# Cost to install brand new water softener. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 17, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-to-install-brand-new-water-softener/780055 "2017-02-17T14:55:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-to-install-brand-new-water-softener/780055/1 "2017-02-17T14:55:55Z")
Friend has pretty bad well water. Thirty year old water softener took a poop. Professional plumber came out and looked and quoted $2500 for a new one installed(supposedly top of the line softener, give or take). Does this sound high/low/average? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-to-install-brand-new-water-softener/780055/2 "2017-02-17T15:20:55Z")
In my area a cheap softner from online or a big box store will run about $700 installed in a cheap way. A high quality twin tank softner will run $3500 installed with quality plumbing. That is for my area assuming regular household usage and flows. A cheap softner serves the same purpose to the same effect as an expensive softner. It’s a difference in reliability and longevity. I expect 7-8 years out of the cheap ones and 40+ out of the expensive ones. ---
**Author:** ![fireman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@fireman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fireman)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-to-install-brand-new-water-softener/780055/3 "2017-02-17T17:31:17Z")
Just did this. 24 year old softener died. Replaced with similar one, cost about $450.00, self installed. ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-to-install-brand-new-water-softener/780055/4 "2017-02-17T17:46:31Z")
Yeah, if he is just replacing one he could probably just do it himself. They all come with instructions on how to install them. The cost of the softeners range from about $300 to several thousand. I have a relatively cheap whirlpool that Lowes sells and it does the job. I installed it a few months ago and it was a major job that [required a lot of re-plumbing](http://imgur.com/a/k4C04). But a replacement should be an easy swap. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-to-install-brand-new-water-softener/780055/5 "2017-02-18T00:03:49Z")
> [@fireman](#): > > Just did this. 24 year old softener died. Replaced with similar one, cost about $450.00, self installed. Yea, ours was installed in 1989. Died last year. I went to Lowe’s and bought one for $450. Wasn’t too difficult to install. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-to-install-brand-new-water-softener/780055/6 "2017-02-18T01:20:57Z")
They’re easy to install. I think ours was about $350, and has been problem - free the past two years. Talk to a handyman. $2500 is nuts for a job that shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours.