The Kenmore 350 (model 625.383500) is certified by NSF International to NSF/ANSI 44 for hardness reduction and salt efficiency. It’s a one-piece, demand-regenerating softener rated at 32,100 grains and 7.2 gallons a minute, sized for 1 to 4 people.
The catch: Its flow suits a smaller home, and some owners report the control failing within a year or two.
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Is the Kenmore 350 a good water softener?
Yes, for a smaller home. NSF International certifies the Kenmore 350 to NSF/ANSI 44, the standard for residential ion-exchange softeners, for hardness reduction and as efficiency rated. That means its capacity was verified, and it removes at least 3,350 grains of hardness per pound of salt while using no more than 5 gallons of water per 1,000 grains. Kenmore rates it at 5,040 grains per pound, higher than the 4,423 Aquasana gives for the SimplySoft we also review.
It’s a true softener. Resin swaps the calcium and magnesium in your water for sodium, so scale stops forming on fixtures, glass, shower doors and inside the water heater. It regenerates on demand: the control tracks the water you use and recharges only when it needs to, with a salt-level display and a low-salt light. The resin tank and the salt tank sit in one cabinet, so it takes little floor space.
Two things hold it back. Its rated flow is 7.2 gallons a minute, which suits 1 to 4 people; a bigger household running two showers and a washer at once is better served by a higher-flow softener. And while most owners are happy, a noticeable share of low ratings describe units that stopped working within a year or two.
You have hard city or well water, a household of 1 to 4 people, and want low salt use from a certified softener.
You have a large household or several bathrooms in use at once, or your area restricts salt-discharge softeners.
How it scored
For softeners, treatment performance takes the place of contaminant reduction and carries the most weight in the overall score. How we checked · How we score
What does it remove?
Hardness, and that’s its certified job. It isn’t a filter for chlorine, lead or PFAS.
| What you want | Kenmore 350 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (calcium, magnesium) | Certified | NSF International, NSF/ANSI 44 |
| Salt efficiency | Certified | Efficiency rated; Kenmore rates it at 5,040 grains per pound at the 2.5 lb setting |
| Clear-water iron | Up to 8 ppm | Kenmore’s limit, not a certified claim |
| Barium, radium | No claim | Some certified softeners carry these; this one doesn’t |
| Chlorine, lead, PFAS | No | Not a filter |
| Bacteria, viruses | No | Not for unsafe water |
Source: NSF International’s NSF/ANSI 44 listing (Water Channel Partners, Kenmore 625.383500) and Kenmore’s owner’s manual. See our hard water guide and iron guide.
How much salt does it use?
About 3 pounds per 1,000 gallons at 15 grains per gallon (gpg). At its rated setting it removes 5,040 grains of hardness per pound of salt, so your salt use depends on how hard your water is and how much you use. The table assumes the home softens 60,000 gallons a year, about 165 gallons a day.
| Your hardness | Salt per 1,000 gallons | Salt per year | 40 lb bags a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 gpg | 2.0 lb | About 119 lb | About 3 |
| 15 gpg | 3.0 lb | About 179 lb | About 4.5 |
| 20 gpg | 4.0 lb | About 238 lb | About 6 |
Our calculation from Kenmore’s rated 5,040 grains per pound, which Kenmore says is valid only at the minimum 2.5 lb salt dose; the control picks the dose at each regeneration, so real use can be higher. To convert mg/L of hardness to gpg, divide by 17.1.
Each regeneration uses about 1.7 gallons of water per 1,000 grains at the minimum salt dose, and 32.4 gallons at the maximum. Beyond salt, there’s no set maintenance: Kenmore says to clean the resin with a resin cleaner if iron shows up in the soft water, and to clean the nozzle and venturi if it plugs.
Pros and cons
What we liked
- Certified to NSF/ANSI 44 by NSF International
- Efficiency rated: 5,040 grains per pound (Kenmore)
- Bypass valve and installation kit in the box
- Up to 90 gpg hardness and 8 ppm clear-water iron
- 10-year warranty on the tanks
What to know
- 7.2 gpm suits smaller homes, 1 to 4 people
- Some owners report failures within a year or two
- Manual is online, through a QR code
- Needs a drain, an outlet and cold-water plumbing
- Adds sodium to softened water
What owners say
Most owners say it was easy to install and softens well. The low ratings are mostly about units failing early or parts missing on arrival.
Often praised
- Straightforward install, often as a swap for an old Kenmore
- Soft water right away, with low salt use
- Quiet regeneration and a compact cabinet
Common complaints
- Control or motor failing within a year or two
- Missing or damaged parts on delivery
- No printed manual; it’s online through a QR code
Recurring themes across verified buyer reviews.
Specifications
- Model
- Kenmore 350, 625.383500 (model code 350P)
- Type
- Salt-based ion-exchange softener, one-piece cabinet
- Sized for
- 1 to 4 people (Kenmore)
- Capacity
- 12,600 grains at 2.5 lb salt; 26,900 at 7.9 lb; 32,100 at 13.3 lb
- Flow rate
- 7.2 gpm rated, 15 psi pressure drop
- Resin
- 0.83 cubic feet
- Water limits
- Up to 90 gpg hardness, 8 ppm clear-water iron
- Operating range
- 40 to 120°F; 20 to 125 psi
- Size
- 48 inches tall, 15 x 20.5 inch footprint
- In the box
- Softener, bypass valve, installation kit
- Power
- 24 V plug-in supply, standard outlet
- Certification
- NSF International: NSF/ANSI 44. Kenmore also lists NSF/ANSI/CAN 372, and CSA B483.1 by WQA
- Warranty
- 1 year parts and labor, 3 years control board, 10 years tanks
Alternatives worth considering
Aquasana SimplySoft
AquaTru Carafe
Common questions
Who makes the Kenmore 350 water softener?
NSF International lists it under Water Channel Partners, the same listee as Whirlpool, Morton, Rheem and Ecopure softeners. The certification covers model 625.383500, which is the Kenmore 350.
Is the Kenmore 350 big enough for my home?
Kenmore sizes it for 1 to 4 people, and its rated flow is 7.2 gallons a minute. For more people or several bathrooms in use at once, look at a higher-flow softener such as the Aquasana SimplySoft, rated at 11 gallons a minute.
Can I install it myself?
Yes, if you’re comfortable working on your main water line. The bypass valve and an installation kit come in the box; you need a drain for the regeneration water and a standard outlet. Check your local plumbing code, since some areas require a licensed plumber.
Does softened water add sodium?
Yes. A sodium-based softener raises the sodium content of the water, and water for drinking or cooking doesn’t necessarily need to be softened, according to Virginia Tech’s household water quality program. If you’re watching sodium, drink from a reverse osmosis tap. See our sodium guide.
Can I use it on well water?
Yes, if the well water is safe to drink. Kenmore rates it for up to 8 ppm of clear-water iron and 90 gpg of hardness. Test the well first, and treat bacteria, sulfur or high iron separately. See our well water guide.
The bottom line
The Kenmore 350 is a certified, unusually salt-efficient softener at a lower price than most, with the bypass valve and install kit included. It’s the better fit for 1 to 4 people; bigger households should look at a higher-flow softener.
For the other ways to deal with hard water, see our best water filter for hard water guide.
- Certifier listings: NSF International, NSF/ANSI 44, Water Channel Partners: Kenmore 625.383500, 7.2 gpm, hardness reduction and efficiency rated.
- Also searched: IAPMO R&T (residential cation exchange softeners): no Kenmore listing. WQA (Kenmore): CSA B483.1 only.
- Maker documents: Kenmore 625.383500 owner's manual and Kenmore 350, 420 and Elite 520 installation guide.
- Independent lab tests: None used.
Sources
- NSF International NSF/ANSI 44 listings: Water Channel Partners, Kenmore 625.383500 (checked 13 Oct 2026)
- Kenmore 625.383500 owner’s manual
- Kenmore 350, 420 and Elite 520 installation guide
- Virginia Tech, Virginia Household Water Quality Program: Hardness in household water (442-664)
- IAPMO R&T product listing directory (no Kenmore softener listing, 13 Oct 2026)
Prices as of October 14, 2026. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.