Record WT-0039 ยท Last verified September 2026
Rheem Preferred 32,000 Grain Water Softener (RHS32)
Water softener by Rheem. Certified to NSF/ANSI 44, NSF/ANSI 372, CSA B483.1.
We may earn a commission. It never changes a grade.
Scorecard
| Measure | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Certification evidence | A | System certified: NSF/ANSI 44 (NSF), NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 (NSF), CSA B483.1 (WQA) |
| 10-year cost | B | $1,365 over 10 years |
| Flow rate | C | 7.9 gpm rated flow |
| Warranty | B | 10 years on main parts |
| Returns | A | 90 days, no restocking fee |
What it treats
"Certified" means an independent body (NSF, IAPMO, WQA or CSA) lists this system for that contaminant. "Lab tested" means the maker published a third-party lab report. "Maker claim" means neither.
| Contaminant | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | Certified | Other systems for Hardness |
| Iron | Maker claim | Other systems for Iron |
No claim made for: Chlorine, Chloramine, PFAS, Lead, Manganese, Hydrogen sulfide, Bacteria, Sediment, VOCs, Arsenic, Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Uranium.
PFAS evidence: No PFAS claim.
Certifications
| Standard | Covers | Scope | Certified by |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF/ANSI 44 | hardness, barium, radium 226/228 (also efficiency rated) | system | NSF |
| NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 | system | NSF | |
| CSA B483.1 | system | WQA |
Specifications
| Type | Water softener |
|---|---|
| Technology | Ion exchange softening |
| Water source | City water, Private well |
| Price | $489 |
| Rated flow | 7.9 gallons per minute |
| Capacity | rated 33,000 grains @ 14.1 lb salt (27,600 @ 8.3 lb, 13,000 @ 2.6 lb); 0.88 cu ft resin; efficiency 4,940 grains/lb @ 2.6 lb |
| Media | 0.88 cu ft high capacity ion exchange resin |
| Stages | 1 |
| Port size | 1 inch |
| Needs a drain | Yes |
| Needs power | Yes |
| DIY install | Yes, with basic plumbing skills |
| Dimensions | 43.5 x 15.25 x 20.5 in (H x W x D), all-in-one cabinet |
| Weight | 84 lb |
| Warranty | Warrantor is Water Channel Partners (Eagan, MN); Rheem itself gives no warranty. 1 year full parts and labor from delivery, extendable to 5 years if Rheem RHWSC cleaner is used every 4 months with receipts kept (max 3 bottles per 12 months); 3 years on the electronic control board; 10 years on the salt storage tank and fiberglass resin tank. Replacement parts carry 90 days. Void above 125 psi or 120 F, freezing, misuse. |
| Returns | No maker money-back guarantee. Sold exclusively at The Home Depot, whose listing shows a 90-day return window; the manual says not to return the softener to the store and to call Rheem (1-800-754-7027) for missing parts or damage. |
10-year cost
| Item | Each | Times in 10 years | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| System purchase | $489 | 1 | $489 |
| Installation (assumed, professional) | $500 | 1 | $500 |
| Rheem RHWSC Water Softener Cleaner, 16 fl oz (one bottle every 4 months; required to extend the parts and labor warranty to 5 years; Home Depot price) | $13 | 29 | $376 |
| Total | $1,365 |
Install assumption: $500 for whole-house systems, $150 for under-sink units. Installing it yourself brings the total to $865. Try your own numbers in the 10-year cost calculator.
Owner reports
Home Depot reviews (4.0 from 2,318) repeatedly describe the resin tank neck cracking at the valve collar after 1-4 years and flooding garages or basements, plus leaking bypass valves and replacement parts not stocked at Home Depot.
Made and warranted by Water Channel Partners (which also holds WQA listings for Whirlpool, Kenmore, EcoPure and North Star softeners) under Rheem license; 'Buy exclusively at The Home Depot', price $489 there (maker site shows no price). Certification verified: NSF/ANSI 44 system listing (hardness, efficiency, barium, radium 226/228; 8 gpm listed flow) and NSF/ANSI 372 via the listing's point-of-entry note, plus WQA CSA B483.1 structural listing. Iron: manual says it reduces clear-water (ferrous) iron up to 8 ppm, 'substantiated by laboratory test data', but no report is published and NSF does not list iron, so iron stays claimed. Max hardness 105 gpg, 20-125 psi, 40-120 F, min 3 gpm supply. Maker lists 'households up to 4 people' and 'homes with multiple bathrooms' but no bathroom count. Port size: valve takes 1 inch NPT sweat adaptors (not included) on the supplied adaptor elbows; page says it suits 'up to 1 inch plumbing'. Weight 84 lb is Home Depot's spec (maker page gives none). DIY: maker publishes a DIY install checklist ('anyone who has basic plumbing skills'); Massachusetts requires a licensed plumber. Maker says average life is about 8-10 years and suggests replacing the whole unit when resin expires. Home Depot's cleaner listing: 4.7 from 1,576 reviews. Siblings: Preferred Plus RHS42, Preferred Platinum RHW42 (Wi-Fi), Preferred Compact RHS18.
Alternatives in the same category
| System | Grade | Price | 10-yr cost | Certified to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFWFilters WS48-56SXT (Fleck 5600SXT, 48,000 grain) | C | $765 | $1,265 | None |
| SpringWell SS1 | C | $1,607 | $2,107 | None |
| SoftPro Elite HE (city water, upflow) | C | $1,367 | $1,867 | None |
| AFWFilters Iron Pro 2 fine mesh softener (Fleck 5600SXT) | C | $755 | $1,255 | None |
| Aquasure Harmony Series (AS-HS32D / AS-HS48D / AS-HS64D) | D | $540 | $1,914 | None |
Sources
- rheemwatertreatment.com/product/preferred/
- homedepot.com/p/Rheem-32-000-Grain-Preferred-Home-Water-Softener-for-Hard-Water-and-Iron-R
- rheemwatertreatment.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360060555593-PREFERRED-RHS32
- rheemwatertreatment.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/37939096599191
- rheemwatertreatment.com/warranty/
- rheemwatertreatment.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360059445974-How-do-I-extend-my-softener
- rheemwatertreatment.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500001683242-The-Do-It-Yourself-DIY-Wat
- rheemwatertreatment.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/6848080872471-What-is-the-typical-lifesp
- rheemwatertreatment.com/owner-resources/
- rheemwatertreatment.com/product/water-softener-cleaner/
- homedepot.com/p/Rheem-Preferred-Series-Water-Softener-Cleaner-RHWSC/314448268
- info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?TradeName=rheem
- find.wqa.org/find-products/ctl/detail/mid/1054/cid/water_channel_partne/sid/27/keyword/rhe
- trustpilot.com/review/rheemwatertreatment.com
- rheemwatertreatment.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4561720508311-What-is-My-Warranty
- rheemwatertreatment.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/18581116579863-Old-or-Expired-Resin
