5 BEST NORTHSTAR WATER SOFTENER REVIEWS (UPDATED 2021
By G. Simms, Plumber, Contractor
By G. Simms
Plumber, Contractor
Time: 3-minute read
Which North Star water softener is the right one for you?
A NorthStar Water Softener can help you get rid of all your hard water problems by softening the minerals and salt that cause water hardness. Included in the list are NST70UD1 Ultra Demand, NSC30UD, NSC15ED, NST45UD1, and NST30UD. This review will evaluate all the best North Star water softeners, their maximum capacity, grains, flow rate, iron removal and other features..
The saltwater-based water softening process replaces the hard water ions with soft water ions. After this process, the water is ideal for use in the house and it doesn’t cause any issues that are associated with hard water.
Our North Star water softener reviews are going to discuss the features, specifications, and other important information for 5 of their best models.
We chose these specific NorthStar water softener models based on their efficiency, ease of installation, maintenance needs, warranty terms, and price.
HOW WE DID OUR TEST:
5 TESTERS
12 PRODUCTS
98 HOURS
Top Choices on the Market
| Rank | Product | Rating | CHECK LATEST PRICE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Northstar NSC40UD1 Ultra Demand | 9.6 | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
| 2 |  |
Northstar NST70UD1 Ultra Demand | 9.5 | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
| 3 |  |
Northstar NSC15ED Electronic Demand | 9.3 | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
How to Choose the Right One for Your Needs
Simply choosing any NorthStar water softener for your home or office might not give you the most efficient results. Most NorthStar water softener reviews neglect to mention the fact that every household has a different type of water and varying consumption requirements as well.
Buyers need to understand certain facts and choose the water softener model that best suits their needs. Here are some of the facts that you should keep in mind while looking for a NorthStar water softener.
1. Consider the Water Hardness in Your House
Water hardness is determined by grain rating. This rating tells you the number of grains of minerals present in one gallon of water. If you buy a water softener with higher grain capacity, it will likely cost more, but it will reduce your expenses on salt and water. This is because it will need to flush the filtering material with salt water less frequently.
Hard water will also leave lots of stains in your sinks that are very hard to clean unless you use a highly acidic solution like vinegar. It also stains glassware very easily, and it will eventually make the glass become more brittle and fragile by "aging it" so that it breaks with very little effort.
It will make both your skin and your hair start to feel more dry and itchy because most soaps and shampoos can't completely remove the mineral deposits that settle on your skin. That's why many people with hard water get more skin irritations, blocked pores and more breakouts.
2. Scale Build up
The scale buildup is actually clogging your pipes, and you'll gradually get more plumbing problems as the pressure inside the pipes prevents water from flowing as fast and smoothly as it should. These plumbing problems become serious quickly.
Limescale that collects around the valves of your washing machines and dishwashers stops the valves from closing and creates leaks, so your appliances won't last as long as they should.
3. Consumption
Even worse, your bills will begin to skyrocket because your pipes have to work so much harder to get a good flow through them. Call your local utility company to analyze it and find out how "hard" the water really is in your home. Then you'll know which kind of unit you need most.
4. Know the Flow Rate of the Water Softener
The flow rate is the gallons of water supplied by a water softener per minute. As the softener takes time to treat the water, the flow coming from the supply line slows down as it enters the softener. To make sure that your softener doesn’t lower your water pressure too much, aim at buying a water softener with flow rate of at least 2 gallons of water per minute for each family member.
5. Additional Considerations for Water Softeners
Keep in mind that certain areas have special water conditions that require additional features in the water softener. Most cities add chlorine and chloramines to the water to kill bacteria, but this can lead to dry hair and rough skin. If you have well water, you might have too much iron, sulfur, or manganese. You could also have herbicides and pesticides in your water. In such cases, you’ll need to buy a water softener specifically designed to filter these materials, or a separate filter.
Best NorthStar Water Softener Reviews (Updated 2021)
Our reviews of the five best NorthStar water softeners take into account the grain rating, ease of installation, durability, and efficiency of the models that we have chosen. Let’s take a quick look at the top five models.
1. NorthStar Water Softener NSC40UD1 Ultra Demand
NOTABLES:
Efficiency selector for custom setting
GRAIN SIZE:
39000
The North Star NSC40UD1 Ultra Demand Water Softener is a sleek water softener that comes with a 39000-grain capacity. The unit offers maximum efficiency with its ultra demand valve system. With a flow rate of 10 GPM, this is the perfect water softener for homes with lower water consumption needs.
The water softener is also easy to set up. All you need to do is input the time and the hardness of the water in your house, and the North Star Cabinet Model will take care of the rest. The automated regeneration cycle can also be changed to an on-demand option to reduce the amount of salt and water used for regeneration.
The best feature of this unit is the efficiency mode. This mode allows you to choose the level of efficiency at which the unit should function. You can adjust the hard water processing abilities of the water softener to suit the needs of your household.
For its warranty, the company promises a period of one year from date of purchase that the unit will not fail. It weighs 120 pounds and measures 152 x 20 x 20 inches.
This water softener is easy to install, and if you are short on space in your home, this is the ideal unit for you.
2. NorthStar Water Softener NST70UD1 Ultra Demand
NOTABLES:
High Flow Rate; Great for large homes
GRAIN SIZE:
70000
The North Star Ultra Demand Water Softener is a high-efficiency water softener with a filtering capacity of 70,000 grains. This water softener is flow-rated to provide up to 100 gallons per minute. Even if you have a very large family with high water consumption needs, this water softener can handle it with ease.
This water softener comes with a backlit LCD that shows all the important information, including time, the grains per gallon that is filtered by the unit, the flow rate, and the average and daily water usage. Programming the water softener is easy because you just have to enter the time of the day and the hardness of water in your home. The control head of the water softener starts a regeneration cycle at a preset time so that your house has a regular supply of soft water.
Another unique feature of the NorthStar Ultra Demand Water Softener is that it features “Look Ahead” technology that monitors water usage to start a regeneration cycle as needed. This technology gets more efficient as it learns your usage patterns and saves salt and water needed for regeneration.
The water softener also comes with a Super Cap Time Keeper that keeps the settings saved up to 72 hours in case of power loss. If your area has a longer power outage, you only need to enter the current time for the system to start working according to previous settings.
The unit weighs 151 pounds and measures 67 x 17 x 17 inches. The water softener’s control head comes with a 3-year warranty and the brine and resin tanks have a 10-year warranty.
3. NorthStar Water Softener NSC15ED Electronic Demand
NOTABLES:
Prevents Corrosion and mineral deposits
GRAIN SIZE:
15800
The North Star NSC15ED Electronic Demand Water Softener Cabinet Model is the perfect water softener for small homes, flats, or condos. This water softener has a capacity of 15,800 grains.
There are several innovative features in this water softener that make it a worry-free and intuitive device to have in your home. If you are going on vacation, you don’t need to switch off your water softener as the unit recognizes when the water is not being used. The regeneration cycles start only when the water is being used in the house. This prevents wastage of salt and water.
If you have a power malfunction in your house, you don’t need to worry about the water softener. The settings in this unit are saved for a period of 72 hours and the unit switches off after this time period after saving the settings.
Whenever you switch the unit on, all you have to do is input the time and the water softener will resume regular functioning.
North Star has also introduced their unique method of regeneration where the resin tank draws brine water into it. This method enhances the regeneration process, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the water softener.
NorthStar water softeners also use high-capacity resin that lasts for years and allows for longer gaps in regeneration. If you are in the market for a small and highly-efficient water softener, pick this one with confidence. It will last for 20 years or more.
4. North Star NST45UD1 Ultra Demand Water Softener
NOTABLES:
For medium to large spaces
GRAIN SIZE:
45400
The North Star NST45UD1 Ultra Demand Water Softener is a two-tank water softener made from fiberglass resin. The water softener offers high-efficiency and extensive durability in one package.
The unit weighs 118 pounds and measures 14 x 14 x 51 inches, which makes it suitable for medium to large spaces. For families with 5-6 members, this is the ideal water softener. The maximum grain capacity of this model is 45,400 grains with a flow rating of 11 GPM.
This water softener from North Star is equipped with innovative controller technology that monitors water usage. As soon as the resin beads reach their maximum efficiency, the system starts the regeneration process on its own. You can also set up the system to regenerate on demand in case you want to take control of the regeneration process.
The water softener is easy to install. You can do it yourself by following the instruction in the manual or you can call a plumber and you will have a working water softener in no time at all. The setup is simple. Just input the date and the estimated hardness of your water, and the system will take care of the rest.
With “Look Ahead” technology in this NorthStar water softener, you can expect the best performance with minimal wastage of salt and water.
5. NorthStar NST30UD Ultra Demand
NOTABLES:
Highly efficient
GRAIN SIZE:
30200
The North Star NST30UD Ultra Demand Two-Tank Water Softener is a highly-advanced water softener that learns from the usage patterns of the users. The “Look Ahead” feature of this water softener saves water and salt by assessing the quantity of water that your family is using. The control valve adjusts the regeneration process accordingly to save salt and water.
You can also adjust the efficiency of the water softener to suit the demands of your family. You can set the efficiency selector of the NorthStar NST30UD to high or low efficiency as desired.
The water softener also comes with a diagnose function that allows you to check the processes that the system has performed previously. You can also check performance statistics and overall usage to troubleshoot any issues that might arise with the functioning of the unit.
The water softener weighs 160 pounds and measures 18 x 11.5 x 48.8 inches. If you are planning to install this unit, make sure you have help as it is very heavy, and you will need ample space to install it.
This two-tank water softener has a 30,200-grain capacity and 7.4GPM flow rating. If you are looking for a highly efficient water softener from a reputed brand, consider this model.
Final Verdict
Ultra Demand Water Softener
If you are looking for the water softener that provides the best value for your money, the North Star Ultra Demand Water Softener would be our pick. This water softener trumps all other water softeners from NorthStar in terms of features, performance, and price. Here’s a quick look at the striking features of this unit.
- 30,200-grain filtering capacity
- 8 GPM flow rating
- Highly efficient control head
- Minimal waste of salt and water during regeneration
- LED display
- Easy to program
- 24V electricity
- Retains data up to 72 hours
This is a high-performance unit that is best suited for those who want a unit does will not break the bank. This water softener offers high-tech features and durability at a fair price. Pick this unit today!
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About the Author
George Simms is a Salt Lake City based plumber and contractor, with a focus on aiding homes and businesses (particularly farm) solve problems with hard and contaminated water. Walter is here to share his wealth of job experience and a knowledge of both modern and antique plumbing.
Last Updated on December 9, 2021
