Wondering how you can find out the brand, make, and model of your water softener? We’ve shared what to do in this guide.
đź“Ś Key Takeaways:
- You can identify a water softener by checking the control head, the front of the resin tank, the brine tank lid, or the base of the tanks for manufacturer names or model numbers.
- Identifying a water softener is important for proper maintenance and repairs.
- We’ve shared photos and descriptions of popular water softeners in this guide.
Table of Contents
🔎 How To Identify A Water Softener
Below, we’ve shared the different methods you can use to identify a water softener in your home.
Look For Clues & Contextual Information
If you’ve moved into a property that has a water softener, you might be able to find some clues or contextual information that hints at the softener’s brand or model.
Look for:
- A user manual for the softener, in storage or somewhere nearby
- A logo on the water softener tank, control valve, or digital screen that contains the company and/or softener name
- An embossed imprint or sticker on the softener unit that contains information including the brand, softener name, and the model
- A patent number on the control valve or control head cover, which can be traced back to the company
Contact Previous Owners
If you’ve moved into a property whose previous owners installed the softener, the easiest thing may be to simply contact the previous owners for information on the type of water softener installed.
Even if the previous owners can’t remember the exact model or name of the water softener, they’ll probably remember the manufacturer or company they bought it from, or they might be able to point you to the user manual.
Check The Control Valve/ Control Head
All electric water softeners have a control valve, or control head, which sits on top of the resin tank. This controls the water softener’s performance, including the salt usage, regeneration frequency and length, depending on the inputted water hardness information.
Since a water softener’s control head is essentially the brain of the entire system, it’s common to find information on the softener model, manufacturer, or name somewhere on this device.
The information may have been added to the control head on a sticker, since some softener brands buy their softener controls from other manufacturers.
Look At The Tanks
If you can’t find any information on the water softener control, try checking elsewhere on the brine tank (salt tank) and resin tank.
Many water softeners have their logos and/or model numbers stamped on the front of their resin tanks. You might find similarly helpful information on the lid (either on the top or underside) or base of the brine tank.
Check Manufacturer Websites
Even the smallest detail, such as the name of your softener’s manufacturer, may help you discover the type and model of the water softener installed in your property.
Check the website of the manufacturer labeled or stamped on the water softener. Look through all the options available and match your softener to the images online.
Contact The Manufacturer
If you’re certain that your water softener is sold by a particular brand but you can’t find the softener on the website, contact the manufacturer with several pictures of your model.
It might be that your model is an old one that’s now out of stock, but the manufacturer should still be able to identify it and provide you with some key information or a user manual for the product.
Call Your Local Water Softener Sales Companies
Often, it’s difficult to identify a water softener from the control head because a variety of brands and softener models use the same control. These brands buy these components from the original manufacturer and sell them on with their company name – but that name might not be printed on the softener itself.
In this case, you may have the choice of tens of options, and contacting your local water softener dealers and sales companies should help to narrow them down. There’s a good chance that the previous owner of your water softener bought from a local company, so local sellers are more likely capable of identifying a softener with a non-distinct control head.
Contact Third-Party Sellers
Perhaps the name of the softener brand itself isn’t anywhere to be found, but the there’s a logo for a third-party seller. Check the seller’s website to see if your softener is recognizable in the currently available products.
If you can’t find your water softener or you’re not sure, contact the seller with some pictures and ask them to help.
Check Our Water Softener Photo Guide
Later in this guide, we’ve shared the most common water softener brands and images of the typical softener systems and water conditioners offered by these brands.
If your water softener is sold by one of these brands, you should be able to identify it with one of our shared images and descriptions.
Contact A Local Plumber
If all else fails, contact a local plumber and ask them to come and take a look at your soft water system.
👨‍🔧 Experienced plumbers in your area should be familiar with the softening units that are popular locally and will likely have a much better chance than you of identifying your softener.
đź“– Identify Your Water Softener: Photo Guide
Can’t find a model number, serial number, or other specific information on your water softener system? You might still be able to identify your water softener by sight.
We’ve shared photos and quick descriptions of water softeners sold by popular brands below.
Aquasure Water Softeners
Aquasure water softeners typically have black tanks and grey-black control heads. The resin tank has the Aquasure logo, the name and grain capacity of the softener, and a few other product details stamped in large white lettering at the top front.
Crystal Quest Water Softeners
Crystal Quest softeners have tall, narrow resin tanks with white fiberglass or silver stainless steel casing. The Crystal Quest logo – in a dark blue oval- is stamped on the front of the brine and resin tanks.
Culligan Water Softeners
Culligan’s softeners have a matte grey casing on both the brine tank and the resin tank. The control valve, in the same shade of matte grey, has the Culligan logo stamped onto the left and right-hand sides.
Read our reviews of Culligan water softeners.
Fleck Water Softeners
Fleck’s softened water systems are black, bright blue, or greeny-white with no logo on the tanks or control head. The back of the control head should have a small white sticker with the product information.
Genesis Water Softeners
Genesis softening systems have black tanks with the blue Genesis logo (in a semicircle) stamped on the front top portion of the brine and resin tanks. Newer models also have “GENESIS” large lettering spanning the length of the resin tank from top to bottom.
The control head has no logo but is detailed with the same shade of blue as the logos on the tanks.
Here’s what WFG says about the popular Genesis water softeners in the market.
Kinetico Water Softeners
Kinetico soft water systems are black or grey with the Kinetico logo stamped onto the front of the resin tank. The brine tank is large and black. The control head has “KINETICO” stamped onto the top in silver lettering.
Want to know whether it’s worth investing in Kinetico systems? Check out our Kinetico water softener cost guide.
On The Go Water Softeners
The On The Go Portable Water Softener has a single bright blue tank with a light grey head. The tank should have a big, white, square-shaped sticker on the front with the blue On The Go logo and a few other product details.
Pentair Water Softeners
Pentair softener systems have black tank coverings and a grey-white Pentair logo stamped on the front of the resin tank. The control head also has a smaller version of the logo on the bottom-left corner.
Rheem Water Softeners
Rheem water softening units are cabinet-style softeners consisting of a single grey tank with the red, circular Rheem logo stamped on the front .
SpringWell Water Softeners
SpringWell soft water systems have black tanks with a blue SpringWell logo stamped on the front of the resin tank. The SpringWell control heads are by Nelsen Water Treatment Solutions and have the blue logo for this manufacturer on the front of the screen.
Check out our in-depth review of the Springwell SS line of water softeners.
SoftPro Water Softeners
SoftPro softening units have black tanks with no logos and a silver control head with a small blue SoftPro logo on the bottom.
Tier1 Water Softeners
Tier1 softener systems have a basic design with a tall, narrow, black or blue resin tank and a black brine tank with a white and blue Tier1 logo stamped onto the front of the lid.
The control head has a white version of the Tier1 water droplet (included in the brand’s logo) on the right-hand upper corner.
Greenwave Water Conditioners
Greenwave water conditioners, sold by US Water Systems, have a single stainless steel silver tank with a large blue, green and black Greenwave logo on the front.
Waterboss Water Softeners
Waterboss softening units are cabinet-style softeners with a single white rectangular cabinet embossed with the blue semicircle Waterboss logo on the front of the lid.
See our 2025 Waterboss water softener systems review here.
Whirlpool Water Softeners
Whirlpool soft water units are also cabinet-style, with white, black, or gray casing and the black Whirlpool logo stamped onto the top right-hand corner of the cabinet, near the built-in control panel.
đź“Ś Quick note: The exact design of a water softener may vary from model to model. If the softener has been sold by a third-party seller, you may also (or only) find this seller’s information on the softener.
In the case that your softener doesn’t have a logo, you should be able to find a sticker on the control head or brine tank lid.
🤔 Why Should You Identify Your Water Softener?
Unfortunately, water softeners don’t last forever.
You might think that it’s okay not to know anything about a water softener that appears to be working just fine. But what happens when you need water softener service, or you need to know specific information in the owner’s manual, or a part breaks and you need to buy a compatible replacement?
Once you determine the manufacturer and model of your softening system, you’ll have the information that’s handy to know as a water softener owner going forward.
This includes the likely age of your soft water system, so you know when you’ll need to buy a new unit, or when to replace the resin.
In short, identifying a water softener means you’ll have important knowledge about the softener’s design and features, so you can properly maintain it throughout its lifespan.
âť” How To Identify A Water Softener: FAQ
Where is the serial number on a water softener?
The serial number of a water softener may be in different places, depending on the softener brand and model. Some water softeners have the serial number on the inside rim of the brine tank lid. Others have the serial number on the back or base of the brine or resin tanks, and some have the number on the back of the control head (found on top of the resin tank). The user manual might also have the serial number for your water softener.
How do I tell the age of my water softener?
The best way to tell the age of your water softener is to look for its patent number. A patent number is usually found on a label or sticker on the control head or inside the control cover. You can use this number to search for the manufacturer that filed the patent. You’ll get a general idea of the water softener’s possible age from the date the patent was filed.
How do I find the model of my water softener?
You can find the model of your water softener by checking the back of the control head, which often has a sticker containing information about the system, including the model and serial number. Some manufacturers stamp the water softener model name on the front of the resin tank. The model name of your water softener should also be in your user manual, if you happen to have that on hand.
What does a water softener system look like?
Trying to figure out whether the water treatment system in your home is in fact a water softener? A traditional salt-based water softener has two tanks: a long, cylindrical resin tank and a shorter, wider brine tank. On top of the resin tank is a device with a screen and buttons, called a control head. Most water softeners come with a small blue or black sediment pre-filter, which sits upstream of the other tanks and components.