Its simple. Hardness in water is a measure of the dissolved minerals in the water specifically referring to calcium compounds (from limestone) (and to a lesser extent magnesium compounds (from chalk-based rocks) )

Salt-based water softeners work via a simple, explainable, scientifically-valid, provable, testable mechanism known as ion exchange where the calcium ions in the water are replaced by sodium ions (or potassium ions) You can test the water going into the softener and the water coming out of the softener and prove that the water is "Softened" (ie. made to have a lower concentration of dissolved calcium) by the water softener.

For the so-called salt-free water softeners, a similar test of the water going in and the water coming out will show the same concentration of dissolved calcium. Therefore whatever their claims, and whatever their devices are doing, by the very definition of "softening water" they are not "softening water". The proponents, users and purveyors of such systems will doubtless counter that their particular non-salt device "conditions" the water and offer anecdotes of satisfaction, and long-winded scientific-sounding explanations of what their device is doing and how that changes the nature of the water to lessen scaling or to make the water "seem" softer.

I am unaware of even a single one of the non-salt water softeners that can be demonstrated to do anything in a rigorous, repeatable, independent scientific test.

Thanks bob_cville. Can you tell me where I can view these independent tests.

I cannot. The point I was trying to make in the last paragraph is that IF such independent scientific tests existed demonstrating that one of the non-salt water softeners did actually soften water, the companies that sell them would be sure to make those independent test results readily available -- everywhere. You would have no trouble finding the test results. However since that is not the case, I conclude that no such tests exist.

Admittedly it is usually faulty reasoning to assume that since you haven't seen evidence that something does exist as proof that that something doesn't exist. However in the case where someone would have a significant financial incentive to disseminate the positive evidence widely, I feel that the usually-faulty-reasoning is justifiable.

I see your point bob_cville. But I agree that they are not softening water technically and they do admit that there is just as much calcium coming out of their device as went in. They do claim it alters the chemical bond in some way that it will not scale and not interfere with washing as salt softened water does. Do you feel that the non salt "treatment/conditioning" (I will no longer call it softened) can do the job as well as softened water through the salt exchange? Again I truly appreciate your help.

You should start by searching this forum for salt free softeners and reading some of the 19.627 sale free softener discussions you'll find.

The long and short of it is that no salt free water conditioner has been found to reduce the effects of hardness to any measurable degree proven by any independent testing. From my research the ability of a salt free conditioner to effect the water in any degree diminishes dramatically as hardness increases above 5 gpg.

The pros of a correctly sized softener set up to operate efficiently are longer service life of your plumbing, fixtures, and appliances along with less maintenance of that hardware and clothes lasting longer and using dramatically less soap and detergent.

The cons of a correctly sized quality softener set up to operate efficiently are that you'll need to check the salt level in the brine tank once a week or so and replace the resin every 10 or 15 or 20 years..

With 27gpg along with a softener you should consider a reverse osmosis unit installed under the kitchen sink for drinking, cooking, and ice making water. If you install an RO on 27gpg water the membrane will fail in short order and repeatedly and that costs $$$.

In your circumstances there's no
real option other than an ion exchange water softener to mitigate the
hardness.

In order to assist you further we need to know measured hardness at your home, pH, TDS, iron, manganese, nitrates, and bacteria at a minimum and # of people in the home, # of bathrooms, diameter of the plumbing at the softener location, and the SFR (service flow rate) of the plumbing.