Water Softeners & Filtration: Same Day Service

Signs You Could Use Water Treatment

Most signs that you need water treatment are cosmetic at first: white scale on faucets, spotty dishes, soap that won't lather. Over time, the same minerals shorten the life of water heaters and appliances, which is where the real cost shows up. For more on scale and its effects, see hard water problems.

• White scale on faucets and shower heads
• Spots on dishes and glassware
• Soap and shampoo that don't lather well
• Chlorine taste or smell
• Sediment or discoloration in the water
• Well water that sputters or loses pressure

How to Find Your Water's Hardness in the Utility Report

Every community water system publishes an annual water quality report, also called a Consumer Confidence Report, usually on the utility's website. Hardness is often listed with secondary or unregulated results rather than with health-based standards.

• Hardness in mg/L and ppm (as calcium carbonate) is the same number.
• Divide mg/L by 17.1 to get grains per gallon, the unit softeners are sized in.
• Under about 60 mg/L is generally soft; above about 120 mg/L is hard.
• If your utility blends sources, hardness may vary by neighborhood or season, so look for a range rather than a single number.

On a private well there's no utility report, so a test is the only way to know. A plumber can test hardness before recommending a water softener.

When a Water Treatment Problem Needs Fast Service

Water treatment problems are rarely urgent. The exceptions are a leaking softener or filter you can't stop with the bypass valve, and a well pump failure that leaves the house without water.

• A softener or filter housing is leaking and you can't stop it with the bypass valve.
• A well pump has stopped and the house has no water.
• Water suddenly changes color, smell or taste and your utility hasn't issued a notice.

How a Water Treatment System Is Chosen and Installed

Choosing a system starts with knowing what's in your water. A hardness test, or your utility's water quality report, tells the plumber how big a softener you need or whether you need one at all.

1. Test the water for hardness, iron, pH and chlorine. Private wells should also be lab-tested for bacteria and nitrates.
2. Choose and size the system based on the test results and household water use.
3. Install the system with a bypass valve and a proper drain connection.
4. Set up regeneration or the filter schedule.
5. Check the water after installation to confirm the system is working.

Softeners, Conditioners and Filters

Salt-based water softener

Uses ion exchange to remove hardness minerals. The most effective option for hard water.

Salt-free conditioner

Reduces scale buildup without removing the minerals. Uses no salt and needs no drain.

Whole-house filtration

Reduces chlorine, sediment and taste or odor problems at every tap.

Reverse osmosis

A point-of-use system, usually under the kitchen sink, for drinking water.

What Affects the Cost of a Water Softener or Filter

Cost depends on the type of system, its size and what plumbing changes are needed at the installation spot. Salt and filters are ongoing costs to factor in too.

• System type: salt-based softener, salt-free conditioner, whole-house filter or under-sink reverse osmosis.
• Size, which depends on your hardness level and household water use.
• Plumbing changes at the installation spot, including a bypass valve, drain line and power outlet.
• Testing, especially for private wells.
• Ongoing costs such as salt and replacement filters.

Do You Need a Softener? It Depends on Your City

Whether a softener is worth it depends almost entirely on your local water. Utilities in Indianapolis (about 19 grains per gallon on average), Las Vegas (16 to 17) and San Antonio (15 to 20) report very hard water, and many homes there use softeners. Boston's MWRA water is about 1 grain per gallon and Portland's Bull Run water about half a grain, so softeners usually aren't needed. Columbus softens its water at the treatment plant to about 7 grains per gallon. Check your utility's water quality report before buying a system.

Local plumbing details: Indianapolis, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Boston, Portland, Columbus

Water Hardness by City

What our city pages say about water hardness:

• El Monte, CA: Very hard, averaging about 266 mg/L (about 15.5 grains per gallon) on city water.
• South Bend, IN: Very hard, averaging about 22 grains per gallon.
• St. Joseph, MO: Very hard, about 222 ppm (about 13 grains per gallon).
• Plymouth, MN: Very hard, about 24 grains per gallon.
• Deltona, FL: Very hard, 12 to 17 grains per gallon depending on the well.
• Sunrise Manor, NV: Very hard; the Las Vegas Valley Water District reports about 16 to 17 grains per gallon (280 to 291 ppm).
• Canton, OH: Very hard, 21 to 29 grains per gallon depending on the plant.
• Scottsdale, AZ: Very hard, 16 to 25 grains per gallon depending on the part of the city.

What to Find Out Before Choosing a System

Your utility's annual water quality report usually lists hardness, which gives you a starting number before anyone tests.

• Your water's hardness. Check your utility's annual water quality report or test it.
• How many people live in the home.
• Where the main water line enters the house, and whether there's a drain and outlet nearby.

Maintaining a Softener or Filter

Softeners and filters need light ongoing care: keeping salt in the brine tank and changing filters on schedule.

• Check the salt level in the brine tank monthly.
• Replace filters on the manufacturer's schedule.
• Retest the water if you notice scale returning.

Types of Water Treatment Service

• Water Softener Installation
• Well Pump Repair

Prevention Tips

• Keep salt in the softener's brine tank and clean it out periodically.
• Replace filters on the manufacturer's schedule.
• Test private well water at least once a year.
• Have well pumps and pressure tanks checked if pressure starts to change.

Water Treatment Questions Homeowners Ask