
- NSF certified
Cons:
- Low flow rate
- Only good for households with 1 to 4 people
- Short 1-year warranty
- Needs electric hook up or plug in
2. WHES33 33000 Grain Water Softener
All the above key features for the WHES30 central water filtration system apply to this 33,000 grain capacity water softener too except for these notable exceptions.
- It can treat water with a hardness level up to 105 gpg.
- The WHES33 has a slightly higher 8 gpm flow rate.
- It can remove iron from water up to 9 ppm.
Pros:
- Efficient hard water mineral removal (up to 105 grains per gallon)
- Space saving single shell design
- Salt saving technology that also cuts down on wastewater
- Iron removal up to 9 ppm
- Programmable controls w/low salt indicator light
- Easy installation (bypass valve included)
- Made by the world’s largest appliance manufacturer
- Product of the USA
- NSF certified
Cons:
- Low flow rate (8 gpm)
- Only good for households with 1 to 4 people
- Short 1-year warranty
- Needs electric hook up or plug in
3. WHES44 44000 Grain Water Softener
All the key features above for the WHES30 also apply to this model, which is considered one of the best Whirlpool water softeners, except for the following:
- This better than 40,000 grain water softener can treat water with a hardness level up to 140 gpg.
- The WHES33 has a slightly higher 9 gpm flow rate.
- It can remove iron from water up to 12 ppm.
- This better than 40,000 grain water softener can easily handle the water softening needs of 1 to 6 people.
Pros:
- Efficient hard water mineral removal (up to 140 gpg)
- Space saving single shell design
- Uses technology that saves on salt usage and cuts down on wastewater
- Iron removal up to 12 ppm
- Programmable controls w/low salt indicator light
- Easy installation (kit included)
- Good for homes with 1 to 6 people
- Made by the world’s largest appliance manufacturer
- Product of the USA
- NSF certified
Cons:
- Low flow rate (9 gpm)
- Short 1-year warranty
- Needs electric hook up or plug in
Installation & Maintenance
Although these are different size water softening models, the installation and maintenance procedures for them are identical.
The only factor that is different is the time frame on which the maintenance is done on. That has to do with different sizes between models and the amount of hardness that is present in your incoming water.
Installation
This is definitely a good style of water softener for those that would like to save money by doing a DIY installation.
Included in the package are:
- Softener system (includes resin tank w/multi layered media bed)
- Bypass valve (high flow valve)
- Installation hardware
- Instruction manual
You will need to pick up material to put in a drain line and all of the piping and connectors necessary to splice into your incoming water line.
Maintenance
As far as salt-based water softener’s go, Whirlpool company water softening devices require less maintenance than many other brands.
The regeneration process is managed automatically by the built-in programmable controls and that control even has a low salt indicator light that alerts you when you need to add more salt to the system.
Whirlpool also recommends that you purchase and use a bottle of their special water
softener cleanser every 4-months. The company claims that this will keep these units working at peak efficiency. This will also help lower regeneration cycle frequency.
Whirlpool Vs Competitor Brands
You don’t get to be the world’s largest appliance manufacturer by having products that don’t stand up well to the competition. That right there is a testament to the quality of this line of Whirlpool brand water softeners.
Are they perfect? The answer to that question is no, but you would be hard pressed to find any water softener model that does not have a few shortcomings in its design.
That’s no different with the Whirlpool WHES30, WHES33, and WHES44 water softeners.
It must also be stated that these Whirlpool water softeners are innovative and our highly rated by those who have purchased and used them.
So, even though none of these Whirlpool model water softeners made our list of the best water softeners, I think they stack up very well against the competition.
My Final Thoughts On These Whirlpool Water Softeners
I really like some of the forward thinking that has gone into these model water softeners by Whirlpool.
That includes their space saving design, ease of operation, and water and salt saving capabilities. They also will do a decent job of removing iron from your household water.
The biggest concern that I have with them is their low flow rates and that includes the larger grain capacity model the WHES44.
Be aware of using it on large size homes or homes with 6 or more people because that low flow rate will impact your home’s water pressure.
Other than that, I feel the Whirlpool WHES30, WHES33, and WHES44 water softeners would be a solid choice to handle your water softening needs.
