Reasons NOT To Rent or Buy A Water Softener
Reasons NOT To RENT A Water Softener
It is much cheaper to buy a softener over the long term because the rental costs add up. Suppose you rent a system for $25 a month and the purchase price is $1,000. If you rent for at least three and a half years, you will pay more in the end. Besides, you still do not own the system!
With regards to other maintenance costs, the owner usually assumes this as it’s very rare to find water softener rental fees that include these costs.
You will probably have to cover the costs if the machine breaks as the company will find you responsible.
Some landlords will not let you install a water softener (on a temporary basis) because of possible damage to the property.
If you are in a rental property what happens if you need to break your lease?
You may still have to cover the costs for on-going maintenance, repairs and installation.
Possible issues associated with getting a used device. This is because renting a water softener means that you will almost certainly get a softener that is not new.
Reasons To Rent A Water Softener
Renting a water softener means you can see how effective it is before committing to buy.
If state law changes and suddenly you can no longer use a water softener in your area, you can simply return the system and be glad you did not buy it! 
It is good for people that can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars upfront but can afford reasonable monthly rental fees of $20-$50.
It’s also good for people that are anticipating a change in local laws or expect that newer and more high tech softeners are going to be released in the near future.
Many companies offer introductory offers for lower payments to attract new customers so you can negotiate a lower cost. This can lead to great savings if you only want to rent it for a short period of time say 6 months or so.
Maintenance costs are calculated individually by each company and it can work out cheaper if you can include these costs into your monthly fee.
It is possible to find plans that include the plumbing installation and this can be a big saving because water softener installation can start at $400-$500.
Finally, If you run out of money, you can simply return it.
Reasons NOT To BUY A Water Softener
It’s not worth the high cost if you only need a water softener for a short period of time e.g less than 6 months.
Once installed, it’s not easy to refund or exchange if anything goes wrong because of the possible extra plumbing costs and bulkiness of the machine.
Reasons To BUY A Water Softener
Basic math tells you that getting a water softener is much cheaper and cost effective over time. If you can’t afford to pay for it up-front, why not pay for it in instalments?
Buying and owning it outright gives you a more permanent solution when compared to the water softener rental option. 
Many companies will give you a guarantee and warranty when you purchase a softener. This covers you if something goes wrong and can protect you against maintenance and repair costs.
In contrast to the rental option, you will find a much wider range of softener models when you are prepared to buy. This includes state of the art modern cutting edge softener machines.
Owning a water softener can also have a positive long-term effect on the value of your property. This is because a house that comes with a water softener in an area known for having hard water issues will be more attractive to home buyers.
Many dealers recognize the good investment opportunity for homeowners and are starting to offer attractive packages that can include free installation or regular free salt delivery.
There is always the option of buying a compact or portable water softener that is much cheaper and doesn’t need a professional plumber to install.
What About “Rent To Own” Water Softeners?
If you don’t want to or can’t afford to buy then how about renting to own? This works similar to paying in instalments until the water softener is fully paid off.
However, rent to own agreements are typically much more expensive overall. Going down this route also means that you may have to sign up to an agreement which means you don’t own it until it’s fully paid off.
This means that if you miss a payment, the company may be able to take back the softener machine or charge you the cost to purchase the machine outright (on top of what they have already collected in monthly rental fees up to that point).
If renting to own is appealing to you then simply put the softener on a credit card and spread the costs or get a small loan. This way you at least own it from day 1 and are not at risk of the company taking it back if you miss a payment.
Should I Buy My Own Water Softener Or Rent It?
Before deciding whether to go for a water softener rental option there are a number of things you need to consider:
What can you comfortably afford? Of course, money is the most important factor in choosing between a water softener rental option or simply buying one for your home. The question is, can you afford to buy a decent system outright?
Are you a homeowner or tenant? If you are not the owner then do you have permission to install a water softener? This is important because a water softener system will fundamentally change the plumbing system of the home. Some tenants might not be allowed to make these changes so check your contract and speak to the landlord.
How long do you need the water softener for? If you only need a softener for less then 12 months then it might not be worth the high cost to buy outright. Renting might be a better option or consider buying a small portable softener that you can take with you.
Does your home have space for a water softener? This has to be within easy access to the central plumbing system with a way to dispose of wastewater.
Water Softener Monthly Rental Cost
Of course the price will vary from company to company and will also be different depending on which model you choose.
However, I found the cheapest water softener rental cost price starting at $24 in monthly fees for a regular softener that is worth around $1200.
Another rental plan that I found was from WaterBoss for the PROPLUS 380 which you can get for a monthly rental fee of $26.00 – but the cost is around $1200 to buy.
However, it’s not clear if these monthly fees include installation costs and on-going maintenance fees.
Water Softener Rental: Is It Better Than Buying?
No.
The short answer to this is that it’s always better to buy if you can afford to do so.
This is the cheapest, most cost effective option in the long run and you get all the benefits of ownership.
The water softener rental option is only something to consider if you only need a softener for a short period of time or if you want to test the effectiveness of the water softener before you buy.
However, installation costs and the permanent effects on your home still means that you’re probably better off just buying it outright.
Let’s assume the water softener rental cost is $20 – $50 each month.
A good softener with multi-stage filters costs around $2000 – $2500. This investment pays for itself in less than 5-10 years.
This is because the longer you use your own device the more money you will save. Renting costs will add up.
If it is difficult to get money together for the high upfront costs then get creative. There are many good non-renting options.
For instance, almost all dealers will offer some sort of instalment payment plan. You can try getting a small loan. Another option is to use a credit card to spread out the costs over a longer period.
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Rental/lease units are better quality than purchased units. Reason? With rental/lease any time there’s a malfunction a technician is dispatched to correct the problem, this costs money. With a purchase unit each time it malfunctions a technician can come out but at your expense. So softener companies save money by not having to send out a technician to fix a rental unit, if you own the unit they make money off of you each time they send out a tech. That’s why rent/lease units are better quality, fewer repair calls for the softener company. I’ve said this to manager/owners of water softener companies, I always get the same response, a shoulder shrug then the person looks down at the floor.
Hi R.George
I agree with you! Although I think it’s best to purchase a softener that comes with something like a lifetime warranty and very long satisfaction guarantee.
Also, you will typically find that machines the come with a lifetime warranty don’t break as much because the manufacturer has a lot of confidence in their product.
Purchasing a machine (that does not require expensive repairs) is cheaper than renting in the long term.
Stay hydrated,
Luke
I appreciate your comment about how you can only effectively get rid of hard water by installing a water softener. I just recently found out about hard water and how harmful it can be. I want my skin to stay healthy and smooth so I think I’ll get a water softener for my shower.