If the calcium carbonate level in your water supply is more than 61 mg/L, it can cause problematic limescale formation on faucets and fixtures. The build-up is often challenging to remove and can damage your plumbing over time.
While a Reverse Osmosis filtration system can remove calcium, it is not the best choice. The most efficient water treatment system for calcium removal is Water Softeners and Conditioners.
Lucky for you, we have tested over 11 softeners + conditioners to shortlist the three best calcium water filters for your water. Keep reading!
👌Top 3 Calcium Water Filter In 2024: Smart Preview
- Best Overall
SpringWell Salt-Based Water Softener
- Type: Whole-house Salt-based water softening system
Flow Rate: 11-20 GPM
Grain Capacity: 32000, 48000, or 80000
Family Size: 4-6 members
Warranty: Lifetime warranty on tanks and valves - Runners-Up
SpringWell Salt-Free Water Softener
- Type: Whole-house water filter + Salt-free softener system
Flow Rate: 12-20 GPM
Grain Capacity: NA
Family Size: upto 4 members
Warranty: Lifetime warranty against defects on tanks, bypasses, valves, fittings, and main hardware components. - Budget Alternative
Aquasana Salt-Free Water Conditioner
- Type: Salt-free softener + conditioner combination system
Flow Rate: 7-15 GPM
Grain Capacity: NA
Family Size: 4-5 members
Warranty: 10 years / 1,000,000 gallons
Installation Kit,
12 months for Pre- and Post-Conditioner Housing Units
Here's How We Test Products At Aquaprofessor
- 👌Top 3 Calcium Water Filter In 2024: Smart Preview
- 👉Best Whole House Water Filters For Calcium: Detailed Reviews
- 1️⃣ SpringWell Salt-Based Water Softener
- 2️⃣ SpringWell Water Filter + Salt-Free Water Softener
- 3️⃣ Aquasana Salt-Free Water Conditioner
- 🤔What To Look For When Buying Water Filter That Removes Calcium and Magnesium
- 📝Do Water Filters Remove Calcium?
- 🧹Why Do We Remove Calcium From Water?
- 💡Best Water Filter For Removing Calcium: FAQs
👉Best Whole House Water Filters For Calcium: Detailed Reviews
| Water Filter System | Type | Max Family Size | Process Adopted | Certifications | Operating Procedure | Price |
| SpringWell SS1 | Whole House Salt-based softener | 4-6 members | Ion-exchange mechanism to replace calcium ions with sodium ions in water | ISO certified components | 25-80 PSI | See Price |
| SpringWell CSF1 | Whole-house water filter + Salt-free softener system | 4-6 members | Activated carbon filters to remove impurities and salt-free softener to act on calcium | ISO certified components | 25-80 PSI | See Price |
| Aquasana EQ-AST-WH | Salt-free water conditioner | 3-5 members | SCM (Scale Control Media) with TAC (Template Assisted Crystallization) technology to transform calcium ions into harmless crystals | Not specified | Upto 100 PSI | See Price |
Also Read: Top Water Softener For Apartment
1️⃣ SpringWell Salt-Based Water Softener
Pros
- High filtration capacity and flow rate of upto 20 GPM
- Top-performance with 10% crosslink resin.
- Available in three-grain capacities
- Energy-efficient
- Long-lasting with great durability
- ISO-certified components
- Solid build
- 6-month guarantee and lifetime warranty
Cons
- Requires salt-replacements timely
- Installation can be tricky for some
SpringWell water treatment systems enjoy a good reputation in the market because of their competitive products and efficient filtration technology. Their salt-based water softener has also gathered great customer reviews; let’s inspect how it works:
🧼Calcium Removal Process
The SpringWell SS1 salt-based softener utilizes salt solution from the brine tank and the ion-exchange mechanism to remove calcium from the water. The main mineral tank contains a media bed with high-quality resin beads that act as the surface for ion exchange.
When water with high calcium levels enters the mineral tank, the calcium ions stick to the resin while salt ions (sodium or potassium) take their place. The resulting soft water flows onto your household plumbing for use.
Note:
It is important to note that this water is high in sodium levels and might be problematic for people on a low-sodium diet. Thus, an additional water filter can be installed in the kitchen for drinking and cooking.
Also Read: SpringWell vs Aquasana
🔧Installation and Maintenance
The SpringWell system comes with a DIY guide with step-by-step instructions for installation. You still need basic plumbing skills to install the system on your own; otherwise, it is advised to hire a professional to avoid breakage or leakage.
Maintenance includes timely replacement of salt pellets in the brine tank. This step is essential to maintain good water quality. In addition, the trapped impurities in the resin bed are automatically flushed during backwash and regeneration cycles from time to time.
🚿Water Flow Rate and Grain Capacity
The SS1 water softener is available in 3 sizes with grain capacities of 32k, 48k, or 80k grains. The flow rate varies from 11 – 20 GPM depending on the model.
The flow remains consistent despite high water consumption, making it sufficient for families with 4-6 members.
🛃Customer Support, Warranty, and Certifications
SpringWell offers a 6-month satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime warranty on tanks and valves for all its products. In addition, the water softener is made from ISO-certified components.
To reach their customer support team, you can call, email, or message them via their official website. Their customer support is pretty good amidst a few complaints.
Who is it best for?
People dealing with significant limescale build-up problems and are looking for a long-term solution while maintaining the best water quality.
2️⃣ SpringWell Water Filter + Salt-Free Water Softener
Pros
- 1 million gallons filtration capacity
- 12-20 GPM flow rate
- 99.6% limescale reduction and 80% calcium reduction
- Sturdy build
- Eco-friendly
- 6-month guarantee and lifetime warranty against defects on tanks, bypasses, valves, fittings, and main hardware components.
Cons
- Expensive
- Not NSF certification
- Requires filter replacements
- Few complaints of calcium buildup after installation
Our second pick for calcium removal is the SpringWell water filter + Salt-free softener combination system. Here’s everything we learned about this system.
🧼Calcium Removal Process
SpringWell filter + softener combo can remove upto 80% calcium and reduce limescale build-up by upto 99.6%. It does not necessarily remove calcium but prevents limescale formation, ultimately relieving related problems.
Being a salt-free system, it utilizes a 5-micron pre-filter to remove sediments, excess calcium, volatile organic compounds, and other significant impurities.
In addition, its water conditioner components use TAC technology to convert the remaining calcium ions into tiny crystals, which can no longer cause a nuisance in the plumbing.
The crystalline calcium is incapable of sticking to surfaces and not large enough to cause blockage. Thus, you can enjoy calcium-rich water while avoiding plumbing issues at the same time.
Also Read: SpringWell vs Pelican
🔧Installation and Maintenance
The system comes with an installation manual and user guide. If you are even slightly unsure about its installation, do not think twice and hire a plumber to set up the system correctly. It may require slight alterations to your pipelines and fixtures.
Maintenance of this system is relatively easy. The filter needs to be replaced every 6-9 months. It’s an eco-friendly water treatment system and salt refills are unnecessary to keep it working. Moreover, there is no increase in water bills as there is no water wastage.
🚿Water Flow Rate
The flow rate varies from 12-20 GPM (Gallons Per Minute) depending on the model size. This rate is sufficient for families with 4-6 members.
🛃Customer Support, Warranty, and Certifications
SpringWell offers a 6-month satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime warranty on tanks and valves for all its products. The water filter + softener is not NSF certified but utilize ISO-certified components for the build.
To reach their customer support team, you can call, email, or message them via their official website. But, unfortunately, their customer service can be a hit and a miss sometimes.
Who is it best for?
People with moderate calcium levels in their water supply can go for a SpringWell water filter + softener system to retain healthy minerals in drinking water.
Note: Choosing the filter is optional.
3️⃣ Aquasana Salt-Free Water Conditioner
Pros
- Filtration capacity of 1 million gallons or ten years
- Good-tasting water
- Dual-flow tank design
- Prevents scaling and staining
- Budget-friendly
- Eco-friendly with SCM salt-free technology
- Good flow rate
- Strong build
- 90-day guarantee and 10-year warranty
Cons
- Installation takes time and plumbing skills
- Timely filter replacements required
Aquasana Whole House Filter and Salt-free conditioner is the right product if you keep your budget and environment in mind. As far as calcium removal is concerned, let’s see what it has in store for you.
🧼Calcium Removal Process
Aquasana salt-free conditioner utilizes a pre-filter to eliminate large contaminants, SCM (Scale Control Media) to condition hard water, and a post-filter to remove remaining impurities.
The SCM uses TAC (Template Assisted Crystallization) technology to convert calcium ions into microcrystals. Thus, some calcium carbonate traps in filters, while the rest remains suspended in water as harmless crystals.
🔧Installation and Maintenance
While you get a DIY installation guide, it is best to go from professional help to install the system accurately and avoid cracks or leaks.
For maintenance, you must replace the pre and post-filters every 2 to 6 months, respectively, while the SCM may require replacement every six years, depending on your usage.
🚿Water Flow Rate
Depending on the model size you go for, the flow rate ranges from 7 to 15 GPM, which is quite good. It is sufficient to fulfill all the water needs of a family with 3-5 members.
🛃Customer Support, Warranty, and Certifications
Aquasana provides a 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee and a 10-year warranty on tanks and valves. It is not officially certified but is independently tested to reduce scaling and contaminants.
You can contact them via phone or email, which they reply to during office hours. It offers good customer service, which is evident through its online reviews.
Who is it best for?
People with moderate calcium levels, along with other inorganic and organic impurities.
🤔What To Look For When Buying Water Filter That Removes Calcium and Magnesium
Here is our ultimate guide for you to follow before purchasing a water filter for your home. We have ranked the house water filters based on the same factors as mentioned below:
🧂Ability to Remove Limescale
Different water filters work on different technologies and respond to contaminants differently. In addition, their removal efficiency differs for different ions, such as calcium, magnesium, or iron. So, choosing the right system for the contaminant you wish to eliminate is essential.
While RO filtration membrane is highly efficient, it is pretty sensitive too. High calcium carbonate levels often damage the semi-permeable membrane, reducing its lifespan.
Conclusion:
So, instead of bearing high maintenance costs, look for other filtration options, such as water softeners and conditioners. Reverse osmosis filters can be used as additional treatment units if needed in this scenario.
⚗️Filtration Method
The best filtration method for high hardness in water is ion exchange, for moderate hardness levels is water conditioning, and for low hardness is membrane filtration.
But how will you know the exact calcium levels in your water? Testing.
Get your water tested by manual testing kits or certified laboratories to know the amount of hardness or heavy metals in your water. It will help you choose the most suitable filtration unit for your household.
🌀Water Flow Rate
You wouldn’t like to wait long for a bucket of water, would you? So, ensure that you choose a water filtration system with a good and consistent flow rate even when multiple people use water simultaneously.
The flow rate is measured in GPM (Gallons Per Minute) and gives an estimate of water speed through your faucets. For example, a 10-15 GPM is suitable for a family of 4-6 members.
🔧Ease of Usage and Maintenance
Water filtration systems should be user-friendly and easy to maintain. Before purchasing a filter, ensure you understand all its features and how to operate them. Moreover, calculate the maintenance costs for the units that require filter media or salt replacements.
Modern whole-house water treatment systems have a digital control head and built-in bypass valve. The digital control head helps you set the timer for regeneration cycles and backwashing. The bypass valve ensures a continuous water supply even when the filtration system is down.
💰Price & Certifications
Price is a vital factor that significantly influences the decision of people. But while price matters, don’t forget that quality matters more. Only a good quality product will provide you value for money in the long run.
NSF/ANSI and WQA are some official organizations that certify water filters under specific standards to ensure they are safe for public use. In addition, the product undergoes rigorous testing protocols to check its efficiency and credibility. Thus, purchasing a certified water filter is recommended for peace of mind and reliability.
📝Do Water Filters Remove Calcium?
Remember that not all water filters are designed to remove impurities such as calcium and its salts. For example, water filtration systems containing RO or UF (Ultrafiltration) membranes can filter out calcium as it cannot pass through their minute pore size.
Still, it also leads to wear and tear and blockage over time. So, RO or UF are not recommended for calcium removal. The better filtration systems for calcium removal are water softeners and conditioners.
So, while water softeners convert hard water to soft water, water conditioners only transform the hard minerals into harmless crystals.
Also Read: Can Shower Head Filters Soften Water?
🧹Why Do We Remove Calcium From Water?
When the calcium levels in your water supply exceed 61mg/L, you start noticing its detrimental effects on your home. Here are the problems why calcium removal from water becomes a necessity:
💡Best Water Filter For Removing Calcium: FAQs
We hope this article helps you make the right decision and end your high calcium water problems. We recommend you check out the following FAQs to get answers to some more queries:
How to remove calcium from water naturally?
The only natural method to remove calcium from tap water is boiling. When you boil water, the large impurities and calcium carbonate settle at the bottom, while clean water stays above. Transfer the top water and discard the bottom portion to enjoy calcium-free drinking water.
Do Brita filters remove calcium from water?
No. Brita filters do not remove calcium from the water. Instead, they reduce the carbonate ions, preventing the formation of calcium carbonate and limescale on surfaces. Calcium in water is good for your health if present within acceptable limits. So, Brita filters provide you with clean water with healthy minerals.
What is the best way to remove calcium from drinking water?
Water softening is the best mechanism for maximum calcium removal from drinking water. The resin bed in the mineral tank traps calcium ions and replace them with sodium ions from the brine solution. This ion exchange turns hard water into soft water, which can no longer cause limescale build-up in your plumbing.
What is considered high calcium in drinking water?
More than 61mg/L of calcium in water is considered high and needs immediate attention. Limescale build-up is a clear indication of high calcium levels. If you notice water hardness problems, test your water to know the exact calcium concentrations. While calcium is a healthy mineral, its excess can harm your plumbing.
Does reverse osmosis remove calcium and magnesium?
Yes. Reverse Osmosis membrane can remove calcium and magnesium ions, but it is not designed to do so. Calcium carbonate is a problematic mineral that sticks to all surfaces it comes in contact with. Similarly, on passing through the reverse osmosis water filter membrane, it builds up on its surface and causes blockage. It hinders the membrane’s efficiency in removing other contaminants effectively and reduces its lifespan. So, we would advise not to use reverse osmosis systems to remove calcium and magnesium minerals.
Adarsh is a Health & Nutrition Sciences graduate with expertise in environmental health. He is associated with ventures like Glacier Fresh Filter and Simpure Filter Systems. Through Aqua Professor, he intends to provide helpful information to every home to help them make smarter decisions.
*GREAT, Well explained even a layman can follow it. As per my experience Ion exchange salt based is result oriented with pre filtration system.
Regards