Our Top 4 Pelican Water Softeners – Salt-Free & Salt-Based System Reviews
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Aug 4, 2023
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Pelican Water is an Enviro Water Solutions, Inc. company that was founded in 2007 with its headquarter based in Deland, Florida.
The business offers different water treatment solutions, from whole house filters and UV light disinfection units to softeners and shower filters.
One topic that Pelican seems to be focusing on is eco-friendliness. For example, the company strives to reduce the total amount of water that salt-based softeners waste by increases the effectiveness and popularity of salt-free models.
With that in mind, for this Pelican review series we are going to examine:
- The NaturSoft NS3 and NS6 salt-free water softener alternative
- The PSE1800 which combines the NS3 with a whole house carbon filter
- The PSE2000 which combines the NS6 with a whole house carbon filter
- And the Advantage Series PS48 & PS80 salt-based water softeners
Pelican Water Softener Overview
| Model | Details | |
|---|---|---|
 Best for Hard Water: Pelican NaturSoft NS3/NS6 Salt-Free Water Conditioner |
|
Price: $$$ Type: Template Assisted Crystallization Water For: 1-7 People (10-15 gpm) Capacity: Infinite Read Review: Click |
 Best for Hard Water with Chemicals: Pelican PSE1800 Salt-Free Softener Filter Combo |
|
Price: $$$ Type: Template Assisted Crystallization + Catalytic Carbon Filtration Water For: 1-4 People (8 gpm) Capacity: 662,400 Gallons Read Review: Click |
Best for Hard Water with Chemicals: Pelican PSE2000 Salt-Free Softener Filter Combo |
|
Price: $$$ Type: Template Assisted Crystallization + Catalytic Carbon Filtration Water For: Up to 6 People (12 gpm) Capacity: 1,300,000 Gallons Read Review: Click |
Reviews of Pelican Water Softeners
Review Order
- Pelican NaturSoft NS3 & NS6 – Best for Salt-Free Water Conditioning
- Pelican PSE1800 – Best for Hard Water with Chemicals (Small Homes)
- Pelican PSE2000 – Best for Hard Water with Chemicals (Large Homes)
- Pelican PS48 & PS80 – Best for Salt-Based Water Softening
1. Best for Salt-Free Water Conditioning: Pelican NaturSoft NS3 & NS6
The NaturSoft NS3 and the larger NS6 are Pelican’s most popular water softeners – but not in the traditional sense. They are salt-free conditioners that use a special type of catalytic media rather than sodium or potassium to reduce the scaling effects of hard water through crystallization.
Nothing is added and nothing is removed from your water, just some of its characteristics are altered.
By the way, the only difference between the NS3 and the NS6 are the provided flow rates: 10 gallons per minute for the former vs. 15 gallons per minute for the latter.
Minimum required water pressure: 25 psi. Softening capacity: Unlimited. The following water requirements must be met: No hydrogen sulfide content; no hydrocarbons, oils and lubricants; phosphate < 1 ppm; copper < 1.3 ppm.
|
Pelican NaturSoft NS3 |
|
| Price: | $$$ |
| Type: | Template Assisted Crystallization |
| Ideal For: | 1-7 People (10-15 gpm) |
| Capacity: | Infinite |
| NSF: | 61 |
|
Our Rating
|
|
Pros
- Certified to be 99.6% effective
- Space-saving single-tank design
- Nice looks
- No need to hire professional to do the install for you
- Detailed instructions included
- Great for people on a low-sodium diet
- Very low in maintenance
- Does not require electricity
Cons
- Some users saw no reduction in hardness at all
- Can be difficult to pre-soak the tank
Best for
The Pelican NaturSoft NS3 and NS6 are best for people looking for a salt-free solution to their hard water problem.
→ Read Our Full Pelican NaturSoft Review Here
2. Best for Hard Water with Chemicals (Small Homes): Pelican PSE1800 Whole House Filter and Salt-Free Softener Combo
The Pelican PSE1800 combines the NS3 water conditioner (see above) with a whole house carbon filter to deliver clean and salt-free softened water that tastes great.
Again, the conditioner reduces scaling without adding or removing anything from your water.
Softening capacity: Unlimited.
As for the whole house filter, it makes use of catalytic granular activated carbon and copper/zinc oxidation media (KDF-55) to eliminate up to 96% chlorine and possibly reduce some chemicals and even water-soluble heavy metals. In addition, it prevents bacteria and algae from growing.
Rated capacity: 662,400 gallons.
The minimum required pressure for this setup is 25 psi. The following water requirements must be met: No hydrogen sulfide content; no hydrocarbons, oils and lubricants; phosphate < 1 ppm; copper < 1.3 ppm.
|
Pelican PSE1800 |
|
| Price: | $$$ |
| Type: | Template Assisted Crystallization + Catalytic Carbon Filtration |
| Ideal For: | 1-4 People (8 gpm) |
| Capacity: | 662,400 Gallons |
|
Our Rating
|
|
Pros
- Certified to be 99.6% effective
- Space-saving design
- Nice looks
- DIY install feasible
- Detailed instructions included
- Great for people on a low-sodium diet
- Very low in maintenance
- Does not require electricity
Cons
- Some users saw no reduction in hardness
- Others had issues with low water pressure
- Can be difficult to pre-soak the tank
Best for
The Pelican PSE1800 is best for people living in a small household who want a combination of whole house water filter and salt-free softener.
→ Read Our Full Pelican PSE1800 Review Here
3. Best for Hard Water with Chemicals (Large Homes): Pelican PSE2000 Whole House Filter and Salt-Free Softener Combo
There is not much of a difference between the Pelican PSE1800 and the 2000, only that the latter provides a higher flow rate of 12 gpm. It combines the NS6 water conditioner (see above) with the Pelican PC1000, a whole house filter that works with catalytic carbon.
What you get out of this build is healthier, great-tasting and chlorine-free H2O with reduced scaling that does not contain any added salts and has the initial mineral content.
The softening capacity is literally unlimited, the carbon filter is rated at more than 1 million gallons, and the minimum required water pressure is 25 psi.
Please note: The following water requirements must be met – no hydrogen sulfide content; no hydrocarbons, oils and lubricants; phosphate < 1 ppm; copper < 1.3 ppm.
|
Pelican PSE2000 |
|
| Price: | $$$ |
| Type: | Template Assisted Crystallization + Catalytic Carbon Filtration |
| Ideal For: | Up to 6 People (12 gpm) |
| Capacity: | 1,300,000 Gallons |
|
Our Rating
|
|
Pros
- Certified to be 99.6% effective
- Space-saving design
- Nice looks
- DIY install feasible
- Detailed instructions included
- Great for people on a low-sodium diet
- Very low in maintenance
- Does not require electricity
Cons
- Some users saw no improvement in water hardness
- Others had issues with low water pressure
- Can be difficult to pre-soak the tank
Best for
The Pelican PSE2000 is best for people living in a mid-to-large-sized household who want a combination of whole house water filter and salt-free softener.
→ Read Our Full Pelican PSE2000 Review Here
4. Best for Salt-Based Water Softening: Pelican PS48 & PS80
Both the Pelican PS48 and the PS80 are salt-based water softeners, meaning they remove hardness minerals from water in an ion exchange process.
At 12 gallons per minute water flow rate, the Pelican PS48 provides enough softened water even for large families, and the Pelican PS80 is even bigger (18 gpm).
Both systems are metered so that no water is wasted during regeneration.
As far as installation is concerned, it’s no more difficult than installing any other regular salt-based water softener. The same goes for system programming thanks to the electronic head. By the way, there are 3 modes of operation: Meter Immediate, Meter Delayed, and Time Clock Delayed.
The required operating pressure range is 25-80 psi.
Pelican PS48 & PS80 |
|
| Price: | $$$ |
| Type: | Salt-Based Ion Exchange |
| Ideal For: | Up to 7+ People (12-18 gpm) |
| Capacity: | 48,000-80,000 Grains |
|
Our Rating
|
|
Pros
- Covered by lifetime warranty
- Metered regeneration saves resources
- Double backwash feature allows for optimum efficiency
- Only basic plumbing skills required for DIY installation
- Easy-to-program electronic head
- 3 modes of operation to choose from
- Long-lasting softening resin (7-15 years on average)
- Battery backs up softener memory in case of power outage
- NSF/ANSI 44 certified for structural integrity
Cons
- Customer support can be difficult to get a hold of
Best for
Pelican’s PS48 and PS80 are best for salt-based water softening.
More Reviews:
Why Pelican?
There are so many different water softeners that you can choose from. Why opt for Pelican and not go with a competitor model?
- Single-Tank Design – This one we really like: The single-tank design that is nice to look at and that saves you a lot of space in your garage or basement.
- DIY Ready – Salt-free or salt-based, installing a water softener yourself is no easy feat, unless you are an experienced plumber. But it’s also not impossible. In our opinion, if you are handy around the house and have the required time and patience, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to do this.
- NSF Certifications – The NS3 and NS6 as well as the PSE1800/2000 have earned NSF certifications for Standard 61 (material safety); the PSE1800/2000 also for Standard 42 (structural integrity). The salt-based PS48/PS80 are also NSF-certified for structural integrity according to NSF 44.
- Maintenance Free – Pelican’s salt-free softeners are 100% maintenance free. It’s set and forget.
- No Regeneration Required – They also don’t have to regeneration their resin. In fact, there is no resin. Thus no water goes down the drain wasted.
- Metered Regeneration – Pelican salt-based water softeners are metered and only backwash when needed. Why? To waste as few gallons as possible.
- Satisfaction Guarantee – Pelican offers a no-hassle return policy, lifetime warranties and free shipping (although we heard from a handful of customers that they don’t always stick to their own rules).
If you have any questions about the Pelican NS3 or NS6, the PSE1800, the PSE2000, or the Pelican PS48/PS80, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
And remember to revisit this page from time to time, as we are going to add new reviews of Pelican water softeners every once in a while.
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
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