Aquasana EQ-SS20 SimplySoft Salt-Free Water Softener
A genuinely effective salt-free water conditioner that tackles hard water scale without the maintenance headaches of traditional softeners — best suited for homeowners who want cleaner pipes and appliances without adding sodium to their water supply. 8.2 / 10
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Overview
The Aquasana EQ-SS20 SimplySoft is a whole-home, salt-free water conditioning system designed to neutralize the damaging effects of hard water without removing beneficial minerals or dumping excess sodium into your household water supply. Rather than ion exchange — the method used by traditional salt-based softeners — the SimplySoft uses a process called Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC), which converts dissolved hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium into harmless microscopic crystals that pass through your plumbing without sticking to surfaces.
Aquasana positions this system squarely at eco-conscious homeowners and households on low-sodium diets who still want meaningful protection against limescale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and shower heads. It's a point-of-entry system, meaning a single installation handles every water outlet in the home simultaneously — no under-sink units, no separate shower filters required. The EQ-SS20 is rated for homes up to approximately 500,000 gallons of water flow before the media needs replacing, which translates to roughly five to six years of average household use.
Unlike salt-based systems that require regular bag purchases, brine tank maintenance, and periodic regeneration cycles that waste hundreds of gallons of water per month, the SimplySoft is essentially a fit-and-forget device once professionally installed. There are no electrical connections, no drainage requirements, and no moving parts to service. For the right household, this simplicity is a genuine selling point rather than a compromise.
Key Features
Converts hardness minerals into stable crystals rather than removing them, preserving healthy magnesium and calcium in your drinking water while preventing scale adhesion to pipe walls and appliance interiors.
Operates without salt, potassium, or chemicals of any kind and requires zero backwash or regeneration cycles, saving an estimated 8–15 gallons of water per day compared to traditional ion-exchange softeners.
Rated for homes with up to a 1–2 bathroom baseline, with flow rates sufficient for standard household demand. A single installation point protects every faucet, appliance, and showerhead simultaneously.
The conditioning media is rated to last approximately 500,000 gallons — around five to six years for a typical family of four — before a straightforward media replacement is needed.
Entirely passive operation means no control heads, timers, or electrical connections. Installation is simpler and there are no ongoing energy costs associated with running the unit.
The slim cylindrical tank takes up minimal floor space in a utility room or garage and can be oriented to suit tight installation footprints, a welcome contrast to bulky dual-tank salt-based systems.
Full Specifications
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | Aquasana EQ-SS20 SimplySoft |
| Treatment Technology | Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC / SLOW PHOS) |
| System Type | Salt-free whole-home water conditioner |
| Rated Capacity | 500,000 gallons |
| Estimated Media Life | ~5–6 years (average family of four) |
| Max Flow Rate | 7 gallons per minute (GPM) |
| Inlet / Outlet Size | 1-inch connection |
| Operating Pressure | 20–80 PSI |
| Operating Temperature | 35–120°F (2–49°C) |
| Hardness Rating | Up to 25 GPG (grains per gallon) |
| Salt / Chemicals Used | None |
| Waste Water | None |
| Electricity Required | No |
| Tank Dimensions (approx.) | 9" diameter × 48" tall |
| Tank Material | Fiberglass-wound pressure vessel |
| Warranty | 10-year tank / 90-day parts |
| NSF Certification | NSF/ANSI 61 (tank) |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No salt, potassium, or any consumable chemicals required
- Zero waste water — environmentally friendly operation
- Retains healthy minerals in the water supply
- Completely passive — no electricity, no timers, no programming
- Slim tank design fits most utility closets and garages
- Effective scale prevention on pipes and appliances over time
- Low long-term maintenance burden
- Solid 10-year tank warranty from an established brand
Cons
- Does not "soften" water in the traditional sense — hardness minerals remain present
- Water may still feel slightly hard compared to salt-based systems
- Rated to only 25 GPG — may underperform in extremely hard water regions
- Higher upfront cost than entry-level salt-based softeners
- Professional installation strongly recommended, adding to total cost
- Slower to show results — existing scale takes time to dissolve gradually
- Does not address other contaminants; a separate filtration system is needed for that
Performance
In real-world use, the EQ-SS20 SimplySoft delivers on its primary promise: preventing new scale from forming inside pipes, water heaters, and appliances. Within the first few weeks of installation, most households notice a gradual reduction in white mineral spotting on shower glass and chrome fixtures, and over a period of two to three months, existing scale in pipes begins to soften and slough away as the conditioned water passes through. This "descaling" effect on existing buildup is one of the more pleasant surprises for first-time users who expected only future protection.
Where expectations need careful management is in the tactile feel of the water. Because the SimplySoft does not remove calcium and magnesium ions from the water — it merely restructures them — the water will not have that characteristic silky "slippery" feel associated with salt-softened water. Soap and shampoo may still lather slightly less readily than they would with a traditional softener, and hard water spots will still appear on glassware coming out of the dishwasher without a rinse aid. These are predictable limitations of the TAC technology, not product defects.
Flow rate performance is adequate for most single-family homes at 7 GPM, though larger households running multiple high-demand fixtures simultaneously may notice modest pressure variation. Water heater efficiency improvements — one of the real economic benefits of reducing scale — typically become measurable after three to six months of use, with some household appliance lifespans visibly extended over a year or two of operation. The system handles moderately hard water (up to 25 GPG) reliably, but households in regions with extremely hard municipal supplies approaching or exceeding that threshold should test their water before purchasing.
Pro tip: Have your water hardness professionally tested before installation. If your supply exceeds 25 GPG, consider pairing the SimplySoft with a pre-filter or evaluating a higher-capacity salt-based system instead.
Value for Money
The EQ-SS20 SimplySoft sits at a premium price point for a salt-free conditioner, and prospective buyers need to evaluate that cost honestly against their specific situation. The upfront investment is higher than many budget salt-based softeners, and when professional installation costs are added, the total spend can be substantial. However, the long-term economics favor the SimplySoft when you factor in the complete elimination of ongoing salt purchases (which can run $100–$300 per year for a typical household), zero water waste, no electricity consumption, and minimal maintenance labor over a five-to-six-year media cycle.
The system makes the most financial sense for households in moderately hard water areas — typically 7 to 20 GPG — where full salt-based softening feels like overkill, or for homeowners who have specific health or environmental reasons to avoid adding sodium to their water. It's also a natural fit for households that already have a reverse osmosis drinking water filter installed and simply want whole-home scale protection without redundancy. If your primary goal is spot-free dishes and that classic soft-water shower feel above all else, a traditional salt softener will deliver a more immediately satisfying tactile result for a comparable or lower upfront cost.
Best for: Eco-conscious homeowners, low-sodium households, renters in areas where salt softeners are restricted, and those seeking low-maintenance whole-home scale prevention.
Final Verdict
The Aquasana EQ-SS20 SimplySoft earns a solid 8.2 out of 10 as a salt-free whole-home water conditioning system. It does exactly what it claims to do — prevent scale buildup, protect appliances, and gradually descale existing plumbing — without any of the ongoing maintenance, water waste, or sodium addition associated with traditional ion-exchange softeners. The trade-off is that it doesn't replicate the full tactile experience of salt-softened water, and it has a meaningful hardness ceiling that makes it unsuitable for the hardest water supplies.
For the right buyer, that trade-off is entirely worthwhile. This is a mature, well-engineered product from a brand with a proven track record in residential water treatment, backed by a strong 10-year tank warranty and an established replacement media ecosystem. If you're looking for a clean, chemical-free, low-fuss solution to hard water damage and you understand what salt-free conditioning can and cannot do, the SimplySoft is one of the best options available in its category.
Is the Aquasana EQ-SS20 SimplySoft a true water softener?
Technically, no. It is a water conditioner rather than a softener. Traditional softeners remove hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) through ion exchange, replacing them with sodium ions. The SimplySoft uses Template Assisted Crystallization to convert those minerals into harmless crystals that stay in the water but can no longer adhere to surfaces. Your water will test as "hard" on a standard test strip, but scale formation will be dramatically reduced.
Does the SimplySoft require a professional to install?
Aquasana strongly recommends professional installation, and most manufacturers' warranties are contingent on proper installation. The system requires cutting into your main supply line, adding bypass valves, and making 1-inch pipe connections — tasks well within the scope of a licensed plumber. DIY installation is possible for experienced homeowners, but errors can void the warranty and create leak risks.
How often does the media need to be replaced?
The conditioning media is rated to approximately 500,000 gallons, which works out to roughly five to six years for a family of four using around 80–100 gallons per day. Aquasana sells replacement media directly, and swapping it out is a straightforward process that most plumbers can complete in under an hour.
Will this system help with very hard water above 25 GPG?
The EQ-SS20 is rated up to 25 grains per gallon (GPG). For water hardness above that threshold, the TAC media may not fully condition all available hardness minerals, and scale protection will be incomplete. If your water supply is extremely hard, you may need a higher-capacity salt-based system or a combination approach. Always test your water hardness before purchasing any conditioning system.
Does the SimplySoft filter out other contaminants like chlorine or lead?
No. The EQ-SS20 is designed exclusively for scale prevention and does not filter chlorine, chloramines, heavy metals, sediment, or other contaminants. If drinking water quality is also a concern, Aquasana and other brands offer combination systems that pair a whole-home filter with this conditioner, or you can add a separate point-of-use filter at kitchen taps for drinking and cooking water.