Culligan Water Softeners: Models, Problems and Prices
Culligan water softeners are sold and installed through local dealers, and Culligan says buying one typically runs $1,999 to $5,999 depending on the system, your water and the install. You can also rent, with plans Culligan advertises from $9.95 a month, though rental and financing terms vary by dealer. The equipment is solid; the deal you get depends on the dealer, so get your own water test and a written quote before you sign.
How buying from Culligan works
Culligan doesn't sell its main softeners off a store shelf. A local dealer tests your water, recommends a system and quotes it installed. Culligan says local experts customize a payment option for the system and its professional installation. The company lists 900+ dealers worldwide, and dealers run free in-home water tests.
You get three ways to pay:
- Buy outright. You own it from day one.
- Finance. Monthly payments with little or nothing down, and you own it at the end.
- Rent. One monthly price that Culligan says includes regular maintenance and repairs. Rent-to-purchase options are also offered.
Culligan backs purchases with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Ask your dealer what the equipment warranty covers in writing, because the website doesn't list warranty terms by model.
Culligan softener models
The current line, from Culligan's comparison chart:
| Model | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Smart HE Water Softener | Culligan's main high-efficiency softener, with app alerts for low salt and water use tracking |
| Smart HE Municipal | Softening plus chlorine filtration, for city water |
| Smart HE Softener-Cleer | Softening plus iron reduction, for well water |
| Smart HE Twin | Twin-tank version of the Smart HE |
| Advantage Whole Home | Whole-house softener in the Aquasential line |
| Select Series and Select Plus Series | A separate Aquasential series; ask the dealer how it differs from Smart HE on your quote |
If you bought a house with an older Culligan in the basement, it may be a Gold Series, Medallist, Culligan Grey HE or an earlier HE model. Culligan still posts owner's guides for all of these, and the model name is on the label on the control head or the tank.
Smart HE specs that matter
From the Smart HE owner's guide:
| Spec | Smart HE |
|---|---|
| Operating pressure | 20 to 125 psi |
| Operating temperature | 33 to 120°F |
| Max hardness, downflow | 75 gpg on the 9-inch model; 99 gpg on the larger sizes |
| Max iron, downflow | 5 ppm |
| Max iron, Softener-Cleer | 10 ppm |
| Max iron, Municipal | 0 ppm |
That iron column is the one to watch on a well. If your test shows iron above the limit for the model you're quoted, the softener needs an iron filter ahead of it, or it's the wrong model. Our page on water softeners for well water explains why.
How Culligan prices compare
| Source | Figure |
|---|---|
| Culligan purchase price | $1,999 to $5,999, varies by dealer |
| Culligan rental | From $9.95 a month |
| Fixr: Culligan unit only, no install | $500 to $5,000 |
| Fixr: softener rental, any brand | $25 to $50 a month, salt and inspections included |
| HomeGuide: salt-based softener, installed | $1,200 to $3,800 |
Culligan's range runs above a typical installed salt-based softener. What you pay for is the dealer: local service, salt delivery if you want it, and someone to call. If you're handy and fine owning the maintenance, a plumber-installed softener on a common valve costs less. If you want someone else to own the problem, Culligan rental is worth pricing out. Run the numbers in renting vs buying a water softener.
Common problems owners call about
Most service calls on any softener come down to the same few things. The Smart HE guide's checklist before calling for service:
- No power, or the clock is wrong. Check the plug, make sure the outlet isn't on a wall switch, and check the breaker. A power outage can throw off the regeneration schedule, so reset the time of day.
- Bypass left in the wrong position. The Universal Bypass handle should show SERVICE. People flip it to BYPASS for a plumbing job and forget.
- Out of salt. If the brine tank is empty, add salt. Break up any crust with a broom handle while you're there.
- More people or new appliances. Added household members or a new water-hungry appliance may mean the dealer needs to reprogram it.
After fixing any of these, the guide says to run a manual regeneration. On the Smart HE, press and hold the button on the home screen for at least ten seconds until the display shows REGENERATING.
To bypass a Smart HE, turn the gray handle counterclockwise until it stops and the BYPASS icon shows. Water keeps flowing to the house, unsoftened. Clockwise to the stop is OFF, which shuts off water to the whole house, so don't confuse the two. More on this in our bypass valve guide.
Owners also run into dealer dependence. Some settings on Culligan units are dealer-set, such as the salt economizer, which the guide says is set at installation based on hardness, household size and water use. If you move or fall out with your dealer, ask the next one before you buy whether they service your model.
For problems the checklist doesn't cover, see water softener not working.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What's my raw hardness and iron, in numbers? Get the test results printed. Then check them yourself with a home hardness test.
- Which model, which tank size, and why? Compare against what size water softener do I need.
- What's the installed price, and what's in it: bypass, drain line, electrical, permits?
- On a rental, what's the monthly price after any promo, and what does early cancellation cost?
- What does the warranty cover, for how long, and who pays labor?
FAQ
How much does a Culligan water softener cost?
Culligan says buying typically runs $1,999 to $5,999, depending on the system, features, water use, hardness and installation. Rentals start at $9.95 a month. Your local dealer sets the final price.
Can I buy a Culligan water softener without a dealer?
Culligan's main softeners are sold and installed through local dealers, who customize the system and pricing. Culligan-branded filters and some other products show up at retailers, but the whole-house softeners on this page come through the dealer network.
Does Culligan rent water softeners?
Yes. Culligan says its rental plans include regular maintenance and repairs, and rent-to-purchase is an option. Advertised plans start at $9.95 a month, but terms vary by dealer.
Where do I find a Culligan softener manual?
Culligan posts owner's guides for its current and older softeners, including the Smart HE, HE, Gold Series and Medallist, on its product manuals page. The model name is on the label on the control head.
Sources
- CulliganWater Softeners (product category and comparison chart) (opens in a new tab)
- CulliganPayment Options (opens in a new tab)
- CulliganAquasential Smart HE Softener Owner's Guide (opens in a new tab)
- CulliganProduct Manuals (opens in a new tab)
- FixrWater Softener Installation Cost (opens in a new tab)
- HomeGuideWater Softener Cost (opens in a new tab)
- CulliganWhy You Should Test Your Well Water Regularly (opens in a new tab)