Water Softening Systems for Better Water

Calcium and magnesium can make household water “hard”. Removing them provides water that cleans better, creates more lather and reduces soap scum buildup, too. At Enercare, we have made-in-Canada water softening solutions to meet your family’s needs and budget.

What Water Softeners Do for Your Home

Home water softeners help remove odours and minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron from your water. Left untreated, these can affect your skin, the operation of your washing machine, water heater and plumbing system, and the colour and taste of your water. Removing chlorine, removes harmful vapors from hot showers1.

Hard Water, Soft Water: What’s the Difference?  


Hard water has a mineral content of more than 7 grains per gallon (120 mg/L). It keeps soap from lathering and rinsing off easily and, over time, can leave deposits in appliances or around faucets that can affect their performance. Soft water has a mineral content of less than 7 grains per gallon (120 mg/L), and has none of the harmful effects of hard water.1

Bathroom faucet with hard water stains on it

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Offer expires November 30, 2025.

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How Hard is Your City’s Water?

Buying a water softening system can cost between $1,799.99 and $2,149.99 CAD, depending on the filter model and installation costs like parts and labour. Renting a water softening system with Enercare Advantage™ has a $0 installation cost* and repairs covered for the life of the equipment.**

Find your city in the following table to discover how soft or hard your city’s water supply is. If you have hard or very hard water, you should contact us for a free no-obligation water test and water softener price quote.

Water Hardness Scale

Water Hardness Scale Soft: 0-3.5 Moderately hard: 3.5-7 Hard: 7-10.5 Very hard: 10.5+
Measured in grains per gallon (GPG)

Water Hardness of Ontario Cities

Citymg/LGPGClassification
Almonte39323.0Very Hard
Arnprior513.0Soft
Aurora1287.5Hard
Barrie30017.5Very Hard
Belleville27015.8Very Hard
Bracebridge11.30.7Soft
Brampton1207.0Moderately Hard
Brantford30617.9Very Hard
Burlington1247.2Hard
Caledonia1197.0Moderately Hard
Cambridge45026.3Very Hard
Cayuga1227.1Hard
Chathman1106.4Moderately Hard
Clinton804.7Moderately Hard
Delhi23113.5Very Hard
Dunville1197.0Moderately Hard
Elmira33019.3Very Hard
Etobicoke1005.8Moderately Hard
Fonthill1207.0Moderately Hard
Fort Erie1176.8Moderately Hard
Galt45026.3Very Hard
George Town50629.6Very Hard
Grimsby1116.5Moderately Hard
Guelph37021.6Very Hard
Hamilton1207.0Moderately Hard
Hespler45026.3Very Hard
King City1307.6Hard
Kingston53031.0Very Hard
Kitchener32519.0Very Hard
Leamington1106.4Moderately Hard
Lindsay18010.5Hard
Listowel26515.5Very Hard
London1136.6Moderately Hard
Lucknow20912.2Very Hard
Markham1257.3Hard
Milton1297.5Hard
Missussauga1307.6Hard
Mitchell26515.5Very Hard
New Castle1257.3Hard
Newmarket1398.1Hard
Niagara Falls1046.1Moderately Hard
North York1257.3Hard
Oakville1247.2Hard
Oshawa1257.3Hard
Ottawa301.8Soft
Paris68440.0Very Hard
Perth26515.5Very Hard
Peterborough1207.0Moderately Hard
Pickering1257.3Hard
Port Dover1347.8Hard
Port Elgin1418.2Hard
Port Perry27416.0Very Hard
Port Rowan1116.5Moderately Hard
Richmond Hill1257.3Hard
Scarborough1005.8Moderately Hard
Simcoe29417.2Very Hard
St. Catharines1227.1Hard
St. Thomas35620.8Very Hard
Tavistock42925.1Very Hard
Toronto1005.8Moderately Hard
Uxbridge18610.9Very Hard
Vaughan1297.5Hard
Waterford21612.6Very Hard
Waterloo35020.4Very Hard
Whitby1257.3Hard
Windsor1005.8Moderately Hard
Woodbridge1297.5Hard
The information presented herein is for illustrative purposes only and is based on data available as of April 16, 2025, that is subject to change without notice.

Get a Free, No-Obligation Price Quote and a Water Test

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Why is Soft Water Better Than Hard Water?

Soft water has several benefits your family will experience every day: 

Faster Household Cleaning

Soft water leaves no soap scum to clean from shower heads, faucets or humidifiers – saving you time. Floors, windows and woodwork clean better with soft water, too.

Better-Looking Clothes

Washing your laundry in soft water is more effective and leaves your clothes brighter, cleaner and softer.

Energy Savings

Water heaters can consume up to 22% less energy when heating soft water. ^

Cleaner, Healthier Skin & Hair

Soft water washes away more cleanly and is less likely to clog your pores.

Sensitive skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis may improve.3

Money Savings

Eliminating hard water buildup helps extend the life of appliances and plumbing because soft water is much easier on water heaters and tankless water heaters. 

What Kind of Hard Water Treatment Do I Need?

Enercare offers two kinds of water softener units: standalone water softeners and with water softeners with a dechlorinator unit. Both will soften your water and are easy to maintain, but each offers different benefits.

Benefits of Water Softeners

  • Softens your water and eliminates odour by removing calcium, magnesium, low traces of iron and other minerals.
  • Prevents scale buildup on your taps, fixtures and appliances, keeping them performing like new for longer.
  • Leaves your hair silkier and more manageable and your skin less dry.
  • Prevents laundry from fading and leaves your clothes feeling softer.
  • Eliminates spots on your dishes, leaving them sparkling clean, using half the amount of soap compared to washing with hard water.
  • Perfect solution for both municipal and well water.
  • Uses 80% less salt than traditional water softeners.
  • Fully programmable and computerized to measure exact water usage.
  • Inexpensive to operate: A 12-volt AC unit uses less than $3/year in electricity.6
  • Lifetime manufacturer warranty.

Benefits of Water Softener with Dechlorinator5

All the benefits of a water softener on its own, plus:

  • Removes chlorine and volatile organic chemicals from your water.
  • Chlorine is one of the biggest complaints about water. Enercare’s Water Softener with a dechlorinator is specifically designed to work in the Canadian municipal water markets and is our #1 water treatment seller.

Should I Rent or Buy?

We have flexible and affordable rental and purchase options to suit your budget. 

Rent with Enercare Advantage™Buy from Enercare
Installation Charges$0*Included
Repair Costs$0**Not Included
OwnershipEnercareYou
Length of AgreementLife of equipmentNone
Table shows a comparison between renting with Enercare Advantage™ or buying from Enercare.

Why Choose Enercare for a New Water Softener in Ontario

When you choose Enercare for your water softener, you get:

Installation included with every rental – no hidden costs.*

Every unit we sell is made in Canada and uses components that are CSA- and NSF-certified. 

All our units include excellent warranties directly from the manufacturer.

We sell only new units – never refurbished or previously owned.

A customer support centre that’s available to take your calls 24/7.

Our trained and professional plumbers size, install and maintain your equipment to ensure it works properly. We have the following credentials:

  • 18 years in the water purification business
  • Serving over 120,000 plumbing customers
  • Over 90 plumbers and growing
  • Fully licensed through Ontario College of Trades (OCOT)
  • Fully licensed under Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
  • Over 150,000 plumbing related service calls completed annually

What Else to Consider

Free Water Quality Test

 Call for a free water quality test with an Enercare Water Sales Consultant to learn if it’s right for you. 

Water Treatment Options

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