Choosing The Right Water Treatment System

You’ve had enough of itchy skin, scrubbing your tub for twenty minutes trying desperately to get rid of the filmy reside and feeling a weak dribble of water fall from your showerhead because it’s clogged with some white clumpy stuff. It’s time to buy a water softener.

 

Which one is right for your home and where are you supposed to find it? Answering these five questions will help you navigate these uncharted, and untreated, waters.

 

1. What type of water is running through your home?

Your home receives its water supply from either a private well system or public city water system. Fortunately, most water treatment systems purchased through do-it-yourself stores and water treatment dealers work on both city and well water supplies.

 

2. What is the hardness level of your home’s water supply?

Chances are, if you are looking for a water treatment system it’s because you’re fed up with the effects of hard water. Hard water is the result of water absorbing calcium and magnesium from limestone, chalk or marble deposits and is very common in city and well water supplies.

 

Water treatment systems purchased through do-it-yourself stores and water treatment dealers combat hard water problems. To find out how hard your home’s water supply is a hardness test needs to be done. Do-it-yourself water hardness test kits are available for you to perform the test. These test kits provide a “ballpark” hardness range of your water supply. Or, you can request to have a water treatment dealer come to your home, take a sample of your water and test it for hardness and other contaminants. This type of test is more exact and often times free. Both methods are excellent ways to find out the exact harness of your home’s water supply. Water treatment systems purchased through do-it-yourself stores and water treatment dealers are capable of effectively treating a wide range of hardness levels.

 

3. Does my home’s water supply have any other problems?

It not just hardness affecting your water supply. Some water supplies are also plagued with iron, low or high pH, sulfur and chlorine issues which cause issues including; rust-colored staining on baths and sinks, pitting in plumbing pipes and fixtures and offensive tastes and odors.

 

Reading product packaging and literature in do-it-yourself stores and talking to store personnel are good ways to determine if a retail water treatment system can effectively treat any, or all, of the above water problems. In some problem water cases, it may not be possible to find a do-it-yourself unit to treat more complex water problems. Water treatment dealers will provide customers with a thorough water analysis comprised of all your home’s water issues. Depending upon the water conditions, a dealer may suggest multiple pieces of equipment or one customized water treatment system to treat all your home’s water problems. Customized water treatment systems, such as the Hague WaterMax®, have a multi-compartment media tank that can be customized to fit each individual home’s water treatment needs. Specific media combinations are added to correct various water problems in one unit.

 

4.  Am I a “do-it-yourselfer”?

Installing a water treatment system involves cutting into water lines and being somewhat savvy with the items in a tool box. In all reality, it’s not a job that will be done in thirty minutes. So if you are hesitant to change a light bulb, installing a water treatment system is not for you. However, it’s not an impossible task and can be successfully completed by those up for the challenge.

 

Thankfully, many do-it-yourself stores offer installation services through an outside contractor allowing you to purchase at a retail level and then pay an additional fee for someone to install the unit in your home. Water treatment dealers also provide professional installation services. Many dealers also establish routine service/maintenance contracts to ensure your water treatment system is functioning properly.

 

5.  How much time do I have to maintain my water treatment system?

Many do-it-yourself water treatment systems have a smaller salt capacity than larger units purchased through water dealers due to shear product size alone. Obviously, the more salt capacity a water treatment system has, less time will be spent filling it with salt/regenerant. Also, several water treatment systems purchased at a retail and dealer level require regular replacement of filters within the system. Replacing these filters can be costly, cumbersome and messy.

 

Fortunately, the Hague WaterMax® water treatment system, available for purchase through water dealers, is equipped with in-line filters that do not need to be changed. Warranties and service agreements should also be considered. In most cases, both types of products have warranties. However, the benefits of a service agreement and regularly scheduled maintenance are only available to customers who purchase a water treatment system through a dealer.

 

 Now that you’ve answered these questions, you’re well on your way to choosing the right water treatment system for your home.