I went through the market and service providers looking for a water softener that meets my need and was totally shocked with the prices. until I found this GE smart appliance at very affordable price compared to others in the market. I installed myself (very easy connections method) which has saved me hundreds of buck for installation. We are super happy with it and we can clearly feel the difference. The appliance is smart, and after installing the application on the smart phone, you receive notification of days remaining to add SALT, if there is any high abnormal flow, with the capability of shutting down the water remotely from your phone. long story short (It is highly recommended).