Do I need both a water softener AND a reverse osmosis system?
They solve different problems, and in Utah most homes benefit from both. A softener handles hardness for the whole house (scale, appliances, fixtures). An RO system provides purified drinking water at the kitchen sink (removes lead, PFAS, chlorine byproducts, and the sodium a softener adds).
They solve different problems, and in Utah most homes benefit from both. A softener handles hardness for the whole house (scale, appliances, fixtures). An RO system provides purified drinking water at the kitchen sink (removes lead, PFAS, chlorine byproducts, and the sodium a softener adds).
They're two different tools. A softener exchanges calcium and magnesium (hardness) for sodium, which prevents scale everywhere in the house. It doesn't remove contaminants.
A reverse-osmosis system forces water through a membrane that rejects 95-99% of dissolved solids — including lead, PFAS, chlorine disinfection byproducts, arsenic, and the small amount of sodium the softener adds. RO produces drinking water and cooking water at one tap (usually the kitchen sink).
In Utah, the combination is ideal: the softener protects the house, the RO gives you clean drinking water at the one tap where it matters most. Installing a softener without an RO leaves you drinking slightly-saltier-than-normal water; installing an RO without a softener leaves the rest of your house fighting scale.
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In-home estimates for new equipment are always free. Repair diagnostics are $79 for HVAC or $39 for plumbing & electrical — waived when you approve the repair.
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Last reviewed April 1, 2026.