In most homes, the water softener goes first, and the filter comes after. Think of the softener as the bouncer at the club, and the filter as the VIP bartender inside. The bouncer (softener) kicks out the rowdy minerals—calcium and magnesium that cause hard water—so the bartender (filter) can serve you the cleanest, tastiest drink without getting clogged up.
If you flip the order, your filter gets clogged in weeks, not months. That’s like asking your bartender to wrestle a gorilla before they pour your lemonade. Not fun.
