Aquios FS-220 Review – Salt-Free Water Softener and Filtration System

by Curtis Grossi | Last Updated: March 13, 2024

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Intro

The AQUIOS FS-220 Salt-Free Water Softener and Filtration System is a full house water conditioning and filtration system that combines commercial water treatment and filtration technology in a compact unit.

It removes organic impurities from your household water supply to improve its taste, while also addressing the lime-scale buildup that damages household water-pipes, fittings, and appliances.

This system will filter out chlorine, sediment, and other undesirable materials from your water, and will ensure that calcium, magnesium and similar minerals found in hard water do not coalesce to form hard compounds that adhere to the inside of your water pipes and fittings.
The result will be clean, pure, healthy water for you and your family.

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The system will work for homes ranging to 3,000 square feet (278m²) in size with up to 3 full bathrooms, and its replaceable filter cartridge combines carbon block filtration (rated at 5 microns) with commercial grade water conditioning technology to deliver a whole-house, all-in-one solution.

The technology used is a natural, FDA-approved, food-grade polyphosphate additive known as Siliphos that acts to inhibit the formation of scale deposits and will, over time, reduce the build-up of lime-scale deposits in your water pipes, appliances, and water heaters.
This technology will also result in your water feeling better but not ‘slippery’ as with salt water softeners.
The system’s design requires no programming or electricity, ensures virtually no reduction in water pressure or flow rate, and comes with a 20-year limited warranty on the housing and valve.

Who is Aquios

Aquios was founded in Spring, Texas, in 2009 and has been providing domestic and commercial water treatment systems ever since then.

Important Features

1. Easy to Install and No Electricity or Programming Required

The Aquios FS-220 water softener and filtration system has a compact design and does not require electrical power to operate. So there is no need to re-wire your space to make provision for a dedicated plug point for the system.

In addition, there are no controls to program, no need to worry about the effects of a power cut, and no noisy regeneration cycles.
Just install the system in the water input line, ensuring that it is installed vertically, and the only attention it needs is to replace the cartridge when necessary.

2. All-in-One Whole House System For Water Conditioning, Filtering and Scale Reduction

The Aquios FS-220 Salt Free Water Softener and Filtration System will filter out sediment, chlorine, and organic impurities from your water, improving its taste.

It will also condition the water so that soap and detergents lather more easily, and at the same time, the build-up of lime-scale in household pipes, fittings, and water heating appliances will be significantly reduced.
Over time the existing lime-scale will be softened and will be washed out of your home’s water pipes. All this with a single cylindrical filter that is easy to install and will fit into a relatively small space.

3. Salt-free Water Conditioning and Filtration

The Aquios FS-220 water softener and filtration system utilizes commercial water conditioning technology in the form of a natural, FDA-approved food-grade polyphosphate additive known as Siliphos that treats calcium and magnesium compounds in your water supply to inhibit the formation of lime-scale.

No salt is required for the process and although the feel and taste of your water will improve, there will not be the ‘slippery water’ feeling commonly found with salt-based water softeners.

4. Valve-In-Head Design

The head of the unit contains a built-in valve with internal bypass and shut-off functions. This allows you to shut off the water flow by simply twisting the head to the ‘shut-off’ position while changing the filter cartridge.

If you want to prolong the life of the filter cartridge by using untreated water, for example in your garden, you can do this by turning the head to the ‘bypass’ position.

5. High Capacity Filter Cartridge

The AQUIOS Water Treatment System includes your first high absorption RCFS220 filter cartridge which has a 5-micron filter rating with effective water hardness reduction of 22 grains per gallon (380ppm) and chlorine reduction of 12,000ppm at 2 GPM.
The solid carbon block filter prevents the release of carbon fines into the water and removes sediment, chlorine taste and odor, and organic contaminants.

It can treat up to 40,000 gallons of household water supply and has a lifespan of up to 6 months. Note that the filter cartridge should be rinsed with water for 5 minutes, or allowed to soak in water for 15 minutes, prior to installation.

Water Capacity, Pressure, and Temperature Range

The Aquios FS-220 Water Softener has an operating flow rate of 12 GPM (47.5l/min) and a recommended pressure of 80 psi (5.6 bar). If your water pressure exceeds the maximum operating pressure of 100 psi (6.9 bar) you should insert a pressure reducer in the water line before the filter housing.

The unit’s temperature range is from 40°F (4.4°C) through 115°F (46°C).
The water softener’s filtration rating is 5 microns and it is effective for water hardness up to 22 grains per gallon (380 ppm).
The cartridge is rated for treatment of up to 40,000 gallons (158.3kl) of water but its period of service depends on the hardness of the water being processed. It should, however, be replaced at least every 6 months.

Water and Salt Consumption

The Aquios FS-220 Water Softener and Filtration system does not operate as an ion-exchange softener, so no salt is used. It has a replaceable filter cartridge with no regeneration cycle, so no salt or water is consumed during operation.

Power Rating Consumption

The Aquios FS-220 Salt-Free Water Softener and Filtration System has no electrical or electronic components and therefore does not require an electrical connection. As such, it has no power rating or electricity consumption rating.

Size, Dimensions and Shipping Weight

The Aquios FS-220 Salt-Free Water Softener and Filtration System has the following dimensions: a 27” (68cm) high cylindrical filter system with an 8” (20cm) diameter, but the connectors increase its width to 10” (25cm). It weighs 9.3 lbs (4.2kg), but has a shipping weight of 15 lbs (6.8kg).

Price Range

The Aquios FS-220 Salt-Free Water Softener and Filtration System are available in the price range of US$400 to US$500 excluding shipping.

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Salt Free Water Softening (video)

Warranty

Aquios guarantee their water softener and filtration systems to the original owner with proof of purchase for a period of 20 years against corrosion, leaks, bursting, defects in material and workmanship of the filter housing, cover, and parts, excluding the cartridge. Without proof of purchase, the warranty is for one year from the date of manufacture.

Aquios also offers a 60-day money-back return policy on the system, for a full refund less shipping, and handling costs.

Reviews

Customer reviews for the Aquios SF-220 Water Softener and Filtration System on Amazon are generally positive, relating to the low maintenance and combined function aspects, as well as overall performance.

Even customers who have had to replace the filter cartridge more frequently than every six months are satisfied that the burden of carrying large bags of salt and the messiness of refilling brine tanks is more than compensated by the ease of simply changing a filter cartridge every few months. Not even the extra cost of filter cartridges has dampened their enthusiasm for the product.

Customer complaints mostly related to leaking and lack of iron removal. It is important that the installation instructions are closely followed to avoid leaks as the cartridge needs to be properly seated in the filter housing. If a leak persists owing to a manufacturing fault, the unit can be returned for repair or replacement under the 60-day ‘no questions asked’ returns policy.

The polyphosphates in the filter cartridge should treat soluble iron and manganese, but not as effective as calcium and magnesium, so it is advisable to have your water supply tested before selecting the type of system or systems you wish to install.
The customer service at Aquios received mostly good reviews.

Conclusion

The Aquios FS-220 Salt-Free Water Softener and Filtration System use modern commercial water treatment technology to reduce lime-scale and other household water problems with a minimum of fuss and bother.
The system is easy to install and does not need electricity or filling and refilling with salt. It is compact so can be installed in a small space, and its Valve-In-Head feature allows cartridge replacement with a minimum of spillage.

Overall, this system, although a water conditioner rather than a softener, will prove to be a great help in providing clear, clean, healthy water for your household, while reducing and eventually removing lime-scale build-up in your household water pipes, fittings and appliances.

The fact that, unlike salt-based systems, the Aquios FS-220 Salt Free Water Softener and Filtration System does not replace healthy minerals with sodium will be a winning factor for many health-conscious households.

You also can check our other salt free water softener reviews.

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Curtis is the founder and owner of softeningwater.com. He is the lead guy concerning all the water-softening accessories in this site's guides and reviews. If he is not writing a reviews, guides or any other useful tips, you will find him testing them to find out their suitability. He is passionate about softening water. You will find him extremely helpful and always willing to educate the general populace all there is concerning water and its effects on their health and appliances.