FAQ

  • Water Treatment

    • What is hard water?
      Hard water is caused by excessive levels of calcium and/or magnesium dissolved in water. Hardness is based on the concentration of calcium and/or magnesium as measured in grains per gallon (gpg).
    • What's so bad about hard water?
      Hard water can produce a rock-like scale that builds up in pipes, dishwashers, water heaters, ice machines, and other appliances. This scale can also reduce water flow and clog valves and vents to create maintenance problems and reduce the life of your appliances. Calcium and magnesium are the primary hard water minerals. Hard water is more abrasive than soft water. The tiny mineral particles combine with soap curd or detergents to become like little pieces of rock pounding away at clothing fibers and fragile glassware. Over time, the structural integrity of the product is weakened. This means glasses become etched and the life of clothing is reduced. Skin and hair are affected by hard water as well. A greater amount of shampoo and soap is needed to clean, and hard water doesn’t rinse off as well as soft water. That means soap residues remain, leaving skin susceptible to blemishes and hair less shiny.
    • How is water softened?
      Water is softened or conditioned by replacing hard ions such as magnesium and calcium with softer sodium or potassium ions. Water softeners must be regenerated regularly with brine solution, renewing their ability to remove hardness from water. The hard water is passed through a tank containing resin beads coated with sodium ions or potassium ions. The calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for the sodium ions, thus conditioning the water. When the beads have trapped all the hardness they can hold, the unit is regenerated with salt brine to replace the hardness ions with sodium ions. The unit is then ready to condition water again.
    • What is that swimming pool water taste in my drinking water?
      Chlorine. Chlorine can make water smell and taste bad. A powerful disinfectant commonly employed in commercial and household sanitation, it is used for bleaching and maintaining swimming pools. It is most commonly used for disinfection of public water supplies to manage bacteria levels in drinking water.
    • What does water softener installation involve?
      Our standard installation is quick and unobtrusive. Once installed, you can forget about it except for adding salt as required.
    • How much money can I save with softened water?

      The savings provided by a water softener will produce a return on investment within two to four years, but there are also many hidden benefits:

      • Removal of existing scale from your hot water tank and associated pipework – save on repairs and maintenance.
      • Sinks, taps, toilets, shower screens, and bathrooms will remain scale-free – no more ugly white stains to wash off.
      • Shower heads will never have to be descaled again.
      • Soft water is a natural conditioner for fabrics, hair, and skin.
      • Up to 75% reduction of soaps and detergents – use only one tablespoon of washing powder for your washing machine.
      • Crystal clear bath water and lovely rich lather with very little soap required.
      • Soft water is kinder to heating systems, washing machines, and dishwashers making them last years longer.
      • No more messy scum – save on cleaning times.
    • Why is my skin so dry and itchy?
      Municipal water is treated with chlorine, a powerful bleaching chlorine, a powerful beaching sanitation agent and oxidant used to manage harmful biological agents that seep into the water supplies from lakes, rivers, streams, and ground water. Chlorine is a highly toxic chemical that even at acceptable levels can contribute to dry eyes and skin irritation as well as exacerbate conditions such as eczema.
    • How do I know if I have iron in my water?
      Rust-colored stains on sinks, clothing, and linens indicate the presence of iron in the water. Iron can also form scale in pipes and water-using appliances, and make food, water, and water-using beverages look and smell bad. Iron is measured in parts per million (ppm). Even in concentrations as low as 0.3 ppm, iron can leave stains on sinks, dishes, and cooking utensils, and give the water an unpleasant metallic taste. Iron affects both the color and the flavor of foods, and reacts with the tannins present in coffee, tea, and some alcoholic beverages to produce a black sludge with affects both taste and appearance.
    • How is iron removed from my water?
      Water readily dissolves iron from the earth’s deposits. As the iron-bearing water enters the house it is usually clear and colorless but with a distinct iron taste. After exposure to the air, the iron precipitates and leaves behind the unsightly reddish-brown stains on sinks, showers, tubs, and clothes. There are several ways to remove iron from water. The two most common types of equipment used are water conditioners (ion exchange) and oxidizing filters. We normally recommend the use of a water conditioner that employs effective counter-current brining and backwash cycles.
    • How can I find out what's in my water?
      The easiest way to find out what is in your water is to contact Miracle | EcoWater Systems at 1-800-874-4104 for a free water analysis. A trained Specialist will come to your home or business and conduct tests for hardness, iron, pH, nitrates, and total dissolved solids. They might also conduct tests for other constituents if they have reason to believe they are present. After the tests are completed the consultant will explain the results and make recommendations for treatment if required. The entire procedure takes 30-45 minutes and is completely free.
    • Is water treatment expensive?
      In many cases, water treatment can save money. For example, conditioning water to eliminate hardness can reduce the cost of soap, lower the cost of heating hot water, increase the useful life of water-using appliances, and increase the life of clothes and linens. It might also eliminate the need to purchase bottled drinking water.
    • Isn't my municipal water treated?
      Many municipalities treat water with chlorine to kill bacteria. A few even soften water. But their goal is to only meet minimum federal requirements. To eliminate chlorine aftertaste and common water problems, an in-home water treatment system is often necessary. Local health and water department authorities only certify that water is potable. Water is deemed potable, or safe to drink, when and only when it is free of disease-causing organisms as well as toxic chemical contaminants. Water that is deemed potable does not necessarily mean that it is palatable. To be palatable water must be free of detectable tastes and odors. It must also be free of turbidity as well as strong color. Tastes and odors can be traced to one or more of the following: decaying organic matter; living organisms; iron or manganese; the metallic products of corrosion, industrial waste pollution, and/or chlorination; and high mineral concentrations.
    • Why is it important to consume high-quality drinking water?
      You are what you drink! It is a scientific fact that drinking plenty of water is necessary for a healthier life. 70% of your body is made up of water and 85% of your brain’s gray matter is made up of water. Imagine the benefit to you and your family if you drink filtered water every day.
    • Do water conditioners add sodium to my water?

      Ecowater water conditioners and softeners add very little sodium to the water compared to other makes and models from our competitors it uses 80% less salt during regeneration than most units on the market with EcoWater's patented technology. 


      One of the last cycles of the regeneration process is called final rinse to flush any residual sodium out of the water when completed there is less than a 1% residual left after regeneration.

      All of our water conditioners and softeners have the option of using potassium chloride in lieu of salt which would make your system sodium free.

    • How do I know which water treatment service I need?
      The first step to improving your family’s water is to identify your specific problem. Is your skin itchy? Are there reddish-brown iron stains in your sink, shower, or tub? Does your bathtub have a hard water ring? Does your water look dirty or cloudy? Are there stains on your china and glassware? Does your water smell sometimes? For these and other common problems, we can conduct free in-home water tests and recommend the perfect solution.
Back to Top