Water softeners help save you a lot of time, money and trouble. With so many water softener options on the market, Hague Quality Water International claims to provide the best. Read here to find what Hague Water Softeners have to offer and if they are worth the switch.

Hague Water Softener Reviews

Image from Hague

Hague Water Softener is a comprehensive and innovative water softener system known as the Hague WaterMax. The WaterMax water softener is created and patented by Hague Quality Water International. Hague Quality Water International is a family-owned company headquartered out of Columbus, Ohio since 1960. Hague products are manufactured in the United States but are distributed worldwide.

The Hague WaterMax has nine patents and is built with efficient technology that helps:

• provide the highest quality water,
• protect from problem water damage, and
• preserve natural resources.

Hague tests every unit before they are sent to customers. Hague also provides different warranties for their products.

How Do Water Softeners Work and How Is Hague Changing The Game?

Water softeners traditionally conduct ion exchange by replacing hard minerals in your water with sodium. The water softener system typically has two tanks, one negatively charged with resin beads and one with positively charged salt and water.

As water flows into the resin tank, the positive molecules in the saltwater are attracted to the negative molecules in the resin beads. These molecules attach to each other and become sodium ions.

This salt-softened water leaves plumbing pipes and appliances in a much better state, without hard mineral build-up. The soft water also helps with dry skin and hair and helps clean clothes and other items.

The Hague Water Softener has several different configurations, making it customizable for individual’s needs. What each WaterMax does offer is saving space, time, and energy for those who buy it.

The WaterMax provides a full-color touch screen controller to allow customers to easily set the system to their liking. It runs on a low 12-volt power supply, which saves the customer costs on their electricity bill each month.

The WaterMax has a 1” valve that allows a high flow rate with minimal pressure change and there is no need for external piping. There are 6 different WaterMax models that have flow rates between 9.25 and 37 gallons per minute (GPM).

The resin bed allows longer water contact making the filtering process more effective. The WaterMax also only regenerates as needed, allowing customers to save on salt and water.

The tanks are made up of fiberglass and plastic to resist corrosion and to add strength and durability.

What Makes The Hague WaterMax Unique?

The Hague Water Softener system is different from its competitors with its abilities to be configured to what the customer needs. Hague provides The Right Solution option, this means a technician tests the water and discusses what the system’s configurations should be based on the water at the home or business.

Hague has 9 patents on their system’s technology and can customize their models to what their customers need.

How Much Does The Hague WaterMax Cost?

Hague Water Softener is a comprehensive and innovative water softener system known as the Hague WaterMax. The WaterMax water softener is created and patented by Hague Quality Water International. Hague Quality Water International is a family-owned company headquartered out of Columbus, Ohio since 1960.

Image from Hague

Hague products are manufactured in the United States but are distributed worldwide. Hague’s homepage states that you can try Hague’s water system at $4.95 per month, but provide no other price. They also have a section of their site to find a local Hague dealer that can come out to your location to provide water tests and give you a quote.

Based on customer comments, Hague systems initially cost a couple of thousand dollars. The maintenance after the initial cost and installation seem to make this system’s price go up. Not all plumbers are familiar with the Hague systems, therefore, not any plumber can perform maintenance.

If there is an issue with your Hague system, you need to contact the Hague specialist in your area, which typically means a larger fee per visit.

How Hague Compares

Image from Hague

While Hague is unique in design and technology, some other water softeners that rival the Hague water softener system may cost you less money and less hassle.

The ABCwaters Built Fleck 5600sxt water softener is a traditional water softener, which may make it less appealing for those looking for something more compact. Although it is traditional, the ABC uses less power than a traditional water softener and it is notably easy to use.

The ABC system is American-made and has a 10-year warranty. You can also install this system by yourself with a provided installation kit and videos. If you do run into trouble, there is technical support that you may contact.

Even though this system is the larger, traditional water softener system, it’s more affordable. It can be ordered online with varying costs from ~$600 to $1400, depending on the model. You also save on installation if you install it yourself. Plus, it is a traditional water softener, you won’t need a specialty plumber with higher costs out for maintenance.

The Fleck series of water softeners seem to be dominating the water softener industry. Fleck has a number of affordable water softener options to choose from, it just depends on what meets your needs.

The Fleck 5600 SXT is a compact system that uses ion exchange to remove calcium from your water. It is shipped directly to you and has installation instructions for those DIYers. It also has an LCD display so you can monitor the system.

There are different sizes to choose from, so checking your water bill for how much water you consume and giving Fleck a call to see what size they recommend may save you some trouble in deciding. Depending on size, this model starts at roughly $470 without shipping costs.

If you have a lot of iron in your water, you may want to check out the Fleck Iron Pro 2. This system is a combination of water softener and iron filter. It is easy on energy consumption. It is a bit complex to install, so you may need to contact a professional plumber for assistance, or you can contact Fleck for technical support.

Again, Fleck gives you size options, so your prices vary with this model. The cheapest is ~$580, and the most expensive is just over $830, without shipping or installation cost. This system does come with a digital screen for easy monitoring, and Fleck offers a 5-year warranty.

The Bullet Poly Triple Action Water Softener is a salt-free option water softener. This is a compact, waterproof system that can be installed anywhere, so long as it doesn’t freeze. This softener can be mounted, and the BPA-free plastic body can be easily replaced if needed.

The Bullet removes calcium carbonate, but since it is not a filter, it won’t remove iron. If iron is not an issue for you, this little water softener starts at $439 and has a 5-year guarantee.

If your problem is limescale build-up, the Eddy Water Descaler Electronic Water Softener may be your solution. It is actually a water softener alternative that produces an electromagnetic wave that prevents scale from sticking to pipes.

Again, this is not a softener, so the water still has the minerals in it when you shower or wash clothes or dishes. But the build-up in pipes, on faucets, and in tubs and showers are reduced. This descaler is easy to install, has a lifetime warranty, and comes in at ~$200.

The Nuvo H2O DPHB Home Salt Water Softener System is a basic, reliable and efficient system. This system does not use salt. You can install the unit yourself with everything included upon delivery. You will need to ensure your pipes match with the system before purchasing.

One downfall of the Nuvo is that it does not handle well water alone. You will need to purchase an additional filter if you have well water. If you have a bigger family, you will need to change out the cartridges more often than other systems.

The Nuvo system is just under $630, without additional filters or cartridges. It is a basic system, but if you do not need additional filters, it may be worth it to you if you have 1 or 2 people living in your home.

Is Hague WaterMax Worth The Switch?

When you visit the Hague system website, it seems promising and efficient. The idea of having an advanced system with 9 patents is intriguing. You are promised efficiency, ease of use, and longevity.

The more research that you do on Hague you find more mixed reviews about the Hague product and customer service.

Almost all reviewers claim that, when working, the system is wonderful. The issue many run into is that the durability Hague claims do not hold up. Neither does the service Hague claims is so wonderful, nor does the warranty they offer.

Hague Quality Water does not service all of their products. Instead, local companies purchase Hague products and provide installation and servicing themselves. Customers have found that many of these local companies do not know the Hague systems as they should and do not install or repair them correctly.

A major problem customers have had is the customer service received by Hague when calling in for assistance. Many times the warranty did not cover the issue that customers had. Or the original installer was no longer in business and the new Hague representative in town refuses to abide by the original contract on the product.

One issue with Hague is that not all Hague product sellers have the same customer service practices that Hague claims it has. Some companies are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, while others go out of business after a short period of time.

Another problem, Hague products don’t seem to last as long as they are advertised for and the limited warranty on Hague products seems to be incredibly limited, so much so that almost nothing is actually covered.

Customers are being sold a costly product that only certain specialists can install and service, and they find out the hard way that their limited warranty doesn’t cover common issues.

Hague has a great selling point with 9 patents and cutting edge technology, but it seems like too much of a risk for a product that only might work correctly. With all of the alternative products on the market, it seems like Hague is just a fancy and expensive option for soft water.

Not only is Hague more expensive for just the system, but extra costs begin immediately with installation and maintenance. If you needed anything fixed you would be paying even more.

Bottom line, save yourself the money and the stress and get a different water softener system. Even if you need a professional to install it, the overall cost for the system and installation seems like it would be cheaper than just the system alone at Hague.

If you are seriously thinking about purchasing a Hague product, do your homework. They may have different technology, but this costs more in the long run if any maintenance was needed.

Many other water softener systems provide the same end result for just a fraction of the cost upfront and over time.