What is the difference between a Water Softener and a Water Refiner?

A water softener is a one stage filtering system and will only soften your water. The water softener only removes contaminants that make the water hard. A water refiner can have many stages of filtration and will remove contaminants that make the water hard but also contaminants like: chlorine, chlorine by-products, chloriamines, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and organic compounds.