FAQ

Water Softener

Hard water, which contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, can be found in nearly 90 percent of American homes. These minerals cause scaling, a buildup that clogs waterlines and plumbing forcing appliances to work harder and operate less efficiently.  Hard Water usually leaves white residue behind wherever water evaporates. When hardness reacts with soaps and detergents, it leaves a sticky soap scum behind. Installing a water softener will eliminate hard water problems in your home. Give us a call and we can visit your home to test your water for hardness and other contaminates.
A water softener removes calcium and magnesium through a process known as ion exchange, replacing hard ions with sodium chloride or potassium chloride. In most instances the amount of sodium being added is so small that it is not a significant contributor to the amount of sodium in your diet.
We get this question frequently because there are many companies out there advertising “salt-free” water softener products. Currently, there still is no product on the market that softens water like a traditional ion exchange water softener. Most of the products being marketed as “salt-free” are actually water conditioners that are designed to reduce scaling, not soften water. Only a salt based ion exchange water softener will remove Calcium and magnesium and achieve truly soft water.
A Basin Water Solutions Water Softener removes the calcium and magnesium in your water so your skin is cleaned without hard water minerals left behind. There is no residue on your skin to trap traces of soap, and other particles. Residue left behind by hard water causes your skin to dry out. The slippery, softness you feel when you bathe is exactly how clean skin is supposed to feel.  Soft water allows your bath soaps to lather better and rinse off completely, and you’ll be able to save money because you will use less soap and shampoo.
Yes, once you have a water softener installed in your home it will start to remove the build up of the scale that has accumulated.  It will take some time for this but it will reverse any hard water deposits.
No.  The only thing added to your water will be trace amounts of sodium (salt) or potassium to exchange with the hard calcium and magnesium the water softener removes from your water.  In fact, your water softener will reduce the amounts of harsh chemicals and detergents you use in your home.  Cleaning with soft water is much more efficient and environmentally friendly.
There are many different options and sizes of water softeners.  It is important to have one of our professional water treatment specialist test your water, determine your water demand, and survey the plumbing system in your home.  We will size a water softener system for your specific needs.  Book your free consultation today!
No, unfortunately a water softener is designed to remove hardness ions (calcium, and magnesium) from water.  A water softener can also help to reduce iron and manganese in limited amounts.  If you are wanting to remove other dissolved minerals, chemicals, and contaminants specifically for drinking and cooking you should consider purchasing a Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System.
At Basin Water Solutions, we have many models and sizes of water softeners to choose from, all with different features and capacities.  We have water softeners for every budget.  We will work hard to find the best solution for you and your family.  We also offer financing, rentals, and lease to purchase options to make your purchase easy.
It all depends on your water consumption and your water hardness.  With that said, our high efficiency water softeners use less salt than many traditional water softeners to regenerate the resin bed.  Our water softeners meter your water consumption and regenerate only when needed to maintain soft water in your home.  Most of our clients choose to depend on Basin Water Solutions to maintain their water filtration equipment on an ongoing basis which can include salt delivery.

 

Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System

Often referred to as RO, is a water purification method to produce high quality drinking water. The technology was originally developed by the US Navy to produce drinking water from high salinity sea water for submarine crews.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis#History) The process involves membrane filter technology forcing water under pressure through very small pores of a semi-permeable membrane.
Most RO systems developed for use in residential applications involve processing the water through several stages of filtration to produce a high quality drinking water. There are several systems that may have anywhere from 3 stage filtration up to 6 + stage filtration. Most systems involve multiple filters that include 5 micron sediment and activated carbon prefilters prior to the water flowing through the membrane. Our most popular 5 Stage 50 Gallon Per Day RO System processes the water through 3 separate pre-filtration filters that remove organic contaminants, particulates, chlorine, and its by-products. Next the water flows through the reverse osmosis membrane, a very tightly wound sheet filter, that rejects dissolved solids and a long list of other impurities to the drain and allowing purified water to pass to a storage tank. When the dedicated faucet that is installed on the sink countertop is opened, the purified water from the storage tank flows through a final stage post carbon filter to polish the taste. Additional stages can be added to the system to include Alkaline or Remineralization Filters, and UV Light Disinfection.
Distilled water has a few parts per million more of mineral constituents removed vs. RO water. However, distillers don’t remove contaminants such as volatile chemicals (VOCs) with a low boiling point. For example, Chloramines, which many cities utilize instead of Chlorine as a disinfectant are not removed through distillation of water. Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Systems that include carbon prefiltration do a very good job at removing chemical contaminants in water.
The typical RO system installed under the kitchen sink for drinking water consumption uses water like other water-using appliances in the home. We use and send water to the drain everyday washing cloths, washing dishes, and flushing toilets. A RO system uses more water in its operation then is actually consumed however you will not suddenly see a jump in your water bill. When the storage tank is full it will automatically stop the incoming water and shut down water flowing to the drain. In terms of expense, it’s like a couple of extra toilet flushes a day.
With proper maintenance and service your RO unit could last a very long time. Regularly replacing the prefilter and post filters is crucial to the longevity of the system and especially the RO membrane. Typical membrane life is 3 to 5 years, depending on the quality of the water you are processing.
It is true that RO systems remove minerals to about 98% but that is not the whole truth. This question is probably our most frequent and controversial question in drinking water purification we get. Many experts on both sides of the argument speak convincingly so it can be quite confusing for the consumer. If you really dive deep into the research what you will find is that the mineral content in water, either high or low, isn’t as important as you would believe. The minerals that are in water are inorganic and difficult for your body to hold on to. You really get the majority of the minerals your body needs from the food that you eat and most importantly from the daily supplements your take. The issue with most water supplies is the chemical and other impurities, not that it has low or high mineral content. Reverse Osmosis is the most efficient and cost effective way to purify your drinking water.
No, they work on water pressure. The only instance where you would need electricity for an RO is if you have an added booster pump or Ultraviolet Lamp installed as part of the system.
Ultimately this depends on the quality of the water the unit is processing and how frequently the system is used. The prefilters and post filter will need to be replaced biannually to annually. Depending on the model of the RO, the annual cost is between $0.30 to $0.60 a day. Much more cost effective than buying bottled water!
Yes, in fact we recommend it, but only if you can reach the appliance with a ⅜” tube from the under sink RO system. It is a good idea because you will no longer have the expense of changing the expensive and less effective filters included with most model refrigerators. If we can not reach the appliance with a line from the under the sink RO unit you can sometimes install an additional RO dedicated to the refrigerator, but it depends on the layout of your kitchen.
A water softener and other whole house filtration actually help to extend the life of the filters and membrane of the RO system. The calcium and magnesium present in most water supplies are 2 of the hardest minerals for the RO to remove. We suggest pairing up a whole house water filtration system with the RO unit to achieve the best water for the entire home!