Importance of home water quality testing
Before you make a final decision on a home purchase, consider the quality of the water you’ll use for cleaning and drinking. Many homebuyers perform water quality testing before they sign on the dotted line for a major purchase.
The quality of water in your home has a major impact on your family’s health and overall quality of life. The lifespan of your plumbing system and every water-using appliance you own is another reason why people test water quality at home.
How to spot a home water quality problem
A water quality problem isn’t always visible, but there are telltale signs:
- Look for off-white crustiness on the kitchen faucets and fixtures
- Check inside the dishwasher for stains
- Look for a supply of one-use plastic water bottles – a sure sign the current owners aren’t drinking the tap water
- Run the bathroom sink or tub water for a minute or two and look for particles, or discoloration and smell for odd odors
- Check for staining or discoloration in the sink, toilet and toilet tank.
- Check for leaking pipes or stains from old leaks in the basement
- If the home has a water treatment system, inquire about its age and condition
The importance of water quality testing
If you suspect the home you’re hoping to buy has a water quality problem, be sure to have it thoroughly tested. Doing so could save you from headaches and expense. Not every home inspector tests for all of the contaminants in the water, and some inspectors only test for the requirements that the lender requires for approval of your loan.
A standard home inspection water test includes about eight parameters focused on two health issues. There are many more, most of which are not visible, including issues that will cause appliance or plumbing damage and cosmetic issues like staining.
When scheduling a home inspection, ask which water tests will be performed above and beyond the standard. Remember, Secondwind offers free water quality testing for residential houses.
What happens next?
You’ve had your home’s water tested and it has some quality problems. Now what? If the seller fixes the water quality issues as part of the sales agreement, stay involved in the process. As the home’s new owner, you will use the system for years to come and should be involved in selecting the water treatment company.
Secondwind residential water quality testing
When one of Secondwind’s certified water specialists tests your water, we want you to feel adequately informed about your water quality issues. We want you to feel confident about your possible solutions and in choosing us to meet your needs.
During the in-home water analysis, we follow a fairly simple process.
- We’ll listen to your concerns about your water and explore the ways in which this impacts your life and your home. Based on those concerns, we’ll ask you some questions that will help us know where to start with testing.
- We may ask to see a number of locations in your home. Some of the things we’ll be looking for as we explore these areas are odor, mineral build up, sediment and staining. Once we have this picture of your unique situation, we’ll begin our water quality testing.
What are we looking for in water quality testing?
There are many common water problems in New Hampshire. Our free analysis includes testing for:
Is your water safe?
The only way to know for sure is testing. Secondwind recommends testing for arsenic, uranium, radon, PFOAs and bacteria at a minimum. We always use an independent lab to test health issues, so that the testing is done with the most state-of-the-art equipment. We have complete confidence in results. These tests are not part of our free analysis. We’re happy to fill the sample bottles correctly and deliver them to the lab for you.
Where do we test in your home?
We may test your water at a number of sites. Theoretically, the water quality should be the same everywhere, but flow rates or existing water treatment may call for further examination throughout the home. For example, we may test at the kitchen sink, a tub and an outside hose bib. If it looks like water treatment may be necessary, we’ll want to check out the plumbing layout in your basement or wherever your mechanical systems are located.
The results
There are many things we can determine through our on-site testing and then show you at that time. Some tests do need to be sent off for analysis and will take a few days for the results to return. All of our lab testing is done by the best certified labs in the state.
Throughout the process, we explain exactly what we’re doing and encourage you to ask questions. We also understand that some people may not feel they know the right questions to ask, so we try to cover those, too.
How often do you test water quality at home?
Even if you have a home water treatment system, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends you test your drinking water at least once a year.
Every home and well is different, and the custom design for your home is dependent on what we learn during testing. It’s important that you feel comfortable and knowledgeable about your options and understand the long-term service and reliability ramifications of your decision.
Contact us today to schedule a free water quality test appointment.
