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The type of water used in your home affects not only your monthly utility bill, but also the quality of the water entering your home as well as your plumbing needs. While you normally might not think about the water quality in your home (it’s fine as long as it’s working, right?) when something goes wrong, it is very important to know about your water system.

First, all homes either get their water from a city source or a private well, and there are advantages and disadvantages for both. City water is most common in urban and suburban areas, while private wells are found in rural areas. However, even though these systems are different, you should also know that maintenance is extremely important to both types, which means you should know about your water!

City Water/Sewer

Romans were one of the first peoples to institute city water systems similar to todays. The idea of both systems is simple, bringing water from a source like a river or lake into a system that cleans the water and delivers it to many people. Today, city water is managed by health department regulations to ensure that the water coming through is clean and safe, so that when you turn on your tap, you don’t need to worry about your water content. In addition, Mortgages favor using city water because if the water becomes contaminated, the city is to blame (rather than the homeowner).

Private Well

Wells, collections of water underground, are included as a part of a real estate property. That means that when you buy a home without city water, a private well is the only option. A private well also brings more responsibility to the homeowner. Because the well is serving just one home, if something contaminates it, it affects only that home, which means neighbors will not experience a difference. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to regularly check the content of the water to make sure that it is safe to drink. Well water also varies in quality, from soft to hard, which can affect your day-to-day usage.

Hard Water

Water can be either “soft” or “hard,” depending on the amount of metal and minerals in the water. The more minerals are in the water, the “harder” it is. Hard water is fine to drink, but can have some poor effects on other water uses. For example, hard water is more difficult to wash things with. Soap does not produce suds as easily, and you will end up using more soap, detergent, toothpaste, and home cleaning products with hard water. In addition, washing clothes may become more difficult, especially when trying to keep whites from yellowing. If you are noticing these signs, you will want to check your water content to see if your home might need a water softening solution.

Soft Water

Soft water is more clean and “filtered” than hard water, and is generally preferred by most homeowners. However, softening hard water is possible using a few methods. First, if you only need a small amount of water softened for drinking or cooking, you can actually do it for free! Simply boil your water and then scoop the top layers of water from your pot and then bottle it and place it in the fridge. If you are looking for a more convenient solution, then you can purchase a water filter pitcher or faucet attachment. Finally, if your are looking for a whole-home solution, there are water softeners available that will filter your whole home to improve the quality of all your water uses.

Warner Service knows that plumbing can be a serious issue if not maintained. A small leak can turn into an expensive repair very quickly, which is why a plumbing maintenance plan can be a huge help in preventing water damage. Contact Warner Service today for a home plumbing inspection, or call to sign up for Warner Membership to receive regular service visits for your plumbing and HVAC system!