Kinetico Premier XP® FAQ

What is a Kinetico Premier XP water softener?

Kinetico Premier XP® is Kinetico's line of non-electric, twin-tank water softeners and combination systems for homes with challenging water conditions. Premier XP softeners remove the calcium and magnesium that cause hard water, which helps protect plumbing and appliances from scale, reduces spots on dishes and fixtures, and leaves skin and hair feeling softer.

They're powered by moving water instead of electricity and regenerate based on your actual water use, so they don't waste salt or water. The line includes the S150 XP, S250 XP, S650 OD XP, and Q850 OD XP, and additional models and sizes are available through authorized Kinetico dealers. A local dealer can test your water and recommend the right model.

What does "XP" mean in Kinetico Premier XP?

XP refers to Kinetico's patent-pending XP feature, which allows each Premier XP softener to be calibrated more precisely to a home's specific water conditions. Every home's water is different. Hardness levels, iron, and household water use all vary, and a softener that isn't set up for those conditions can use more salt and water than it needs to.

With the XP feature, your Kinetico dealer can fine-tune the system for optimum efficiency, operational cost savings, and waste reduction, without any electronics to program. It's like having a water softener that's custom-fit for your home. The XP feature is part of what makes Premier XP an upgrade on Kinetico's earlier Premier Series softeners.

How do Kinetico Premier XP softeners work without electricity?

Kinetico Premier XP® softeners are powered by the energy of moving water, not electricity. As water flows through the system, it drives a built-in water meter and a non-electric control valve. The meter tracks how much water your household actually uses, and when one tank's resin needs cleaning, the valve automatically starts regeneration and switches service to the other tank.

Because there are no timers, computers, or electrical parts, there's nothing to plug in, program, repair, or replace. This demand-based operation means a Premier XP system regenerates more often when you use more water and less often when you use less, which avoids wasting salt and water on unneeded regenerations.

Which Kinetico Premier XP model is right for my home?

The right Kinetico Premier XP® model depends on your water hardness, iron levels, other water conditions, household size, and daily water use. The S150 XP removes hardness and soluble iron with simple, low-maintenance ownership. The S250 XP is calibrated precisely to your water, with twin tanks for soft water 24 hours a day.

The S650 OD XP adds Overdrive® for higher flow in larger homes and is the world's most efficient water softener based on WQA testing. The Q850 OD XP is a combination system that softens water and reduces chlorine or chloramine throughout your home. The best way to choose is a free water test from a local Kinetico dealer.

What does "OD" mean on Kinetico Premier XP models?

OD stands for Overdrive®, a Kinetico technology used on the Premier XP® S650 OD XP and Q850 OD XP. Standard twin-tank softeners like the S150 XP and S250 XP use one tank at a time, while the other stands by. With Overdrive, water flows through both tanks at the same time during normal use, which increases flow, increases contact time with the softening resin, and reduces pressure loss.

During regeneration, one tank keeps supplying soft water, and when regeneration is complete, both tanks go back into service. Overdrive models are a strong fit for larger homes and busy households where several fixtures and appliances often run at once.

Are Kinetico Premier XP softeners the most efficient water softeners?

Yes. The Kinetico Premier XP® S650 OD XP and Q850 OD XP are the world's most efficient water softeners, providing more soft water from each bag of salt than any other water softener you can buy.

The claim is based on independent testing by the Water Quality Association (WQA) per NSF/ANSI Standard 44, an industry-accepted efficiency rating that measures the amount of hardness removed per pound of salt used. A higher rating means you buy and carry less salt for the same amount of soft water.

All Premier XP models are designed for efficiency, with demand-based regeneration, countercurrent regeneration with soft water, and XP calibration to help reduce salt and water use.

Do Kinetico Premier XP softeners remove chlorine?

Only the Kinetico Premier XP® Q850 OD XP combination systems reduce chlorine or chloramine. Standard Premier XP softeners, including the S150 XP, S250 XP, and S650 OD XP, remove hardness and soluble iron but aren't designed to reduce chlorine.

The Q850 OD XP combines high-efficiency softening with two additional tanks of filtration media: activated carbon for whole-house chlorine reduction, or Chloraban® or Sulfaban™ for chloramine reduction.

Reducing chlorine or chloramine throughout your home can mean odor-free showers, less skin dryness, and less fading and bleaching of clothing and linens. If you only need chlorine reduction, a Kinetico Dechlorinator can be paired with any Premier XP softener.

What is the difference between Kinetico Premier XP and Signature Series softeners?

Kinetico Premier XP® and Signature Series® are both non-electric, twin-tank Kinetico water softeners that regenerate on demand using soft water. Premier XP is Kinetico's upgraded line, with the patent-pending XP feature for precise calibration to your home's water, generous flow rates for larger plumbing and high water use, Overdrive® models rated the world's most efficient by WQA testing, and combination systems that also reduce chlorine or chloramine.

Signature Series softeners are modeled after Kinetico's original twin-tank, non-electric softeners, with high-quality resin and generous system capacity to solve hard water and soluble iron problems. A local Kinetico dealer can test your water and help you choose between them.