Custom built
VK Water Reserve System
A custom-built whole-house system on a commercial-grade control valve, made for your home.
from $8,500 installed
System + installation
The control valve is the heart of the system
Every whole-house softener has a control valve on top. It’s the part that decides when the system cleans and recharges itself, how much water and salt that takes, and how freely water flows to the rest of your home. A well-built valve, set up properly, is a big part of what makes a system run smoothly year after year.
The Reserve System uses a commercial-grade, microprocessor-controlled valve with settings on the front panel. That gives us room to set it up for your water and your household, instead of accepting one standard setting for every home. Here’s what it brings, in plain terms.
- Up to 27 gpm service flow.
What this means for you: water keeps flowing well when showers, the dishwasher and the washing machine run at the same time. - Adjustable regeneration, with a double-backwash option.
What this means for you: the cleaning cycle can be set for your water, with an extra rinse to help keep the media clean. It can run on metered use or a set schedule. - 20–125 psi operating range.
What this means for you: the valve is made to work across a wide range of household water pressures. - 8-hour battery backup.
What this means for you: a power outage won’t wipe your settings.
Each control valve is air- and water-tested at the factory before it’s built into your system. Once it’s installed, we program it for your home and show you the few settings you might ever need to look at.
Built for your home, not off a shelf
A standard system is sized for a typical home. The Reserve System starts with yours: how hard your water is, how many people live there, and how your plumbing is laid out.
What goes into your system
Because each Reserve System is built for one home, your quote lists exactly what’s in yours. Nothing is added just to fill out a spec sheet: every part is there because your water or your household needs it. Here’s what we look at when we put your system together.
- Tanks sized to your home. Matched to your household size and water use.
- Media. Chosen for your water.
- Bypass valve. So water can be routed around the system for service.
- Brine tank and salt. The softener uses salt to recharge, like any salt-based softener.
Built for the long haul
The Reserve System is for homeowners who plan to stay, and who would rather spend more up front on a system set up for their home. It’s also a good match for larger homes, or homes where daily water use is higher than usual.
We can’t promise any system will never need attention. What we can do is start with solid components, size them properly and set them up with care, which is what long, steady service depends on.
How it compares
Both VK Water systems are good options. Here’s the short version of how they differ.
| Whole House System | Reserve System | |
|---|---|---|
| How it’s built | Complete system, ready to install | Built to order for your home |
| Control valve | Digital metered | Commercial-grade, custom configured |
| Sizing | Homes with 4–6 bathrooms, up to 8 people | Tanks sized to your home |
| Installed price | from $5,000 installed | from $8,500 installed |
FAQ
Why does it cost more than the Whole House System?
The Reserve System is built to order around a commercial-grade control valve, with tanks, media and settings chosen for your home. The Whole House System is a complete system that suits most homes. Both are solid choices; the difference is the valve and the custom build.
What’s included in “from $8,500 installed”?
The system and its installation. Your quote lists every item before any work starts.
How much maintenance does it need?
You’ll add salt from time to time, and we’ll recommend periodic checks.
How long does a custom build take?
We’ll give you a date once your system is specified.
Let’s spec a system for your home
Tell us about your home and your water. We’ll recommend a configuration and give you a clear installed price. If the Whole House System turns out to be the better fit, we’ll tell you that too.