How does hard water affect me and my household?
True to its name, hard water can hit you - and your pocket - hard. It works against you in most indoor uses, such as bathing, washing dishes, and shaving. It can clog plumbing in appliances, cutting down on efficiency and hiking up energy and maintenance bills.

What is the difference between softening water and filtering water?
You don't have to be a hydrologist to understand the basic principles behind water filtration and water softening. Here's an abridged version of what happens when you filter or soften water.

Filtering water involves separating mineral particles, like manganese, iron, hydrogen sulfide or other organic matter, from pure H2O. By passing water through a "filter bed," or "media bed," these granular particles are trapped - and clean, purified water passes through the bed.

Softening water involves something called "ion exchange" to remove dissolved minerals - like calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese - that can't be trapped in a filter bed.Softeners use fresh resin beads with sodium attached to the resin. As water enters the tank, dissolved calcium and magnesium are attracted to the resin. The resin passes up the sodium in exchange for the dissolved chemicals and the water is then rid of these impurities.

Whether you use a filter or a softener depends on whether the contaminates in your water are particles or dissolved minerals. To find out what's ailing your water, contact us for a free water analysis.

Is treated water really good for my health?
Treated water that removes harmful contaminates is nothing but good for you and your body. One look at the health hazards associated with water contaminates tells you that treated water is the healthy choice. By removing lead, bacteria, cysts and organic chemicals, you minimize your risk for serious health problems - like cancer, anemia, kidney damage and high blood pressure.

Are water treatment products really cost-effective?
Whether you choose bottled water or a whole-house water treatment system, you'll soon realize how palatable pure water can be - especially on your wallet.

One 5-gallon bottle delivered to your home or office contains eighty 8-ounce servings, making it just a fraction of the cost of purchasing bottled water from a grocery store. And installing a softener or filter helps appliances run more efficiently and require less detergent. You'll see savings on your utility bills and appliance maintenance costs - especially for your water heater.

How will using treated water affect my household chores?
If you have hard water, the build-up in your sinks and bathtubs often takes time to scrub away, and you have to use even more detergent to remove build-up. Using treated water for everyday household chores will save you both time and money.

When you use treated water for washing dishes, cleaning or doing laundry, you avoid the many weekend hours spent fighting stains, discoloration and build-up deposited by the minerals in hard water. And you also save money from detergents that can now be used more sparingly.

How can I find out what contaminates are in my water?
There can be a number of discernable indications pointing to what's contaminating your water. To help you deduce your water problems please contact us for a free water analysis.

Why does my water taste or smell odd?
If drinking a glass of water from the faucet in your home leaves you crying 'foul' - be assured, your water problem is treatable. Sour, bitter or even salty water often comes from large quantities of dissolved minerals in your water source. To treat the problem, check out a water softener or deionization system.

When your water has a funny odor, first try to determine if the source is inside or outside of the house. If it's inside, the culprit may actually be your water heater. If it's outside the house, organic deposits and mineral may be leaking into your water supply. A good solution may be a filtration system. With both taste or odor problems, we can give your water a thorough analysis and product recommendation - free of charge.

What do the colored stains on my sink and bathtub indicate about my water?
Discoloration or unsightly stains are often the first thing you notice in problem water. Red or red-brown stains are caused iron and can be treated, depending on the type of iron, with a water filtration or softening system. Blue and blue-green stains are caused by copper, which typically gets in the water supply through corroded plumbing. While a filtration system can remove the copper, you should also consider consulting a plumbing expert.

How do I know which product is right for me?
Having your water tested will help you determine your exact needs, even though you may already know you have one or more water problems. In determining your needs, a water expert will look at a number of things. For example, the hardness level of the water and the size of your family will influence the size or type of equipment necessary for remedying your water problems. Contact us for a free no-risk water analysis.

What should I look for in purchasing a water treatment product?
Here are some helpful considerations you may want to take into account before purchasing water treatment systems.

How much bottled water should I order?
Although water intake varies from family to family, a standard amount of bottled water for a household of four will typically range from four to six 5-gallon bottles of delivered water. Depending upon your level of activity, this monthly amount could be as high as twelve 5-gallon bottles. Please contact our office for a representative to help you gauge your bottled water needs depending upon your household size and activity levels.

What are the steps to take in preparing for an emergency?
In a disaster such as a large earthquake, water systems will most likely suffer damage and safe water will not be available. Store a two weeks supply of water for each family member (2 gallons per person per day), to cover drinking, first aid, and cooking needs. Include water provisions for pets. Learn how to shut off the water supply to your house or business.

What is the best way to store tap water?
Tap water should be stored in plastic containers, preferably heavy opaque plastic with tight fitting, screw-on caps. Mark the date on the containers when stored and place in a dark location. Use the water within one year and replace. A small amount of household bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite), 8 drops per gallon, will prevent bacterial growth. Purchased bottled water can be stored as purchased for several years.

What are other water resources during an emergency?
Your household water heater tank can supply 30-60 gallons for an emergency supply. When not under pressure (the main valve to the house is shut off) the tank may have to be vented by opening the hot water faucet or disconnecting the hot water line at the top of the heater. Turn off the gas or electricity to the tank before draining off water for emergency use. Melted ice cubes, toilet reservoir tanks (without disinfectants), and juices from canned food may also be used.