Reynolds Water Conditioning

March 15, 2019

Improving Water Quality Through Filtration

Take a minute to look inside the tank of your toilet, what do you see? Do you see a collection of rust, sediment, and/or sand? That same collection of debris is accumulating inside your plumbing and water heater. It is pretty standard to assume that when any mechanical system in your home becomes saturated with gunk build up the quality of the system and the products of the system are compromised. The goal for homeowners is to avoid situations where this occurs. One way this happens is with the installation of a whole house water filter.

When a whole house water filter is installed it can act as a barrier that quietly protects your home. A filter will prevent crud from settling into the systems throughout your home such as the toilet, water softener, and hot water tanks.

Benefits of Installing a Water Filter System for Your Home

Layered Protection

With the installation of a whole house water filter system you are layering the protection to your appliances. You are preventing the sediment from reaching your appliances, plumbing, water softeners, toilets, and such. Many appliances have small plastic and rubber pieces that are used in the use of different household appliances. Small amounts of debris will damage seals in appliances over time. When a seal becomes damaged it will leak and as we all know this ends up costing us time and money. A filter removes the gunk such as sediments, debris, dirt, and gunk in general. For homeowners there is an increase in appliance longevity and a piece of mind that your equipment will be reliable for longer.

Eliminate Unexpected Water Surprises

Both city and well water sources can become compromised from unexpected elements in the system. When this occurs homeowners can receive quite the surprise at the tap.

City Water Issues

Water Main Break
Hydrant Flush
New Construction and New Water Connections

All of these events will knock iron and sediment buildup into the water supply. This in turn creates sludge, orange water, and dirt from coming into your home.

Well water quality is affected by outside sources as well. The quality of the water can change from season to season.

A whole house water filter helps to remove the iron that exists in some water sources. When a water filter is installed the iron in the water is filtered out. This helps to prevent the staining that occurs on laundry, appliances, faucets, and more.

Filter Operation and Maintenance

Filtration systems function without electricity, without salt, and without waste. There are no controllers to worry about, batteries to change, or clocks to reset. In fact, whole house water filtration systems are simple to install and can be added to any water treatment system. In order to properly maintain a filtration system for your home you will be required to change the filter periodically. The number of times a filter needs to be changed depends on the quality of the filter, use, and the filters rating.

When choosing a filter consider the following: the physical size of the filter, the Micron rating, flow rate, and filter life. Larger filters naturally have more surface area which often means that they last longer, increase the quality of the water and water pressure. Larger filtration systems are needed in homes with more than two family members.

The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria, chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins, radon, and more. More information on our water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron & odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.

March 8, 2019

Preserving Your Water Softener Brine Tank

Hard water is known to contain higher than normal levels of calcium and magnesium. This causes issues with lime scale build up that interferes with household and daily functions. Issues range from clogged plumbing to soap’s ability to clean properly. For most homeowners the installation of a water softener system is vital in bringing higher quality water to the household. Most water softening units will continue to function for years with little maintenance. Regular check ups and cleaning does help to improve their lifespan.

One important aspect in maintaining your water softening equipment is caring for the systems brine tank. In order to properly maintain the tank, the salt levels should be checked and if low replaced on a monthly basis. Salt is essential in the ion exchange process that takes place in water softeners. As the system regenerates the hard water will flow through resin in the softener and the hard ions trade place with the soft ions on the resin beads. This creates soft water.

Your specific softener should come with a manual that instructs you on the perfect level for the salt in your brine tank. Generally, the tank should be kept half way full and three inches above the water level. High levels of salt can improve the overall efficiency however should be reduced is the salt sticks to the sides of the unit. If salt is allowed to build up in the brine tank users should carefully separate the salt to avoid thick bridges from forming.

It is also important that you put the proper water softener salt into the brine tank. The manual should explain if your system best operates using granular, tablet, or block salt. Granular is the most common as it easily dissolves. On top of different types of salt there are grade variances as well.

Water Softener Rock Salt: This is a cheaper source of softener salt and therefore contains more impurities. These impurities often decrease the efficiency of the softener, dirties the tank, and requires more regular cleaning and maintenance than other salt grades.
Water Softener Solar Salt: This option is purer than rock salt. For most water softeners this salt option is chosen by homeowners
Water Softener Evaporated Salt: This option is the highest quality grade of water softener salt that can be purchased. It is also the most expensive.

If a salt bridge occurs, it is important that it is broken up and not allowed to “build up”. A solid layer of brine known as a bridge occurs when the salt in the brine tank binds together preventing loose salt on top from mixing with the water below the bridge. This of course prevents the softener from properly functioning. These bridges can be broken up using a large broom handle and tapping it around the tank several times. If the layers are not easily broken with a long handle a homeowner can pour hot water over the bridge. If bridges become a common issue in your water treatment system you can try using less softener salt which would allow the salt to drop between refills. Cleaning out the brine tank also helps.

Another common issue with salt inside of brine tanks is that the salt can become a mushy pile at the base of the tank. This causes the water to rise around the salt instead of mixing in with it. A large broom handle can be used to break up the mush mound. Mush should be scooped out, dissolved in a bucket of hot water, and then poured back into the water softener tank.

February 27, 2019

Ways To Improve Your Homes Water Quality

Homeowners that are looking to improve the quality of the water in their homes are often confused between the available water treatment options. There is a big difference in how you treat your homes water based on the issues it has. Your water may contain containments, be high in harmful minerals, or may just smell and taste off; depending on the exact issue you can determine what type of water treatment system will bring the highest quality water to your family.

A Look into Water Softeners and Reverse Osmosis Water Systems

Reverse osmosis is described simply as a system that provides filtration. RO water filtration units are extremely popular amongst homeowners as they provide a point of use system that brings better tasting, healthier water. RO systems are especially popular amongst homeowners with wells. A reverse osmosis water treatment system removes the contaminants and dissolved minerals in your water by forcing them through a filter. Benefits of including either a point of use RO or whole home RO include:

Flavorless Water: A RO system will remove the funny taste in your homes water by eliminating the source of the taste within the water.
Doesn’t Use Chemicals: Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are environmentally friendly as they do not use chemicals to filter water.
Soft Water: Minerals cause hard water; reverse osmosis systems filter and remove the minerals in the water that cause hard water. Whole house reverse osmosis systems can eliminate corrosion in pipes.
Odor and Color Removal: Occasionally contaminants and dissolved minerals in the water will cause a strange smell and odor. RO systems work to filter these pollutants and minerals giving you a higher quality water supply.

The quality of your homes well water is often improved with the installation of a RO filtration systems. Whether you install a whole house or point of use reverse osmosis unit your homes water will taste and smell better.

Water softeners are often described as water conditioners. Unlike a RO in which a filter physically removes contaminants and dissolved minerals from the homes water, a water softener processes water through an ionization process that replaces magnesium and calcium ions with sodium ions.

Hard water is known to contain increased levels of dissolved minerals such as magnesium and calcium. The water softening unit softens the water by exchanging these minerals with sodium, a less destructive mineral. Hard water can cause a great deal of problems in the home and water softeners help to mitigate them. If you notice plumbing corrosion because of hard water a water softening unit can help. It is important to note however that a water softener is not a filtration system and does not remove other contaminants. Benefits of water softened using a water softener include:

Natural Tasting Water
Stain Free, Brighter Laundry
Spot Free Cleaner Dishes
Longer Lasting Appliances
Fewer Clogged Pipes

February 22, 2019

Hard Water Myths Dybunked

There are many myths surrounding hard water. Although hard water is often not detrimental to your health it can be a considerable nuisance. Below we will look further into the most common hard water myths and debunk them.

Myth #1: Hard water is responsible for clogging ALL types of plumbing materials

Truth: Hard water contains minerals including calcium and magnesium both of which are known to stick to the interior of galvanized steel pipes which leads to build-up and in turn clogs pipes. Galvanized steel plumbing is commonly found in homes that were built between 1940 into the late 1970’s.

Homes built after the late 1970’s or homes that have had their plumbing replaced most often use pipes that are made from copper. Copper plumbing does not allow for calcium or magnesium build up to form. Thus, not ALL types of plumbing materials are responsible for hard water clogs.

Myth #2: Hard water minerals are contaminants

Truth: Hard water does contain a number of minerals however, minerals are not contaminants, minerals are nutrients. Drinking water that is rich in essential minerals like calcium and magnesium is healthy for individuals. Mineral rich drinking water helps protect the health of individuals and can lead to lower risks of heart disease and stroke.

Myth #3: Water softeners produced filtered water

Truth: Water softeners do not in fact filter water at all. Softeners use a process of ion exchange which is used to exchange minerals in the water for sodium. Water softener units take “tainted” tap water and create water that can be used for drinking, cooking, showering, laundry, dish washing, and more. The water processed through a water softener is NOT filtered and can often have a salty taste depending on a number of different variants. To remove the saltiness from water that has gone through a water softener a point of use filter can be installed to faucets. Most individuals are not bothered by the taste of drinking water that comes from a softening unit however a filtration system does remove the sodium in water if a homeowner is bothered by the taste.

Myth #4: Hard water works well for bathing, cleaning, and laundry

Truth: Hard water often leaves behind a residue that contains minerals which are not the best for bathing, cleaning, or laundry. Water that goes through a water softener is known as soft water. Soft water is ideal for bathing, hard water is known to create dry hair and skin because of mineral deposits that it leaves. In laundry and household cleaning hard water is known to leave stains and create a filmy residue that is not found in water that has gone through the rejuvenation process that takes place within water softening units.

February 18, 2019

Removing Iron and Manganese from Well Water

How many homeowners can honestly say they would be okay drinking water from their taps that comes out brown? ZERO, that’s how many! Brown water occurs because of contamination in their water from Iron and Manganese, common elements found in well water. Thankfully there are water treatment options available to remove these contaminants. Both Iron and Manganese are found in soil thus washing into the well water drinking supply. The good thing is that you don’t have to live with contaminants in your water.

Contaminants in your homes water supply certainly can be a nuisance. Iron and Manganese cause several issues including metallic tasting water, stained laundry, clogged plumbing, and an oily or crust sheen on the surface of the water. This is one of the reasons high levels of the contaminants are treated using whole house water treatment systems.

In 1974 the federal government set in place visual standards for water because of the effects of Iron and Manganese. Although state health-based standards are not in place for metals in drinking water, there are some concerns that high levels of manganese are bad for formula-fed infants. Infant formulas naturally contain manganese, so the National Health Department recommends mixing formula with water with a low manganese level.

Iron and Manganese Testing

It is easy to recognize elevated levels or iron and manganese in water including a bitter, metallic taste and orangish-brown staining on bathroom fixtures, clothes, and more. It is however important to test the water before treating it in order to determine the amount of minerals and metals that are in the water. Two types of metals are commonly found in a homes water supply including reduced and oxidized. Water that has a reduction in iron and manganese often looks clear, initially however will form solid orangish brown solid particles. Water with oxidized iron and manganese will have visible particles upon being drawn from the well.

Water Treatment Options

Once your well water is tested and you are told what type and amounts of iron and manganese are in the water, water treatment specialists like the ones at Reynolds Water Conditioning can help you determine the best treatment option for your home. It is important to note that some filtration such as oxidation filtration which injects oxygen into the water to remove impurities only removes iron. The water will need an additional chemical treatment to remove manganese.

Water softeners are often installed to treat hard water. They can also remove small amount of iron and manganese. Water softening units use an ion exchange process which replaces iron and manganese with sodium. The metals are removed from the softeners filtering resin through a process of backwashing.

Another treatment option to remove iron and manganese from water is through a point of use reverse osmosis systems. This treats water at the tap which is usually where drinking and cooking water is drawn from. The filter uses different membranes to remove unwanted molecules in water to be filtered from the water. Although this is a fairly simple method of getting water without metal it does not treat water throughout the house. Thus, staining will still occur in bathrooms and in laundry and water in other parts of the house will have the metallic taste.

January 30, 2019

Best Options In Treating Your Homes Water Supply

When it comes to figuring out the what the best option is for treating your homes water supply there is a lot of confusion and conflicting information within the industry. Homeowners will find a variety of solutions when it comes to water treatment including solutions that treat the whole house and point of use options. Although some within the industry like to sell water treatment options as interchangeable it is crucial that homeowners understand that each treatment option is unique and deals with removing different contaminants through difference processes. Each system has distinctive qualities in how they treat the water in your home.

Whole House Water Treatment Solutions

Water Filters and Water Filtration Systems: Water filter systems often use a carbon filtration solution to treat foul odors and improve the taste of water throughout your home. Carbon filters are known for treating a variety of elements in water including: chlorine, chemical tastes & odors, organic chemicals, and pesticides.

Municipal city water sources are known for their overpowering use of chlorine. The installation of a whole house carbon filtration system is often recommended to stabilize drinking water and making bath water less irritating to sensitive skin. Some private wells may also benefit from the installation of a filtration system especially those in more urban settings where organic chemicals are used in treating crops. These chemicals can run off into water sources or soak into the Earth affecting the quality of the water coming from the well.

Water Softeners and Water Conditioners:

Water softeners and conditioners are common and well-known amongst homeowners for removing hard water minerals and preventing limescale build up in appliances and plumbing. Hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium can be found in both city water and private well water. Soft, scale-free water can be delivered throughout the house with the installation of a whole house water softening unit.

Reverse Osmosis:

The biggest misconceptions in water treatment center around reverse osmosis systems. Reverse osmosis systems are commonly mistaken for providing the same treatment to your homes water as water filters and water softeners. RO systems should not be advertised to treat chlorine, foul odors, hard water, or iron removal. Reverse osmosis water treatment systems have a semipermeable membrane that removes 95 to 99% of contaminants from your homes water. However, the membrane contained in RO systems don’t compare to the carbon filtration or water softening units.

In fact, chlorine and hard water can actually taint the RO membrane. In fact, water should be treated before it is sent through a reverse osmosis system. When RO systems are used in conjunction with a water softener and filtration system you will prolong the life span of your RO system thus leaving you with the highest quality drinking water.

January 24, 2019

Should I Install A Reverse Osmosis System Even If I Have A Water Softener?

Hard water is not uncommon. In fact, it is said that up to 85% of homes in the United States have hard water. Many of these homeowners are treating their hard water issue with the installation of a water softener. Although a water softener can help with the hardness of your homes water and remove slight impurities it doesn’t get them all. In order to remove a greater number of impurities in your homes water along with the sodium from your water softener, it is often recommended to have a reverse osmosis unit installed.

The combined use of both a water softener and reverse osmosis systems provides high quality water. The reverse osmosis membranes are delicate. A RO system alone will be inadequate in a home with hard water because of the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water. Calcium and magnesium are the main minerals that make water hard. A RO has a small sediment filter, but it is not nearly big enough to remove the calcium and magnesium impurities that a water softening unit does. Homeowners that install a water softener with a reverse osmosis drinking water system will extend the life of the RO membranes. The water softener/conditioner works as a protective barrier for the RO.

Increased drinking water quality is another reason that homeowners should consider installing a whole house water softener and a point of use reverse osmosis system in the kitchen. This allows the water coming from the kitchen tap and the lines going into the refrigerator to be of the highest quality. A reverse osmosis water treatment system takes the water a step further than what your water softener can which helps to ensure the water that you are ingesting is of the purest quality.

Another benefit of using a combination of a water softener and reverse osmosis system is the savings in energy expenses, increased lifespan of household appliances, and a decrease need for soap, shampoo, and detergents. Reverse osmosis systems eliminate the need for bottled drinks which saves families a great deal of money.

Homeowners can see how the installation of a softener and RO in combination with one another will reduce household expenses and top-quality water.

Choosing A Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System

If homeowners have a whole house water softener installed, consider a RO system that does not interfere with its operation. Evaluate a variety of systems from level of noise they make to how complex filter maintenance is. Using a RO system with your homes water softener allows you to give your family the highest quality drinking water. Who doesn’t want that for their family’s water supply?

January 16, 2019

Answers to The Top 5 Questions About Water Softeners

There are many questions that people have when contemplating the installation of a water softening or filtration unit in their home. Professional water treatment specialists such as the professionals at Reynolds Water Conditioning can help. Below you will find the top questions we receive on a regular basis when clients are considering treating their homes water supply.

What is Hard Water?

Hard water is water that contains more than 1 grain per gallon of minerals that include magnesium, manganese, calcium, and magnesium carbonate. Our professionals can test the water in your home to determine if you have hard water or if there is another issue affecting your homes water supply.

Should I Have Concerns About Hard Water?

Hard water can affect your home in a number of ways, in particular the fixtures and plumbing fixtures. Heat dissolves the minerals in hard water which causes the minerals to re-crystalize and create what is known as scale. Scale affects all appliance that use running water and reduces their life space. This can include your homes water heater, dishwasher, washing machine, ice maker, water dispenser, and more.

Another common concern that comes from hard water is the soap scum that builds up in your showers. The combination of soap and hard water forms a scummy substance that deposits on your shower and also your skin. Even after rinsing really well, hard water can leave soap residue to build up on your skin thus leading to skin irritation.

Should I Soften My Water?

Of course, softening your water, like any decision around your home is a personal decision. Hard water does have obvious affects on your home as stated above. If you choose to soften your hard water with the use of a water softener, you will find yourself using less soap, less detergent, and fewer chemicals overall. You will notice that you no longer have to work so to get your dishes and clothes clean. A water softener will also reduce the scale build up on glasses and dishes as well as on faucets, fixtures, and plumbing.

Are There Any Reasons I Would Not Want to Use a Water Softener?

There are two types of water softeners: those that use salt to regenerate and those that use potassium chloride. If you need a low sodium diet it is important to consider the options in water treatment. When people are talking about water softeners, they are often talking about using water softeners that use salt.

Why Do Water Softeners Add Salt to Soften Water?

Water softeners use salt ions that attract hard minerals in water including magnesium and calcium ions, and then depositing them on water softener resin. Salt ions trade places with mineral ions which is why the water from the water softener contains more salt than “normal” tap water. There is about an extra 150 to 300 milligrams per quart of water which works out to about the same amount that you would find in a slice of bread.

January 11, 2019

What You Need to Know Before You Purchase Any Water Treatment System for Your Home

First things first, have the water in your home tested by professional water treatment specialist. Take labeled water samples from each faucet in your home in for treatment. Believe it or not water from the kitchen sink may not test for the same contaminants as the water in the bathroom or laundry room. This could happen for a number of reasons but is important to ensure proper treatment of the water in your home. Processing different points of access will also allow you to recognize issues that can be corrected with whole house water treatment systems such as water softeners or point of use water treatment solutions such as reverse osmosis and water filtration systems.

If the water in your home tests positive for contaminants, then the installation of a treatment system could be the next necessary step in remedying the issue. When you have to install a water treatment solution it is important that you understand these systems will require routine maintenance and care. It is crucial that homeowners understand that containment free water requires effort on the part of the homeowner no matter water treatment solution is installed. Water filtration systems will need new filters installed, water softeners will require the input of salt or potassium chloride, and reverse osmosis systems will require cleaning of existing filters and new filters.

It is important for consumers to be smart when having their water tested. Some man-made chemicals that have been found in the water supply of homes have been associated with serious health problems. These contaminates are not always found in without special analysis. If you suspect the results of your water tests are inaccurate then it is important to have the water tested more thoroughly by a state certified laboratory. Most general water treatment companies can see basic water quality components such as water hardness, pH, arsenic, iron, and sulfur.

After you are sure the results of your homes water are accurate and have been analyzed to your satisfaction the levels that have been detected will tell you what type and level of water treatment is needed.

Once this process has been satisfactorily completed the next step is to choose a system to treat your homes water. Depending on your water analysis you can determine if you need whole house treatment, point of use treatment, or both. Choose products that come from companies that can offer an established reputation and can offer referrals. Often times companies that sell water treatment systems such as reverse osmosis, iron filtration, water softeners and conditioners will also offer service plans, maintenance options, and salt and potassium chloride delivery.

December 17, 2018

Help! What Water Treatment System Do I Need?

There is a lot of confusion surrounding the best water treatment solution for your homes water. There are major differences between water filters, water purifiers, and water softeners. Many consumers use these terms interchangeably and believe they perform similar process however this is not the case.

Each of these water treatment options has its own process and removes completely different impurities within your homes water. If your goal is to have cleaner drinking water that is free of lead, chlorine, and other impurities should understand that a water softener does not meet this goal. Instead water softeners are meant to remove scale buildup from water.

Before comparing filters, purifiers, and softeners it is important to know what we are using them for; what is it that we want to remove from the water? Natural water picks up chemicals compounds, minerals, and impurities get picked up along the way. Calcium, magnesium, chlorine, pesticides,herbicides, waste, bacteria, and even viruses can be picked up by your homes water as it travels into your home and out through your faucets.

These impurities should be removed from your homes water supply before it is utilized for drinking and cooking as if ingested can present issues to one’s health. Water filters and water purification systems can help remove the impurities mentioned above. Other items, unrelated to the health of your water can also build up in the water supply and if left untreated can present problems with buildup in your homes plumbing as well as reducing the lifespan of your appliances. The minerals that allow scale to build up are only removed with the usage of a whole house water softener.

What is a water filter?

Water filters can be installed to treat water at the point of use or to filter water throughout the house. A filter can be used to remove and/or reduce impurities like chlorine,lead, chromium, copper, nickel, and more. Water filters also help to inhibit the growth of algae, fungi, and bacteria in water although should not be considered the end all solution for these water impurities.

What are water purifiers?

Water purification systems help to fully remove the bacteria and viruses in the water. Purifiers do not remove chemical contaminants like water filters do however when used in conjunction with one another they prevent chemical and natural chemicals from ending up in your homes drinking water or water supply in general if installed to purify and filter the water throughout the whole house.

What is a water softener?

There are two types of water softeners: one that uses salt and one that uses potassium chloride. Although two very different systems they do offer the same solution in that they remove the minerals and impurities in the water that create build up in your homes plumbing. Water softeners don’t target the contaminants in water or even make it safer to drink however they do filter out the ick in water that results in appliances running inefficiently and help to prolong the longevity of your homes plumbing, appliances, and such.

Before you purchase a water treatment option it is important to have your water tested by a professional water treatment expert. They will help to pinpoint the type of water system that you need for your exact problem. Some water may use a combination of treatments while some water issues may be addressed with just one option. In the most problematic water systems it may be necessary to install all three systems to work in conjunction with one another.

The experts at Reynolds Water Conditioning have a solution to your homes unique water quality needs including: arsenic, bacteria,chlorine, rotten egg smell, fluoride, hard water, iron, lead, acid, tannins, radon, and more. More information on our water treatment solutions including water softeners and conditioners, water filtration and purification, reverse osmosis drinking water, and iron &odor removal can be found online at https://reynoldswater.com.