Buying a new home can be an exciting adventure! But, it can also be a nightmare if you don’t plan ahead and ask the right questions before you sign on the dotted line and make your purchase official.
While the home’s location, size, floor plan, and school district are all great things to consider, so is water quality. After all, you use water every single day for drinking and meal preparation as well as bathing, laundry, and more.
Here are three important water quality questions you should ask the current homeowner or the realtor to make sure you’re getting the quality water you want and deserve.
#1: Where does the water for this home come from?
Typically, the answer to this question will be either ‘from a municipal source’ or ‘from a personal well’. Where it comes from has a significant impact on the overall water quality you’ll have in your new home.
Each of the water sources mentioned above comes with their own pro’s and con’s. Let’s take a look at what they are:
Municipal Water Source Pros and Cons:
- Pro: You will typically have an endless supply of water (but you’ll probably pay for every gallon you use).
- Pro: Municipal water sources are required to meet drinking water quality standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Con: Not every water contaminant is regulated so you may still have unwanted contaminants in your water.
- Con: Even if the water leaving your local water treatment plant is considered safe, it may become contaminated before it gets to your home.
- Con: Chlorine may be used by your municipality to kill parasites, bacteria, and viruses. While this may make your water safer in terms of potential contaminants, it may leave you looking for chlorine removal options if you don’t like how your water tastes or smells.
Private Well Pros and Cons:
- Pro: You are typically not limited on how much water you can use (but your well could go dry if you live in an area subject to drought conditions).
- Con: Private wells are not regulated by government entities so you will need regular water testing to determine your water quality and safety.
- Con: Private wells are especially susceptible to high mineral content (hard water), iron (leaves rust stains), and hydrogen sulfide (water smells like sulfur).
#2: What water quality issues have been identified in the area?
Since approximately 80% of American homes are in areas with hard water, there’s a very good chance that the new home you’re considering is, too. While that certainly isn’t a deal-breaker, it’s an important issue to know about before you make your purchase and move in.
The excess minerals in hard water can wreak havoc on your home and even on your body if the water isn’t treated. Hard water is known for leaving water spots on dishes, stains on tubs, toilets, and fixtures, and mineral build-up in pipes and water-using appliances. It can also have negative effects on your hair and skin. Ultimately, if this home has hard water, you’ll want to get rid of it.
#3: Does this home come with any pre-installed water treatment products or systems?
Perhaps the previous or current homeowners have already identified any water quality issues present and done the work to rectify them. If so, you may see a home water softener system or reverse osmosis drinking water system installed.
Water softeners are typically installed at the point of entry – where water first enters the home. That means that any and all water flowing through the pipes will be soft water even if the water flowing to the home is hard.
In contrast, drinking water systems are typically installed at point of use – under the kitchen sink, for example, where you may wish to have safe, quality drinking water come out of the tap. This allows you to have an endless supply of contaminant-free water without the hassle or environmental concerns of buying bottled water.
If the new home you want to buy already has these water treatment products, you’re off to a great start. Now, you just need to learn about when they were installed, who installed them, how they were maintained, and what you will need to do to keep them functioning properly.
Get the Best Water Quality in North County with RWI Water Systems Water Treatment Products
If the new home you’re considering does not already have water quality systems in place, or if they’re old or deteriorating, we can help! Our water quality experts can help you decide exactly what product or system you need for your specific location and household water usage.
Simply contact us today to get started!
