Whirlpool WHES48 PRO
A strong all-round pick for larger families on hard city or well water: high flow, certified efficiency and a longer parts warranty for the price.
Blain's Farm & Fleet $679.99$679.99
The Whirlpool WHES48 PRO is the better water softener overall, rated 3.8 to 3.3. The Whirlpool WHES48 PRO leads on value. The SoftPro Elite 48,000 Grain wins on warranty. The Whirlpool WHES48 PRO costs $609.01 less ($679.99 vs $1,289).
SoftPro Elite 48,000 Grain
A premium family size softener for buyers who want long warranty cover and lower salt use and will pay for it.
Amazon $1,289$1,289
Prices were last checked November 1, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Whirlpool WHES48 PRO for value ($14.17 per 1,000 grains ($679.99, 48,000 grains) vs $26.85 per 1,000 grains ($1,289, 48,000 grains)).
- Choose the SoftPro Elite 48,000 Grain for warranty (10 years on the valve, 99 years on the tanks vs 3 years on the valve, 10 years on the tanks).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every 32,001 to 48,000 grains water softener; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | Whirlpool WHES48 PRO | SoftPro Elite 48,000 Grain |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.8/5 | 3.3/5 |
| Value 30% | 68 $14.17 per 1,000 grains ($679.99, 48,000 grains) | 10 $26.85 per 1,000 grains ($1,289, 48,000 grains) |
| Salt efficiency 20% | 100 5,090 grains per lb of salt | 50 salt efficiency not published (neutral score used) |
| Flow 15% | 65 11.9 gpm service flow | 50 service flow not published (neutral score used) |
| Warranty 25% | 22 3 years on the valve, 10 years on the tanks | 100 10 years on the valve, 99 years on the tanks |
| Certification 10% | 100 certified to NSF/ANSI 44 | 50 certification not stated (neutral score used) |
Specifications
| Whirlpool WHES48 PRO | SoftPro Elite 48,000 Grain | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | ||
| Rated capacity | 48,000 grains | 48,000 grains |
| Resin | 1.3 cu ft | - |
| Service flow | 11.9 gpm | - |
| Salt efficiency | 5,090 grains per lb | - |
| Highest hardness | 160 gpg | - |
| Highest iron | 12 ppm | - |
| Control | ||
| Valve | Whirlpool demand valve | - |
| Regenerates on demand | Yes | Yes |
| App or remote monitoring | No | No |
| Bypass valve included | Yes | Yes |
| Certification and warranty | ||
| NSF/ANSI 44 | Yes | - |
| Valve warranty | 3 years | 10 years |
| Tank warranty | 10 years | Lifetime |