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
3.5/5
A certified, salt efficient cabinet softener for a family of up to five on city water. Pick it over cheaper uncertified units if you want verified salt savings.
- 40,000 grainsCapacity
- 11 gpmService flow
- 4,423 gr/lbSalt efficiency
- YesNSF/ANSI 44
Check price at Amazon$749
Price checked November 1, 2026. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Pros
- Independently certified to NSF/ANSI 44, so its capacity and salt use are verified
- Removes about 4,400 grains per pound of salt at its efficient setting, well above California’s 3,350 minimum
- Cabinet design holds 230 lb of salt, so refills are infrequent
Cons
- The 11 gpm service flow is modest for a 40,000 grain softener in a busy house
- Only 1 ppm of iron, so well water with iron needs a separate filter
- Aquasana’s own store lists it at more than twice the Amazon price
The Aquasana SimplySoft family
Every Aquasana SimplySoft model we rank, smallest first. Ratings compare each against its own size.
| Model | Capacity | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquasana SimplySoft 40K (this one) | 40,000 grains | 3.5/5 | $749 |
| Aquasana SimplySoft 60K | 60,000 grains | 3.2/5 | $1,049 |
How it scores
The rating comes from 5 measured or published factors, each scored 0-100 against fixed reference points for its size. How we rank explains each one.
Specifications
| Model number | WH-SF40-BASE |
|---|---|
| Capacity | |
| Rated capacity | 40,000 grains |
| Resin | 1 cu ft |
| Service flow | 11 gpm |
| Salt efficiency | 4,423 grains per lb |
| Highest hardness | 200 gpg |
| Highest iron | 1 ppm |
| Control | |
| Regenerates on demand | Yes |
| App or remote monitoring | No |
| Bypass valve included | Yes |
| Resin tank | 10 x 35 in |
| Certification and warranty | |
| NSF/ANSI 44 | Yes |
| Valve warranty | 5 years |
| Tank warranty | 10 years |
Alternatives in this size
Rheem Preferred Plus RHS42
A well rounded certified softener for a family of up to six on hard city or well water.
Home Depot $549$549
Whirlpool WHES40
A good value 40,000 grain softener for a family of three to five, with certified salt efficiency and strong iron handling.
Blain's Farm & Fleet $579.99$579.99
Compare
Compare the Aquasana SimplySoft 40K with any other water softener →
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