Scale on faucets, spots on dishes, dry skin, or water that smells or tastes off are all reasons homeowners start asking about water treatment. Wilson's plumbers test your water, explain what is in it, and install and service water softeners and filtration systems sized to your home. We start with a test, not a sales pitch, because the right system depends on what your water actually contains.
Call 330-920-0225 or book online to schedule water testing.
City water and well water need different answers
Municipal water in Northeast Ohio is treated and tested by the water utility to meet drinking water standards, but it can still be hard enough to leave scale, and some homes notice chlorine taste or odor. Utilities publish an annual water quality report, and our guides on drinking water in Akron and Cleveland water quality explain what those reports mean.
Private wells are the homeowner's responsibility to test and treat. Wells can carry hardness, iron, sediment or other issues, so testing comes first. Wilson also repairs well pumps if your well system itself is the problem.
Signs your water could use treatment
- White scale on faucets, showerheads and glass shower doors.
- Spots on dishes and glassware after the dishwasher runs.
- Soap and shampoo that do not lather well.
- Orange or brown staining in sinks and toilets, a common sign of iron.
- A rotten egg or chlorine smell, or an off taste.
- Water heaters and fixtures that scale up or fail early.
Water softeners
A water softener removes hardness minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium, before they reach your pipes, fixtures and water heater. Sizing depends on how hard your water is and how much your household uses. Your plumber tests hardness, recommends a size, and installs the softener with a bypass so you can isolate it for service.
Softeners need salt and occasional service. If your softener is using salt but your water is still hard, it may need a repair or a reset of its settings. If your softener is otherwise in good shape, ask your plumber whether a repair or a settings change makes sense before you consider replacing it, and what each option would cost.
Water filtration
Filtration addresses taste, odor and specific contaminants. Options range from whole-house filters that treat every tap to point-of-use systems at the kitchen sink. The right choice depends on the test results and what you want to improve, so your plumber will explain what each option does and does not remove.
Matching the system to the test results
Water treatment works best when each piece has a job. Hardness is handled by a softener. Sediment is caught by a whole-house sediment filter, which also protects the softener and fixtures downstream. Chlorine taste and odor are usually addressed with a carbon filter, either for the whole house or at the kitchen sink. Iron and rotten egg smells, more common on wells, may need a dedicated filter ahead of the softener. Not every home needs every stage, and adding equipment you do not need just adds maintenance. That is why your plumber reads the test results with you and explains which issue each piece of equipment addresses before recommending anything, and what upkeep each one needs, such as salt for a softener and filter changes for cartridges.
What the visit includes
Your plumber tests the water, explains the results in plain language, and recommends a system only if the results support one. You get upfront pricing before any work starts. After installation, we show you how to add salt, use the bypass and read the settings.
Healthy Home Membership
Wilson's Healthy Home Membership is $15 a month. Its annual plumbing maintenance visit includes an inspection of your water softener, along with your sump pump and water lines, plus 5% off installations including water softeners, 15% off repairs and a waived dispatch fee. Terms apply, including a 12-month minimum.
Where we install water treatment
Wilson's plumbers work across Northeast Ohio, with offices in Stow, Akron, Solon and Beachwood. Treating hard water also protects your water heater. For cost questions, see water softener installation cost in Akron, and for indoor air, see air and water quality.
FAQs
Water treatment questions
Do I need a water softener in Northeast Ohio?
It depends on your water's hardness, which varies by source. If you see scale on fixtures, spotty dishes or short-lived water heaters, test first. Wilson tests your water and recommends a softener only when the results support one.
What is the difference between a water softener and a water filter?
A softener removes hardness minerals that cause scale. A filter targets taste, odor, sediment or specific contaminants. Many homes need one or the other, and some need both. A water test tells you which problem you have.
Why is my water still hard with a softener?
Common causes include running out of salt, a salt bridge in the brine tank, incorrect settings, or a worn valve or resin. A plumber can check the softener's operation and settings and tell you whether it needs service or replacement.
Should I test my well water?
Yes. Private well owners are responsible for testing their own water. Testing shows hardness, iron and other issues so you can choose the right treatment, and it is a good idea after any change in taste, smell or color.
Does a water softener cause low water pressure?
A correctly sized and working softener should not noticeably reduce pressure. If pressure dropped after installation, the unit may be undersized, clogged or set up incorrectly. Our plumbers can check it. See our guide on softener low pressure.
Book water testing
Call 330-920-0225 or book online. Upfront pricing before work starts.