Still not sure which size you need?
Test your water hardness first, then match it to a unit. If you'd rather talk it through, our team can help you size it properly — including a site survey for larger installations.
The things people actually ask before buying — what a softener does, what size you need, how much salt it uses, and whether you still need a purifier alongside it.
A water softener removes dissolved calcium and magnesium — the minerals that make water hard — using a process called ion exchange.
It does not purify water for drinking. Its job is to stop limescale forming on your geyser, washing machine, taps and pipes. See how ion exchange works →
Yes. They do completely different jobs.
A softener treats hardness to protect your home and appliances. A purifier makes water safe to drink by removing bacteria, chemicals and dissolved solids.
Most homes on hard borewell water benefit from both — a softener on the whole-house supply, and a purifier at the drinking point.
Softened water isn't harmful, but softening isn't a purification process. It swaps calcium and magnesium for a small amount of sodium, and it doesn't remove bacteria, chemicals or dissolved solids.
For drinking water, use a purifier. If you're on a strict low-sodium diet, ask your doctor before drinking softened water regularly.
Regeneration is the cleaning cycle that rinses trapped calcium and magnesium out of the resin using a salt brine solution, resetting the softener.
Manual units are regenerated by you when needed. Semi-automatic and automatic units handle it themselves — either on a timer, or based on how much water you've actually used.
The usual signs are white chalky scale on taps and showerheads, spots on dishes after washing, soap and shampoo that won't lather, dry skin after bathing, and geysers or washing machines needing frequent repairs.
If your water measures above 120 mg/L as CaCO₃, a softener is worth considering. Above 180 mg/L — common with Indian borewell supply — it's strongly advisable. How to test your water →
Size is based on how many bathrooms you're feeding and how hard your water is. As a general guide:
1–2 bathrooms — a compact point-of-use unit like the EIA Soft Mini.
2–4 bathrooms — a whole-home unit like the EIA Soft iQ.
4+ bathrooms — an automatic unit like the EIA Soft Smart.
Hotels, hospitals, industry — the SoftPro commercial range.
Yes. Hard water fouls RO membranes faster, meaning more frequent and more expensive filter changes.
Feeding your purifier softened water reduces that load and extends membrane life — one of the ways a softener pays for itself over time.
Salt consumption depends on the unit size, your water hardness, and how much water you use. A domestic softener typically needs topping up every few weeks.
The salt is only used during regeneration to rinse the resin — it doesn't go into your drinking water in any meaningful quantity.
Some water is used during the regeneration cycle to flush the resin. The volume depends on the unit size and how often it regenerates.
Automatic units that regenerate based on actual usage — rather than a fixed timer — generally use less.
With correct regeneration and salt top-ups, the tank and valve typically last many years.
The ion-exchange resin gradually loses capacity over time and is replaced periodically — you replace the resin, not the whole unit.
A whole-house softener goes on the main incoming water line — usually before the overhead tank or after the pump — so all water entering the house is treated.
Point-of-use units are installed at a single outlet, such as one bathroom. Placement depends on your plumbing layout, so a site check is recommended for larger units.
Yes. EIA is a brand of ION INDIA LIMITED, and every unit is designed, fabricated and quality-tested at the company's ISO 9001:2015 certified facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
That includes in-house control valve and IoT development for the connected models — the electronics are ours, not bought in.
EIA softeners are sold through DraQua, ION INDIA's online store. Every product page here links straight to its listing.
For commercial and bulk enquiries, or if you'd like a site survey before choosing a unit, contact us at info@ionindia.co.in or +91 85508 38383.
Test your water hardness first, then match it to a unit. If you'd rather talk it through, our team can help you size it properly — including a site survey for larger installations.