Clearwater Air & Water Solutions FAQs

Over 85% of the United States has hard water. In Missouri and Kansas, we have hard to very hard water, and most people could benefit from water softening. There are numerous benefits to water treatment that we'll briefly summarize: cleaner laundry, softer skin, sparkling spot-free dishes, no more soap scum in the showers, great tasting water, and, of course, protection from hard water damage. For most people their home is their biggest investment, and a water treatment system will help preserve your home's value.

Over time, most systems will actually save you thousands. Here's why: You can save 50-70% on detergent-soap costs. The average family spends $40-70 per month on their total cleaning bill which includes laundry soaps, fabric softeners, bar soaps, dishwasher soaps, shampoo, etc. This equates to a conservative estimate of $5,000 over the next 10 years. With soft water you can easily cut this in half, which is significant savings. We have only scratched the surface of what you'll actually save, however, because you're going to save on energy to heat your water, as well as save on replacement costs for all your plumbing fixtures and water-using appliances.

Absolutely! Most of our customers call us to have their system removed and installed in their new home. It's a fraction of the cost of purchasing a new system. Just make sure to let your realtor know prior to listing your home that you intend on taking it with you.

When you wash in soft water your skin feels the way it's supposed to feel: clean and silky smooth. The hard water leaves a residue of soap scum on the surface of your skin, which can leave your skin and hair dry, itchy, and dull. Many of our clients have seen dramatic improvements from bathing in softened, chlorine-free water.

Ion exchange, better known as water softening, is the only scientifically-proven method for softening the water. Magnets, catalytic systems, and other systems that claim to physically change the structure of the water to alleviate scale problems have no documented scientific evidence as to their efficacy in softening water.

Although there are many salt-free water conditioners, none will actually soften the water and give you the kinds of benefits that most consumers want such as softer skin, cleaner laundry, and savings on detergents. Reducing scale build-up is the main benefit of physical water conditioners. Template-assisted crystallization utilizes a media that can sequester the calcium-magnesium ions and ultimately have them pass by and through household plumbing systems so they do not cause build-up. This is the only system of this type that we handle for scale reduction.

No. The average household on city water only spends about $30-60 annually on salt to maintain their traditional water softener, whereas a TAC type of system does require the complete replacement of the media every 4-6 years, making it more expensive to maintain. The cost comparison for purchasing a traditional softener vs. salt-free conditioner can be about the same.

A water softener does not put salt in the water. It merely exchanges calcium with a trace amount of sodium. On 10 grain hard water, you would have less sodium than a slice of white bread. By dietary standards, a glass of soft water would be considered low sodium.

Water softeners may filter out some contaminants if they utilize carbon filtration. Reverse osmosis, however, is the best choice for the highest-quality drinking water.

Most filters of this type are carbon filters, which do reduce chlorine but do not deliver the quality of water you receive from a RO system; and in most cases, we can install a tee that gives you RO water to your refrigerator as well as a dedicated faucet on your kitchen sink.

Studies have shown that minerals in your drinking water essentially make no contribution to your health and may even be in forms your body can't absorb. Our bodies derive much more minerals from the foods we eat than from the water we drink.

Actually, chlorine's main purpose is to kill bacteria, which makes it a very important component in protecting us from disease; but once your water comes in to your home, the good benefits diminish and the potential problems are elevated. First, it does not taste good to drink and can contribute to dry skin or hair. There are numerous published articles that make the case to filter the chlorine out. We see no benefit in drinking or showering with chlorine.

Bottled water was nonexistent 50 years ago, and we believe it is on its way out. The cost is high, the quality of the water is questionable, and the plastic is not good for our environment. Experts all agree that the plastic will never degrade. The plastic may even be a health risk from the BPA that most bottles have in them. There are so many benefits to having your own system; it's truly the best way to go.

We do recommend having it tested so you can be certain you are getting the appropriate system for your needs. It's also a wise idea to have a look at the installation options, as these can make a difference in the cost of the system.