US Water Systems introduced new line of high-performance, high-efficiency water softeners called the FLEX series this month. After many months of research and development and testing the FLEX water softener has been released to the public. The first thing you will notice is it's size - available in three models, they all have a very small footprint of 13 inches wide by 18 inches deep. That means that these compact water softeners will fit in places most others won't. The FLEX-20 is 26 inches high and easily fits in closets, under sinks, RV's, apartments, condo and strange places where no other water softener will fit. The FLEX-24 is 36 inches high while the FLEX-34 is 43 inches high. The FLEX-34 is capable of softening water for homes with up to 8 people in the family.

While the FLEX might be small, it is big on performance, capable of delivering over 5,000 grains of softening capacity on just 1 pound of salt. Additionally, this is the "Greenest" water softener on the market in that it can regenerate on as little as 1.5 pounds of salt and 9.6 gallons of water. Compare that to some softeners that use up to 15 pounds of salt and 100 gallons of water. The FLEX Water Softener has a fully computerized metering system that regenerates only when needed and operates on 12 volts using about $1.69 of electricity per year. Imagine that level of efficiency and no danger of electrical shock!

It's a fact that most water softeners are sold at Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, Menards and other big box stores. The main reason is convenience - you can go there, kick the tires and buy one. Even take it home with you and install it yourself. But, there is a trade-off! The trade off is that with a Kenmore, Whirlpool, Morton, North Star, GE or WaterBoss, you are getting a "throw-away" water softener. Look at their warranties. They have a 1 or 2 year warranty on the valve and electronics and 10 years on the tanks. The US Water FLEX has a 7-year warranty on the valve and a lifetime warranty on the tanks. Which one do you think will last longer - the one with the one-year warranty or the one with the seven-year warranty? I think the average fifth-grader knows the answer to that one. It seems that everyone makes the mistake of buying one of these "throw-away water softeners" once. Don't make the same mistake twice! In fact, if you are reading this, you don't have to make it once.

With just one internal moving part, the FLEX is virtually trouble-free. My eighth-grader can install it with the manuals and videos offered by US Water and if there is a problem, US Water has Certified Water Specialists available to answer your questions and solve your problems 365 days a year from 8 AM until 11 PM. If you have ever had a water softener you already know that there are many dramatic benefits, things like:

• Saving over 50% on soaps, detergents, cleansers, chemicals and water conditioning agents (in most families, that amounts to several hundred dollars a year);
• Saving over 30% on the cost of water heating (hard water scale insulates the heat from the water and requires dramatically more energy);
• Extending the life of water using appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, icemakers, faucets, drains and water lines dramatically;
• Making your clothes whiter and brighter and extending the life of the fabrics;
• Smoother, silkier skin and shinier hair to say nothing of smoother shaves; and
• No spots on dishes, fixtures and showers.

A water softener is probably the ONLY appliance that saves you money while making life more enjoyable in the process. Now the next FLEX makes it possible to have a compact water softener that will last a lifetime. There's no reason you should not be enjoying the luxury of soft water, regardless of where you live.