Whirlpool WHES40

What Whirlpool publishes, and what it does not

Whirlpool publishes most of what matters here. The gaps are narrow enough that you can size and budget this unit properly, which is more than can be said for several units at this price.

Of the specifications a buyer actually needs to size and compare this unit, Whirlpool publishes 7 of 8. The capacity claim is backed by NSF/ANSI 44, NSF/ANSI 372, WQA CSA B483.1.

Not published for this unit:

• price, which left to the retailer by some manufacturers, which makes comparison harder.

We leave those blank rather than reaching for a plausible figure. If you need one of them to decide, Whirlpool support is the place to get it, and it is worth asking before you buy rather than after.

How it sits in the Whirlpool range

The WHES40 is the largest Whirlpool unit we track at 40,000 grains. Alongside it sit the WHES30 and the WHESFC Pro Series Hybrid: the WHES30 drops 10,000 grains, and the WHESFC Pro Series Hybrid drops 9,000 grains on different warranty terms.

At its maximum 15.5 lb dose the WHES40 works out to roughly 2,581 grains per pound of salt. That figure is the fair way to line it up against other units, because every manufacturer in this category advertises the maximum and nobody runs it there day to day. Each regeneration also sends 37.1 gallons to the drain.

Who this suits, and who should skip it

A good fit for:

• Mid-sized households, which is where most buyers land. 40,000 grains covers a typical family without the price of the largest units.
• Well water. A published rating of 10 ppm of iron is among the higher figures we have recorded, and iron rating is the specification that decides whether resin lasts ten years or three.
• Anyone replacing an older timer softener. A metered head regenerates on water actually used rather than on a schedule, which is where most of the salt saving in a modern unit comes from.

Mistakes to avoid at this size

• Buying the number on the box. The 40,000-grain rating is what this unit reaches at its maximum 15.5 lb salt dose. Day to day it runs a much smaller dose and delivers proportionally less per cycle, which is the honest basis for comparing it against anything else.
• Assuming the iron rating covers untreated well water. 10 ppm is a genuinely high rating, but it is a ceiling rather than a target. Sustained iron near that limit still shortens resin life, and above roughly 3 ppm a dedicated iron filter ahead of the softener is usually the better build.
• Sizing from the house instead of the water. Capacity needed is household size multiplied by hardness, so two identical houses on different water need different softeners. Test the water first, then size to the result.
• Comparing it on price you cannot verify. Whirlpool leaves pricing to the retailer on this unit, so the figure you find will move week to week and between stores. Price it in the same week you price its alternatives or the comparison is meaningless.