In order to best determine if you need a water softener, you should first have a water sample taken and analyzed.  A water sample analysis will let you know what the hardness is of your water as well as other things such as tannins in your water, iron in your water or other elements that may also require treatment.

Upon completed water analysis, the best recommendation for the size of water softener and other water filtration needs can be made.

If you have a cottage or you are concerned about your drinking water at your home, it is recommended to install a UV light filtration system.

The UV light sterilizes the water, which creates drinkable water by removing 99.99% of bacteria and viruses.  UV lights do not soften your water or do any other form of water treatment. 

If you decide to have a UV light installed, it is also recommended to have a water sample tested, and if required, an appropriate water filtration system installed before your UV system.  UV filtration should be the last point of contact with your water before it gets to your faucets.

Whether you are running your home or cottage with municipal water, well water, or lake water, it's always highly recommended to install, at a minimum, a sediment filter.

The purpose of the sediment filter is to keep any debris or fine particles out of your home plumbing system.  If debris passes through your piping inside your home, you can experience lower water pressure because your faucet aerators, toilet valves, shower heads etc can get clogged up.

Sediment filters are a low cost proactive way to reduce wear and tear on your appliances and faucets, which will save you money in the long run.

We often see low water pressure as a result of clogged filters.  It's important to change your filters frequently, especially if you are drawing water out of a lake or well, which can contain high loads of sediment.

Regardless of whether you have sediment build-up, it's also important to change your filters frequently since filters can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which can impact the quality of your drinking water.

Sediment filters generally should be changed every 6 months to 1 year, however if you notice you water pressure dropping before this amount of time, the frequency of your filter changes should increase since you most likely have a higher sediment load in your water source.