Hard water treatment in Austin
If you live around Austin, you've probably seen it. White rings on faucets, crusty showerheads, cloudy glasses, and a kettle that builds up scale. That's hard water, and it comes from the limestone our water runs through.
There's more than one way to deal with it. This page walks through the options so you can pick what fits your home and budget.
Typical installed price
$1,500 to $3,500
Your exact price comes in writing after the free test. What changes the price
Signs your water is hard
Hard water leaves minerals behind wherever it dries or gets heated. The signs are easy to spot once you know them.
- White or chalky crust on faucets, showerheads, and drains
- Spots on dishes and glassware after the dishwasher
- Soap scum and cloudy glass shower doors
- Scale inside kettles, coffee makers, and water heaters
- Soap that doesn't lather well
Your treatment options
A traditional water softener removes the hardness minerals. It's the most effective option when hardness is the main complaint.
A salt free conditioner doesn't remove minerals, but some types change them so less scale sticks to surfaces. It's lower upkeep, but you'll still see spots.
Point of use fixes like an RO system at the kitchen sink handle drinking water but don't help the rest of the house. Many homes end up with a softener plus RO.
Why testing comes before a recommendation
Hardness varies by utility and by source. Some neighborhoods get water from lakes, others from wells, and some from a mix. Testing at your tap means the recommendation fits your actual water.
Your utility's annual water quality report also lists hardness, so you can check the numbers yourself. Each of our city pages links to it.
Request a free water test
What happens next
- We pass your request to a local water treatment installer.
- They call you to pick a time for the free test.
- At your home they test the water and give you a written quote. You decide from there.
Hard water treatment near you
Water is different from one utility to the next. Pick your city to see what your local water report says.
Related services
- Water softenersStops white scale, spots, and crust on fixtures caused by hard water.Typical price$1,500 to $3,500
- Whole house water filtrationFiltered water at every tap, shower, and appliance in the house.Typical price$2,000 to $4,000
- Free in home water testA local pro tests your water at the tap and explains the results in plain English.Typical priceFree
Common questions
What causes hard water in Austin?
Water picks up calcium and magnesium as it moves through limestone in the ground and in local lakes and rivers. Central Texas sits on a lot of limestone, so hard water is common.
Is hard water bad for you?
Hard water is mainly a nuisance and a maintenance issue, not a safety concern. It causes scale, spots, and wear on fixtures and appliances that use hot water.
Do salt free systems work?
They don't remove hardness, so they won't give you spot free glass. Some types can reduce how much scale sticks inside pipes and heaters. If spots and crust are your main complaint, a softener works better.
How is hardness measured?
Usually in grains per gallon or milligrams per liter. One grain per gallon is about 17.1 milligrams per liter. The free test measures it at your tap and the installer explains what the number means.
Find out what's in your water
Request a free in home water test. A local installer checks hardness, chlorine or chloramine, and dissolved solids at your tap, then gives you a written quote.