3 Signs Your Home Needs A Water Treatment System
Water treatment systems are a surprisingly complex topic, and a one-size-fits-all approach will rarely work for any specific home. Contrary to popular belief, water treatment systems aren't necessarily about making water more "pure." Instead, each system attempts to address specific quality issues, some of which may be purely aesthetic.
This complexity means that deciding whether to install a water treatment system in your home is not always easy. The best option is to work with a professional installer and test your water for potential contaminants. Still, you can use these three signs as indications that it might be time to take this step and look more seriously into water treatment options for your house.
1. Noticeable Discoloration
Severe discoloration in your water is typically a sign of a major plumbing problem, an issue with your city's municipal water supply, or a failure in your home's well system. However, minor discoloration sometimes results from harmless but annoying problems in the water supply. A whole-home filtration system may be a good option if you've ruled out other plumbing or supply-related issues.
Before selecting a water treatment system for your home, work with a professional to perform a water test and determine the underlying cause of the discoloration. In many cases, discoloration or cloudiness will result from excess particulates or metal content in the water, which may be solvable with a whole-home filtration system.
2. Excessive Sediment
Sediment is rarely a concern for municipal water supplies, but it may be a concern if your home uses a private well system. The sudden appearance of large amounts of sediment in your well water may mean an issue with your pump or water levels in the well. However, some well systems may produce small amounts of sediment even if nothing is wrong.
As long as routine water tests on your well do not show harmful contaminants, sediment is likely a purely cosmetic or taste issue. The good news is that it's not a problem that you need to live with. Whole-house sediment filters are typically a good option for homes with well water. If you have severe sedimentation issues, a backwashing (or self-cleaning) filter may be a less maintenance-intensive option.
3. Hard Water Stains
Hard water refers to water with high mineral content. Mineral content in water typically isn't dangerous, and hard water may have some benefits. Unfortunately, hard water can also cause many annoying problems. In addition to staining fixtures, drying skin, and fading clothes, severe hard water issues can clog your pipes or damage appliances.
Unlike other water treatment issues, a filter will not fix hard water. Instead, you will need a water-softening system to reduce your water's mineral content. If you have other water quality issues, such as discoloration, odors, or sediment, you may need an additional filtration system to resolve these problems.