Softeners that use clack valves.

Clack Valve Systems: Clack WS‑series valves (WS1, WS1.25, WS2, etc.), which are popular control heads used in many water softeners. These define how regeneration is triggered, how long cycles are, and flow/backwash capacities.

Hague WaterMax: A whole‑home softener + filter combo with Hague’s proprietary three‑compartment design, “Smart Touch” controller, built‑in pre‑filtration, salt alerts, and claims of high efficiency (less salt, less water, etc.).

About Clack Valves - Key Comparisons

Feature	Hague WATERMAX Strengths	Clack Valve Strengths / Limitations
Salt & Water Efficiency	WaterMax uses up to 50% less salt in regeneration, and up to 80% less water than many conventional systems. These savings can add up over years in salt purchases, water bills, and wastewater discharge.	Clack valves are reliable and efficient, but the overall softener system performance depends heavily on how the rest of the system is built and programmed (resin size, tank size, system design). Clack offers excellent valve control, but doesn’t inherently bundle all the premium features like pre‑filtration, salt alerts, etc.
User Convenience & Monitoring	Hague includes features like audible salt alerts, built‑in dirt/sediment filter (self‑cleaning), Smart Touch controller, power‑loss protection. This reduces hassle (less guesswork, fewer manual checks).	Clack valves provide robust control, accurate regeneration triggers (metered, time, etc.), good diagnostics, but often users still need to monitor salt, check resin condition, etc. More manual effort unless paired with additional components.
Integrated Filtration	Hague’s three‑compartment design allows for filtration + softening in one system. So you get removal of tastes / odors / sediment and hardness. That means fewer separate devices and potentially less maintenance.	Clack is just the valve / control head (mostly). Filtration usually requires separate units or media; combining might mean more parts, more things to maintain.
Warranty & Support	Hague offers a 25‑year limited warranty on many components. For many homeowners, that translates to peace of mind and lower long‑term cost risk.	Clack valves have strong reputations, parts are fairly available, but the system warranty will depend on the softener manufacturer, resin, assembly, etc. The complete system may not have a single unified warranty covering all parts as Hague does.
Cleaning / Maintenance	Hague’s built‑in sediment filter (self cleaning) reduces needing to swap filters manually. Also salt alerts help avoid issues like low salt feeding or salt bridging. Regeneration is described as “fast, quiet, with as little water wasted as possible.”	With Clack, you get reliable regeneration, good valve hardware, etc., but maintenance depends on user diligence. Sediment filters and pre‑filters are often external and need regular attention unless using premium add‑ons.

To illustrate why Hague might be more cost‑effective over the long haul, here’s a simplified example using assumed numbers (yours will vary based on your water hardness, usage, etc.):

To illustrate why Hague might be more cost‑effective over the long haul, here’s a simplified example using assumed numbers (yours will vary based on your water hardness, usage, etc.):

Why Hague WaterMax is More Efficient than Systems with Clack Valves

Metric	Clack Setup (Typical)	Hague WATERMAX
Daily Household Water Use (softened water)	e.g. 300 gallons/day	300 gallons/day
Regeneration Frequency & Salt Use (Annual)	Suppose it regenerates relatively often because resin bed not optimized, salt usage maybe 12‑15 bags/year (approx)	With Hague’s claim of “up to 50% less salt”, maybe 6‑8 bags/year or less, depending on water hardness and system size
Annual Water Waste in Regeneration	If regeneration uses “typical volume” maybe thousands of gallons/year	With up to 80% water savings in regen, that waste is significantly less
Maintenance Costs (filter changes, alerts, servicing)	More frequent maintenance needed for separate filtration, checking salt manually, maybe more wear on resin if sediment load is high	Lower effort, fewer replacement parts (filter is self-cleaning), alerts help avoid problems before they get worse

Over 5‑10 years, the cumulative savings in salt, water, maintenance time + possibly energy (less scale causing losses, etc.) could make Hague's higher upfront cost pay off.

Conclusion: Why Hague WATERMAX Likely Wins for Most Homeowners

Putting it together, if you want a long‐term, low‑maintenance, efficient water softener + filter setup, the obvious choice is the Hague WATERMAX.

• Better overall efficiency (salt & water savings) → lower recurring costs.

• Integrated features for convenience (salt alerts, built‑in filtration, Smart controller) → less oversight needed.

• Strong warranty covering major components.

• Combination of softening + filtering in one unit → fewer devices, simpler plumbing.

Our goal is to always deliver the most durable and effective water treatment systems on the market, giving customers the softest, cleanest water every time. Dedicated to continued innovation in technology and service, Hague Quality Water International will have you feeling, tasting, and seeing the difference.