FAQ - Whole Home Water Treatment Systems

Before You Purchase

What Differentiates East Coast Water Quality From Competitors?

If you’re watching this video, you’re probably wondering what sets East Coast Water Quality apart from the competition. Rather than comparing technical specifications or criticizing other companies, we’d like to explain what we believe truly matters when choosing a water treatment provider.

The first thing to consider is who will stand behind the system after it’s installed. There are countless water treatment products available online and in retail stores, but many of these companies don’t have a licensed plumbing business or local service team available when something goes wrong. While some of these systems may cost significantly less upfront, they often come with shorter warranties and aren’t designed for the same long-term reliability.

We actually install many customer-supplied systems purchased online. The challenge comes when a problem develops. While we can install the equipment, diagnosing failures, coordinating warranty claims, waiting for replacement parts, and returning to install those parts can quickly erase any initial savings. In many cases, homeowners spend more over time while still owning a product with limited support and warranty coverage.

We also believe it’s important to avoid companies that spend most of their sales presentation criticizing competitors. There are many quality water treatment products on the market, and several reputable companies offer effective solutions. Instead of focusing on what others are doing wrong, we prefer to explain how our products, pricing, and service model benefit our customers.

One important question to ask any company is whether their equipment is proprietary. Some manufacturers use exclusive parts that only their dealers can obtain. If service becomes slow or unsatisfactory, you may discover that no other company can repair your system because replacement parts aren’t available outside their network. We intentionally use industry-standard Clack control valves, along with our EcoWater partnership, so qualified water treatment professionals can service our systems if needed.

Our philosophy is based on building long-term relationships rather than making one-time sales. As licensed master plumbers, we don’t just install water treatment equipment—we also provide plumbing services, maintain existing systems, and strive to become a trusted resource for homeowners throughout the life of their home.

We also believe in transparent pricing. Rather than starting with inflated prices and negotiating them down over several hours, we offer straightforward pricing that’s consistent for every customer. While we provide discounts for groups such as military families, our pricing is fixed and designed to be fair for everyone.

Technology is another area where we believe customers should be careful. While non-electric water softeners still exist, modern electronically controlled systems offer better diagnostics, improved efficiency, easier programming, and more precise operation. That’s why we focus on proven, electronically controlled systems that provide greater reliability and performance.

Customer service is one of the areas we’re most proud of. We strive to respond to service requests within 24 hours whenever possible, and our multiple offices across Virginia and North Carolina allow us to provide local support to thousands of homeowners. If a customer ever has a concern, we encourage them to contact us directly so we can make it right.

Finally, our relationship with customers doesn’t end after installation. We return approximately 30 days after installation to perform a complimentary water retest, verify that the system is operating properly, and ensure our customers are completely satisfied. Many of the written and video testimonials on our website come directly from those follow-up visits.

Whether you’re on city water or well water, choosing the right system depends on your home’s specific needs. If you’d like more detailed information about our equipment, our Protector Series, or recommendations for your home, we’re always happy to answer your questions and help you find the right solution.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • The key differences between East Coast Water Quality and other water treatment companies.
  • Why local service, installation, and long-term support matter more than buying the cheapest system online.
  • The risks of proprietary water treatment systems and why they can limit your service options.
  • What to look for when comparing water treatment companies, warranties, pricing, and equipment.
  • Why East Coast Water Quality uses industry-standard components that any qualified dealer can service.
  • How our commitment to customer service, transparent pricing, and long-term relationships sets us apart.

Can A Water Treatment System Be Installed & Where?

This is a question we get a lot from potential customers: “Can I install a whole-home water treatment system at my house?”

In most cases, the answer is yes. There are just a few factors we need to look at first. Any location is different, and we are always happy to walk you through the options. Whether you are on city water, municipal water, or private well water, the installation depends on where the main water line comes into the home, where the equipment can be placed, and how we can protect the system long term.

For homeowners in North Carolina and Virginia, we install whole-home water filtration systems, water softeners, and well water treatment systems in a variety of locations, including crawl spaces, garages, laundry rooms, utility rooms, pump houses, outdoor shelters, and sometimes exterior installations.

If your home has a crawl space, that is often one of the easiest situations. The main water line usually comes in underneath the house, and we can typically tap into the plumbing there. That allows us to treat the water before it goes throughout the home.

If you are on city water, one easy thing to remember is that you usually have a shut-off valve at the street. We also install a complimentary shut-off valve on our systems before the unit, so you do not have to reach down into a spider-filled meter box in the middle of summer just to shut the water off. Those meter box shut-offs can be difficult to access, and the water keys can be hard to turn. You can usually get those keys from places like Lowe’s, but we like to make the system easier to service by giving you a more convenient shut-off near the equipment.

If the system is going into a crawl space, we can usually shut the water off at the street, cut into the main water line underneath the home, and then ideally bring the system over into the garage if the plumbing layout allows it. Many homeowners prefer the garage because it protects the equipment from weather, sun, freezing temperatures, and general outdoor exposure.

When deciding where to install a water treatment system, common sense matters. Is there a doorway? Is there a practical way to run plumbing? Can we get into the garage without cutting across something that cannot be repaired properly? We want to keep the system protected, but we also need the installation to make sense for the layout of the home.

One question people ask is whether the system needs special power. In most cases, no special power is required. Most water treatment systems use a standard 110-volt outlet and very little electricity. It is similar to keeping something small plugged in, like an alarm clock. The important thing is simply having a proper outlet available if the equipment requires power.

If a garage is not available, the equipment may be installed indoors in some cases. Depending on the home, that could mean a laundry room, utility room, closet, or another interior space. There are a few things to consider with indoor installation. Some systems regenerate, depending on the type of water treatment equipment. When the system regenerates, it may make some noise and discharge water for a period of time.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • Whether a whole-home water treatment system can be installed at your home.
  • Where a whole-house water filtration system, water softener, or well water treatment system can be installed.
  • The difference between installing a system on a crawl space home, slab home, city water home, or well water property.
  • Why garage installations are often preferred when possible.
  • When a system may need to be installed outdoors in a shelter.
  • What electrical requirements may be needed for a water treatment system.
  • How pump houses, well houses, fake rocks, and Rubbermaid-style sheds can be used to protect outdoor equipment.
  • Why slab homes may require an exterior water line or exterior loop.
  • Common installation considerations for homeowners in North Carolina and Virginia.

How To Treat Sulfur In Your Water In NC & VA?

If your water smells like rotten eggs, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common water quality complaints we hear from homeowners throughout North Carolina and Virginia.

In many cases, the odor is caused by hydrogen sulfide gas, often referred to simply as sulfur. Sulfur problems can sometimes occur alongside iron contamination, which is why proper testing is important before selecting a treatment solution.

One of the first questions homeowners ask is, “How do I get the sulfur smell out of my water?”

Over the years, several methods have been used to treat sulfur odors. One common approach is a chemical feed pump system that injects chlorine into the water supply as it enters the home. While these systems can be effective when operating properly, they also introduce chemicals into the water and require ongoing maintenance.

At East Coast Water Quality, we stopped recommending most chemical feed pump systems several years ago. In our experience, these systems often require frequent service and maintenance. Chemical pumps can fail, tanks can run dry, and homeowners may find themselves continually monitoring and maintaining the equipment.

When a chemical feed system runs out of solution, the sulfur odor typically returns. Many service calls involve troubleshooting issues related to pumps, chemical tanks, or system operation. For that reason, we prefer solutions that require less maintenance and provide more consistent performance.

Our preferred method for treating sulfur odors is an oxidation-based filtration system, commonly referred to as an Iron Sulfur Breaker. These systems are designed to oxidize and filter sulfur, iron, or both, depending on the water chemistry and treatment goals.

One of the advantages of oxidation filtration is that it does not require the continuous addition of chemicals to the water supply. In many cases, a properly sized oxidation system can remove sulfur odors and iron contamination in a single tank, simplifying maintenance and improving reliability.

The exact treatment recommendation depends on the results of your water test. Some water supplies contain mostly sulfur, while others contain higher levels of iron, manganese, or a combination of contaminants. Proper testing helps determine the best filtration approach for your home.

Another benefit many homeowners appreciate is that oxidation filtration systems typically do not require salt. This makes them an attractive option for homeowners looking for a low-maintenance solution to sulfur odors and iron problems.

If your well water smells like rotten eggs, the first step is identifying the source of the odor and understanding what contaminants are present. From there, the right water treatment system can be selected to eliminate odors, improve water quality, and reduce ongoing maintenance concerns.

For many homeowners in North Carolina and Virginia, oxidation-based sulfur filtration provides an effective, long-term solution for treating sulfur odors and iron contamination without the challenges associated with chemical feed pumps.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • What causes the rotten egg smell in well water.
  • The difference between sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, and iron-related water problems.
  • Why chemical feed pumps are not East Coast Water Quality’s preferred sulfur treatment method.
  • Common maintenance issues associated with chlorine injection systems.
  • How oxidation-based sulfur filtration systems work.
  • Why sulfur and iron can often be treated with a single filtration system.
  • How to remove sulfur odors from well water without using salt.

Do I Need A Reverse Osmosis Unit If I Have The Whole Home System?

One of the questions we get all the time is, “Do I still need a reverse osmosis system if I already have a whole-home water treatment system?” The short answer is yes, because the two systems serve very different purposes.

A whole-home system is designed to treat what we call your working water—the water you use for showers, laundry, washing dishes, and protecting your plumbing and appliances. Without getting overly technical, a water softener works through an ion exchange process. It removes hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium and replaces them with an equal amount of sodium ions. That’s great for reducing hard water problems throughout your home, but it doesn’t produce the highest quality drinking water.

That’s where reverse osmosis comes in. While the whole-home system improves water for everyday household use, the reverse osmosis system is designed specifically for drinking and cooking water. It removes many contaminants that a water softener cannot, including PFAS (“forever chemicals”), lead, arsenic, fluoride, nitrates, sodium, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, total dissolved solids (TDS), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and many other chemical contaminants. The goal is to provide one final stage of purification right before the water reaches your glass.

If your budget doesn’t allow you to install both systems at the same time, we understand. If we had to recommend installing them in stages, we’d generally suggest starting with the reverse osmosis system because drinking water quality has the greatest direct impact on what you consume every day. That said, among our more than 8,000 customers, approximately 95% choose to install both systems because they complement each other.

Another common question is whether you still need the filter inside your refrigerator if your home already has a whole-home treatment system and reverse osmosis. In most cases, the answer is no. Refrigerator filters are typically just small carbon filters and don’t remove the broad range of contaminants that a reverse osmosis system does. In fact, the catalytic carbon used in our whole-home systems is generally much more effective than the carbon found in standard refrigerator filters.

Some refrigerators require a filter bypass plug to keep the water dispenser working after the factory filter is removed. Many refrigerators include one when they’re new, and if yours doesn’t, the manufacturer will often provide one at little or no cost. It may take a couple of attempts to receive the correct bypass plug for your specific model.

Finally, many homeowners ask whether reverse osmosis water can be supplied directly to the refrigerator and ice maker. If your home is pre-plumbed—such as many of the homes built by our builder partners—or if you have a crawl space that allows us to run a water line beneath the floor, connecting the refrigerator is usually straightforward. However, homes built on a concrete slab without a concealed route between the kitchen sink and refrigerator may not allow for a hidden water line. In those situations, you’ll still have excellent purified drinking water at the sink and can easily fill a pitcher for the refrigerator if needed.

If you have additional questions about maintenance, filter replacement schedules, or any of our water treatment systems, be sure to visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website or give us a call. We’re always happy to help.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • The difference between a whole-home water treatment system and a reverse osmosis drinking water system.
  • Why a whole-home system softens water but does not remove many drinking water contaminants.
  • Which contaminants reverse osmosis helps reduce, including PFAS, lead, fluoride, arsenic, nitrates, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, VOCs, and total dissolved solids (TDS).
  • Which system you should install first if you’re purchasing them one at a time.
  • Why refrigerator water filters are not a substitute for reverse osmosis and when a filter bypass plug may be needed.
  • How your home’s plumbing layout determines whether purified reverse osmosis water can be supplied directly to your refrigerator and ice maker.

Does Whole Home Water Treatment System Help My Hair, Skin & Eczema?

We get this question quite a bit through our website, over the phone, and from homeowners researching water treatment online.

The question is usually something along the lines of, “Will a water treatment system really help my skin?” Sometimes it’s a parent asking about a child with eczema. Sometimes it’s someone dealing with dry skin, dry scalp, irritation, or other skin concerns. We hear a lot of different versions of the same question.

The first thing I always tell people is this: don’t just listen to a salesperson who’s trying to sell you something. Listen to people who have actually used the product.

In our case, I encourage people to visit East Coast Water Quality and spend some time reading the reviews and testimonials from real customers. You’re probably already on our website if you’re watching this video. Take a few minutes to listen to the experiences of homeowners who have actually installed and used these systems.

Many of those customers have been using their systems for 15 days, 30 days, or a few months. Others have had them for years. You can hear directly from families about the changes they’ve noticed after improving the quality of the water throughout their homes.

Now, I’m not going to promise you anything, and I’m not going to tell you that installing a water treatment system will automatically solve a skin condition. What I can do is give you some information and some things to think about so you can make an informed decision for yourself.

When we talk about municipal water, it’s important to remember that our cities and municipalities do an incredible job delivering water to our homes. Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about how difficult that process actually is.

If you go look at a reservoir or a water source and then think about the water that eventually comes out of your faucet, it’s pretty amazing. But in order to make that happen safely, municipalities have to disinfect the water and keep it protected all the way to your home.

That means disinfectants like chlorine are commonly present in municipal water supplies. In many areas, chloramines are also used. Chloramines are created by combining chlorine and ammonia and are used as a long-lasting disinfectant within the distribution system.

I would encourage you to do some research on chlorine, chloramines, and their potential effects on skin and hair.

One of the things we notice in the water treatment industry is the impact these disinfectants can have on materials over time. Every few years, we’ll disconnect a water treatment system and inspect the components. In some cases, we’ll see rubber O-rings and gaskets on untreated water systems that have become brittle, deteriorated, or partially disintegrated over time.

Then we’ll compare those components to similar parts located after the water treatment equipment, and those parts often look dramatically different.

When you see the effect water chemistry can have on materials like rubber gaskets and seals, it’s natural for homeowners to wonder what the long-term impact may be on their skin, especially for young children or individuals who already have skin sensitivities.

Another demonstration we often perform involves clothing and laundry.

We’ll take a jar and soak clothing or fabric in water. Then we’ll compare how detergents, minerals, and other residues behave under different water conditions. Many people are surprised to learn how much detergent and residue can remain trapped in fabrics after washing.

Water is often referred to as the universal solvent. It dissolves, carries, and removes substances from whatever it comes into contact with. But once water becomes loaded with minerals, hardness, soap residue, and other contaminants, its ability to clean effectively can be reduced.

That’s why people sometimes notice soap scum in bathtubs, spots on dishes, residue on fixtures, or clothing that doesn’t seem completely clean even after it comes out of the wash.

Hard water can contribute to many of these issues.

When hard water is present, soaps and detergents often don’t rinse as effectively. As a result, some of those residues can remain on dishes, clothing, shower surfaces, and even your skin.

Many of us use soaps, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and other personal care products every day. We put those products on our skin and hair expecting them to rinse away cleanly. But if the water isn’t rinsing effectively because of hardness minerals or other water quality issues, it’s reasonable to ask whether some of those residues may remain behind.

Those are some of the factors that homeowners should consider when evaluating the relationship between water quality and skin comfort.

Again, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that a water treatment system will cure a skin condition. What I am going to tell you is that many people who install whole-home water treatment systems report positive experiences related to their skin, hair, and overall comfort.

That’s why I always encourage homeowners to go beyond marketing claims and listen to real customer experiences. Read reviews. Watch testimonials. Talk to people who have actually lived with these systems and hear what they have to say.

If you remove hardness minerals, reduce chlorine exposure, improve rinsing performance, and improve the overall quality of the water throughout your home, it’s fair to ask whether those changes could make a difference for your skin and hair.

Ultimately, that’s a decision each homeowner has to make for themselves.

We’re not here to make medical claims. We’re simply providing information, encouraging you to ask the right questions, and helping you evaluate whether improved water quality may be beneficial for your family.

Many homeowners choose whole-home water treatment systems specifically because of concerns related to skin, dry scalp, irritation, and hair quality. In fact, hair health is another topic we discuss frequently and cover in a separate video.

Hopefully this information gives you a better understanding of the connection between water quality, chlorine, hard water, and skin concerns. Be sure to check out our other videos and customer testimonials to learn more about how water treatment systems are helping families throughout North Carolina and Virginia.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • Whether a water treatment system can help with dry skin, eczema, and other skin concerns.
  • How chlorine and chloramines in municipal water may affect your skin and hair.
  • Why many homeowners notice improvements after installing a whole-home water filtration system.
  • The role hard water can play in skin irritation and dryness.
  • How water quality affects soaps, detergents, and personal care products.
  • Why customer reviews and real-world experiences matter when researching water treatment systems.
  • Questions to ask when deciding whether a whole-home water treatment system is right for your family.

Shelter Options For My Whole Home Water Treatment System?

A question we get all the time is: “What about sheltering my system if I have to put it outside?”

We are not shelter salesmen, and we are not shed salesmen. The option we normally recommend is the cheapest practical way to shelter an outdoor water treatment system, which is a Rubbermaid-style storage shed like you can find at Lowe’s, Home Depot, or other hardware stores.

These sheds are typically around $289 to $300. If you want to pick one up beforehand, that is perfectly fine. If you need us to pick one up for you, we can usually do that for a flat charge. We do not make money on the shed itself. The charge is simply for the time, travel, and pickup.

For customers purchasing a water treatment system from us, if you ask us to handle it, we can pick up the shed and put it together. Assembly usually takes around 30 to 45 minutes. We just ask that you reimburse us for the cost of the shed.

One thing to keep in mind is that these shelters can shift or settle over time. They sit on the ground, and natural elements like rain and sun can affect them. We may put gravel underneath to help level the area, but over time, the shed can still settle or become uneven.

Sometimes homeowners call us later and say the shed is warped or has shifted. Just be aware that this is the most affordable shelter option, not a permanent custom structure.

Another important thing to remember is that many outdoor water filtration systems or water softeners need power. We are not electricians, but if the system requires power, you will need an outlet nearby. In some homes, there may already be an outlet in an adjacent room, garage, or nearby area where an electrician can tap in and provide power.

These systems do not use a lot of electricity. In many cases, it is similar to keeping an alarm clock plugged in. However, you still need a proper outlet for the system.

Depending on the setup, the salt brine tank may also fit inside the shed. Smaller rectangular brine tanks often work well because they fit nicely against the wall and allow the whole system to be contained inside.

If freezing temperatures are a concern, you will also want to insulate the shed and use a small heater. A simple heater plugged into the outlet can help keep the system warm during cold weather and help protect the water treatment equipment from freezing.

A typical outlet installation can range from around $275 to $400 depending on the situation. Again, we are not electricians, but we can usually refer you to one depending on your area, or you can use someone you already know.

You can always build a custom shelter, pour a concrete pad, or make the setup as nice as you want. But if you are looking for the most affordable shelter recommendation for an outdoor water softener or water filtration system, the Rubbermaid-style storage shed is usually the simplest option.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • How to protect an outdoor water treatment system from the weather.
  • Affordable shelter options for a water softener or water filtration system.
  • Why East Coast Water Quality recommends Rubbermaid-style storage sheds for many outdoor installations.
  • Why outdoor water treatment equipment may need electricity.
  • How to help prevent freezing damage to a water softener or filtration system.
  • When insulation, a small heater, or a custom shelter may be needed.

Does a Water Softener take out Forever Chemicals / PFAS?

All right, guys. We got a good one here.

This is a frequently asked question, especially in North Carolina. Not that Virginia or anywhere else can hide from forever chemicals. Virginia definitely has hard water, but it’s generally not as hard as some areas of North Carolina, especially along the coast. We also see pretty hard water around our Raleigh branch.

Let’s stay on topic. You’re probably looking at the Protector Series systems and wondering, do they remove forever chemicals? Or, for that matter, does a water softener remove forever chemicals?

Before I answer that, if you haven’t already, check out Dr. Frank on our YouTube channel or on our website. He’s an environmental specialist and an expert on PFAS. The series is called PFAS in Drinking Water: Plain English. It’s nice to have someone who can explain these topics in a way that’s easy to understand.

Now, back to the question. No. A water softener does not remove PFAS in any way, shape, or form.

Now, you have what’s called a refiner, and that’s usually what we’re installing on city water and, in some cases, well water. The Protector Series systems you’re looking at use catalytic carbon and activated carbon. We use high-grade carbon primarily because we need to remove chloramines from the water, which is a combination of chlorine and ammonia. Some municipalities don’t use chloramines, but we don’t want to take the chance that they’ll change their treatment methods in the future.

Many systems don’t remove the ammonia. In fact, your refrigerator filter generally doesn’t remove ammonia either. A lot of people take comfort in their refrigerator filter without realizing it’s not removing that contaminant.

The carbon in these systems removes chlorine, and these carbons can make claims regarding PFAS reduction. Our Protector Series I and Series II systems can reduce up to 70% of certain PFAS compounds. I don’t allow my sales team to advertise it that way, though. If they’re asked, they can explain it, but what does “up to 70%” really mean? That’s the maximum under certain conditions. There are more than 10,000 PFAS compounds, and only a handful are currently regulated.

If your goal is to remove as much PFAS as possible, take a look at our Protector PFAS & Lead Series. If you go to our website and select Solution Systems, you’ll find it there. That’s the system designed specifically for PFAS reduction. I can’t say it removes everything because nothing is 100%, but it is certified, and that’s one of the most important things to look for when comparing PFAS filters.

Whether you need that system depends on your family’s preferences and your home’s needs. At the end of the day, we can’t eliminate every source of PFAS because they’re everywhere, and research shows that most of us already have some PFAS in our bodies. However, if your goal is to remove PFAS from your home’s water, that’s the system designed for that purpose.

If you’re installing both systems at the same time, the PFAS filter is installed after the water softener. If you’re adding a PFAS filter to an existing water softener, it should also be installed after the softener because the softener has already been exposed to PFAS.

I also recommend finishing the system with a reverse osmosis unit at the kitchen sink. Reverse osmosis removes PFAS along with many other contaminants. While the whole-home PFAS filter provides PFAS-reduced water throughout the house, reverse osmosis removes additional contaminants that the PFAS filter is not designed to address.

You don’t have to install a water softener or refiner, but for many homeowners, the best value is a Protector Series I or Series II system paired with a reverse osmosis unit. That’s the approach most of our customers choose. It provides additional peace of mind, especially since you’re not drinking water from your shower, and your reverse osmosis system is treating the water you actually consume.

Check out the rest of this series for more information. Hopefully this answers your question. We try to keep these videos reasonably short and stay on topic. Thanks for watching.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • Whether a water softener removes PFAS (“forever chemicals”).
  • How the Protector Series differs from the Protector PFAS & Lead Series.
  • Why catalytic carbon can reduce some PFAS but isn’t designed to remove all of them.
  • Why certified PFAS filtration is important.
  • Why reverse osmosis is still recommended for drinking water.
  • How whole-home PFAS filtration and reverse osmosis work together.

Is Well Or City Water Safer In Virginia & North Carolina?

All right, guys. This one comes up all the time. Most people think it’s a simple yes-or-no question, but it absolutely is not.

Is city water safer than well water, or is well water safer than city water?

The answer is that you’re probably going to answer this question better than I can.

With city water, there are advantages. You typically don’t have high iron or sulfur because the chlorine and other disinfectants oxidize those contaminants out of the water. However, those disinfectants are still in the water when it reaches your home. They’ve done their job, and I would encourage you to do your own unbiased research on chlorine, including evaporation, inhalation during showers, and other related topics.

Then you get into issues like dry skin and eczema. Talk to some of those customers, and they’ll tell you they don’t care what dissolved in their well water—they don’t want to deal with the way they feel from the disinfectants in city water.

On the well water side, the disadvantage is that almost anything can dissolve into it at any time. You can have arsenic, lead, bacteria, and the list goes on. Since there’s no disinfectant in private well water, if bacteria are present, you may not know it.

There’s risk with both. The honest answer is that there’s no way to have perfect water unless you treat it at the point of use. It’s not a sales gimmick. Water is the universal solvent. It wants to dissolve and carry whatever it comes into contact with.

I can’t give you a direct answer. Whether the water comes from a private well or a municipal system, we can treat both. If you’re on well water and you’re looking for the highest level of protection, and you’re not dealing with tannins, oxidized iron, or a few other difficult situations, the typical setup would be a water softener, followed by a UV light to disinfect bacteria, and then a reverse osmosis system to remove contaminants right before you drink the water. If your home has a crawl space, you can also run that reverse osmosis water to your refrigerator.

Hopefully this gives you a little bit of an answer. I’m really encouraging you to continue your research. There really isn’t a completely safe option when you consider everything that can be present in water and the potential health effects.

Another thing I didn’t touch on at the beginning is, who determines what is considered safe? If you look at EPA regulations and municipal water standards, many of those regulations for certain contaminants haven’t changed in 20, 30, or even 40 years. They establish a level that’s considered safe and another level that’s considered unsafe, but it’s worth asking how often that research is updated.

If you visit our website and go to the Water Quality Reports section, you can easily find your city’s annual water quality report without having to search through the municipality’s website. Keep in mind that these reports are often about a year and a half old. During the recording of this video in 2026, many of the available reports are from 2024 because that’s how long it takes for them to be published.

We don’t criticize cities or municipalities. They do an excellent job with the resources they have, aging infrastructure, and the challenges they face. However, no public water system is currently removing all PFAS from drinking water.

The more research you do, the more you’ll likely come to the conclusion that the only way to have confidence in your drinking water is to treat it at the point of use.

If you haven’t already, check out Dr. Frank’s PFAS in Drinking Water: Plain English series. He explains these topics in a way that’s easy to understand. There are thousands of PFAS compounds, but only a handful are currently regulated, and those regulations continue to evolve.

Check out some of our other videos if you’re interested in learning about different types of filtration or how to target a specific water quality concern. If nothing else, keep educating yourself using the resources we provide. Thank you.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • Whether city water or well water is safer.
  • The advantages and disadvantages of both city water and private well water.
  • Why neither water source is completely free of contaminants.
  • How point-of-use treatment can improve your drinking water quality.
  • Why it’s important to review your local water quality report.
  • Why ongoing water testing and treatment are important for both city and well water.

Does The Whole Home Water Treatment System Remove Chlorine?

Does our whole-home water treatment systems and water softeners remove the chlorine from your tap water?

The answer is yes.

If you’re looking at our Protector Series line, we call them refiners because they can be used for multiple different applications. For all of our city water applications, whether it’s North Carolina or Virginia, we use a very high-grade catalytic carbon. Some areas of North Carolina do not use ammonia in the water. However, almost all of our Virginia service areas use chloramines, which are a combination of chlorine and ammonia.

You can always click on the Protector Series video on our website for a more detailed explanation, but if you’re just looking for the answer to this question, we use catalytic carbon along with activated carbon to remove the chlorine and ammonia so you have chemical-free water. These systems also reduce other contaminants in the water.

If you have additional questions about contaminants such as fluoride or lead, keep checking out our Frequently Asked Questions, and be sure to watch our reverse osmosis drinking system videos for more information.

Yes, our systems remove those disinfectant chemicals, and that’s very important. You needed those disinfectants to get the water safely to your home because they killed bacteria and performed the job they were designed to do. However, once the water reaches your home, you don’t need those disinfectants anymore.

I’ll give you one example from the service side. If you look at the inlet O-ring on a water treatment system that’s been installed for two or three years, you’ll often see that the untreated water has caused the rubber gasket to deteriorate. It can become brittle and almost begin to disintegrate.

Now compare that to the outlet O-ring after the water has been treated. Even after five to seven years, it often looks almost brand new simply because those disinfectant chemicals have been removed from the water.

The same water is flowing through all of the plumbing components in your home. That’s one reason we often encourage customers with skin concerns to listen to the experiences shared by our existing customers. When you see what those chemicals can do to a rubber O-ring, it gives you an idea of why so many homeowners choose to remove them from their water.

So yes, the Protector Series I, II, and III systems remove the chlorine and chloramines from your city water.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • Whether the Protector Series removes chlorine and chloramines from city water.
  • How catalytic carbon helps remove chlorine and ammonia from your water.
  • Why disinfectants are necessary before water reaches your home.
  • Why disinfectants are no longer needed once the water reaches your plumbing.
  • How removing chlorine can help protect your home’s plumbing components.
  • Why reverse osmosis is still recommended for contaminants such as fluoride and lead.

Will The Whole Home System Water Be Streak Free?

This could apply to a newly purchased system, or you could be shopping for a water softener for your RV or boat and wondering if it’s going to give you a 100% streak-free rinse. Will you be able to rinse it off and simply walk away?

The honest answer is no.

Unless you’re using deionized water, you need a much higher level of water purification to eliminate spotting completely. Even reverse osmosis (RO) water can leave a small amount of spotting, although it performs much better. That’s a different topic—how to use reverse osmosis water in an application where you can achieve a spot-free rinse on an antique car or a boat.

With a water softener, you’re simply exchanging calcium and magnesium ions for sodium ions. While that removes the hardness minerals, the sodium can still leave lighter spots behind.

Is it going to be better? Absolutely.

Will it reduce swirl marks and help prevent other issues while washing? Yes. Will your detergents work better? Absolutely. Will the water clean more effectively and help remove more dirt while you’re washing your vehicle? Yes.

However, if you’re expecting to rinse your vehicle and simply walk away without drying it, the answer is no. A water softener by itself will not provide a completely spot-free rinse.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • Whether a water softener provides a completely spot-free rinse.
  • Why softened water still leaves some mineral spotting.
  • How deionized water differs from softened water.
  • Why reverse osmosis performs better than softened water for spot reduction.
  • The benefits a water softener does provide when washing vehicles and boats.
  • Why softened water still makes cleaning easier, even if it isn’t completely spot-free.

Why Is My Water Slimy After Ran Through Water Conditioner?

All right. I can’t say this is a frequently asked question, but we do get it several times a year. We’ll have someone move into our service area who’s looking for cleaner water, but they’ve had an experience at someone else’s house—maybe growing up, especially in areas farther west, Florida, or Texas—where the water was extremely hard.

Really, none of us want hardness in our water, but when you get to certain levels of hardness, you may experience what people describe as a slippery or slimy feeling after installing a water softener.

To explain the chemistry briefly, when water passes through a water softener, all you’re doing is exchanging sodium ions for calcium and magnesium ions. Sodium is much easier to work with for your hair, your skin, your dishes, your clothes, and your appliances.

One of the biggest benefits of soft water is that you use much less detergent. Many cleaning products are made up primarily of water softeners and chemicals that help overcome hard water. Water is the best cleaner in the world. It’s the universal solvent. It pulls, cuts, and cleans. With hard water, you get mineral deposits on your dishes, soap scum in your tub, and calcium and magnesium left behind after the water evaporates.

When you have harder water, the water softener exchanges more sodium ions because it’s replacing more calcium and magnesium. If you had 100 total dissolved solids of calcium and magnesium coming through the tap, the water softener would exchange that for the exact same amount of sodium ions. In areas with extremely hard water, that larger ion exchange can create what many people describe as a slippery feeling. I don’t really like the word slimy. I’d say it’s more of a silky feel.

Another thing to keep in mind is that when people get soft water, they often continue using the same amount of shampoo, body wash, and detergent they used before. In many cases, you can use 80% to 90% less. With soft water, products lather much more easily, so if you’re using too much soap, it can make it feel like it isn’t rinsing off completely.

Personally, I’d take that silky feeling over hard water any day of the week because of all the benefits that come with soft water for your hair, skin, plumbing, and appliances.

We’re also not telling you to drink softened water. You’re going to want to run that water through a reverse osmosis system for your drinking water. You can also check out our Frequently Asked Questions about reverse osmosis drinking systems.

If you really want a little hardness back in your water, there are ways to do it, although I generally don’t recommend it. We can install what’s called a distributor on the back of the control valve. After the water has been treated, it can reintroduce a small amount of the untreated water to add some hardness back in. There are also other methods, such as adding a neutralizer or other equipment to increase hardness after the system.

One thing I do want to clear up is a common misconception. Sometimes people think you can simply adjust the settings on the water softener and tell it how much hardness to leave in the water. You can’t. The water still passes through the resin bed, and the system still exchanges the exact amount of sodium ions for the calcium and magnesium ions that are removed.

Hopefully this video gives you a little more clarity on the topic. Again, I’d always take softer water over the slimy feeling. Thank you.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • Why softened water can sometimes feel “slippery” or “silky.”
  • How a water softener changes the chemistry of your water.
  • Why you use less soap and detergent with soft water.
  • Why extremely hard water can make the slippery feeling more noticeable.
  • Whether you can adjust the hardness level on a water softener.
  • How hardness can be reintroduced if you prefer it.

If I Move Out Can I Take My Systems With Me?

At East Coast Water Quality, we proudly serve homeowners throughout Virginia and North Carolina. One question we hear frequently—especially from military families—is what happens if you need to move shortly after purchasing one of our water treatment systems.

The good news is that your water treatment equipment can move with you. Just like any valuable investment in your home, your system can be removed and reinstalled at your next residence, allowing you to continue enjoying the same high-quality water wherever life takes you.

To help make that transition easier, we offer every customer one complimentary system removal. For most homeowners, this service is available if you move within one year of purchase. As a thank-you to our military service members, we extend that benefit to two years from the date of purchase.

During the complimentary removal, our technicians will uninstall both the whole-home system and the reverse osmosis system at no charge while restoring your home’s plumbing to its original configuration. In many cases, the opening left by the reverse osmosis faucet can be fitted with a soap dispenser for a clean, finished appearance.

Once your equipment has been removed, simply transport it with your household belongings. If you’re moving outside of our normal service area, we’ll be happy to help you locate a qualified installer in your new location to reinstall your equipment.

This relocation program is available for customers who own one of our Protector Series or EcoWater Systems products. While the initial removal service is complimentary during the eligible time period, reinstallation at your new home and installation of a soap dispenser are paid services.

Whether you’re relocating across town or across the country, our goal is to help you continue enjoying the benefits of clean, treated water in your new home.

What You’ll Learn in This Video

  • What happens to your water treatment system if you move to a new home.
  • How East Coast Water Quality’s free relocation program works.
  • Special relocation benefits available for military families.
  • Which services are included at no charge and which are paid services.
  • What to do if you’re moving outside our service area.
  • Which water treatment systems qualify for the relocation program.

The Best Water Filtration with a Lifetime Warranty!

Protector Series I & II Conditioners come with a Lifetime Warranty!
Protector Series Whole Home Water Conditioner softens your water, removing chlorine and mineral hardness ensuring your appliances, dishes, laundry and skin stays in top shape.
Protector 50 Reverse Osmosis Systems comes with a Lifetime Warranty!
Protector 50 Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System removes PFAS, chemicals, bacteria and viruses from your drinking water, to improve the health and quality of life of you and your family.
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Best Water Filtration For Home, Health & Family