What’s the Best Whole House Water Filtration and Softener System for Me?

The quality of the water in your home is not something to be taken lightly. While bacteria, viruses, and other microbes can threaten your family’s health, having “soft water” (high in magnesium and calcium ions) can shorten the lifespan of your plumbing system and appliances, and can cause soap scum to stick to your skin, hair, clothes, sink, and bathtub. If you’re searching for the best whole house water filtration and softener system, this blog will explain a few factors to consider when comparing your options.

If you need help making the perfect pick, contact Tri-County Water Services. We have more than 20 years of experience in water treatment, and we carry a variety of hand-selected water filtration and softener systems. Call 610-857-1740 to learn more.

Water Filtration System vs. Water Softener System—What’s the Difference?

Although a water softener system is technically a type of water filtration system, it is important to distinguish between the two because there are many types of filtration systems. Water softeners reduce the amount of magnesium and calcium ions in water, typically using ion and salt-exchange resins coated in a sodium or potassium solution. When hard water comes into contact with the resin beads, the sodium or potassium ions replace the magnesium and calcium ions in the solution. Water filtration encompasses a wide range of products that purify water using ion exchange, oxidation, catalytic conversion, adsorption, and/or micron-filtration. These systems can be used to remove anything from heavy metals to man-made chemicals from water.

Do You Need One or Both?

When looking for the best whole house water filtration and softener system, it’s a good idea to begin your search with a professional water test. The water treatment pros at Tri-County Water Services can take a sample of your water and conduct a detailed analysis to detect any chemicals, ion composition, and contaminants. We will then recommend specific treatments and filtration products to make your water clean, clear, and safe for your family and appliances.

If your water isn’t hard, meaning it doesn’t have a very high composition of magnesium and calcium ions, it wouldn’t make sense to invest in a water softener. But if you have hard water and we also detect potentially harmful chemicals and other contaminants, it’s a good idea to purchase a water softener and a water filtration system.

Because there are different types of water filtration products—each designed for specific contaminants—we cannot recommend a particular product until we have tested your water. For instance, if we detect rust particles, the issue could be iron, hydrogen sulfide, and/or manganese contamination, in which case we would recommend an iron and hydrogen sulfide filtration system. But if there’s a high chlorine content or chemical odors, we would recommend a more general whole house water filtration system.

Water Filtration Systems & Water Softeners

If you need help finding the best whole house water filtration and softener system for your needs, contact Tri-County Water Services. Call 610-857-1740 to speak with a water treatment specialist.