FAQ
Questions we get
How do I know a plumber is licensed?
Ask for the license number and look it up with the state. Ours is in the footer of every page, with a link to the lookup.
What does a visit cost, and what does it include?
The hardness test at your kitchen tap is free and you owe us nothing after it. An install is priced in writing from what we see at the visit. How pricing works has the details.
Will I get a price before you start?
Yes, in writing. The total on the quote is the number, and anything we find later is agreed with you before we do it.
Do you charge more at nights and weekends?
We don't do night calls. Saturday tests are by appointment, and the price on your quote is the price.
How long does an install take?
Swapping in a softener is often a half day. A first install with new plumbing can take longer. We tell you when we write the quote.
Do you pull permits?
Where your town requires one for the work, we pull it and the cost is on the quote. At the visit we'll tell you whether yours does.
Where is my main shutoff?
Usually where the water line comes through the basement wall or floor, near the meter. In older homes it can be in a crawlspace or a utility closet. If you can't find it, we look before we start and show you.
Is my house at risk for lead, galvanized or polybutylene pipe?
Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder or a lead service line. Older homes may have galvanized steel pipe, and polybutylene was used in some homes from the late 1970s to the mid 1990s. Our test doesn't check for lead. Ask your water utility about your service line, or send a sample to a lab.
Is a softener or a filter right for me?
The result card decides. A softener changes hardness. A filter is for taste, smell or grit. Some homes need one, some need both and some need neither.
Do I need a softener if I'm on a private well?
If your well water is hard, a softener works the same way as on city water. A well needs a lab test for other things now and then, and we'll tell you which.
What does hard water do to a water heater?
Scale builds up inside the tank and on heating parts, and it makes them work harder. Taking the hardness out slows the buildup.
What does the warranty cover?
The equipment's maker sets its warranty. We write its terms, and the terms for our install work, on your estimate before you sign. Ask to read them.
How often do I add salt?
Check the brine tank once a month. Many households add a bag every month or two, depending on hardness and water use.
What areas and hours do you cover?
Eau Claire and the towns around it, listed on the Where we work page. Weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday by appointment. We don't run a night line.
Still have a question?
Call or text, and we'll answer it. Or book a test and ask at your kitchen tap.