Water Filtration Companies: What Makes a Good Water Partner?
Water is something we all share, but when it comes to ensuring your drinking water is as safe and clean as possible, it’s easy to feel like you’re on your own.
The good news is that you don’t have to sort through water quality questions and water treatment system options by yourself. What you need is a water partner — a company that can explain the ins and outs of water filtration, guide you toward the best solutions and help you enjoy every last sip.
Before you can get these benefits, though, you have to know what makes a good water filtration partner in the first place. Here are a few things to consider.
What Is Water Filtration?
To understand what to expect from water filtration companies, it’s important to take a closer look at the concept of water filtration itself.
Sometimes known as water purification, filtering water is the act of removing unwanted substances from your water. These can include excess minerals, sediment or contaminants that may cause aesthetic issues or even health problems.* Note that, although hard water solutions like a water softener are important additions to your water quality arsenal, water filtration is different from water softening.
Here are a few common questions about clean drinking water, water purification systems and more:
Are There Different Filtration System Options?
There are all kinds of water filter options on the market. They include:
- Whole-house filtration systems
- Under-sink filtration systems
- Faucet-mounted filters
- Countertop filters
- Pitcher filters
While all filters claim to improve the quality of your water supply, some are much more comprehensive than others. To find out which filter type is best for your needs, it’s smart to begin by having your water tested to help you understand what problems you might be facing.
Do All Water Filter Types Work the Same Way?
No — in fact, there are many different approaches for improving your water quality. For example, some under-sink filters use an in-depth, multistage process called reverse osmosis, while others rely exclusively on absorbing contaminants via activated carbon (the latter is also the approach many pitcher filters and refrigerator filters use).
Who Needs Water Filtration?
Most everyone could benefit from water filtration in one way or another. Here’s a quick look:
- Municipal water users: Although municipal water quality is regulated by various local and national guidelines, city water users can still rely on water filters to address issues that can arise as water travels from treatment centers to the home. Homeowners often also seek treatment for issues like the smell or taste of chlorine, which is commonly used in city water treatment.
- Well water users: Private wells aren’t subject to the regulations imposed on public water supplies. As such, well water users often need water filtration solutions to address certain aesthetic or safety concerns.
From reducing odors and odd tastes to addressing potentially harmful contaminant types, a water filtration system has plenty to offer.
The Role of a Water Filtration Partner
You use your home’s water system for cooking, cleaning, bathing and more. That means you’ll likely be the first to notice if something’s not quite right — like stains on your bathtub or odd odors in your drinking water.
While it’s important to keep an eye out for these issues, the truth is that you probably don’t have the knowledge to find out exactly what’s causing them. Just as important, not all water quality problems can be seen, tasted or smelled. That’s where a water filtration company can step in.
Here’s what you can expect when partnering with a local water expert:
- Identifying symptoms: You’re likely to notice a new color or odor in your water, but other symptoms — like spotty dishes, dry skin and even plumbing problems — are so subtle you may not even realize they’re linked to your water quality. A water partner can step in and help you know what to look for.
- Performing water tests: If something seems off, or if you simply want to ensure you have good quality water, a water test can tell you what’s going on when you turn on the tap. Local water experts can perform these tests for free, both to diagnose specific problems or to do a general quality check.
- Suggesting solutions: A good partner can also recommend the best water filtration system or other solution (like a water softener) for your specific situation – this recommendation is often based not only on your specific water problems, but also the size of your household, water usage, and more.. They’ll explain your options, but it should be up to you to make the final decision.
- Installing systems: Once you know how you want to treat your tap water, your partner can install the necessary systems and help you understand exactly what to expect.
- Service and maintenance: Like any appliance, water filtration systems require occasional maintenance to operate at their best. By working with a local water partner, you can ensure you’ll have help available when you need it.
When you choose to work with a water filtration company, you’re taking the easy path toward cleaner, safer water. That’s what it means to have a water partner: Local experts are always available to help you address problems, questions and concerns.
Choosing Between Water Filtration Companies
Now that you know what role a water filtration company should play, how do you choose the right one for your needs? Here are a few things every good water partner should offer:
Great Communication Skills
When it comes to something as important as your water system, you shouldn’t have to settle for a partner who tolerates you. Instead, look for a filtration company that is open, communicative and happy to answer all your questions. The organization should also offer customer testimonials to help you decide if this relationship will be a good fit.
Stress-Free Water Tests
Whether you need a free, in-home water test or a more comprehensive laboratory test, your water filtration partner should be able to get the job done. Just as importantly, they should let you know exactly what to expect — including how the test works, how long you’ll have to wait for results, what you’ll learn and more.
Reliable Recommendations
If a partner looks at you as an opportunity to make money and nothing more, that’s not a real partnership. That’s why you need a water filtration company that offers informed recommendations based on extensive experience treating water in the local community.
It’s also important for a water company to identify complementary solutions, like a water filter and a water softener. That way, you can trust that none of your water quality concerns will fall through the cracks.
Service and Maintenance Packages
Don’t forget that every water filtration system needs regular maintenance to remain functional. Because these tasks can be tricky or time-consuming, it’s ideal to find a water filtration partner that can do the work for you. Service and maintenance packages are an invaluable resource and should always be part of the deal.
High-Quality, Certified Equipment
The best water partners manufacture their own equipment to ensure quality, reliability and affordability. Don’t forget to ask for proof of third-party certification to quality standards, which means a company’s water solutions are truly top-of-the-line.
Let Culligan Be Your Filtration Partner
Protecting your home’s water quality involves a lot of research. From identifying the symptoms of every potential contaminant to choosing between water filtration options, you have your work cut out for you — but you don’t have to go it alone.
The best way to address your water quality concerns is to find a reliable partner. This company should make it easy to navigate all those responsibilities and choices, offering guidance that will help you make the best water quality decisions for your home and family.
Schedule Your Free Water Test Today
*Contaminants may not be present in your water. (more…)
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