Well water often contains a blend of hardness-causing minerals (calcium and magnesium), as well as sulfur, iron, and manganese. To ensure the water you and your family drink is perfectly clean and clear, you need water treatment that can tackle all of these contaminants.
Teaming up with our in-house water specialist, James Layton, I’ve rigorously researched and tested this SpringWell whole-house well water filter and softener combination. Together, James and I consulted users and other industry experts to determine who this system is best for and whether or not its worth the money.
In this SpringWell WSSF-1 review, I’ll highlight its key features and what sets it apart from the competition. By the end of this article, you’ll know whether this system is the right choice for you.
Quick Verdict
The SpringWell WSSF-1 is a top-performing water conditioner and filter designed for well water with mild hardness and contaminants like iron, hydrogen sulfide, and manganese. It effectively reduces scale buildup throughout the house and prevents unsightly orange and black stains on fixtures caused by iron, as well as the rotten egg smell caused by hydrogen sulfide.
With its high-quality filtration and water conditioning technology, minimal upkeep, and a lifetime warranty, it’s an excellent choice at a competitive price.
The SpringWell WSSF-1 is designed for households with one to three bathrooms. If you have high water demand, you can opt for the WSSF-4, which can maintain optimal water pressure for four to six bathrooms. SpringWell offers a solution for every homeowner, regardless of the size of their home.
If you want to get rid of the unsightly rust stains and rotten egg smell while also reducing scale buildup on your fixtures and plumbing system, the SpringWell WSSF-1 is an optimum solution.
Who Is the SpringWell WSSF-1 For?
Water quality varies from house to house, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution in the world of whole-house filters. While this may be an ideal choice for some, it may not suit everyone.
The SpringWell WSSF-1 is for you if…
- You’re dealing with iron and rotten egg smell and mild to moderate hard water in your well.
- You’re living in a one-to-three-bathroom household.
- You want a long-term solution that requires minimal maintenance.
- You want to control your system with your smartphone.
- You don’t want to add salt or chemicals to your water supply.
- You’re looking for lifetime protection on your whole-house water filter system.
- You want to conserve water and electricity.
- You live in an area that has banned salt-based water softeners.
- Your well water has minimal other contaminants besides iron, sulfur, manganese, and hard water minerals.
The WSSF-1 may not be for you if…
- You’re living in a big home with more than four bathrooms; in that case, go with the WSSF-4 model.
- You want to completely eliminate water hardness from your well water.
- You’ve tested your well water, and it has other contaminants like lead, copper, arsenic, and nitrates. In that case, look for a well water system that treats the issues specific to your well water.
- Your well is old and poorly constructed, which is causing contamination. No filtration can solve this, and you need to get your well checked.
SpringWell WSSF-1 Features Breakdown
This section will walk you through the most notable features the SpringWell WSSF-1 filter and salt-free softener combo offers.
Air injection oxidation (AIO) filtration
The SpringWell WSSF-1 removes up to 8 ppm hydrogen sulfide, 7 ppm iron, and 1 ppm manganese in well water using an air injection oxidation process. This filtration method is better than chemical injection because it doesn’t use unpleasant chemicals like chlorine and hydrogen peroxide.
The filter tank functions by drawing in air from its surroundings, creating an air pocket that oxidizes contaminants. The resulting insoluble oxidized particles are then captured in a flushable Greensand media.
Reducing iron and sulfur in your water will not only make your water cleaner, it will also protect your water-using appliances, such as hot water heaters, washing machines, and dishwashers, from damage. You see, rust can build up and make your appliances less efficient, and both rust and sulfur can corrode the metals inside.
One of the more remarkable features of this system is its compact design, which combines the entire filtration process into a single tank. This eliminates the need for a separate tank for chemical storage, saving valuable space.
Salt-free water conditioning
SpringWell’s FutureSoft Salt-Free Water Softener Alternative neutralizes hardness-causing minerals through template-assisted crystallization (TAC), transforming them into crystals that won’t adhere to surfaces. This effectively reduces scale buildup around the house by up to 99.6%, prevents blockages in water-based appliances, and improves your water’s flow rate.
Because this system doesn’t remove any minerals, it doesn’t necessitate the resource-intensive cleaning and backwashing associated with traditional water softening. Water softeners can waste up to 25–65 gallons of water per regeneration, but the FutureSoft produces no wastewater and uses no salt or electricity.
If you’re dealing with severe clogging and scale buildup in your plumbing system before installing the FutureSoft conditioner, you may not notice immediate results. The FutureSoft conditioner will gradually break down the existing scale buildup in your plumbing. During this process, you may observe increased spotting and scaling on your faucets. There’s no need to worry; this is simply a sign your system is effectively performing its job.
The WSSF-1 system can effectively neutralize mildly to moderately hard water. If you have very hard water and high water demand, the WSSF-4 — or perhaps even an ion exchange water softener — will suit you better.
Smart technology
The SpringWell WSSF-1 filter can be conveniently controlled from your smartphone. This smart technology enables real-time monitoring of your AIO filter. There’s a plethora of fun things you can do with it.
You can adjust the timing and duration of your backwash cycles, helping to save water by preventing unnecessary and untimed backwashes. You can even initiate a backwash cycle if you want. You can view recent and long-term data about your water usage and monitor the overall functioning of your system.
Eco-friendliness
The AIO filter in SpringWell WSSF-1 is pretty chill — you won’t be swapping out filters or replacing the filter media. That means you can skip the hassle of tossing used filters and ordering new ones, which is a win for the environment.
And if you’re really into being environmentally conscious, a salt-free water conditioner is your go-to choice. Not only does it save you a solid 25 to 65 gallons of water by ditching the need for backwashing and regeneration, but you’re also doing the Earth and marine life a huge favor by keeping salt out of soil and water bodies. It’s a win-win for you and the planet.
Minimal maintenance
The WSSF-1 system is virtually maintenance-free. The filter autonomously cleans and regenerates itself without any intervention on your part. Likewise, the salt-free water softener neutralizes those troublesome minerals without the need for frequent backwashing and regeneration. Plus, you won’t have to deal with the hassle of refilling the salt tank.
The only upkeep required is removing the spin-down sediment filter periodically to clean it. It’s completely reusable. No replacements are required. What’s more is the salt-free conditioner will last 10 years before the TAC filter media will need replacing.
Filter add-ons
No single filter can handle all water problems, it’s like expecting one superhero to save the day every time. The WSSF-1 is fantastic if you’ve got limescale, iron, or that funky rotten egg smell in your well water, but it might not be the right fit for all issues. SpringWell offers an upgrade, though. You can outfit your WSSF with a UV sterilizer and a reverse osmosis under-sink filter to tackle nasties like microbes, heavy metals, and other organic troublemakers.
Before you dive in, it’s a smart move to test your water so you know exactly what you’re up against. My article here can help you decide which water testing kit you should get for yourself.
Extensive product warranty
The SpringWell WSSF-1 boasts an exceptional benefit by providing a lifetime warranty coupled with a six-month money-back guarantee. This means that your tanks, housings, and valves are safeguarded against manufacturing defects for the entirety of the unit’s life. And you get half a year to put the system through its paces. If it doesn’t quite live up to your standards, you can send it back.
Just remember, this warranty doesn’t cover mess-ups from improper installation or misuse. And when you send it back, shipping fees are on you. So, it’s a sweet deal, but treat it right and follow the installation rules to make the most of it.
What I Like About the SpringWell WSSF-1
The WSSF-1 water filter combo has been a real game changer for my mildly hard well water with iron contamination.
It’s done wonders to reduce scale buildup and those annoying orange stains on my fixtures and laundry. Within the first week, the system completely cleared out the old hard limescale in my plumbing. After that, the filter delivered fresh and clean water throughout all the taps around my house.
What I love about the WSSF-1 is that it’s not overkill but specific and targeted. You might be tempted to not test your water and just throw the most powerful, wide-ranging filtration system at it, knowing nothing will make its way through. But this is a waste of money. Test your water. If you’re not dealing with dangerous contaminants, you don’t need a filter that removes them.
If you’re a DIY enthusiast with a basic understanding of plumbing, installing this unit yourself is super straightforward. SpringWell provides a detailed installation guide on its website to assist you through the process. (However, if you’re not too experienced in this area, it’s a wise choice to hire a plumber.)
Plus, it’s great that it requires minimal maintenance. Once I got it installed, the AIO tank and FutureSoft conditioner handled everything on their own, so I didn’t have to bother with filter replacements or salt refills. It’s saved me a ton of time, effort, and money.
In this day and age, having control at your fingertips is crucial, and the ability to monitor the SpringWell AIO system through a smartphone adds an extra layer of convenience and peace of mind.
Finally, it’s quite uncommon to come across a lifetime warranty and six-month money-back guarantee in the realm of whole-house water filters. When it comes to important, costly home appliances, a good warranty is an absolute must, and I love that SpringWell delivers.
What You Might Not Like About the SpringWell WSSF-1
SpringWell’s WSSF-1 is designed to specifically filter iron, hydrogen sulfide, and manganese in water. If you test your water and identify any other pollutant, you’ll need to invest in an additional filter that can protect your family from ingesting harmful metals and chemicals. Choices include a catalytic carbon filter, a point-of-use reverse osmosis filter, or a UV water purifier.
One aspect of the WSSF-1 that disappointed me was the underwhelming spin-down sediment filter. It’s only rated for 100 microns, so it won’t filter out any fine particles that could end up clogging your appliances or damaging the filter media. For about $100, you can upgrade to SpringWell’s 5-micron sediment filter, but I’ll never understand why some don’t come with it.
And we can’t avoid the fact that the FutureSoft is not a proper water softener.
If you want to eliminate water hardness entirely, a water softener is your best bet. While a conditioner can neutralize scale from mildly to moderately hard water, it won’t improve the health of your skin and hair or reduce detergent usage. The calcium and magnesium ions that cause dry, itchy skin and low-sudsing cleansers are still present after conditioning.
Methodology
If you’re curious about my research, you can explore the following seven-step methodology I employed to evaluate the SpringWell WSSF-1 Whole House Well Water Filter and Salt-Free Water Softener Alternative.
Step 1: A list of SpringWell water filtration systems
Before diving into my research, I explored all the well water systems offered by SpringWell. It’s essential to understand what each one does. Water quality issues span a wide range of causes, and each filter in SpringWell’s lineup solves a different problem.
This filter is a combination of AIO technology and FutureSoft water conditioner. Compared to its more powerful counterpart, the ULTRA Whole House Well Water Filter Salt-Free System Combo, the WSSF-1 is cost effective and suitable for dealing with mild to moderately hard water and specific contaminants.
When comparing this system to other options offered by SpringWell, I had the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate the WSSF-1 model.
Step 2: Product analysis
Before I checked out the filter in person and talked to customers, I wanted to know what to look for in a whole-house well water filter. So, I consulted with James and other experts in the field. Here are the questions I asked and what I found out:
- How do various well water filter technologies compare, and what sets them apart?
- What is air injection oxidation, and how does it stack up against chemical injection?
- Do salt-free conditioners really work?
- Why should I get a salt-free conditioner for my home?
- Which states or localities have banned salt-based water softeners?
- What’s the typical price range for whole-house well water filters?
- Can a layperson install a whole-house water filtration system?
- How are salt-free conditioners eco-friendly?
Step 3: Online reviews
For my next step, I decided to read online reviews from real users on websites like Consumer Reports, BBB, and Trustpilot. I got the inside scoop on what people absolutely adored about the system and also where it stumbled and bumbled a bit. I also got insights into the company’s customer service.
I paid special attention to oft-repeated praise and/or criticism across platforms. These are the cases that are most likely to be legitimate and lead me to further inquiry and a more accurate gauge of the product’s performance.
Step 4: Interviews with real customers
When it comes to online reviews, it’s always a good idea to take them with a grain of salt. After all, brands can manipulate or selectively present information to make their products shine.
So, I decided to roll up my sleeves and go the extra mile. Instead of solely relying on those online reviews, I took the initiative to reach out to real, everyday customers who had hands-on experience with the product.
I learned a whole lot from these genuine interactions, which went far beyond what the glossy online surface could ever reveal.
Step 5: Interview with SpringWell
I decided to take my research up a notch, so I reached out to SpringWell. I sent an email loaded with my burning questions about its filtration technology and refund policy. To ensure I covered all the bases, I even forwarded some customer complaints I stumbled upon during my investigation.
Much to my delight, the folks at SpringWell responded with a warm and welcoming attitude. They went out of their way to ensure I received all the information I needed, leaving no stone unturned.
Step 6: Test drives
I took the WSSF-1 for a spin by renting it and installing it in my own home. Over three months, I rigorously tested the water quality using an at-home water testing kit. I played with the settings using the app, evaluated my flow rate, and watched for signs of decreased scale buildup and iron staining.
This hands-on approach provided deeper insights into the filter’s performance, making it clear that real-life experience goes far beyond theory. It was quite an eye-opener. I could physically see and feel the difference in water quality.
Step 7: Ranking
After compiling all the information I gathered throughout my research, I reviewed the product based on the following characteristics:
- Filtration technology
- Cost-effectiveness
- Eco-friendliness
- Smart features
- Filter life
- Flow rate
- Ease of installation
- User-friendliness
- Maintenance cost
- Warranty
Final Thoughts
The SpringWell WSSF-1 is an excellent choice for private well owners dealing with mildly to moderately hard water, as well as iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide contamination.
This system is competitively priced and offers minimal upkeep, which can save you money in the long run. Numerous eco-friendly advantages include no filter replacements, no salt brine washed down the drain, lower electricity and water usage, and no chemicals.
The filter efficiently eliminates scale buildup in your plumbing, which protects the longevity of your pipes and appliances. You can easily monitor your AIO tank’s backwashing cycles through your smartphone.
And to sweeten the deal, the addition of a lifetime warranty and a six-month money-back guarantee unquestionably makes the SpringWell WSSF-1 whole-house filter and conditioner a valuable investment. To wash away your water woes for good, get the WSSF-1 here.
Alternatives
The great thing about a saturated market is that you can always find a product that meets your needs. If the WSSF-1 isn’t your cup of tea, or if you have specific water quality concerns, explore the following alternatives.
SpringWell Well Water Filter and Salt-Based Water Softener
If you’re looking to completely eliminate water hardness in your well water while also addressing iron and hydrogen sulfide issues, a water softener is what you need.
SpringWell offers a robust salt-based water softener that utilizes 10% cross-link ion-exchange resin to effectively remove minerals that cause water hardness in your well water. With this system, you’ll notice your skin and skin feeling softer and your laundry getting cleaner with less detergent.
And you still get the benefit of SpringWell’s awesome warranty.
If you need further information, you can view my detailed review of the Springwell WSSS1 by clicking the provided link.
US Water Systems Flexx Whole House Filtration and Salt-Based Water Softener
US Water System’s Flexx will suit you perfectly if you’re on city water and have common pollutants like chlorine, chloramine, PFOS, pesticides, and other chemicals. The system uses ion exchange resin to remove water hardness and ensures you get fresh and clean water throughout the house.
Like SpringWell, you can connect this system to your smartphone and monitor the backwashing and regeneration cycles.
Crystal Quest SMART Whole House Water Filter
Crystal Quest’s SMART filter features multistage filtration, which can remove a wide number of contaminants, including organic compounds, lead, mercury, petroleum, and pharmaceutical by-products. Unlike the WSSF-1, this system is more suitable for you if you’re city water or well water near industrial and agricultural pollution.
You can outfit it with either a water softener or a water conditioner based on your requirements and preferences. It’s a good alternative to the WSSF-1 if you’re looking for something that can deal with a multitude of contaminants.
If you’re on the hunt for assessments of water purification systems besides SpringWell WSSF-1, you’re in the right place! Our extensive collection of water filter reviews encompasses various brands and models currently offered in the market.
Here’s a preview of some of the water filter brands and models we’ve thoroughly examined:
- SpringWell MWS1 Review
- SpringWell FS1 Review
- SpringWell CF4 and CF+
- Home Master Water Filter Reviews
- APEC Water Systems Reviews
- iSpring Water Filter Reviews
