Water education
Common water questions, plainly answered.
These are the questions we hear most often. If yours is not here, call or email and we will do our best to answer it without selling you something.
Figuring out what is wrong
My water smells like rotten eggs. What is that?
That smell is almost always hydrogen sulfide, common on Florida wells. It can be treated with an air-injection (sulfur pocket) system that oxidizes the sulfur so it drops out before the water reaches the house. If the smell is only at hot-water taps, the culprit may be the water heater anode rod instead. Worth checking before you install a whole system.
Why does my water leave white spots on everything?
Usually hard water. Calcium and magnesium in the water dry into the white scale you see on glassware, shower doors, and faucets. A softener removes those minerals. If a softener is already installed and you are still seeing spots, it may be out of salt, bypassed, or not regenerating properly.
Why are there rust-colored stains in my toilet and tubs?
Iron in the water. Softeners can handle low iron levels, but anything above that really needs an iron-specific treatment (commonly an air-injection or oxidizing filter). If you already have a system and the stains are back, call for service before the staining gets set in.
My pump keeps turning on and off. Is that bad?
Yes. Short-cycling wears out pumps fast. The usual cause is a waterlogged pressure tank (the bladder has failed). Sometimes the pressure switch is bad, or the system has lost its air charge. None of these are expensive fixes on their own, but ignoring them is.
Equipment basics
Do I need a softener, or reverse osmosis, or both?
They do different things. A softener removes hardness minerals (calcium, magnesium). RO removes a much wider range of dissolved solids and contaminants. Some homes need only a softener. Some need RO for drinking water and a softener for everything else. A water test tells you what is actually in the water, which tells you what equipment fits.
Do I really need my water tested?
If you are about to spend money on treatment, yes. Guessing at what is in the water is a good way to buy the wrong system. A basic test covers hardness, iron, pH, and TDS. More detailed tests exist if you have specific concerns.
How long do these systems last?
It depends on water quality and how well the system is maintained. Softeners commonly run 10 to 15 years. RO membranes last several years with proper pre-filtering. Pressure tanks vary widely. Well pumps can last a decade or more if the tank and switch are healthy and the pump is not short-cycling.
How much maintenance is this stuff?
Softeners need salt added on a schedule that depends on how hard your water is and how much water you use. RO systems need pre-filters changed periodically and the membrane swapped every few years. Sulfur systems need a periodic air draw check. None of it is complicated, but none of it is zero-touch.
Working with us
Do you service equipment you did not install?
Yes. Tell us the make and model if you know it. We will tell you on the phone whether we can get parts.
Do you give quotes?
Yes. We quote before we start. If the job turns up something unexpected, you hear about it before we do the work.
What if I just need advice?
Call. If we can answer it on the phone without a visit, we will.