The short answer
Portables suit RVs, boats, rentals and spot-free rinsing; a whole-house unit softens every tap and regenerates itself.
Side by side
| Portable | Whole-house | |
|---|---|---|
| Install | Hose fittings | Main line, drain, power |
| Regeneration | By hand with salt | Automatic |
| Capacity | About 8,000 to 20,000 grains | About 24,000 to 110,000 grains |
Portables
Examples: NPGLOBAL NPG-124 16,000-Grain Portable Water Softener, Camco TastePURE 40655 10,000-Grain Portable Water Softener.
Whole-house
Examples: Tier1 WS-165-132 32,000-Grain Water Softener, VEVOR BWsoftYT-5w 40,000-Grain Water Softener. Size one.
Products mentioned
Questions readers ask
Can a portable softener soften a whole house?
Not practically: its capacity is small and it regenerates by hand.
How long does a portable softener last between regenerations?
Grain rating divided by hardness: a 16,000-grain unit treats about 1,600 gallons of 10 gpg water.