Common Questions About Water Softeners

Hard water contains high levels of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. Our region's water source, the Trinity Aquifer, flows through vast deposits of limestone, which is rich in these minerals. While safe to drink, this hardness causes the scale buildup that damages appliances and makes cleaning difficult.

The most effective solution is a whole-home water softener. A softener uses a process called ion exchange to physically remove the hardness minerals from your water. This protects your entire plumbing system, extends the life of water-using appliances, reduces soap and detergent usage, and leaves your skin, hair, and dishes feeling cleaner.

They solve different problems. A water softener is specifically designed to remove the hardness minerals that cause scale buildup. A water filter is designed to remove impurities and contaminants like chlorine, sediment, pesticides, and bad tastes or odors. They are often used together to solve multiple water issues.

The best way to eliminate the chlorine taste and smell from your municipal water is with a whole-home carbon filtration system. This type of filter uses activated carbon to absorb the chlorine and other chemicals used in the city's treatment process, giving you clean, fresh-tasting and smelling water from every tap in your house.

Well water in Burnet County can vary greatly and should always be tested. Common well water issues include hardness, iron, sediment, and occasionally bacteria or nitrates. A comprehensive treatment plan for a well often includes a sediment filter, a water softener, and a UV light purification system to ensure the water is safe from bacteria and other microorganisms.

For the purest drinking water, a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system is the gold standard. Typically installed under your kitchen sink, an RO system forces water through a semi-permeable membrane that removes up to 99% of all dissolved solids (TDS), including fluoride, salts, and other contaminants, giving you bottled-quality water right from its own dedicated faucet.

It depends on your goals. If you want to protect your home's entire plumbing system and appliances from hard water scale and chlorine, a whole-house (Point of Entry) system is necessary. If your only goal is to improve the taste and purity of your drinking water, an under-sink (Point of Use) RO system may be enough. Many homeowners choose both for complete protection and the best possible drinking water.

For most people, yes. However, the ion exchange process does add a small amount of sodium to the water in place of the hardness minerals. The amount is very low, but if you are on a strict sodium-restricted diet, we recommend pairing your softener with a Reverse Osmosis system for drinking and cooking, as the RO process removes the added sodium.

The first and most important step is a professional water analysis. We can come to your home and perform a comprehensive test of your water to identify its specific hardness level, chlorine content, and any other issues. Based on those results and your family's needs, we can design a customized water treatment solution that is perfect for your home.