In order to test for water softener settings, a test strip system can be used. Discover how water softener settings can be mechanical, digital, work off flow or work off time with help from a master plumber in this free video on water softeners. Expert: Chris Spannagel Bio: Chris Spannagel has been a master plumber for 17 years and is licensed in Arizona. Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

Water softening is the process that is used in order to remove lime from water, and it involves running a salt brine solution over resin beads. Discover how magnesium and calcium are removed from water with help from a master plumber in this free video on water softening. Expert: Chris Spannagel Bio: Chris Spannagel has been a master plumber for 17 years and is licensed in Arizona. Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

The process of water softener regeneration is used to remove calcium and magnesium that has been attracted by the resin in water. Discover how electricity drives the process of attracting calcium and magnesium molecules with help from a master plumber in this free video on water softener regeneration. Expert: Chris Spannagel Bio: Chris Spannagel has been a master plumber for 17 years and is licensed in Arizona. Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

The first step in water softener repair is the softener test, which is usually followed by a checkup of the brine tank. Discover how salt bridges can cause a soft water unit to stop working with help from a master plumber in this free video on water softener repair. Expert: Chris Spannagel Bio: Chris Spannagel has been a master plumber for 17 years and is licensed in Arizona. Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

Water softener maintenance begins with checking the hardness of the system, and continues with checking the brine tank. Learn about the test kit used to determine the hardness of water with help from a master plumber in this free video on water softeners. Expert: Chris Spannagel Bio: Chris Spannagel has been a master plumber for 17 years and is licensed in Arizona. Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

Didn’t really have room for the entire correct question in the title…

I’m planning on getting a water softener for my home and am having problems understanding where companies such as Culligan get their prices.

The house is pre-plumbed.
I feel very confident that I am 100% capable of installing a system on my own.
I know the quality of my water and know what I am looking for in a water conditioning system. (At least I think I know what I am looking for)

I can go to a store like Home Depot or Lowes and buy some water softener that looks like a little trash can (the membrane and the salt storage are a single unit). I would have to install this myself and if I wanted to do it properly get the permits from the city. (Supposedly I have to do this because if I don’t install backflow protection I can backflow my membrane into the municipal supply. This is what Culligan told me, I haven’t independently verified it.) The unit only costs about 0 though.

Just to see what they would charge, I had Culligan come out and give me a free estimate. They have the systems that look a little more "sturdy" with a separate salt storage unit and one of those membranes that looks like a compressed air cylinder. Their system cost about 00.

There might be a little difference on some of the bells and whistles, like auto-regeneration and other items, that I would pay much closer attention to when I am deciding on a unit. But what is the big difference between these units?? Is Culligan just trying to overcharge because they are Culligan? Is their unit going to last 7 times as long as the big box retailer’s unit?

I know my parents had an expensive "Culligan-esque" softener installed in their home 15 years ago and they have never had any maintenance done and it still works perfectly… It is just so tempting for me to only spend 0-0 and do the work myself.

Any thoughts or personal experience would be very much appreciated.

The average life of a water softener system is 10 to 15 years, but water softeners can last for up to 20 years. Discover how to go about getting a water softener system replaced with help from a master plumber in this free video on water softeners. Expert: Chris Spannagel Bio: Chris Spannagel has been a master plumber for 17 years and is licensed in Arizona. Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

The basic operation of water softening systems begins with water coming into the house, running through the bypass valve and then undergoing an electrical process that involves the influx of positively-charged particles. Learn about the function of the salt bring tank in a water softener with help from a master plumber in this free video on water softeners. Expert: Chris Spannagel Bio: Chris Spannagel has been a master plumber for 17 years and is licensed in Arizona. Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

Cleaning the brine from a water softener brine tank means initially checking to see if the water levels are low. Find out how to use a broom handle to break up salt residue with help from a master plumber in this free video on water softeners. Expert: Chris Spannagel Bio: Chris Spannagel has been a master plumber for 17 years and is licensed in Arizona. Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler