Summer puts your home’s water to work. Between sprinklers running, staying hydrated and taking extra showers after time outdoors, your usage may spike. Rising temperatures may also be associated with a faint chlorine taste or a hint of sulfur odor in your water. The good news: These issues are fixable. Here’s what to know if you want to have better water all summer and year round.
Make sure you have the right level of treatment for your home’s needs
Understanding these concepts will help you make the right decisions for your home and family.
- Whole house water treatment = Working water + drinking water: Whole house refers to all the water that enters your home. Working water systems refine the water to help protect plumbing and appliances with some improvement to drinking water; drinking water systems provide purification while also fine-tuning taste and reducing contaminants.
- Reverse osmosis vs. carbon filters: Carbon filtration works by adsorbing contaminants that stick to their surface. Reverse osmosis works by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. While carbon filtration does a good job reducing larger particles and chlorine, it’s a few steps below reverse osmosis technology which captures significantly smaller particulates and contaminants.
- Demand-Initiated Regeneration vs. Time-Initiated Regeneration: Water treatments systems that regenerate on an as-needed basis use less salt and water than those that regenerate on a fixed schedule. That’s better for your wallet and better for the environment.
Stay ahead of summer water issues
Below are some common challenges that might need to be addressed this summer. Please reach out to Haferman if you have questions or would like to have one of our team members help resolve a problem.
- Check sprinkler heads, valves, hoses and connections for hard water mineral deposits, scale build up and iron damage. Clogged sprinklers can cause uneven watering. Misaligned sprinklers and leaking connections hitting your home or driveway can waste water and cause iron staining. Most prefer to leave outside lines untreated, and use preventive tactics and replace parts as needed. If desired, Haferman offers systems designed for outdoor irrigation.
- Water softener inspection. Reduced water pressure, water spots on faucets, salt levels not dropping or a water softener that’s constantly running are among the signs your system isn’t working properly. Haferman’s Knowledge Center has several troubleshooting steps on our FAQs. This YouTube video may also be helpful if you suspect your water softener isn’t softening properly.
- Is it condensation or a leak? Tanks may sweat a little in the summer, especially if you have well water. If you’re seeing water droplets all over, it’s probably condensation. If the water is coming from one specific place, or is pooling, that may indicate a leak.
- Fix the smells and odors. Minnesota’s private wells are especially well known for seasonal spikes in earthy or ‘rotten egg’ smells because warmer temperatures amplify bacteria. Or, if your water smells like a swimming pool, it’s likely because your municipality is increasing chlorine levels to counteract higher bacteria growth. Haferman has a variety of solutions for handling these issues.
- PFAs awareness. “Forever chemicals” (PFAs) have been identified in several Dakota County water supplies. While cities work on long-term water treatment solutions, you can take action immediately by switching to a Kinetico’s K5® Drinking Water Station, which is certified to remove more contaminants (including PFAS/PFOS) than any other system.
- Prepare your shower for more usage. More time in the sun means more bug spray and sunscreen to wash off. Softened water provides a more thorough rinse, leaving skin feeling cleaner. Kinetico is the world’s most efficient water softener brand.
- Selling your home? Make it stand out. A Kinetico® water treatment system is a premium, durable upgrade (often lasting 20 years or longer) that may make your home more attractive and memorable to buyers. This perk may help your home sell faster.
- Do you own a seasonal business? Whether you run a swim school or a lakeside cafe, don’t let calcium buildup ruin your fixtures during your busiest season. We provide commercial solutions to keep your appliances worry-free.
Proudly American made for uncompromising quality
Haferman Water Conditioning proudly represents Kinetico Water Systems, crafted with pride in Ohio. Kinetico stands for American values and American ingenuity. With its top-of-the-line technology, Kinetico is almost a completely different product from its competitors. There really is no comparison.
