What it addresses
Pairs SMART and carbon filtration with a dedicated salt-based softener and brine tank.
For filtration + hardness control
Stainless Steel Whole Home Filter + Softener
Concerned about unwanted chlorine taste and hard-water scale? This package combines Crystal Quest SMART filtration with a separate salt-based softener to address both jobs when your water calls for them.
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Two jobs. One equipment package.Hardware by Crystal Quest
Stainless steel treatment tanks shown. Softener packages also include a separate brine tank. See the included items below.
- SMART filtration targets chlorine taste and odor
- Separate softener reduces hardness minerals
- Two treatment goals in one coordinated package
$4,599.00Equipment only
Free U.S. shipping
Installation and applicable taxes are separate.
Easy to plan. Installed by your licensed plumber.Designed for straightforward installation at your main water line. Share the manual below so your plumber can confirm the fit and quote the job.
Engineered & assembled in the USA
Manufactured under an ISO 9001 certified quality management system. This manufacturing certification is separate from product performance testing.
For municipal waterWell water needs a separate review
Leak-detection valve includedIncluded in your equipment package
Licensed-plumber installationStraightforward setup · Quoted separately
Why this system
Address unwanted water taste and mineral scale together.
The SMART filter targets filtration concerns. A separate softener reduces the calcium and magnesium behind scale. Choose the combined package when both treatment stages make sense for your municipal water.
When it makes sense
Homes with confirmed municipal-water hardness that want both filtration and softening and don't already have a suitable working softener.
Before you choose
Softening is optional. If you only need filtration, the Whole Home Filter is sold separately without a new softener.
How it works
Follow the water.
See what each stage does. Select a stage to take a closer look.
Water in To your home
A cartridge captures suspended particles such as dirt and sand before they reach the main treatment tank.
Ion-exchange resin replaces calcium and magnesium hardness ions with sodium. Salt in the separate brine tank regenerates the resin; brine is not the normal water path to your home.
A blend of filtration media treats a range of water-quality concerns through adsorption and redox processes. Match specific reduction needs to the exact manufacturer configuration.
The final carbon cartridge polishes the water for taste and odor. Replace it as conditions require; it is not a disinfection stage.
Treatment overview, not a plumbing diagram. Shows the base equipment only; selected add-ons require additional stages. Performance depends on water chemistry, flow and maintenance.
Installation
Picture it in your home.
A clean, organized setup at your main water line. Your licensed plumber plans the connections and service access for your space.
Hardware by Crystal Quest
Why choose Crystal Quest for your home?
Compare what goes into the system, how it fits your water and how you will care for it over time.
| What matters | Crystal Quest | What to check with other brands |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. engineering & assembly | Engineered & assembled in the USA | Ask where the equipment is designed and assembled. |
| An experienced manufacturer | Crystal Quest · Since 1994 | Look for a water-treatment track record and accessible support. |
| Documented quality processes | Manufactured under an ISO 9001 certified quality management system. | Check what is certified: the company, a component or the finished model. |
| Treatment matched to your needs | SMART filtration and salt-based softening in one package, with sediment/carbon cartridges and a separate brine tank. | Compare the actual treatment stages, rated flow and included accessories. |
| Parts for ongoing care | Manufacturer manuals and replacement components help you plan routine service with your plumber. | Check replacement-part availability and the maintenance schedule before buying. |
Customer feedback
From Crystal Quest customers.
Selected excerpts published by Crystal Quest. Each card names the product reviewed; these are manufacturer reviews, not reviews collected by Clearhouse or ratings of this exact package.
“I would most definitely purchase from you again.”
Jonathan T.
Source: Crystal Quest · Review excerpt
“The purchase was easy…”
Stacy B.
Source: Crystal Quest · Review excerpt
“The staff of Crystal Quest is great.”
Crystal Quest customer
Source: Crystal Quest · Review excerpt
From the main line to your home
Follow your water.
Four treatment components do two jobs: filter incoming water and reduce hardness. A separate brine tank supplies salt for the softener’s regeneration cycle.
- 20-inch prefilter
Catch the particles.
A 5-micron pleated cartridge catches sediment, silt, sand and dirt before water reaches the main treatment tank.
- Softener + brine tank
Reduce the hardness.
Ion-exchange resin captures calcium and magnesium. Salt from a separate brine tank restores the resin during regeneration.
- SMART media tank
Filter through a blend.
Several types of filtration media work together in one tank, including standard and catalytic carbon for chlorine and chloramine treatment.
- 20-inch postfilter
Finish with carbon.
A 5-micron carbon-block cartridge provides a final filtration stage for taste, odor and certain organic compounds.
This is a simple guide to the treatment path. Your plumber follows the manufacturer’s installation diagram for the exact equipment supplied.
What the SMART filter is designed to address.
Different materials have different jobs. Crystal Quest describes these treatment targets for its SMART system:
- Chlorine & chloramine
- Standard and catalytic activated carbon address disinfectants associated with taste and odor in treated city water.
- Sediment, sand & silt
- The pleated prefilter captures particles before they reach the main media tank and plumbing downstream.
- Selected organic compounds
- The manufacturer lists treatment for certain VOCs, trihalomethanes (THMs), pesticides and herbicides using its carbon-based stages.
- Selected metals
- Crystal Quest describes metal reduction using its redox and ion-exchange media, with examples including lead, mercury and copper.
These are manufacturer-described treatment targets, not a promise that every listed substance is in your water or will be removed. For a specific contaminant, verify tested performance for the exact model and your water conditions.
A closer look inside the SMART tank
Two types of activated carbon
The blend includes coconut-shell granular activated carbon and catalytic carbon. Their porous surfaces hold certain substances as water passes through.
Redox media + ion-exchange resin
Eagle Redox Alloy 6500 and 9500 and ion-exchange resin add treatment mechanisms beyond carbon. A dedicated softener is still a separate choice for hardness control.
Other media in the blend
Crystal Quest also lists ceramic and tourmaline media. Its SMART system brochure shows a quartz support bed beneath the treatment media.
Know what you’re buying
Know exactly what's in your package.
See which components are included and which installation expenses are handled by your plumber.
Included in your package
-
SMART filtration tank
Stainless steel tank with the filtration media and control head.
-
Softener tank + brine tank
A separate stainless steel softener tank, plus a brine tank to hold salt.
-
Sediment + carbon cartridges
Prefilter and postfilter with housings complete the package.
-
Leak-detection shutoff valve
The CQE-PT-03064 valve is part of this Clearhouse package.
Budget for these separately
- Your plumber’s labor and installation quote
- Any extra plumbing parts or site work
- Applicable taxes
- Softener salt, replacement cartridges, media and resin
Ask your plumber for a complete installation quote before you order. Every home’s plumbing is different.
Two sizes. One clear next step.
Choose a size that matches your home.
Use bathroom count as a starting guide, then confirm simultaneous water use and hardness. Both parts of the package need to fit your home.
A starting point for 1–3 bathrooms.
The 1.5 cu. ft. package for smaller or moderate-demand homes. Have your plumber check flow and softening capacity.
A starting point for 2–4 bathrooms.
The 2.0 cu. ft. package for greater water demand. Hardness and peak use still determine the right setup.
These are starting guides. Your plumber confirms peak flow, water pressure, incoming hardness, drain access and space. Larger or shared-plumbing homes need an individual review.
Standard or Large
The details, side by side.
Compare the manufacturer’s specifications for the stainless steel models in our packages. Your busiest water-use periods matter more than home square footage alone.
| Specification | Standard | Large |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Quest model | CQE-WH-01129 | CQE-WH-01130 |
| Bathroom starting guide | 1–3 bathrooms | 2–4 bathrooms |
| Main tank media | 1.5+ cu. ft. SMART media + separate softener | 2.0+ cu. ft. SMART media + separate softener |
| Nominal SMART filtration capacity | 1,000,000 gallons | 1,500,000 gallons |
| Nominal softener capacity | 48,000 grains | 60,000 grains |
| Listed service flow | 9–11 gallons/minute | 10–13 gallons/minute |
| Treatment tank size (diameter × height) | SMART tank: 10 × 54 inches | SMART tank: 12 × 52 inches |
| Brine tank (diameter × height) | 18 × 33 inches | 18 × 33 inches |
| Treatment tank finish | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Automatic control | Timed backwash + regeneration | Timed backwash + regeneration |
| Pre- & postfilter cartridges | 20-inch sediment + carbon block | 20-inch sediment + carbon block |
GPM means gallons per minute. Service flow is the manufacturer’s listed range, not a guarantee of pressure at every fixture. Your plumber checks peak demand, incoming pressure and plumbing size.
The gallon figure is a nominal rating for the SMART filtration media. It is not the replacement interval for the pre- and postfilter cartridges, a softener capacity, or a guarantee of contaminant reduction for that many gallons.
Grain capacity describes the softener’s hardness-removal capacity. Actual usable capacity and regeneration frequency depend on hardness, water use, salt dose and control settings.
Plan for two treatment tanks, a separate brine tank, cartridge housings and service clearance. The listed dimensions are for the SMART filter tank; confirm the softener tank and complete layout with your plumber.
Installation instructions
Your equipment. Your trusted plumber.
You choose and pay a licensed plumber separately. Share the manufacturer manual so they can confirm the main-line fit, flow, drainage, space and startup requirements.
- 01
Confirm the location and fit.
Your plumber checks the main line, household flow, pressure, tank clearance, drain access and electrical requirements before installation.
- 02
Connect your treatment system.
Your plumber follows the manufacturer’s layout, connects the bypass and required drain lines, and fits the included leak-detection shutoff. Extra treatment tanks need additional space and connections.
- 03
Flush, program and check.
Your plumber follows the startup instructions, programs backwash or regeneration, checks for leaks and shows you routine care. Softener settings use the hardness measured at your home.
Straight from the manufacturer
Installation instructions & downloads
The matching documents linked on Crystal Quest’s product pages. Share them with your licensed plumber before installation; follow the instructions supplied with your exact equipment.
Manufacturer PDFInstallation & owner’s manualPlumbing diagrams, control setup, maintenance and the manufacturer’s limited warranty terms.Open PDF
Manufacturer PDFLeak-detector valve manualSetup and operating instructions for the shutoff valve included in our package.Open PDF
Manufacturer PDFSMART filtration brochureSee the filtration media, treatment stages and nominal capacity information.Open PDF
Manufacturer PDFLarge SMART tank schematicTank layout for the 2.0 cu. ft. SMART filter. This is not a complete installation plan.Open PDF
Manufacturer PDFManufacturer performance documentCrystal Quest’s published media and performance information. Confirm applicability to your exact configuration.Open PDF
Manufacturer websiteFull product specificationsReview Crystal Quest’s product listing, model options and technical details.View manufacturer page
Simple upkeep
Maintenance & replacement
Keep the system. Refresh the parts that do the work. Here’s what to plan for.
Replace the two cartridges
Change the sediment prefilter and carbon postfilter. Replace sooner if flow drops or your water conditions require it.
Check the softener salt
Check the brine tank and top up salt as needed. Salt use depends on hardness, water use and the regeneration settings.
Service the tank media
Filter media and softener resin have separate service schedules. Your installer can assess them; they are not included in a cartridge pack.
Automatic backwashing or regeneration does not eliminate cartridge changes or eventual media replacement.
Care for the stainless steel finish. Wipe off condensation and keep salt away from the steel surfaces. Crystal Quest notes that persistent moisture, high humidity and salt exposure can cause rust or pinholes. Ask your plumber to confirm a suitable location.
Schedules & manufacturer sources
The whole-house manual recommends 12–18 months for pre- and postfilters. The individual sediment listing estimates 18–24 months for CQE-RC-04015. Follow your system manual and installer’s advice; actual service life depends on water quality and usage.
Follow the shutoff, pressure-release and flushing instructions. Your plumber can handle the change if you prefer.
Keep the choice simple
A filter and softener do different jobs.
Compare filtration, hardness reduction and the combined package before paying for treatment you may not need.
For taste, odor & sediment filtration
Stainless Steel Whole Home Filter
Everyday filtration. A starting point for chlorine taste, odors and sediment.
Care: cartridges and media. No softener salt.
From $2,699.00
View system
For hard-water spots & scale
Stainless Steel Whole Home Softener
Hardness reduction. For scale control, on its own or with your existing filter.
Care: salt refills, cartridges and resin.
From $2,599.00
View system
You’re viewing this system
Stainless Steel Whole Home Filter + Softener
Both jobs together. SMART filtration plus a separate salt-based softener.
Care: cartridges, media, resin and salt refills.
From $4,599.00
Choose your size
Free U.S. shipping on equipment. Plumber installation and applicable taxes are separate.
A few useful answers
Good questions before you buy.
Clear answers about sizing, installation, ongoing care and what the system can—and cannot—do.
Is this the right system for my home?
Choose this when you want both filtration and softening for confirmed hard municipal water. Your plumber checks incoming hardness, peak flow and space for the filter, softener and brine tank.
Do I need a water softener?
It’s optional, and it is included in this package. If you only want filtration or already have a suitable working softener, choose the Whole Home Filter instead.
Is installation included in the price?
You choose, hire and pay a licensed plumber separately. Clearhouse equipment ships free within the U.S.; installation, applicable taxes and site-specific parts are separate.
What ongoing maintenance should I expect?
Yes. Replace the pre- and postfilter cartridges on the manufacturer’s 12–18-month schedule, check salt monthly, and arrange tank-media or resin service when needed. Actual intervals depend on your water and usage. See Maintenance & replacement above.
Will it remove everything in my water report?
No single system should be assumed to remove every substance in a utility report. Verify exact-model performance claims for your concerns; a utility report is not a test of your tap.
Does the package handle chloramine and hard water?
The SMART filter’s standard and catalytic carbon blend targets chlorine and chloramine. The separate salt-based softener reduces calcium and magnesium hardness. Your plumber confirms flow and hardness settings; a specific contaminant concern should also be checked against the exact model’s tested performance.
Is this a salt-free system?
No. This package includes a salt-based ion-exchange softener and a brine tank. Plan for salt refills and regeneration water. If you want filtration without adding a softener, the Whole Home Filter is available separately.
What does the automatic control do?
The control head schedules backwashing or softener regeneration so the tank can clean or restore its media. Crystal Quest lists a timed valve as the base configuration and a metered valve as an upgrade. Our listed packages do not include that upgrade. Your installer sets the controls for your water and usage.
What warranty information should I review?
The manufacturer’s whole-house manual describes a one-year limited warranty for defects in materials and workmanship, with component-specific terms. Routine cartridge replacement is excluded unless the cartridge is defective on receipt. Review the full terms in the owner’s manual and confirm coverage for the supplied package before ordering. Open PDF
Where can I see the technical details?
Supplier model: CQE-WH-01129 · Standard
Water taste and mineral scale are two different problems. If you want to target chlorine taste and odor while reducing hard-water buildup, this Crystal Quest package pairs stainless steel SMART filtration with a separate salt-based softener. The filter handles filtration goals; the softener reduces calcium and magnesium when incoming-water hardness supports it.
Why it fits: A coordinated package for municipal-water homes that want both filtration and hardness control and do not already have a suitable softener. Confirm your incoming hardness, peak flow and installation space with your plumber before ordering.
- Crystal Quest SMART system in stainless steel.
- Sediment prefilter and carbon postfilter included.
- Salt-based softener and brine tank included.
- CQE-PT-03064 leak-detection shutoff valve included in the package.
You hire and pay your own plumber. Free U.S. shipping. Installation and applicable taxes are separate. Your plumber confirms water quality, flow, pressure, placement and any site-specific parts before ordering.
Standard: 1.5 cu. ft.; manufacturer bathroom guide 1–3 bathrooms. Large: 2.0 cu. ft.; guide 2–4 bathrooms. Actual demand determines suitability.
Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions for cartridges and media. Softener salt requires ongoing replenishment.
Standard model: CQE-WH-01129. Large model: CQE-WH-01130.
Stainless steel care: Keep steel surfaces dry and free of salt residue. Persistent condensation, high humidity or salt exposure can cause corrosion. Ask your plumber to confirm a suitable installation location.
Two treatments in one package
The treatment path includes a 20-inch sediment prefilter, a salt-based softener, a SMART filtration tank and a 20-inch carbon-block postfilter. The SMART blend includes standard and catalytic carbon for chlorine and chloramine treatment. The separate softener removes calcium and magnesium hardness and uses a brine tank for regeneration.
Compare the sizes
- Standard — CQE-WH-01129: 1.5+ cu. ft. SMART media, 9–11 GPM listed flow, 1,000,000-gallon nominal filtration capacity and 48,000-grain nominal softening capacity.
- Large — CQE-WH-01130: 2.0+ cu. ft. SMART media, 10–13 GPM listed flow, 1,500,000-gallon nominal filtration capacity and 60,000-grain nominal softening capacity.
Filtration gallon ratings and softening grain ratings measure different things. Neither replaces the cartridge service schedule. Actual usable softener capacity depends on hardness and regeneration settings. Both sizes include a nominal 18 × 33-inch brine tank.
Care and installation: Use a protected indoor location with suitable power, drainage and service clearance. Plan to replace the pre- and postfilter cartridges on the manufacturer’s 12–18-month schedule, or earlier when conditions require it.
Start with your home
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