How To Treat Your Home's Well Water
If you have well water, you are solely responsible for your water treatment.
Whether you live in a rural area or suburban community with well water, your water comes from groundwater or surface water that is pumped from your well into your home. Once in your home, the water is used for drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing. If your home's water is supplied by a private well, you are the one responsible for your water's quality and any needed water treatment.
There are several treatment methods to improve the quality of your well water. Your water conditions and how you will use the water determine the appropriate treatment.
Schedule A Free Water Test To Find Out What's In Your Well's Water
Working water
Working water, for washing, bathing and cleaning, makes up 99 percent of the water that’s used in the home. Often, well water is treated with a water softener, filtration system or specialty filter so that it can work better in the home. Left untreated, your water can cause problems such as staining, spotting, scale buildup, poor performance from water-using appliances, harm to these appliances and more.
Drinking water
Although the water you use for drinking and cooking makes up about one percent of the water used in your home, its quality is probably most important to you. Untreated well water can affect the taste and smell of drinks and food. And unless the water is tested, there’s no telling what, if any, contaminants might be in the water. A reverse osmosis system or drinking water filter are often used to improve the quality, taste and smell of well water.
Common Well Water Problems and Contaminants
Unless you install a water treatment system, there is nothing between you and any water problems. Common well water contaminants and issues include:
- Scale and hard water: Hard water is water that contains calcium and magnesium which causes the white, chalky scale buildup on fixtures and water-using appliances. It is unsightly and can reduce the life, appearance and efficiency of fixtures, water appliances and other items around your home. Hard water is very common with private wells.
- Staining: Stains caused by problem water can ruin clothing, sinks, tubs, toilets, water-using appliances, even tableware. Reddish-orange, blue-green, pink or brown stains are difficult to remove and may require early replacement of items that are stained. If you notice red or orange staining, you likely have iron in your water. Blue-green staining can mean your water is slightly acidic or has a low pH, which can be damaging to your water pipes and eventually to your home.
- Tastes and Odors: Unpleasant tastes and odors can make drinking your water difficult and can affect the smell and taste of things made with water, including ice. It can also make showering or bathing less than enjoyable. Hydrogen sulfide (sulfur smell), decayed vegetation and other naturally-occurring substances can make well water taste and smell bad.
- Cloudy Water: Cloudy Water can be caused by dissolved solids, tannin, sand or other substances that affect your water's clarity. If your water is cloudy, it could simply be unappealing to look at, or it could clog or damage water-using appliances and fixtures over time.
Schedule A Free Water Test To Learn about Your Well Water Problems
Common Well Water Treatment Solutions
Water Softeners
Since most well water is hard, water softeners are often used to improve the working water in a home. Kinetico Premier Series water softeners are the perfect solution for well water, but Kinetico offers several water softener options to meet your home’s water treatment needs.
Drinking Water Systems
Drinking water systems are a great option when well water users want to reduce contaminants, bad tastes and odors from water. Kinetico has several drinking water solutions and filter options to improve the quality of drinking water. The Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station is certified to reduce more contaminants than any other comparable drinking water system. It has multiple configurations that allow you to customize the filtration for your home.
Specialty Filtration Equipment
Specialty solutions are sometimes what’s needed to solve more complex issues with well water. Kinetico offers specialty filters and other equipment like iron filters, sulfur reduction solutions and arsenic mitigation systems.
To understand the quality of your well water, you should have your home's water tested. All Kinetico water professionals offer free in-home water testing. Additional tests are also available. Find your Kinetico water expert here or you can schedule a water test or request a quick quote below.
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