Water goes through a treatment process before it reaches your home, if you get it from the municipal supply. This includes steps like chlorination to help sterilize the water, which, to some people, means you can trust the water right from the tap. Others, wary of drinking water that comes from the city’s pipes, use filtered pitchers, sink filters, or refrigerator filters to get clean water.
Another option that’s gaining popularity is the use of a whole-house water treatment system. Today, find out if this is the right choice for your home, and why you might decide to have all of the water in your home treated by a professionally installed system.
Signs Your Water Quality Is Suffering
Poor water quality may be quite obvious or the signs might be subtle. You should keep in mind that rusty flakes in the water are likely a sign of problems within your pipes rather than problems with the water coming into your home. Look for these signs when you want to know if water treatment is urgent.
- Foul odors
- Poor taste
- Discoloration
- Visible impurities
Unfortunately, poor water quality won’t always be obvious. Bacteria and other problems won’t necessarily change the taste or smell of your water.
When to Schedule Water Testing
If you’ve never scheduled water testing during the course of your homeownership, we strongly recommend it. Without water testing, you simply cannot know if the water you drink is safe. And it’s not just about your drinking water. Even if you use a filtered pitcher or sink filter, the quality of the water you use for showering and brushing your teeth should also be clean. Besides, poor water quality could affect your pipes, not just your health.
Why You Might Need a Water Softener
A water softener is one whole-house water treatment system that isn’t installed for your health. If you have hard water, you might notice these symptoms.
- White or yellowish buildup around faucets and drains
- Water spots on dishes
- Soapy residue in laundry or in the tub
- Soap does not lather properly
- Hair feels rough or sticky
The major problem with hard water isn’t how it feels on your hair and skin, although some people find it noticeable and a nuisance. The issue is that the same buildup around your faucet and drains builds up in the pipes, reducing volume and requiring premature replacement.
Why You Might Need a Water Purifier
If it’s your health and wellbeing that worries you most, or if water testing reveals that your water contains impurities, you’ll want a different kind of solution. You can install a water filtration system, but keep in mind that the filter will need changing from time to time.
UV water purifiers kills off germs like bacteria as they pass through the pipes, making your water safer to drink. And a reverse osmosis system is the most effective system there is, using a thin membrane to filter out nearly everything but pure water. Which system you end up choosing is between you and your plumber.
Continental Plumbing Services, LLC installs and services water treatment systems in New Port Richey, FL. Contact us to work with a professional plumber to improve your water quality.