Finding ways to soften your hard water is essential if you want to prolong the lifespan of your fixtures and appliances. And while there are many water softeners out there, the Water Boss 900 could fit the bill if you live in a smaller home.
This system has a size of 36,400 grains and is perfect for smaller households with up to four people. The high-efficiency unit is easy to control and boasts modern features most softeners lack.
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Curious to find out more about it? Read on to find out whether this is the right water softener for you.
WaterBoss Overview
WaterBoss is one of the few American-owned water softener manufacturers. The brand was launched in 1991, its systems working with city and well water alike.
Unlike most water softeners, the WaterBoss system does much more. Featuring a 3-in-1 technology, they filter, soften, and improve water at the same time. Furthermore, these systems use an advanced resin that uses less water and requires shorter regeneration cycles. Some of the other advantages that come with a WaterBoss system include:
- Built-in self-cleaning filter
- Fast regeneration
- Low water consumption
- Small footprint
- Easy operation and maintenance
How Does WaterBoss Water Softener Work?
Before moving forward with our WaterBoss 900 review, let’s have a word about the brand’s softeners in general.
WaterBoss water softeners utilize ion exchanging technology to remove hardness elements. The systems are designed for use with sodium chloride or potassium chloride salts. Thus, the WaterBoss water softeners are an excellent choice for those on a low sodium diet.
A thing that makes the WaterBoss systems special is the compact design. All water softeners from the brand have a compact footprint and fit in most homes.
WaterBoss 900 Water Softener Review
Build Quality and Capacity
The WaterBoss 900 is one of the latest water softeners from the brand. The model impresses with its excellent build quality and a very compact footprint. Design-wise, the unit has a neutral look with softly rounded lines at the edges.
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A lid at the top protects the delicate components from the elements. At the same time, it makes it super-easy to check the brine level and replenish the salt.
In terms of capacity, the system can soften up to 32 gallons of water at a time. It requires a minimum flow rate of 2.4 gallons per minute, but the water pressure can go as low as 20 PSI. A thing to keep in mind is that the WaterBoss 900 doesn’t handle well a pressure higher than 70 PSI (even though its rated capacity goes up to 120 PSI). Thus, it’s recommended to use it with a pressure regulator your water pressure exceeds the 70 PSI threshold.
With a peak flow rate of 10 gallons per minute and a water conditioning capacity of up to 90 grains per gallon, this system is perfect for small to mid-size homes.
Digital Programmable Control Unit
Programming a water softener, in general, can put off many homeowners. However, the Waterboss 900 aims to change that.
This system features an intuitive digital control panel and a pre-programmed 6-step regeneration process. An LCD screen makes it easy to check the operation and scheduled maintenance cycles. If the pre-programmed process doesn’t suit your needs, you also have the option to schedule the regeneration to a time that fits you best.
The softener comes with detailed instructions printed in the proper English language, so navigating through the options is no trouble at all.
When the unit is not regenerating, the display shows you how much water the system can soften until the next regeneration and confirm whether the water is flowing through the unit or through the bypass system.
High-Efficiency Mode
If the water hardness in your area is moderate to low, the high-efficiency mode allows you to save money on electricity and salts alike.
In a nutshell, this mode reduces salt consumption with up to 50%, and it also uses around 80% less water during regeneration. At the same time, the unit takes only 15 minutes to regenerate when the high-efficiency mode is activated.
Resin Bed
The WaterBoss 900 uses a proprietary packed-type resin bed that is easy to change and that has enough reserve to allow for proper regeneration.Â
powerClean®
A thing WaterBoss managed while other brands failed was to create a water softener that can suit anyone. To do so, it invented the power clean technology that can deal with iron ions efficiently. When this setting is activated, the softener will schedule more frequent regeneration cycles, usually every other day.
Each regeneration will require about five pounds of salt, but the unit does an excellent job in removing iron build-up from the resin bed, prolonging the unit’s lifespan.
WaterBoss regeneration time
WaterBoss 900 is one of the most efficient water softeners, with a regeneration cycle that doesn’t exceed 40 minutes. Considering that most softeners need at least two hours the regenerate, the fastest process allows you to save on electricity and water.
Each regeneration uses approximately 27 gallons of water and six pounds of salt. Sodium chloride is the first salt choice, but if you’re on a low sodium diet or want to avoid sodium for one reason or another, you can use potassium chloride.
Like all water softeners, the WaterBoss 900 adds a minimum amount of salt to your drinking water. However, the quantity is negligible.
WaterBoss lifespan
Just like any other appliance, the WaterBoss 900 will only last for so long. The system’s typical lifespan stretches between 10 and 15 years, in-line with most other brands.
Obviously, how long it will last depends on a variety of factors, such as installation point (outdoors or indoors), water hardness in your area, and how often you perform maintenance.
Contaminant reduction & Water Quality
We already mentioned that WaterBoss 900 can do much more than soften water. Indeed, the system also removes a range of contaminants and is ideal for households with well water.
Sure, this is still a water softener and it won’t remove all waterborne contaminants. You can however expect it to trap particulate and microbial cysts among others.
If you have city water, the 950 model from the same brand also features an active carbon filter that can trap chlorine and remove some chemicals.
WaterBoss Ins and Outs
Pros
- High efficiency and high capacity regeneration
- Fast regeneration cycle
- Demand and timed regeneration options
- Self-cleaning sediment filter
- Suitable to use for water with high level of iron
- Digital controller
- Comprehensive instructions
Cons
- It doesn’t remove chlorine
- Some WaterBoss reviews report poor customer support
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Professional vs. DIY Installation Cost
Installing a new water softener can cost you from $200 to $500 if you don’t have a softener installed already, or double that if you need to dig or drill to a well water source. If you have to remove an old system, expect to pay an extra $50 to $200 for its removal, depending on the system complexity and where you live.
DIY installation is obviously cheaper. As long as you have basic plumbing skills, the necessary materials won’t cost you more than $200.
How to Use WaterBoss
Once installed, the system is very easy to use. Just turn it on and switch the valve from bypass to service mode.
A button on the digital control panel allows you to set the unit to default regeneration. This option will give you the time to read the manual and learn how to program it to suit your needs.
Performance Comparison: WaterBoss vs. Harmony Series vs. Whirlpool
The WaterBoss 900 is an excellent water softener, but it might not be the right one for you. Here’s how it compares to other popular options.
| WaterBoss 900 | Aquasure Harmony Series 48,000 | Whirlpool WHES30E | |
| System size | 36,400 grains | 48,000 grains | 30,000 grains |
| Household size | Up to 4 | 4-5 people | Up to 4 |
| Maximum hardness removal | 90 GPG | 110 GPG | 95 GPG |
| Water use | 27 gallons/regeneration | 50 gallons/regeneration | 25 gallons/regeneration |
| Salt type | Sodium or potassium chloride | Sodium chloride | Sodium chloride |
In Conclusion
According to our observations and many other WaterBoss water softener reviews, the WaterBoss 900 is an excellent choice for small to mid-size households.
The system gives you the possibility to save on water, energy, and salt. It is easy to program and maintain and boasts a decent lifespan. It still needs a separate purifier if you’re using well water. All in all, though, we recommend it.
