Cleaner Water For Your Home

Water Treatment Services in Gilbert, Queen Creek and nearby areas

Desert Drain Plumbing offers water treatment services, including Water Softeners, Water Conditioners and Reverse Osmosis systems. Serving Gilbert, Queen Creek, and the surrounding communities (see full service area from Scottsdale to Florence), we’re your friendly, reliable, and highly skilled partners for all your plumbing needs, especially when it comes to having soft, clean water. Veteran-owned, family operated. Licensed, bonded and insured. Call us today for water treatment services.

The Need For Soft, Clean Water In Arizona

Accessing clean, healthy water directly from your tap is certainly not the default kind of water that we get in Arizona. While the water flowing into our homes is deemed safe for consumption by local municipalities, it often contains minerals and contaminants that can impact everything from the lifespan of your appliances to the taste of your morning coffee, to skin conditions and more. Our veteran-owned and family-operated plumbing business is dedicated to providing comprehensive water treatment solutions, building relationships with our customers while delivering the highest quality water for your family.

The following can help give clarification on the different water treatment options, including Water Softeners, Water Conditioners and Reverse Osmosis. Each water treatment system targets specific issues, working to improve your water’s quality in distinct ways.

Water Softeners: Softening Hard Water With Salt Exchange

Water softeners specifically address “hard water,” which is water that contains the dissolved minerals calcium and magnesium. These minerals are not harmful to consume, but they wreak havoc on your plumbing, appliances, and even your skin and hair. Softeners use an ion exchange process, replacing these hard mineral ions with sodium or potassium ions.

The benefits of Water Softeners:

• Extend Appliance Lifespan: Hard water causes limescale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and ice makers, drastically reducing their efficiency and lifespan. A softener prevents this buildup.
• Cleaner Dishes and Laundry: Say goodbye to water spots on dishes and stiff, dingy laundry. Soft water allows detergents and soaps to lather more effectively, leading to superior cleaning.
• Healthier Skin and Hair: Hard water can leave a sticky residue on skin and hair, leading to dryness, irritation, and dullness. Soft water leaves you feeling truly clean.
• Reduced Soap and Detergent Usage: Because soaps lather better, you’ll use significantly less product, saving you money.
• Lower Energy Bills: With no limescale buildup in your water heater, it operates more efficiently, consuming less energy to heat your water.

Read more about Water Softeners here. 

Water Conditioners: The “Salt-Free” Alternative

Water conditioners are often marketed as “salt-free softeners.” They don’t remove hard minerals but instead alter their molecular structure, preventing them from sticking to surfaces and forming scale. This process is often called “template assisted crystallization” (TAC).

Why Consider Water Conditioners:

• Scale Prevention Without Salt: Ideal for those concerned about sodium intake or environmental impact from salt discharge.
• Maintenance: Generally require less maintenance than traditional softeners as there’s no salt to add.
• Good for Irrigation: The treated water is beneficial for plants as it retains beneficial minerals.

While conditioners prevent scale, they don’t provide the “silky” feel of soft water or the enhanced lathering benefits that true softeners offer because the minerals are still present in the water, just in a different form. They are excellent for scale prevention but are not true “softeners.” Usually the main reason to consider them is when customers feel salt is a concern.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems: Purifying Water For Drinking and Cooking

Reverse osmosis is a highly effective filtration method that forces water through a semi-permeable membrane, which has incredibly tiny pores. This membrane effectively blocks and flushes away a wide range of dissolved solids, particles, and contaminants, producing highly purified water.

RO systems are lauded for their ability to remove:

• Dissolved Solids: Including salts, nitrates, sulfates, and fluoride.
• Heavy Metals: Such as lead, mercury, chromium, and arsenic.
• Chemicals: Like chlorine, chloramines, pesticides, herbicides, and some pharmaceuticals.
• Sediment and Turbidity: Providing crystal clear water.
• Parasites and Bacteria: Though often coupled with UV filtration for complete biological protection.

These are additional contaminants in your water that are not removed by water softeners or water conditioners. Reverse Osmosis systems are more sensitive filters for making water more suitable for drinking and cooking.

The benefits of using reverse osmosis systems:

• Superior Drinking Water Taste: RO water is often described as having a pure, clean taste, free from the chlorine or mineral flavors common in tap water.
• Health Benefits: Reduces exposure to a wide array of potential contaminants for drinking and cooking.
• Perfect for Cooking: Enhances the flavor of food and beverages prepared with water.
• Cost Savings: Eliminates the need for bottled water, saving money and reducing plastic waste.

For Best Water Treatment Use Both a Water Softener AND a Reverse Osmosis System

For many homes, especially in areas with hard water, the optimal solution is a combination of a water softener (or conditioner) and a reverse osmosis system. They serve different, complementary purposes:

• Water Softener (Whole-House): This system is installed at your home’s main water entry point, treating all the water that comes into your house. Its primary job is to remove the hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) from all your water, protecting your pipes, appliances, and improving your bathing/laundry experience.
• Reverse Osmosis (Point-of-Use): An RO system is typically installed under your kitchen sink, providing purified water specifically for drinking and cooking. While a softener removes hardness, it doesn’t remove all other dissolved solids, chemicals, or microscopic particles. The RO system takes this “softened” water and further refines it, delivering the highest quality water for consumption without the added sodium from the softening process.

The softener protects your entire home’s plumbing infrastructure and appliances from hard water damage, while the RO system provides incredibly pure, great-tasting water for the most critical uses: drinking and cooking. This combination ensures comprehensive water quality improvement throughout your entire home.

The Value of Getting Water Treatment Systems From Professional Plumbers

Just like with water heaters, the allure of seemingly cheaper water treatment units at big box stores can be strong. However, investing in these systems through a professional plumber offers significant, long-term advantages:

Accurate Water Testing and System Sizing: A professional plumber begins with a comprehensive water test to identify specific contaminants and water hardness levels in your home. This allows them to recommend the precise type and size of system needed for optimal performance. Big box stores sell generic units without this crucial diagnostic step.

Quality Products (“Pro-Grade” vs. “Retail-Grade”): Professional plumbers typically offer higher-quality, “pro-grade” water softeners, conditioners, and RO systems. These units often feature more robust components, durable materials, and superior filtration media, leading to greater efficiency, longer lifespan, and fewer service calls compared to retail models.

Expert Installation and Code Compliance: Water treatment systems are plumbed directly into your home’s water lines. Improper installation can lead to leaks, system malfunction, or even cross-contamination. Licensed plumbers ensure correct sizing, proper pressure regulation, appropriate drainage, and adherence to all local plumbing codes for safe and efficient operation.

Comprehensive Warranties and Ongoing Support: When you purchase from a professional, you typically receive stronger warranties on both the equipment and the installation. Should any issue arise, you have a direct, reliable point of contact for service and support, unlike navigating multiple parties with a retail purchase and separate installer.

Maintenance and Repair Expertise: Your plumber understands the intricacies of your specific system and can provide regular maintenance to ensure its longevity and efficiency, as well as prompt and knowledgeable repairs if needed.

Contact Desert Drain Plumbing for Water Treatment Services in Gilbert, Queen Creek and surrounding areas.

When you choose Desert Drain Plumbing, you’re choosing a local business that genuinely cares about its community. We’re not just providing a service; we’re building relationships and contributing to the well-being of the homes and businesses in our beloved Arizona desert.

As a veteran-owned, family-operated plumbing business we value your trust and your satisfaction above all else. We’re not just here to fix your plumbing problems; we’re here to build lasting relationships, one reliable service at a time. Contact us today for all your residential plumbing needs, including water treatment services, such as water softeners, water conditioners and reverse osmosis. Experience the difference that dedication, integrity, and a personal touch can make.

Call us anytime, 24/7, at (480) 930-1048, for immediate assistance. We’re here to help!