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.
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!
When you think of having to deal with a sales person, do you dread it? Do you want to avoid it at all costs? Wouldn’t it be easier if you could just get a quote for water treatment equipment right over the phone?
We’ve all had an experience with a salesperson that was just unpleasant and we would like to avoid. But for water treatment, we do believe that it is important for us to have an on-site consultation with the customer.
Trust us, initially it would be easier for us to quote over the phone as well, but in the long run, it can have negative, costly and time-consuming consequences. Each customer’s water and water situation is unique. Even though it would be amazing, there isn’t a one-size-fits all solution.
Here are a few reasons why people call us:
Avoid buying white clothes because they are immediately ruined with one wash
Dread having company over because the smell of sulfur is overwhelming
Dislike like the taste and smell of chlorine, or would prefer softer water from city water
Hair is brittle and skin is itchy
Concerned about the safety of the water
Sick of scrubbing orange toilets, sinks and showers
Dishes have white spots
New fixtures ruined after one year
Sick of water bottles lying around the house
Unable to find someone to service equipment purchased online or at a box store
All of these situations are unique and would require different types of water treatment equipment.
If you are experiencing any of the above, you deserve to have a system that helps treat these issues. One of our core values is to do our best to make the entire process of taking control of your water easy!
Our Process
In our free on-site consultation we listen to our customers wants and needs. We are looking to understand what they are hoping for out of their water and learn the make-up of the water. We will want to know:
How many persons are in the home?
What type of plumbing and space do we have for the equipment?
Will there need to be any outside spigots or barns on untreated water?
Next we test the water to discover the water make-up. Contaminants in water can occur in many different combinations. The most common types of water concerns in Northwest Ohio and Southeastern Michigan are:
Hardness
Iron
Sulfur
No water/Low Yield Wells/Untreatable Water
Tannins
Municipal (City) Water
Learn more about each of these types of water situations here.
This information will help us to recommend the appropriate treatment system, size it correctly for the home and provide a fair and accurate quote. It also allows us the opportunity to explain the operation of the equipment and what the customer can expect regarding upkeep and maintenance on their system-hopefully leading to less surprises in the future.
Let’s face it, we are all busy and your time is important!
During our short but thorough interaction, we also hope to gain your trust. Our goal is to partner with and listen to our customers to provide the water treatment solution for their wants and needs. An in-home consultation allows us to do this efficiently and accurately, ultimately providing our customers with peace of mind and ultimately quality of life!
A common question we are asked is, “What the difference between “Box Store” water treatment equipment vs. going directly to an Independent Water Treatment Dealer like Aquatek Water Conditioning?”
It really is a great question, because we, like many of you, also want to make sure we are getting the best value for our purchases (and providing our customers with the same). At the end of the day, there isn’t anything wrong with purchasing water treatment equipment from a “Box Store.” However, there are differences in how you set up, maintain, and how well your equipment may work for your specific water situation.
Aquatek Water Conditioning is an Independent Water Treatment Dealer. This means that we are not tied to a national brand, or a franchise. We are family owned and operated since 1952! We build our equipment at our shop located in downtown Wauseon, OH. Our equipment is sized and programed according to each customer’s water situation. Our mission is to partner with our customers by providing them with the best water treatment solution for their wants and needs. We believe that this ultimately leads them to peace of mind, and quality of life with their water.
You may be asking, “What does this have to do with a “Box Store” purchase?
From our perspective, here are a few things to consider when weighing the option of purchasing from a “Box Store” or Independent Water Treatment Dealer.
When purchasing water treatment equipment from a “Box Store” you are literally doing that–You are purchasing it to install yourself–or working with one of the store’s sub-contractors for installation, who may not be an expert in the water treatment field. Again, there is nothing wrong with doing this, as it may fit your budget and needs.
What is different about purchasing equipment from an Independent Water Treatment Dealer?
First and foremost, all water is not treated equally. No one’s water is the same and there is no such thing as “one-size fits all” in the world of water treatment. Your water quality and volume could be the opposite of the water a mile away. Therefore, the type of water treatment equipment that is installed could vary from home to home, based on a variety of factors. How does the water test? How many people live in the home? Are you using the water in the barn for animals? What quantity of water and/or water pressure is accessible to the home?
At Aquatek, we offer a no cost, no obligation meeting to test your water and discuss your ultimate goal for your water. Our quote will include equipment, built in our shop, that is sized and programmed for your water and family needs. It will also reflect if you are purchasing or renting the equipment. Our equipment and/or installation is going to cost more than what you would typically get at a “Box Store,” as it is built to your specific water situation and installed by trained water treatment professionals. We also guarantee our installations. If you are not getting what you want out of our water treatment equipment, we will uninstall it for you. In many instances, we will haul away old equipment, and for water softeners, we’ll even fill the salt tank for you!
Another major difference between “Box Store” purchases and Independent Water Treatment Dealers is the answer to, “What happens when my equipment breaks down?”
For us at Aquatek, it’s easy, you simply call us and we get you on our schedule for maintenance and repair. We service what we sell. Our store is located in downtown Wauseon, Ohio, and we work with customers throughout the Northwest Ohio and Southeastern Michigan area. If your equipment is under warranty, we will handle this for you, no need to ship your unit off or wait a long time for your repair.
For “Box Store” purchases, this may vary depending on a variety of factors. And although we are able to work on many different makes and models of water treatment equipment, we do not carry parts for “Box Store” equipment and are unable to service them.
We also promote preventative maintenance on all our equipment. Regular maintenance helps to prolong the life of the equipment and helps to ward off any major issues that could lead to no water, leaks, staining of clothing and appliances, etc. This is something that we educate our customers on so that they can do it themselves, or our technicians are able to come out to the home to provide this service. One thing we can guarantee you, is that your water is important, and we want you to avoid the frustration of having unpleasant water issues as much as possible!
Here is what to expect from us:
When you call our store, you’ll talk to a friendly, local person who will take your information. We’ll schedule a time for one of our experienced representatives to come to your property (home, barn or business) to test your water for iron, hardness, TDS (total dissolved solids), pH, and if needed, sulfur. They will assess your situation, discuss your wants and needs, and provide you with a strategy for your water. No obligation, no cost!
The quote will be based off your water results, existing plumbing and wants and needs. The prices in the quote will include installation, and in many instances, hauling old units away. Once you decide you would like to move forward, we will build your equipment in our shop, and schedule a time for installation of by one of our trained installation technicians.
Following the installation, our staff will place a phone call to make sure that the equipment is working and that there are no follow up questions. If it appears that something isn’t working properly after installation, we encourage our customers to call us immediately. We will come out and inspect the unit and readjust settings at no charge to the customer.
From there, we hope to continue to be partners with our customers! We have a store located at 7300 State Route 108 in Wauseon where we provide a variety of products that support our water treatment systems such as filters, parts, salt, alum, chlorine, and hydrogen peroxide. We also offer a delivery service for these products, as well as Bottled Water Delivery and water coolers.
At the end of the day, the decision is yours to make. There is no right or wrong, just what is best for you and your situation.
For us, water is our passion, and our goal is to give you peace of mind and quality of life through our customer service and water treatment expertise. We help our customers “Take Control of Their Water!”
Building or buying a home can be an exciting experience. But it can also be full of stress and headaches when unexpected or unplanned situations arise.
Whether you are building or buying a home, you will need water. Knowing the water situation will help you effectively plan for a smooth transition into your new space.
Here are a few questions and suggestions to help make sure that you have everything planned for your water needs, prior to your build or purchase.
Building a Home
There are many things to consider when buying or building a new home. One major component is water!
What water source do you plan on using?
Well
Pond
City Water
Hauled in
What types of water sources do neighbors use?
Are You Drilling a Well?
If you plan on drilling a well, ask your well driller, neighbors, and/or local water treatment dealers on what to expect from the water in the location you will be building. 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.
Here are some common water issues that we see throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeastern Michigan What’s in Your Water Blog.
Are You Digging a Pond?
When building a home, 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, have un-treatable water, or simply want to have this viable, safe and Ohio Department of Health certified solution for their water.
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 pond and installing water treatment equipment are listed at local Health Departments. It is important to work with your builder, plumbers, and water treatment contractors to make sure there is viable space, plumbing and electrical considerations for your system.
Will You Have 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 are on city water, have a discussion with your neighbors to see 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.
Expert Tip: We recommend having your house pre-plumbed for water treatment systems. Usually, your outside systems and sprinkler systems have untreated water.
Buying a Home
Water is important to consider when buying a new home. Many of the above points noted in the “Building a Home” section also apply to buying a home, but here are some specific questions you can ask that will help you better understand the water situation prior to purchasing a home.
What water source supplies the home?
Well
Pond
City Water
Hauled in
Does the home have a water treatment system in the home?
Is it working?
What is the approximate age of the system?
What water treatment provider installed the system?
Has it been properly maintained?
Do you like the taste of the water?
As you’re taking a tour through the home, ask the realtor or homeowner for a drink of tap water. This is also a good opportunity to experience the water pressure.
Pond Water Treatment Systems
If you have a Pond Water Treatment System, you will want to become familiar with both the system and pond in general. Here are a few resources that might be helpful:
Many homes in our area rely on water being hauled to their homes. You’ll want to know what that process is, and the costs.
City Water
If the home uses city water, have a discussion with your neighbors on if they treat their water, or if they have suggestions. Many homeowners using city water have their water tested for a variety of reasons. Water Softeners, Carbon Filters and Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems are commonly used to improve the quality and/or taste of their water.
Take Control of Your Water
If you are planning on building or buying a home, we would be happy to help you take control of your water! Give us a call at 419-335-8831 or email us at info@aquatekwater.net to discuss your water needs.
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