419.719.0652

419.719.0652

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7300 State Route 108 Wauseon, OH 43567

How Do I Know if I Need to Replace My Older Water Softener?

How Do I Know if I Need to Replace My Older Water Softener?

by | October 3, 2023 | Blog, Water Softener

Much like that trusty old stove that’s been a part of your kitchen for nearly two decades, your water softener may also be reaching the end of its lifespan. It’s a question many homeowners ponder: when is the right time to replace an older water softener? Let’s explore the signs that indicate it might be time for an upgrade and the benefits of newer water softener models.

The Advantages of New Water Softeners

Newer water softener models come with a host of advantages that make them an appealing option for homeowners. Some of these benefits include:

Meter-Initiated Control Valves: Unlike older timer-style valves or newer water softeners have meter-initiated control valves. These units regenerate based on the actual amount of water used instead of a timer like the older models. This makes them highly efficient in terms of salt, power, and water consumption.

Digital Controls: Newer water softeners often feature digital controls, which provide more precise and user-friendly settings for your softening needs.

Signs Your Water Softener is Not Working Properly

Before rushing to replace your water softener, it is highly recommended to have a water treatment service professional test your water and inspect your unit to make sure it is working properly.
Here are some common signs that indicate that it might not be working properly:

Staining and Deposits: If you notice staining in your sinks or toilets or white deposits on faucets and fixtures, your water softener might not be doing its job effectively.

Decreased Water Quality: Softened water should leave your hair feeling silky smooth and ensure that soaps lather easily. If you’re experiencing a decline in water quality, your softener might be the culprit.

Unusual Salt Usage: A sudden increase or decrease in salt usage could indicate a problem with your water softener. It’s worth having a service technician inspect it in such cases.

Outdated Settings: Many older water softeners have fixed settings that may no longer be appropriate for your current household size. To help optimize efficiency, a technician can adjust the control valve settings.

Factors Affecting the Lifespan of Water Softeners

The lifespan of a water softener can vary based on several factors:

Water Quality: The hardness and overall quality of your water supply can impact the longevity of your softener. More challenging water quality may require more frequent maintenance and reduce the unit’s lifespan.

Household Size: The number of people living in your home affects the unit’s workload. Adjusting settings as your household changes can help extend the softener’s life as well as make it more efficient

Maintenance: Regular preventative maintenance can significantly impact the lifespan of your water softener. Neglecting this on-going maintenance can lead to premature failure.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to when you should replace your older water softener, it’s essential to assess its performance, consider the advantages of newer models, and factor in the variables that affect its lifespan. Aquatek Water Conditioning recommends having your water tested and unit inspected to make an informed decision. Whether you choose to upgrade now or in the near future, being proactive about your water softener’s condition ensures you continue to enjoy the benefits of softened water while managing your budget effectively.

Building a House? Don’t Forget About Water Treatment

Building a House? Don’t Forget About Water Treatment

by | March 11, 2022 | Blog, Buying or Building a New Home

Water Treatment Tips, Tricks and Suggestions to Consider When Building a New House

One thing is certain, when building a new home you will need to have a solid water source. Knowing the water situation on the front end will help you budget appropriately for water treatment equipment and effectively plan for a smooth transition into your new space–saving you time, money and headaches in the future.

Here are a few tips, questions and suggestions that can help make sure that you have everything planned for your water needs prior to your build.

What Will Your Water Source Be?

The most common water sources used in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan are wells, ponds, and municipal (city) water. Each come with their own benefits and challenges. Your water source and water quality will determine what type of water treatment equipment will be needed.  

A few questions to ask your builder and/or well driller…

  • What is their process for helping the homeowner determine a water source?
  • What are the known water issues in this area?
  • What are the neighbors using?
  • What are the depths of the wells in the area and what are the flow rates?
  • Is this a known area where there are low yield wells, no water, or high sulfur content?
  • Are the contractors local and do they know the area?

The answers to these questions will help homeowners make an educated decision with their builder on how to move forward with their water source. Once that is determined, you will have a better understanding of what type of water treatment equipment might be needed for the home.

More food for thought…

Wells
In some parts of our service area, water is naturally flowing, and plentiful. In other areas, there is simply no water to be found. If drilling a well, you’ll need to make sure water is in that area. The type of water your well produces will determine what type of water treatment is necessary for your home.

If you plan on drilling a well, ask your well driller, neighbors, and/or local water treatment professionals what to expect from the water in the location you will be building.

Once your well is drilled, seek out your local water treatment professional. They will test your water and provide you with recommendations on what type of water treatment equipment is best suited for the quality of the water and provide you with a quote for your budget.

Check out common water quality and quantity issues in Northwest Ohio and Southeastern Michigan in this blog:
What’s in Your Water

Ponds
Many homeowners in our area rely on their pond as their primary water source. This is a great option for those who have no water on their property or have un-treatable or high-maintenance water situations. Pond water treatment systems can be a safe and viable solution. These systems must be installed by water treatment professionals that are certified through the Ohio Department of Health.

If you are digging a pond and plan on using this as your primary water source, appropriate permits will need to be applied for and obtained prior to installation of the system. Approved contractors for digging ponds and installing water treatment equipment can be found on the Ohio Department of Health Website.

It is important to work with your builder, plumbers, electricians and water treatment professionals to make sure that appropriate space and proper hookups are planned to prevent installation delays and additional added costs.

“What You Need to Know About Pond Water Treatment Systems”

Municipal (City) Water
According to the Water Quality Association, approximately 85% of the U.S. population receives water from community water systems. These systems are required to meet standards set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

If you have city water, ask your neighbors how they treat their water. Many homeowners using city water have water softeners, carbon filters and reverse osmosis systems installed to improve the quality and/or taste of their water.

Budget for Water Treatment Equipment

The cost to treat water will vary based on the water quality as well as the homeowners wants and needs. Working with your local water treatment professional and having them involved in the process can help with identifying approximate cost and maintenance of the equipment.

There are instances in which water treatment equipment will be required by the Ohio Department of Health which include pond water treatments systems and shallow wells. On the other hand, many homeowners will choose to have water treatment equipment installed for aesthetic reasons such a hard water, odor, staining, and taste.

Whatever the case, knowing what you need, what you want, and how much it costs will be an advantage to you in the process of building your home.

Plan Adequate Space for Water Treatment Equipment

 Planning appropriate and adequate space for water treatment equipment is essential. You will want to make sure that there is enough space for the installation, and for the future service and maintenance of the equipment. When enough space is not left, it can be difficult for the water treatment professional to install the equipment and can make it difficult to service in the future. This could potentially cost the homeowner in more time and labor.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions 

Paint colors, siding, lighting, flooring, fixtures…oh my!! Decisions are coming at you from every angle when building a home. Knowing your water and water treatment options from the beginning will eliminate at least one big decision. It can be devastating and costly to homeowners when they find out after their beautiful new home is built that they have poor water quality.

Let us help you #TakeControlofYourWater!

You have probably heard us say this before, and we will say it again—your water is important!  Teaming up with your builder and local water treatment professional can help you have the peace of mind and quality of life that you deserve.

 

Would you like a no hassle, no obligation quote for water treatment for your new home?
Give us a call at 419-335-8831 or click here to send us a message!

“This Water is Hard to Work With” The Benefits of Softened Water

“This Water is Hard to Work With” The Benefits of Softened Water

by | January 31, 2022 | Blog, Buying or Building a New Home, Water Quality, Water Softener, Water Treatment Systems

“This water is hard to work with,” exclaimed our daughter while washing her hair in the shower on our vacation to a cabin in the beautiful Hocking Hills, Ohio area.

She was noticing that her shampoo would not lather, leaving her hair feeling rough, tangled and unsmooth. Soon after, the rest of our family also noticed that no amount of shampoo was going to produce a lather.

When we first arrived, we were all assuming that the bar of hand soap that was provided as a part of our stay was just low quality — it felt dull and did not provide the satisfying soap suds we’ve come to expect. I also personally noticed it when I was washing dishes. I felt like I needed to use half the bottle of dish soap to get soap suds just to feel like our dishes were getting clean.

These are all common signs of hard water. Because our family is in the business of making good water great, we all agreed we needed to take a sample home and test the water to see how hard it was!

The Results

Back at our shop, the cabin’s water hardness test showed 35 grains per gallon (gpg), proving that indeed, this water was “hard to work with!” Industry standard states that any water testing over 10gpg hard would benefit from a water softener.

What is Water Hardness?

Water hardness is a common quality of water found throughout Northwest Ohio and Southwest Michigan. Hard water contains dissolved compounds of calcium and magnesium, and sometimes, other metallic elements. This is what causes mineral deposits on dishes and glassware and can clog up and corrode piping and fixtures. It can also cause extra work to remove soap scum on bathtubs and shower stalls, scale build up in pipes, sinks, tubs, faucets, and appliances.

Treatment for Hard Water

Water softeners are a commonly used and effective technology for treating hardness in water. Softeners work through an ion exchange process using special resin beads that replace magnesium & calcium ions with sodium ions. A rinse process, referred to as backwashing, or regeneration, flushes the salt solution and minerals to a drain and pushes softened water through the home.

The Benefits of Softened Water

In our daughter’s experience, she was used to washing her hair in softened water and expected that she would be able to achieve the same lather at the cabin as when she was in her own home. Hair is one of the most frequent complaints from our customers who are seeking a solution for hardness in their water and one of the biggest benefits from a water softener.

Softened water can reduce the amount of soap and laundry detergent usage by 50% or more. It has other benefits such as keeping appliances running at top efficiency by preventing large amounts of scale from building up. It also allows for lower wash temperatures from hot to cold without a significant change in performance. In essence, it can save you time, energy, and money.

Real Life Experiences

Here are several “real life” experiences our customers have shared with us after they have had a water softener installed.

“Our dishes look better than they ever have!”

“My hair isn’t breaking anymore. I had lost 6 inches from the hard water. I am a platinum blonde. I moved into my boyfriend’s 121-year-old home, had no water treatment equipment. I couldn’t figure out why my hair was breaking, and finally found out it was the water!

“We are appreciating the soft water and watching the mineralization decrease everywhere. We are also getting use to the difference of the feel of the water. Our five-year-old appliances had mineral deposits which caused us to have to replace our dishwasher”

“It’s a little easier on the hair and skin and tastes a little better too!”

“We noticed the difference as soon as it was put in. No sediment is coming through, haven’t had to scrub the shower yet!” 

“Clean, efficient, very easy to fill up. It’s a neat little system!”

“No discoloration in water, in toilets, good to go. Water is good. All he has to do is add salt”

“Gets sudsy when washing hair and feels clean”

“We came from city water where fixtures were corroding. Now we have nice soft water like ‘Hotel Water’. It makes a nice shower!”

“The feel of the water…feels so great when washing my long hair!”

“Itching, skin problems and hair issues have been resolved!”

If your home or business has hard water, you may be saying the same thing as our daughter!

Rest assured, there is a solution for you!  A simple water test and on-site consultation with our water treatment professionals can determine the quality of your water and what type of water treatment will benefit your needs. From there, our professionals with provide you with options that will help you to have the kind of water that you want and deserve.

“When You Replace One Faucet, You Have to Replace Two”

“When You Replace One Faucet, You Have to Replace Two”

by | November 1, 2021 | Blog, Carbon Filter, Water Quality, Water Softener, Water Treatment Systems

I was blown away by a customer’s experience with her recently installed water softener and carbon filter. Her first words were “Amazing. My daughter tells EVERYONE about you.” She then went on to explain that her daughter has curly hair, and now that the water is soft, she feels like her curls are absolutely beautiful. 

“My husband and I now say, ‘Why didn’t we do this before, we’ve lived here for six years?’ and ‘If we ever move again, we MUST have a water treatment system.’” 

The main reason for our customer purchasing the water softener stemmed from a bathroom remodel. They noticed a great deal of corrosion and scale build up in the fixtures and plumbing. Recently they had to replace one faucet in a double vanity sink due to corrosion and build up.

“When you have to replace one faucet, you have to replace two so they match,” she noted.

With all of these upgrades, she and her husband decided that they wanted to protect the new fixtures with a water softener. Concerned about the taste and smell of chlorine in their city water, they opted on a carbon filter also.

“I grew up in the country,” she stated, “and we had a water softener that treated the hardness. But I don’t remember the water feeling this good. Our water feels good, and it tastes good too!” 

When asked why she chose Aquatek, she said she found us on Google Maps. “I looked at all of the great reviews you have received, and I liked that you were a local company not too far away. I want to be able to call a company in which a human answers the phone and can help me with my water questions. I also want to be able to trust technicians to come into my home. From the first moment I read the reviews, called your office for an initial appointment, to the sales call and then installation, it’s been a pleasant experience.” 

She noted her surprise that a water softener and carbon filter could have such an impact, even on city water. “Our water wasn’t bad, but we definitely were seeing the hardness build-up. Now we are noticing all the other benefits such as how much easier our shower is to clean, we don’t have to use as much soap, plus our hair feels so nice!” 

To be honest, I had chills during this conversation and responded frequently “Wow, thank you for sharing that. That is exactly what a water softener and a carbon filter should do.”  And the remarkable thing is, all I did was make a simple phone call to ask how her new water treatment systems were working, she provided all of the rest.  

It’s a wonderful feeling to know that the equipment we install, and our team is truly helping our customers take control of their water!

Do Water Softeners Make My Water Safe To Drink?

Do Water Softeners Make My Water Safe To Drink?

by | March 19, 2021 | Blog

Do Water Softeners make my water safe to drink?   

This question comes up in our office from time to time, and the answer depends on the actual meaning of the question.   

A water softener’s purpose is to remove hardness from water.

Hard water contains the minerals calcium and magnesium. Hardness can build up in pipes over time, causing decreased water pressure and can also damage appliances. It is the cause of spots on dishes, sink fixtures, scale buildup on showers, tubs, sinks and toilets, and lack of soapy suds.

Water softeners do have the ability to remove ferrous iron from water but not ferric or bacterial iron.

Hardness in water can be determined from a water test that technicians perform onsite, or in our office. Once hardness is determined, the customer can make an informed decision on the benefits of a water softener. If iron concentrates test high, we may recommend adding on an iron filter, which will prevent staining of appliances and clothing.

Neither hardness or iron in a water are harmful to one’s health.    

If the question is “will a water softener take care of bacteria and other organisms in water”, this really depends on your water source regardless of if you have a water softener, or not. A water softener is not going to remove the bacteria or other organisms in your water.  We recommend that water be tested by your local health department, or an independent lab. Depending on the results, additional water treatment systems could be added such as an ultraviolet light (UV) or a chlorination system that can make the water safe for drinking, cooking and bathing. 

If taste and/or healthy water is your major concern, a Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a great solution. ROs are effective in removing Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), which are naturally occurring mineral counts in water. Not only will you have immediate access to safe, great tasting drinking water, you will enjoy eliminating the amount of bottled water you purchase, saving you money and hassle over time. 

No more empty water bottles laying around your house to toss, or take to recycling!

Water is an important part of our lives and not all water is created equally.  There are many different water treatment options that fit each of our customers wants and needs—sometimes that is simply a water softener, other times, it is adding on other pieces of equipment to achieve the desired end result. Our passion is helping you take control of your water! If you have questions on water treatment, comment below!