“Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.” — Lao Tzu
Welcome back to our five-part water quality buying guide for homeowners and business owners here in Ohio. I’m Chris Adams, and I’ve been a plumber and water quality expert for decades. As a young boy, I started in this business, working for my grandfather’s plumbing company in the Miami Valley, Ohio, area.
Today, I am the chief plumbing engineer and one of the owners of Five Star Home Services. In addition to being a state-certified master plumber, I am also a state-certified well water license holder.
I hope that this series enlightens our readers about not only the importance of high-quality water in today’s modern world, but also about the importance of choosing a trusted local water quality expert like our team here at Five Star!
As we’ve discussed in the previous articles, ensuring the quality of water in your home and/or business is more important than you might think. Water quality directly affects health, wellbeing, and many other areas of our lives.
Because water is life, high-quality water is essential!
With the right water treatment system, we have found, homeowners can enjoy safe, clean, healthy and great-tasting water straight from their own tap. If you’re a homeowner in Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati or surrounding areas, this fourth article in our series is aimed at walking you through everything you need to know about water treatment systems and solutions and how to choose the best one for your specific needs.
Types of Water Treatment Systems
Water treatment systems come in various types, each of which are designed to address specific water quality issues. The following are some of the most common types of products and systems we sell and install daily throughout Central and Southwest Ohio.
Filtration Systems
Carbon Filters
Carbon filtration systems can benefit your home or business in a variety of ways. They provide better-tasting drinking water. Whole-house carbon filters remove contaminants such as chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOC). In addition to their taste, whole-house carbon filtration can remove any lingering odors in tap water.
Featured Blog: Benefits of a Whole House Backwashing Carbon Filter →
Reverse Osmosis
When removing contaminants from water, reverse osmosis systems stand out from the water filtration pack. In fact, the EPA says reverse osmosis is one of the most effective ways to eliminate “all disease-causing organisms and most chemical contaminants.” Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are highly effective at removing many contaminants, including heavy metals, fluoride, and nitrates. These systems use a semi-permeable membrane to filter out impurities, leaving you with clean water. We offer the best prices on the industry’s most advanced RO systems at Five Star.
Featured Blog: Benefits of a Reverse Osmosis System →
Iron Filters
Iron filters are the perfect, low-maintenance solution for the water needs in many homes. With minimal maintenance, you not only preserve the quality of your drinking water. Additionally, you prevent walls, floors, and appliances from being damaged. Iron filters are designed to remove iron and manganese from tap water. These contaminants can cause stains to plumbing fixtures and laundry. They also leave water with an unpleasant taste and color. Getting the iron out of your water is a huge step towards high quality water.
Water Softeners
If you have hard water, using a water softener is indispensable. Water softeners exchange calcium and magnesium ions, which cause the actual “hardness.” They do so with sodium or potassium ions. This process helps prevent scale buildup in your pipes and appliances. This, in turn, prolongs their lifespan and improves efficiency.
Featured Blog: Benefits of a Water Softener →
UV Purification Systems
UV purification systems use ultraviolet light to kill viruses, bacteria, germs, and other microorganisms in your water. These products are an excellent choice for homeowners who depend on well water or are concerned about biological contaminants in their water. UV light water filters can give people peace of mind knowing they have extra protection from these harmful germs and that they are germicidal without the need for chemicals.
Finding the Right System
Choosing the right water treatment system depends on your specific water quality issues, needs and personal preferences. Below we’ve listed several factors to consider:
Matching Systems to Specific Water Quality Issues
We suggest having us perform a water quality test to identify the contaminants that are already present in your water. This helps us determine which treatment system is best suited for your needs. For example, if your water has high levels of chlorine, a carbon filter is a great option. If you have hard water on the other hand, we recommend looking into a water softener. Having our team help is essential because we can match you with the right solutions at competitive rates.
Cost Considerations and Long-term Maintenance
Although it might be tempting to go for the cheapest option, remember that long-term maintenance costs and system efficiency is equally as important. A higher initial investment in a higher quality system can save you money in the long run by minimizing repair costs and prolonging the lifespan of your plumbing and appliances.
Installation and Maintenance
Installing and maintaining your water treatment system is essential to its effectiveness and longevity.
Professional vs. DIY Installation
Although some homeowners might feel confident enough to install a water treatment system themselves, hiring a professional like Five Star Home Services ensures that the job is done safely and correctly. Our team of friendly local professionals can also provide valuable advice on accurate system selection and help with maintenance. Cutting corners to hire an inexperienced handyman, or trying to Do It Yourself is ill-advised. Besides, at Five Star, we offer competitive prices and peace of mind with warranty coverage you won’t find anywhere else.
Regular Maintenance and Troubleshooting Tips
There’s an old saying: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Like many things in our homes, regular maintenance is essential to keeping your water treatment system functioning optimally. Below are a few basic tips:
- Clean and sanitize your system as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Inspect leaks and other issues regularly to prevent small problems from developing into major repairs and more severe issues.
- Regularly replace filters to ensure your system continues to remove contaminants effectively.
- Monitoring the water pressure as consistently high or low water pressure can indicate issues within the treatment system.
- Schedule professional maintenance with one of our certified technicians to perform a comprehensive check-up and maintenance of your system annually.
If you encounter any issues with your system, consult the user manual for troubleshooting tips or contact our team for assistance. We are always standing by.
In Conclusion
To sum it all up, investing in a water treatment system is an excellent way to ensure the quality of your water supply and invest in your well-being and health. By understanding the different types of systems and solutions available and considering your specific water quality issues and needs, you can choose the right solution for your home or business. As always, for the best results, we suggest you consider professional installation and staying on top of regular maintenance.
If you’re ready to improve your home’s water quality, call our team at Five Star Home Services today! We are always here to help you find the perfect solution and ensure your system is installed and maintained properly.
Are you looking for Additional Help? Just Call Five Star Today!
Call the team of local water quality experts at Five Star Home Services today at (833) 405-8009 to schedule a consultation and start enjoying the benefits of clean, safe, and great-tasting water in your home. Water is life, and your water quality matters to us at Five Star!
We offer fast and affordable installation, and we have the area’s leading professionals on staff! We stand behind our work and offer a customer satisfaction guarantee that you can take to the bank.
Our name, Five Star, says it all!
Experience the Five Star Difference today by calling (833) 405-8009.
