Want better coffee or tea at home?
As we all know, Hope Ranch has very hard water. Recently I interviewed Jay Hellenbrand, the owner of Advanced Water Solutions on the best approach to treating hard water. I was recommended to them by my good friend Gordon Hardy, co-owner of Jeannine’s Bakery. They and Renaud’s Bakery are long-term clients of Advanced. As water quality is essential for baristas and baking, they were my best experts. I love iced tea and I know the better the water, the better the tea!
According to Jay, “What we are finding over the years is that clients are no longer looking for just soft water to protect their piping but are also focused on whole-house filtration along with wellness. Removing the chlorine, chloramines, herbicides, pesticides and some organics that are inherent in our water is extremely beneficial to your home and household.
Besides our own concern of safe water consumption, hard water spots are left on glasses and shower doors leaving unsightly residue. Hard water can cause major scale buildup in the pipes, water heaters, fixtures and appliances. It can even decrease the life expectancy of the appliances in your home. Additionally, chlorine and/or chloramines added to the water to make it safe from bacteria can be harmful to the rubber O’ rings and gaskets in faucets, appliances and toilet flappers. It can also be absorbed through the skin while you’re taking a bath or shower.”
Water Treatment Nickel Knowledge
Water softening systems use an ion exchange resin to remove the calcium and magnesium that cause hardness in the water. Sodium from using salt regenerates the resin so that it can continue to provide soft water.
Here are some of the latest options:
Single Tank Softeners are an economical way to soften your water.
Pros: Provides soft water free of calcium and magnesium. Less hard water spots and scale build up in your home.
Cons: May get hard water from time to time during the regeneration process. This leads to hard water spots, scale build up and inconsistent hard water. Uses salt to regenerate. Resin needs to be changed every 5 to 8 years depending on chorine/chloramine levels.
Twin-Alternating Softeners are the best and only way to provide continuous soft water 100% of the time.
Pros: Never run out of soft water. With twin alternating and multi-tank water softeners you can have whole-house filtration continuously. The second tank comes online while the other tank goes through regeneration. Your home will have continuous soft water at peak efficiencies. A twin alternating system uses 30 to 50% less salt and water every year compared to a single tank system.
Cons: More expensive than single tank softeners and requires more space.
Salt-Free systems do not use any salt or potassium chloride.
Pros: No added salt in water, significantly less maintenance than salt-based softeners.
Cons: Not as effective as other water softeners. Does not remove hard water or calcium and magnesium. Not recommended for very hard water.
Magnetic water systems are best for smaller size homes. These are marketed to neutralize heavy minerals by stripping the negative or positive ions with a magnetic field.
Pros: More affordable than salt-based systems, renter-friendly with easy installation, smaller size doesn’t require much space.
Cons: Not actually proven to soften water, doesn’t remove minerals from water, some options must be hardwired.
Pros: Reduces chlorine, chloramines, herbicides and pesticides, affordable, long product life with regular service.
Cons: Does not treat the entire house. Filters must be replaced frequently.
Drinking and Food Prep Water Filtration
Reverse Osmosis water systems provide high quality drinking water (good for your indoor plants and flower vases too).
Most reverse osmosis systems are installed with single units at each faucet or icemaker in the cabinet where you want high quality water, but for new construction or a big remodel Jay recommends a centralized system. A few options:
Single Units for Faucets/Ice Makers
Pros: Reduces 90-99% of all contaminants and minerals in your water, high quality great tasting water.
Cons: Takes up space in your cabinet and if it leaks could you’re your cabinet. Homeowner will need to change many individual filters throughout the house.
Whole-House System
Pros: The centralized system provides high quality drinking water at several locations throughout the home. Can be installed in the garage or outside and if anything leaks it won’t be inside your cabinet. Only one filter to change.
Cons: More expensive than a point-of-use system at install and takes more space.
Additional Option to the Reverse Osmosis System: Carbon Block Filter
Pros: Filters out carbon from the water.
Cons: Additional expense above your osmosis system. Will take additional space.
Several of my personal preferences are:
- Buy a system that is non-proprietary. In case you are not happy with the company’s service you won’t be obligated to use them just to get their parts.
- Some providers keep all the parts on the truck so you don’t pay for two trip charges.
- It is always nice to talk to a local person and not have to go through an 800 number for service.
Thank you to Jay, the owner of Advanced Water Solutions, for help with this article. He can be reached at (805)385-4740 if you have questions or want a free inspection of your current system.
Here’s to having a better cup of coffee or tea along with no water spots on glasses coming out of the dishwasher!
Trudi
