Is the brand you carry a major brand OR is it a “house” brand that you manufacture?
We only carry genuine Clack products, which is an internationally recognized brand made in Windsor, Wisconsin. They started in the 1940s and became huge in the commercial side of things and in 2001, the same year we started as a company, they introduced the Clack WS1 valve for residential use and the rest is history. As one of the most recognizable valves in the
industry, they have earned the business of other peer companies who, instead of manufacturing their own valves, will actually purchase the Clack WS1 valve, change the face cover of it and make it look slightly different, then sell it as their own brand. Many companies in the Austin area do this. Some would say this is the ultimate sign of trusted engineering. The Clack WS1 has gone through updates and upgrades, however, the actual design remains
practically the same because of such a successful performance record. Because Clack is so popular, the parts are very affordable and very easy to obtain. DO NOT get roped into dealing with a proprietary brand. That is a “house” brand that only they sell, which means only they can service and repair it, so you’re at their mercy. Servicing will be expensive because they’re the only company that make the parts.
Do you rent systems?
We do not rent systems at this time. If you buy a system from us, you own it and can move it anywhere you want.
Do your systems regenerate based on time OR usage?
All of our genuine Clack systems are “metered “and not “timered”, meaning they regenerate based on usage to conserve water.
What happens if the power goes out?
The Clack WS1 water softener comes with a backup battery, which can support the valve for 2-weeks without power and continue to filter water. If you’re without power for more than 2-weeks, the softener is the least of your worries!
Does your system come with a bypass valve in case of emergencies?
Yes, and also by state law, each tank in a water purification system should come equipped with a bypass. Fun fact: Instead of manufacturing their own bypasses, a lot of water softener companies will simply get the Clack bypass and put it on their system. The Clack bypass is black and red and is easily recognizable throughout the industry. We are also able to do a 3-valve
bypass if desired for the ultimate safe guard. Ask for more details and pricing for that.
How long have you been in business?
Discount Water Softener Co LLC started in September 2001 and is family owned and operated right here in Austin, Texas.
Why is your company so much cheaper than other companies?
Our favorite question. Because we don’t want to have to play the sales games – that’s the truth. As you probably will notice, the higher the price, the more pressure they will apply on you. We hate those sales games and dog-and-phony shows. Systems we sell for 3400 could be sold for 6100, no problem at all…however, we won’t be able to provide the same relaxed, no pressure
buying experience. We are going to have to press you. And we hate getting pressed when we shop around for products, so we don’t want to do that to you. Price does NOT equal quality when it comes to water softeners. (When comparing professional grade systems- not those cheaper units from the big box stores) It may if you’re shopping around for a lawyer, or looking for a baby sitter, but NOT when you are purchasing a water softener. Price = what kind of sales approach do you want to have with the customer? We all pay about the same for our systems at a wholesale level, with the proprietary brands being even cheaper because they manufacture the systems themselves. The only folks who scream “price equals quality” in this industry are folks selling overpriced, proprietary product. Don’t be fooled.
Do you accept credit card payments?
Absolutely. We accept all major credit cards, but please remember, there is a 3% credit card processing fee.
Do you offer extended service plans or warranties?
Yes, we offer extended warranty programs. For $390, you can double the manufacturer warranty from 5 years to 10 years. It covers ALL manufactures defects for 10 years. It has become very popular.
We also offer a LIFETIME warranty. To be fully transparent, we do it to stay competitive. Extended warranties in the softener industry are usually nothing more than sales gimmicks. A life time warranty – Are you 100% sure you’ll be in your same house for XX years? Most of us don’t know that. Also, they will likely require you pay for annual maintenance, which is a major Red flag. The joke around the industry is that all of the companies who went out of business during the recession of 2008 were the same companies offering Lifetime warranties. Something about Life time warranties and bad business models seem to go hand in hand. They are banking on the fact that you are going to void it and not use it. And guess what? They’re probably right. Don’t waste your money on one of those.
Do you deliver salt?
No, we do not deliver salt. Check out Costco or Home Depot for salt delivery.
Does your company do other plumbing work?
No, we specialize in water purification and that is all we do, day in and day out. We are licensed through the State of Texas to do the plumbing work required to install water purification equipment. We do not unclog drains, install faucets, etc.
How many bags of salt do you give upon installation? This one company says they will give me 30 bags of salt!
Another sales gimmick. Salt is $10/per bag. Not a big deal. We start you off with 1 bag. You get the rest. Don’t fill it more than half way with salt. Don’t consider the number of bags of salt you’ll be getting when shopping around for a water softener company, because it’s so cheap.
Do you offer financing?
At this moment, we do not offer financing.
Are your prices negotiable? Unlike many other companies that put on 2-hour presentations and play games with pricing, we have amazing pricing on an amazing product and the price is the price. We don’t need to “go outside to call our manager to lower the price”. We’re better than that.
What type of resin does your company use?
We only use genuine 10% crosslinked resin, which is the best you can find on the market as of this writing. It is the most chlorine resistant resin out there. It will also last the longest and is the most expensive. It comes from Canada, which is where a lot of good resin comes from. Many experts in the industry suggest staying with North American resin for our particular applications.
What type of carbon does your company use?
We only use genuine catalytic carbon media. It is the best on the market and also more expensive because it will take out chlorine AND chloramine, when the older type of carbon, Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC), is cheaper, doesn’t last as long and only removes chlorine. This is what is in your refrigerator filter and fish tank filter.
Our carbon filters range in size from 1.0 cu. ft. (27.5 lbs) to 2.0 cu. ft. (110 lbs), which are massive and much larger than many of our peer companies are offering. Remember, the smaller the carbon filter, the more you will have to change it. That’s why a lot of them will sell super small carbon filters, to maximize service revenue in the future.
What’s the difference between your softener and one I could buy from a big box store?
When our systems needs servicing, you do just that – service it. They need little servicing and when they do, it’s affordable. We also have systems out there that have washed themselves more than 1,000 times (check out the “Video” tab for videos of hard working systems) and they still produce soft water! Many of our systems are 15+ years old, with original Clack WS1 control valve and tanks. That shows longevity. You won’t get that with a box store softener. The all-in-one systems from the big box stores or online do not lend themselves well to servicing and typically, it’s cheaper to just throw it away and buy a new one every time. They can struggle when used in areas of higher hardness, like outside of Austin. Servicing for these units can not only be expensive but may occur often as there are many design flaws with them. They also have very low flow rates. Design, serviceability, and
performance are all reasons why they are cheaper. Also, technical support is totally different. When you purchase a system online, you have to find and hire a professional for everything, paying each time you need them, and when you purchase a Clack system from us, we stand ready to provide direct support!
There’s another water softener company in Round Rock that says the Clack system will last 3-5 years, what’s that about? With our pricing being so competitive and us moving so many units, they’re desperate and will say/do anything. They will use the “ours is more expensive so it’s better” sales method. This isn’t true. This has been happening for a few years now. We assume they feel threatened by us:) If this was true, why would Clack be an industry leader and going strong after 80+ years? Check out the videos we have on this website…we have systems in Round Rock and Buda and everywhere in-between at 10-15 years old and performing strong. Doesn’t make sense. We have had customers share things they have said about us and we laugh. Again, we feel strongly that the industry-leading Clack brand is better than their over-priced, proprietary non-electric brand they carry so we let our reputation and product speak for itself.
Will you price match on a similar system from another company?
Absolutely not. We will never price match any product or service. We decide our prices, they decide theirs…and you get to be the customer who picks the best deal!
Do you accept payment plans?
No, we do not offer payment plans. Payment is due upon completion of the job. No deposit or down payment is required unless specified, usually only occurring with unique sized systems.
Do you buy your systems assembled or do you assemble them yourselves?
We buy and receive Clack components from Windsor, Wisconsin, and with our years of doing this process, we assemble them right here in Round Rock, TX at our new warehouse. We want to ensure assembly is done right, media is weighed out correctly, and we know that various O-rings have been lubricated and nuts have been tightened just enough. You don’t get that level of care when you pay to have your units assembled. We have control issues when it comes to doing it right:)
What material does your company use in the plumbing installation of your system? We only use genuine Viega PEX parts from the UK. Stay away from jack-of-all-trades and handymen who will typically go to Home Depot and get Shark Bites and flex-lines to plumb in a system. And rarely is it done right. To be done correctly and professionally, you need to use the right tools and the right parts. That’s where we come in.