Well water issues.

[N80]

We have had our log cabin for 25 years. We built it ourselves from a kit.

The well is deep and functions fine but the water, as I understand it, is hard. It has a strong mineral flavor which is not great even for someone who like me who likes mineral water. It has been tested safe for drinking. You feel a little slick even after rinsing in the shower but soap and shampoo suds up just fine. The big problem is that minerals accumulate on everything. Clogs the shower head and sink aerator screens. It accumulates all in the toilet tank and bowl and crusts up the works of the toiler so bad it doesn't work. The bottom of the water heater looks like it has potatoes in it and these accumulate on the heater elements that you can't get them back out to replace them. There are rings and spots of all the glassware. When ice evaporates from the ice tray it leaves a pile of minerals.

This is a weekend place so we've just dealt with it over the years.

But, our family is growing (four grandsons) and everyone likes to hang out at the cabin. So not only is it getting used more but we're adding an addition which will nearly double the total floor space and will add another bathroom plus a washing machine.

So this seems like a good time to address the problem.

I know nothing about water stuff or how to fix it. We will have it tested, of course, for hardness, minerals, etc.

We are in the SC piedmont.

Looking for experiences and advice with filtration systems.

 

[vic4news]

We will have it tested, of course, for hardness, minerals, etc.

That’s the first step. Once you get the results you’ll be able to know what is needed. A lot of wells have hard water and need a softener. Our water was high in arsenic and I had to add a filter to remove it.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

We have had our log cabin for 25 years. We built it ourselves from a kit.

The well is deep and functions fine but the water, as I understand it, is hard. It has a strong mineral flavor which is not great even for someone who like me who likes mineral water. It has been tested safe for drinking. You feel a little slick even after rinsing in the shower but soap and shampoo suds up just fine. The big problem is that minerals accumulate on everything. Clogs the shower head and sink aerator screens. It accumulates all in the toilet tank and bowl and crusts up the works of the toiler so bad it doesn't work. The bottom of the water heater looks like it has potatoes in it and these accumulate on the heater elements that you can't get them back out to replace them. There are rings and spots of all the glassware. When ice evaporates from the ice tray it leaves a pile of minerals.

This is a weekend place so we've just dealt with it over the years.

But, our family is growing (four grandsons) and everyone likes to hang out at the cabin. So not only is it getting used more but we're adding an addition which will nearly double the total floor space and will add another bathroom plus a washing machine.

So this seems like a good time to address the problem.

I know nothing about water stuff or how to fix it. We will have it tested, of course, for hardness, minerals, etc.

We are in the SC piedmont.

Looking for experiences and advice with filtration systems.

Curious how much land you have and the possibility of having another well drilled?
Our well water here is fantastic, only down 85ft, but two neighbors wells are about 500ft away, one is South, other East of us and each down 150-200ft and water is terrible.

 

[kenmac]

JMO I would get someone out from a water filter company and let them recommend the correct filter for your water conditions

 

[dodge man]

I water filter and a softener is a common solution. We had a well at one time but now have rural water. We still need the softener even with rural water. When we were on a well we had a filter and it would catch minerals to the point flakes of rust would form. The test results will tell you your course of action.

 

[dstig1]

You can get a water hardness test from Amazon and test it yourself. Super easy. You can always add a filter, which is good to remove sediment at least, but you need a softener more than anything. When we moved in I did not have a softener setup initially and it caused all kind of problems with the hard water plugging up screens/valves and it destroyed an on demand water heater, and all this in only a few months. Test the water, get a softener installed and running and then clean out and/or replace everything you need to so you can start fresh.

 

[steve tym]

EVERYBODY on a well should have a cartridge filter with a disposable filter.
Have the water tested so you know what you are trying to remove.
Filters are easy, water chemistry not so much.

 

[Racer4]

Go to your local plumbing supply house. Most likely they’ll have a free kit to test your water. They’ll be familiar with the water conditions in your area and what will be needed to rectify it.

 

[ponytug]

@N80 yes, by the sound of it, you have mineral water. If you had the water tested already, I would start by looking at that report. (TDS, Mg, Ca, CO3, SO4, possibly iron, or arsenic, and total hardness, or alkalinity). Those numbers tell you what you might need to help things out. To be sure, I would get the water tested again, to make sure it has not changed much.

Installing a softener is pretty easy, but you do need to size it for the weekly usage, and you might need to get salt to keep the iron off the water softener resin, or remember to add some citric acid with every bag of salt

If you find your test results, and post them here, I'd be happy to help. There are a few older threads on the topic, if you are interested.

All the best,

Peter

 

[RayIN]

I agree with ponytug. When you buy a water softener it must be sized correctly in order for it to function correctly; thus the testing recommendation.
I just had a Culligan softener installed. It was quite expensive, but it replaced the same model. I bought the first one in 2004.
The cheap models sold at big box stores mostly have a lifespan of 4-6 yrs.

 

[lman]

EVERYBODY on a well should have a cartridge filter with a disposable filter.
Have the water tested so you know what you are trying to remove.
Filters are easy, water chemistry not so much.

We have never had a filter from our well and have never had any type of sediment. Our water is good. We do have a water softener. Well was installed 32 years ago, still using original pump and equipment.

 

[steve tym]

After we change someones pump, those cartridge filters are our best friends.