The best time to fix your water is before you unpack.
New fixtures, a new water heater and open walls make this the easiest, least disruptive moment to add water treatment. Here's what to plan for.
Why now is the right time.
- 01
Protect new everything
Hard water starts leaving scale on day one: glass shower doors, faucets, the dishwasher and the water heater. Tankless heater makers call for scale protection on hard water.
- 02
The plumbing is open
During a build or remodel, adding a softener loop, a drain and an outlet is simple. Doing it later can mean opening walls.
- 03
New lines carry grit
Fresh construction often sends sediment through new pipes for a while, clogging aerators and appliance valves. A sediment stage catches it.
Building? Ask your builder for these.
Most of it costs little during construction and saves a lot of hassle later.
- A softener loopUsually in the garage, where the main line comes in. Ask exactly where it ends up.
- A drain nearbySofteners and some filters flush to a drain: a standpipe, floor drain or laundry drain within reach of the loop.
- A power outletMetered softener valves need a standard outlet near the loop.
- Room to workSpace for two tanks plus a brine tank, with clearance to add salt and change filters.
- Under-sink space in the kitchenFor reverse osmosis: a cold water line, a drain connection and a faucet hole in the counter or sink.
Remodeling?
Each project opens a different door.
- KitchenThe ideal time to add an RO drinking water system and its faucet, since the counter and cabinets are already being worked on.
- BathroomsProtect new glass shower doors, tile and fixtures from spotting and scale with a softener before they're installed.
- New water heater or repipeAdd the softener at the same time, so the new heater never sees hard water.
Just bought a home?
Whether there's a softener in the garage or nothing at all, start with a test.
- Find out what you're onCounty water, city water or a private well. Each needs a different approach. Take the 60-second quiz.
- Check the old systemIf the last owner left one, we'll test before and after it and tell you honestly whether it's doing its job.
- On a well?Florida health officials recommend testing private wells for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year at a state-certified lab, and right after you move in is a good first time.
New-home areas we serveLakewood RanchParrishPalmettoEllentonBradentonSarasota
New-home questions.
Does my builder's softener loop come with a softener?
Usually not. A softener loop is just plumbing: a pipe that runs out to the garage and back so a system can be connected later. It doesn't treat anything until a softener or filter is installed on it.
When is the best time to install?
Right after you get the keys, before scale has a chance to build up on new fixtures and the water heater. If you're remodeling, plan it while the walls and cabinets are open.
We bought a home with a softener already in the garage. Is it any good?
Maybe. Softeners can run for years, but resin wears out, valves get set wrong and some were sized for a different household. We'll test your water before and after the old system and tell you honestly if it's worth keeping.
Do I need anything if my new home is on county water?
New homes in Manatee and Sarasota County get the same hard, disinfected water as everyone else, and fresh lines often carry construction grit for a while. Most new homes start with whole-home carbon and a softener.
Can you put RO in a kitchen we're remodeling?
Yes, and it's the easiest time. Plan for room under the sink for the unit and a small storage tank, a cold water line, a drain connection and a hole in the countertop or sink for the RO faucet.
The prices are on the site. The rest is one call and a quick look at your plumbing.
Look up your water, pick a system, and we install it in a day. We'll tell you what your water needs and what's optional, and add whatever else you want at a flat price.