Water Softener & Filtration Pierce County | Water Quality Testing

Water Quality & Filtration in Pierce County & South King County

Hard water, iron staining, rotten-egg smell, chlorine taste, or just better-tasting drinking water? Andy's Plumbing & Drain recommends and installs water softeners, whole-home filtration, and under-sink RO systems. We run a free hardness test before recommending anything — we won't sell you a system you don't need.

A plumbing company that remembers your home.

Free Hardness Test Softener, Filter, RO & UV Flat-Rate Pricing

Common Water Quality Issues We See

Hard water: Soap scum, white scale on faucets and shower doors, dishes with spots, dry skin, scale buildup in water heater. Calcium and magnesium are the culprits.
Iron: Orange or red staining in toilets, sinks, and laundry. Common in well-water situations.
Rotten-egg smell (sulfur): Hydrogen sulfide. Often well-water. Sometimes a hot-water tank issue (anode rod reacting).
Chlorine taste/smell: Chlorinated municipal water. Effective treatment but unpleasant.
Sediment / cloudy water: Particulate that settles when water sits in a glass.
Acidic water: Low pH, leaches copper from pipes, causes blue-green staining.
Bacteria concerns: More common on private wells; UV treatment is effective.
Drinking water taste: RO systems polish municipal or well water for drinking and cooking.

Test First. Recommend Second.

We run a free hardness test before recommending a softener — that's the one thing we test for free. A softener fixes hard water. It does not fix iron, sulfur, chlorine, or low pH, so if one of those is your issue, we diagnose it from the visible signs (staining, smell, taste, water source) and talk through what actually treats it, rather than running a broad free test we don't offer.

Iron, pH, and other non-hardness conditions: we can point you to a certified lab if you want an exact number before committing to equipment. Health-related contaminants need lab testing regardless. Bacteria, arsenic, lead, nitrates, and other health-related water issues require proper lab testing — we don't test for these, free or otherwise, and we don't guess on health-related water issues. If you suspect any of those, we point you to a certified lab and design treatment around the actual results.

Salt-Free Conditioners vs. True Softeners

Salt-free water "conditioners" are not true softeners. They may reduce scale adhesion through chemistry that changes how minerals deposit, but they do not remove hardness minerals the way an ion-exchange softener does. If you're trying to actually soften the water (eliminate hardness from the water itself), a salt-based ion-exchange softener is the technology that does that. Salt-free systems have a place, but they are different products with different results.

What We Install

Water Softeners

For hard water. Ion-exchange softeners replace calcium and magnesium with sodium (or potassium) using salt regeneration. Sized to your household water use and hardness level. Quality residential softeners last 15–20 years with normal maintenance. We size to your home, plumb a bypass, and walk you through salt refill and basic care.

Whole-Home Filtration

For chlorine, sediment, low-grade iron, or general "polish" of municipal water. Cartridge or backwashing media filters installed at the main water entry point. Treats every fixture in the house.

Iron Filters

Specifically for iron and manganese in well water. Often air-injection or oxidation-style filters that precipitate the iron and filter it out. Sized to iron level and household use.

UV Disinfection

For private wells where bacterial concerns exist. UV light kills microorganisms without chemicals. Requires sediment filtration upstream to be effective.

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

Under-sink point-of-use system for drinking water and cooking. Removes 95%+ of dissolved solids. Installed under the kitchen sink with a dedicated faucet at the counter. Optional connection to fridge for filtered ice and water.

Acid Neutralizers

For low-pH water. Calcite media raises pH and stops copper leaching. Common need for acidic well water.

Sizing Done Right

Undersized treatment equipment gets overwhelmed and fails early. Oversized treatment equipment costs more than necessary and wastes water and salt. We size based on:

Number of bathrooms / typical simultaneous fixtures
Daily household water use
Free hardness test result, plus visible signs for anything else (staining, smell, taste, water source)
Source: municipal vs. well

Honest take: Door-to-door water-treatment salespeople are notorious for selling oversized, overpriced systems with high-pressure pitches. We do the test, show you the numbers, and give you the honest options. No pressure, no door-to-door sales tactics, no fake urgency.

Maintenance

Softeners: Salt refills (rock salt or pellets), occasional resin cleaner. Most systems are user-maintained.
Cartridge filters: Filter changes every 3–6 months depending on use and sediment load.
Backwashing filters: Self-clean automatically; media replacement every 5–10 years.
RO systems: Pre/post filters annually, membrane every 2–3 years.
UV systems: Lamp replacement annually.

What It Costs

Pricing depends on the equipment, the install location, and any plumbing modifications needed (bypass valves, drain access for softener regeneration discharge, electrical for some units). We quote flat-rate before any work. Free estimate. Free hardness test as part of the consultation.

Common Water Quality Questions

How do I know if I have hard water?

Soap scum that won't rinse off, white scale on faucets and shower doors, spotty dishes, dry skin, and scale buildup in your water heater. We do a free test to confirm the hardness level so we can size correctly.

Will a softener fix iron staining?

Sometimes for very low iron levels. For higher iron, you need a dedicated iron filter, not a softener. Our free test covers hardness only, but iron is usually clear from staining severity and whether you're on well or municipal water — if you want the exact level confirmed, we can point you to a certified lab.

My water smells like rotten eggs. Is it dangerous?

Usually not dangerous, but unpleasant. Caused by hydrogen sulfide. On well water, an oxidation filter or aeration treats it. On hot water only, the anode rod in the heater is often the cause — sometimes replaced with a different anode material.

Do I need an RO system if I have a whole-home filter?

Depends on what you want from the water. Whole-home filters handle chlorine, sediment, and general polish. RO at the kitchen sink removes dissolved solids for drinking and cooking. Many homes have both.

How much salt does a softener use?

Depends on hardness level and household use. Most homes use a 40–80 lb bag every 4–8 weeks. We can recommend salt amounts after we size your system.

Is salt softener water safe to drink?

Yes for most people. Softening adds a small amount of sodium. If you're on a strict low-sodium diet, potassium-based regenerant is an alternative, or use an RO at the kitchen tap for drinking water.