Responsible homeowners stay on top of their home’s water quality. They understand how it impacts everything from their family’s health to the lifespan of their appliances. If it’s been a while since you’ve had your water quality tested, we highly recommend using our free water tests. You can also use the following tips to overcome certain challenges that often arise during the summer months.
Challenge 1: Increased Water Usage
It’s very normal for households across the country to use more water during the summer. You may find yourself filling a swimming pool, setting up slip ‘n slides, running sprinklers, washing cars and more. All these activities can stretch your home’s water system thin as it tries to keep up with the extra demand. Heat and mineral buildup can even affect water quality by increasing sediment and hardness levels. When this happens, you might notice cloudy water or strange odors. In this situation, you’ll need to consider your options for improving water quality. For example, you may need a water softener if you notice spots on dishes or scale around faucets. A reverse osmosis system can help with filtering out contaminants to ensure your drinking water stays clean and safe.
Challenge 2: Warmer Water Temperatures
The hot summer weather is great for getting a tan and spending time outdoors. But it also warms the water temperature as it flows through pipes, tanks and hoses. This, unfortunately, creates thriving conditions for bacteria to multiply and infiltrate your drinking water. A high flow drinking water filter, such as the HFC 1000, can reduce the number of bacteria and other contaminants in the water supply. This system works by trapping harmful particles and filtering out impurities, providing clean, fresh water on demand. You won’t have to worry about strange tastes or having to deal with drinking water that negatively affects your health.
Challenge 3: Algae and Contaminant Build-Up
If you live on a property that uses well water or stores water in a storage tank, the heat from the summer sun can cause algae to grow. In addition to reducing system efficiency and producing an unpleasant odor, the algae may block filters and alter the taste of water. A lot of people say water has a musty or earthy taste to it when it has algae in it. You don’t want to drink or bathe in this water because it can irritate your skin and upset your stomach. To remedy this issue, you need to know exactly what contaminants are present. You can easily do this with one of our free water quality tests. Once you know which pollutants to target, you can choose from a variety of filtration and purification systems.
Challenge 4: Pipe Corrosion
The hot summer weather combined with fluctuating temperatures can speed up pipe corrosion. This is particularly true for older pipes in older homes. You never want corrosion to mix with standing water because it can leach metals like lead and copper into your water supply. This puts your appliances at risk due to mineral buildup and your health at risk because of toxic exposure. Installing a water softener is one of the best ways to reduce hard minerals in water that contribute to corrosion and rust. Reverse osmosis systems also work well for removing heavy metals and making the water safe and pleasant to drink and bathe in.
Challenge 5: Low Water Pressure
If everyone in your neighborhood uses extra water during the summer at the same time, it can lead to water pressure issues. The low pressure can result in reduced flow from fixtures and longer fill times for appliances. Poor pressure may also impact the effectiveness of any water filtration systems you’re running by limiting their ability to treat your water properly. Water softeners are often suggested to help a home maintain steady pressure throughout the day. They achieve this by stopping scale deposits inside the plumbing and keeping water lines clear.
Challenge 6: Stagnant Water in Outdoor Hoses and Faucets
It’s not uncommon for outdoor hoses and spigots to sit unused for long periods of time, especially during the winter. Any stagnant water sitting in these fixtures may become hosts for bacteria and other harmful microorganisms as temperatures rise. This is why you should always flush the hoses and spigots at least once before using them in the summer. Adding a whole-home water filtration system can also help with contaminant control by filtering out bacteria, sediment and other impurities before they reach your tap.
Challenge 7: Hard Water Issues
If your home has hard water, it will likely become worse in the summer. The increased evaporation causes a higher concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Hard water is a hazard to your appliances and plumbing because it leads to scale buildup, which shortens appliance lifespan and makes soaps less effective. This is another situation where a whole-house water filter will prove of the utmost value. It will remove minerals before they reach your faucets and appliances. You can even pair the filtration system with our salt monitoring and delivery program, so you never run out of the softening agent.
Challenge 8: Pesticide and Fertilizer Runoff
Summer is a great time to get outdoors and do a lot of lawn care, like mowing the grass or planting new shrubs. Avoid being careless with pesticides and fertilizers. In fact, you should use them as sparingly as possible. When overapplied or poorly timed, the chemicals will leach into your water supply. The runoff can even introduce nitrates and harmful chemicals into the water you drink and shower in. We recommend a water quality test to pinpoint any contamination. You may need to use a reverse osmosis system or a specialized nitrate filter to filter out nitrates and other agriculture-related contaminants.
Challenge 9: Well Water Contamination
There are many homes in Central Ohio that use well water as their main water source. Well water is great for saving money and staying independent from city supplies, but it also comes with an increased risk of contamination. Dry spells and heavy rain both pose challenges. This is why you should have the water tested at least once a year and always after major summer storms. We may need to add a high-performance filter system, so you don’t have to deal with cloudy water, bad taste or unsafe levels of bacteria. If the well water is hard, a water softener can help protect your plumbing and appliances.
Challenge 10: Filter Overload or Neglect
Make sure you keep a close eye on your system’s filter. The increased use of water during the summer may cause the filter to work overtime. The buildup of sediment and organic material can clog the filter, and when this happens, it reduces the system’s effectiveness. No matter the system you’re using, it should come with a filter maintenance schedule. Adhering to this timeline is the best way to ensure your filtration system always achieves peak performance.
WaterBird Home Water Solutions offers a wide variety of products and services to help your home have clean, fresh-tasting water all year. A lot of customers turn to us for our free water quality testing and high-quality service. We pride ourselves on honesty and real-client referrals instead of pushy sales tactics. Water is life, treat it right. Call WaterBird Home Water Solutions now to learn more about boosting your home’s water quality during the summer in Bellville, OH using our exceptional water filtration services that focus on value and integrity.
