Other brands
Rheem Water Softener Review
Rheem water softener reviews center on the Preferred RHS32: 32,000 grains, 105 gpg maximum hardness and 24 gallons per regeneration, listed at Home Depot for $489 in October 2026.
By the Water Softener Reviews editors · Updated
Disclosure: watersofteners.reviews is run by the same team as SoftPro Water Systems and Quality Water Treatment, and we rank their products first. We compare published specifications, certifications, warranties and prices (as of October 2026). We did not lab-test these units. How we rank
On this page
Key takeaways
- The Rheem Preferred RHS32 is a 32,000-grain salt softener listed at Home Depot for $489 in October 2026; the 42,000-grain RHS42 and Wi-Fi RHW42 were listed at $589 and $689.
- The listing gives an 8 gpm service flow (rated at 15 psi pressure loss), 105 gpg maximum hardness and 175 lb of salt storage.
- It uses 24 gallons of water per regeneration, at the low end of the 20 to 70 gallons the EPA WaterSense guide calls typical.
- Warranty: 1 year parts and labor (extendable up to 5 years with Rheem cleaner), 3 years electronics, 10 years tanks.
- Rheem's Preferred series page claims 40% less salt than traditional softeners, footnoted as based on its own laboratory testing.
- No certification and no iron ppm limit are published for the RHS32.
Is a Rheem water softener worth buying?
For a household of three or four that wants a low price and an off-the-shelf purchase, it is a sensible option: the RHS32 is one of the least expensive softeners we cover and publishes a fuller set of numbers than most. The trade-offs are an unstated iron limit, a modest flow rating and one year of full coverage.
Rheem says the Preferred series is "designed, engineered and manufactured right here in the USA." Bigger households or wells with noticeable iron should also compare our best water softeners for well water.
Rheem water softener specifications
Rheem's own series page carries no model-level specs, so the RHS32 figures below come from its Home Depot listing, checked in October 2026.
| Model | Capacity | Notable feature | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHS32 Preferred | 32,000 grains | 8 gpm, 105 gpg, 24 gal per regeneration | $489 |
| RHS42 Preferred Plus | 42,000 grains | Larger capacity | $589 |
| RHW42 Preferred Platinum | 42,000 grains | Wi-Fi, iQua app | $689 |
| Spec | RHS32 |
|---|---|
| Type | Salt-based, "Rheem Learning Technology" |
| Household size (listed) | 3 to 4 people |
| Service flow (15 psi drop) | 8 gpm |
| Max hardness | 105 gpg |
| Iron | Clear-water (ferrous) iron; ppm limit not published |
| Salt storage | 175 lb |
| Water per regeneration | 24 gal |
| Regeneration time | 120 minutes |
| Certifications | Not published |
What does the Rheem water softener do well?
Price, low regeneration water use and a long tank term are its clearest strengths.
Low price, easy to find. At $489 listed at Home Depot in October 2026, the RHS32 is among the least expensive whole-house softeners we cover, and the listing showed it in stock for delivery.
Low water per regeneration. Twenty-four gallons per cycle sits near the bottom of the EPA's 20 to 70-gallon typical range, and well under the roughly 50 gallons Nebraska Extension cites. That helps on a septic system or a metered water bill.
Learning control. Rheem says its Learning Technology tracks household water use to optimize salt and water and regenerate on demand, the approach the EPA recommends over timers. Rheem's 40% salt claim is the maker's figure, and it discloses that the number comes from internal lab testing.
US-made with a 10-year tank term. Tanks carry ten years and electronics three. Rheem also notes large tank openings for loading salt.
RHS32 strengths and trade-offs
Strength: price
$489 listed at Home Depot for the 32,000-grain model (October 2026).
Strength: water use
24 gallons and 120 minutes per regeneration.
Trade-off: iron limit unstated
"Iron Reduction" in the name, but no ppm figure.
Trade-off: modest flow
8 gpm at a 15 psi drop.
Where does a Rheem softener fall short?
The main gaps are the missing iron limit, flow headroom and short full coverage.
No iron ceiling. The product title says "Iron Reduction" and Rheem says the series removes clear-water (ferrous) iron, but no maximum ppm is published. Penn State Extension recommends softeners for iron mainly when dissolved iron is under 5 mg/L, so test before relying on it; our iron guide covers filters.
Flow rating. Eight gpm at a 15 psi drop is lower than the 9.5 gpm GE lists for its models. Homes with several fixtures running at once should compare that figure with their peak use.
One year on parts and labor. After year one, coverage narrows to electronics (three years) and tanks (ten years), unless regular use of Rheem Water Softener Cleaner extends the base term up to five years.
Capacity. Penn State's planning figure is 75 gallons a head each day; a four-person home at 10 gpg therefore strips out about 3,000 grains daily, giving a 32,000-grain bed about 10 days per cycle when fully charged, or about 7 at 15 gpg. Our sizing guide helps decide between the RHS32 and the 42,000-grain models.
No certification published. Neither the listing nor Rheem's page states an NSF or WQA certification; the EPA's buying advice names NSF/ANSI 44 as the listing to check.
How much does a Rheem water softener cost to own?
As of October 2026, Home Depot listed the RHS32 at $489, the RHS42 at $589 and the RHW42 at $689. Rheem's own site does not list prices. Installation is extra; our installation guide explains the bypass, drain and power needs.
Running costs are salt, cleaner and water. NDSU Extension puts sodium chloride at about $5 to $10 per 40-lb bag, so a full 175-lb hopper is roughly four to five bags. Regenerating weekly at 24 gallons uses about 1,250 gallons of water a year. Our cost guide has full budgets.
Rheem numbers worth knowing
- $489RHS32 listed price at Home Depot, October 2026Home Depot listing, October 2026
- 24 galWater used per RHS32 regenerationHome Depot listing, October 2026
- 20–70 galEPA's typical range for one regeneration cycleU.S. EPA WaterSense
- 40%Salt saving Rheem claims, from its internal lab testingRheem
How it compares with our picks
Rheem's case is low upfront cost and shelf availability; our picks cost more but add larger sizes and far longer valve coverage.
| System | Entry price, October 2026 | Grain options | Control valve covered for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rheem RHS32 | $489, Home Depot listing | 32,000 only | 1 year (up to 5 with Rheem cleaner) |
| SoftPro ECO, city version | $967 | 32,000 / 48,000 / 64,000 | 10 years |
| QWT's Fleck 5600SXT | $1,189 | 24,000 through 64,000 | 5 years |
| SoftPro Elite Smart HE | $1,327 | 32,000 through 64,000 | Life of the unit (limited) |
For about $480 more, the city version of the SoftPro ECO adds 48,000 and 64,000-grain sizes, lifetime limited tank coverage and a 10-year valve term; SoftPro claims 10% less salt than traditional systems. Our #1, the SoftPro Elite Smart HE, starts at $1,327 with a limited lifetime warranty on its valve and essential components. Quality Water Treatment's Fleck 5600SXT sits between them, and QWT states it uses about 12 gallons per regeneration. Our full rankings show where each lands.
How we put this page together
Model specs and prices come from the RHS32 listing at Home Depot, the only place Rheem's model-level numbers appear, and series claims from Rheem's Preferred page; both were checked in October 2026. Regeneration water, iron and salt context comes from the EPA and university extension guides. We ran no tests, quote no owner reviews, and treat the 40% salt figure as Rheem's own unverified claim.
Common questions
How much is a Rheem water softener?
As of October 2026, Home Depot listed the RHS32 at $489, the RHS42 at $589 and the Wi-Fi RHW42 at $689. Rheem's own site does not list prices.
Does the Rheem RHS32 remove iron?
Rheem says the Preferred series removes clear-water (ferrous) iron, but no maximum ppm is published. With red staining or measurable iron, plan on an iron filter ahead of the softener.
Where are Rheem water softeners made?
Rheem says the Preferred series is designed, engineered and manufactured in the USA.
How much water does a Rheem softener use to regenerate?
The RHS32 listing states 24 gallons per regeneration and a 120-minute cycle.
Is the Rheem 40% salt claim verified?
It is the maker's claim. Rheem's footnote says it rests on the manufacturer's internal laboratory testing; no outside test is cited.
RHS32 or RHS42: which Rheem fits?
The RHS32 is listed for 3 to 4 people at 32,000 grains. The RHS42 adds 10,000 grains for $100 more, which suits harder water or a bigger household.
Does a Rheem softener have an app?
The Preferred Platinum RHW42 does. Rheem says Platinum models use the iQua app for alerts such as low salt or continuous water flow.
Related guides
Comparing options? Start with our best water softeners and reviews.