APEC Hydro Express 30 vs APEC Hydro Express 45
Two of the water softeners in our best water softeners comparison, lined up spec by spec. Every figure comes from the manufacturer pages linked below, and the scores use the same published formula as the full ranking.
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Best for: 30,000-grain softener with a 17.6 GPM peak flow and a 5-year limited warranty
Check price at AmazonBest for: 45,000-grain softener with a 17.6 GPM peak flow
Check price at AmazonSpec-by-spec comparison
Green marks the better published figure. "Not listed" means the manufacturer doesn't publish it.
| Spec | APEC Hydro Express 30 | APEC Hydro Express 45 | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grain capacityThe maker's published grain capacity. Missing values take the category minimum. | 30000 gr | 45000 gr | 36% |
| Flow rateSystem flow the official page publishes in gallons per minute, labelled as service or peak in the details. UV-only flow figures are not scored. Missing values take the category minimum. | 17.6 GPM | 17.6 GPM | 28% |
| WarrantyLimited warranty length the official page publishes, in years. Missing values take the category minimum. | 5 yr | Not listed | 20% |
| NSF/ANSI 44 namedYes when the official page names NSF/ANSI 44 (or WQA certification to 44). Unstated counts as no. | No | No | 16% |
| Grain capacity (maker) | Max. hardness of 30,000 grains (official specification table) | Max. hardness of 45,000 grains (official specification table) | info |
| Flow rate (maker) | 17.6 GPM peak flow rate (official table) | 17.6 GPM peak flow rate (official table) | info |
| NSF/ANSI 44 (maker) | Not listed | Not listed | info |
| Warranty (maker) | 5 year limited warranty (official page) | Not listed | info |
| Feed water pressure (maker) | 20-125 psi | 20-125 psi | info |
| System weight (maker) | 125 lbs | 150 lbs | info |
| Brine tank (maker) | Holds 200 lbs of salt | Not listed | info |
| HydroPick score | 3.2/10 | 1.8/10 | 100% |
Where each one comes out ahead
APEC Hydro Express 30
No scored spec where it is strictly ahead; its case rests on the strengths below.
What we like
Watch out for
- Lowest grain capacity in this comparison (30000 gr)
APEC Hydro Express 45
Better published figure on: Grain capacity.
What we like
Watch out for
- Warranty not published by APEC
Verdict
Two Hydro Express salt-based softeners. Official tables list 30,000 grains and 125 lb on the 30, and 45,000 grains and 150 lb on the 45; both list a 17.6 GPM peak flow and 20-125 psi feed pressure. A 5-year limited warranty is published on the 30's page we used; that sentence was not in the 45 specification rows we extracted.
- APEC Hydro Express 30: APEC: Hydro Express 30
- APEC Hydro Express 45: APEC: Hydro Express 45