Looking to buy a home is an exciting time, but you don’t want to get misled. The listing details for water quality can be tricky. Even if the sellers say that the home has a water filtration system, water softener, or other unit installed, you shouldn’t assume it’s working as it should. Without
regular maintenance, these pieces of equipment might not be doing anything to help your tap water.
Fortunately, there are ways to spot water quality issues—with or without these types of systems in place. Knowing what to look for can help you know upfront whether your dream property has great water already, or if it needs an upgraded system.
7 Signs of Water Quality Issues
Since most homes will have a deep-clean before going on the market, you might not see water spots or
soap scum. But there are still other issues to watch out for! As you do your home tours, try to keep an eye on these common signs of poor water quality:
1. Hard Crust on Faucets
Seeing white crust or
green stuff on the faucet is a sure sign of hard water in the home. The dissolved minerals in hard tap water can end up collecting on faucets and other fixtures, including showerheads. The result is a hard crust that’s tricky to remove. In addition to being somewhat unsightly, these problems can also mess with your water pressure.
If you want to get rid of that crust on your faucets once and for all, your best bet is to get a home water softener installed. Clean up the trouble spots first, then keep your softener maintained for squeaky-clean faucets everywhere in your home.
2. Stains in Toilet Bowl
A lot of homeowners notice strange pink or rust-colored stains in the toilet bowl and wonder if their water quality is to blame. While
pink toilet bowl stains might be caused by more of a bacteria issue that a water concern, the rust-colored stains are probably linked to poorly treated well water.
When the iron levels get too high in well water, you might start to notice streaks of red or brown stains in your sink or other places. Stopping these stains from constantly forming will likely require a
well water treatment system to filter out those unwanted minerals.
3. No Kitchen Water Filter
A quick glance around the listing’s kitchen will answer this question for you! Do you see a second faucet by the sink with a thin, special nozzle? If not, then the home isn’t set up for
filtered drinking water. But on the bright side, you can always add a system that’s got the right features for your family.
We tend to recommend two different water filters for homeowners. The first option is a
reverse osmosis treatment system. The second is a unit that’s built as a
high-efficiency water filter. Comparing the two can help you find your best match.
4. Cloudy Tap Water
You shouldn’t be shy about turning on the water as your browse through homes. Checking the faucets and seeing how the water looks can be a big help. If possible, try to pour a glass of water so you can check its clarity. See anything unusual, like brownish tint or
cloudy water? That indicates a water quality issue with turbidity.
No one likes drinking cloudy water, but you shouldn’t have to shower in dirty water either. A whole-home water system can help take care of some of those cloudy tap water problems. With one of these smart units installed, you can enjoy truly fuss-free water.
5. Low Water Pressure
Running the water for a minute can also help you assess the property’s
water pressure. If the pressure is too high, you might want to talk with a plumber about making some adjustments. But if it’s too low, you might have some more serious hard water concerns. It just depends on the home’s setup.
Well water can have low water pressure when the system needs repairs, but municipal tap water can also be slow because of clogged pipes or mineral deposits. Know what kind of water you’re getting before you make your offer so you don’t have any surprises!
6. Smelly Tap Water
As you study the faucet, do you notice any strange smells with the water? Catching a scent of sulfur or rotten egg can be a common compliant with poor well water quality. Then again, city tap water can also have strange odors. It can certainly by unsettling to notice a
strong scent of bleach or something like swimming pool chlorine!
Different odors require their own type of water filter in place. For strange sulfur smells, a well water treatment system is usually best. Those chlorine odors, however, will usually only go away better when you have a
whole-home system with chlorine removal in place.
7. Hot Water is Slow
Last but not least, you want to make sure your home is able to handle your family’s demands for hot water. If a faucet or showerhead is taking too long to get hot water, you might need to investigate the plumbing or water heater. Oftentimes, hard water can create tough scale build-up inside these units, which really lowers their efficiency.
Like the hard, mineral crust on faucets, home water heaters can be severely damaged by hard water, too. Instead of dealing with cold water, get your units checked out. An efficient water softener can help protect all the water-using appliances in your home from these problems!
Solve the Water Problems—for Good
Your new home wish list doesn’t necessarily need to include “great water quality.” If you know what to watch for (and who to call), you can get safe and clean water in just about any home where you’d like to live. We’re big fans of customizing water systems to meet your needs.
To get started on your water consultation, give Indy Soft Water a call at (317) 228-9822. As your local water softener company, we’re you’re go-to source for all things related to commercial and home water filtration, including soft water solutions. Feel free to
send us a message with any water-related questions or concerns!
