Many readers ask: Do I need an RO system with my softener?
Yes, for drinking water. A water softener removes hardness (calcium, magnesium) but does not remove chlorine, lead, or PFAS chemicals. Louisville Water Company has excellent safety records, but old 40278 homes with lead service lines (pre-1950) should add a point-of-use RO under the kitchen sink.
Our Recommendation: Pair a 40278 water softener with a AquaTru or APEC RO-90 for drinking and cooking. 40278 water softener
Buy this if:
Skip this if:
You have three likely culprits:
1. The Bypass Valve is Open. Go look at the back of the 40278. The bypass handle should be pointing towards the unit (Service position). If it points away (Bypass), you are using raw hard water. Many readers ask: Do I need an RO system with my softener
2. You ran out of salt. Lift the brine tank lid. If you see water but no salt, the resin has zero sodium to exchange. Add salt. Wait 2 hours. Press "Regenerate Now."
3. Resin is "Iron Fouled." Rust turns resin beads into slimy, dark green mush. Buy a liquid resin cleaner from Home Depot. Pour it into the brine well. Force a manual regeneration. Skip this if: You have three likely culprits: 1
If you have landed on this page, you are likely tired of the chalky white residue on your faucets, the dry skin after a shower, or the skyrocketing cost of soaps and detergents. You are searching for a solution to hard water, and a specific model has caught your attention: the 40278 water softener.
But is the 40278 model right for your home? In this 2,500+ word guide, we will dissect everything you need to know about this specific unit—its specifications, installation, maintenance, and whether it actually saves you money.