$Welcome to Softenergeeks! We have been manufacturing water softeners in the UK for over 30 years. We have sold many water softeners on Ebay please take a look at our feedback. We have seen products come and go over time and believe we know what to look for in a quality product. For a start you need a softener that contains at least 10 ltrs of softening resin, this is the substance that softens the water, so the more you have the more you can soften. Next you need a machine with 3/4" connections, modern plumbing systems require this to give good flow and if you are replacing an old machine it will almost certainly have these connections. You need a softener that will fit comfortably in a kitchen cupboard and one that will store plenty of salt inside so you don`t have to fill it up too often.