Comparing industrial water softener price tags can be a daunting process. Any system you choose will be a big investment, but the prices can vary significantly between manufacturers and their dealers.
If you’re using a third-party plumber or mechanical contractor to install the system, then the costs can differ even more – every contractor has their own rates.
So, how do you know when you find a decent industrial water softener price? Like any equipment investment, you’ll need to look past the price tag and actually evaluate what you’re getting for the money.
Sure, it’ll take a little homework on your part, but it’s the only way to ensure you’re making a sound financial decision.
What influences an industrial water softener price
To determine whether you’re getting a good deal or not, you first need to familiarize yourself with the factors that affect an industrial water softener price.
Here are the key elements that affect what you pay:
1) System size
Size is the single biggest factor that influences an industrial water softener price, regardless of where you buy it or which company makes it.
The bigger the system, the more you’ll pay. It’s that simple. A larger system will require more parts, more tanks and more labor to install it.
Water softener sizes are typically measured in grain capacity. This doesn’t mean how many grains of resin it holds. Grain capacity refers to the maximum number of grains of water hardness the system can remove with each regeneration. As such, grain capacity should be selected based on these factors:
- Water hardness
- Water usage / flow demands
The harder your water and/or the greater your water usage, the “larger” your water softener will need to be. The need for each additional resin tank and control valve will naturally increase the price.
2) System efficiency
The more efficient the system, the higher the price will usually be.
That may sound backwards, but there’s a reason for it. A high-efficiency industrial water softener price will typically be higher because it leverages more technology during the water treatment process. For example, smarter metered valves, better resin, advanced filtering technology and other high-efficiency components will add to the price tag.
However, it’s critical to understand that this efficiency will save you in the long run. In fact, a high-efficiency system can sometimes pay for itself with the savings in salt and water. So while a lower upfront price may seem more attractive at first, a higher-priced but more efficient system may actually deliver big savings and lifetime value.
3) Brand recognition
Like everything in life, you pay more for brand-name goods – and yes, that applies to industrial water softener price tags too.
Well-known brands like Fleck, Clack and Culligan (and their dealers) can get away with charging more for their systems because people are familiar with the names – even when lesser-known brands can deliver better performance.
A good example of this is SoftPro commercial water softeners. SoftPro is an up-and-coming manufacturer whose systems deliver outstanding performance, and yet some of the systems are LESS expensive than comparably-featured systems from the big brands.
4) Warranty
Water softener warranties can absolutely provide peace of mind, especially for expensive industrial systems. After all, you want to be sure your system is covered in case anything goes wrong right after you buy it!
But like other goods, warranties can also be used as a marketing gimmick. If you want greater peace of mind (i.e. greater protection and long-term coverage), then you’re going to pay for it. As such, it’s only natural that an industrial water softener price will be higher when it comes with an extended warranty.
Industrial Water Softener Price Calculator
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