Water filtration and softener installation in Lee & Collier County
Water quality affects your fixtures, your appliances, your skin and your drinking water. We help you work out what is actually in your water and install a system that solves the problem you have, not a bigger system than you need.
- Water softener installation: removes the minerals that cause scale on fixtures, spots on glass and buildup in pipes and heaters.
- Whole-home filtration: treats the water as it enters the house so every tap benefits.
- Iron and sulfur treatment: for rust stains and the rotten-egg smell common with well water.
- Point-of-use filters: drinking water filters at the kitchen sink or refrigerator.
- Service and replacement: existing systems that have stopped working or need new media or parts.
- Well-water systems: filtration matched with your pump and pressure tank. See well pumps.
We're a Florida state-certified plumbing contractor (license CFC1429748), a second-generation family business based in North Fort Myers.
Signs your water needs treatment
Your senses are a good first test. These are the problems we hear about most often in Southwest Florida.
- Rust-colored stainsOrange or brown marks on sinks, tubs, toilets and laundry usually point to iron.
- Rotten-egg smellHydrogen sulfide, common in well water and often noticeable in hot water.
- White scale or crustChalky buildup on faucets, showerheads and glass from hard water.
- Spotty dishes and glassesMinerals left behind as water dries.
- Dry skin and dull hairHard water makes soap harder to rinse.
- Short-lived appliancesScale shortens the life of water heaters, dishwashers and washers.
- Low flow at fixturesScale and sediment can clog aerators and showerheads.
- Cloudy or gritty waterSediment, often from a private well.
Ask us what is in your water and what it takes to fix it.
Well water: minerals, staining and smell
Many homes in Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers, Pine Island, Golden Gate Estates and other rural areas rely on private wells. Well water is not treated by a utility, so what comes out of the ground comes out of your tap. Southwest Florida's groundwater often contains minerals, iron and sulfur that cause the problems above.
These are largely aesthetic and wear-and-tear issues, not a reason to panic. They are, however, hard on a home. Iron stains toilets and laundry. Sulfur creates the rotten-egg smell. Hardness builds scale inside water heaters, which cuts their life and efficiency.
The right treatment depends on what is in your water. We recommend a water test first, so you don't buy a system for a problem you don't have. If you have private well water and want a drinking water safety question answered, a certified lab test is the way to confirm it, and we're glad to point you in the right direction. We then match a system to your results and size it to your household. A pump and pressure tank in good shape matter too, which is why we look at the whole picture, including your well pump.
Water softener vs. filter: what's the difference?
People often use the two words as if they meant the same thing. They solve different problems.
| Water softener | Filtration system | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Removes hardness minerals such as calcium and magnesium | Removes sediment, iron, sulfur, chlorine taste or other contaminants, depending on the media |
| Fixes | Scale, spotting, dry skin feel, soap that won't lather | Staining, odor, taste, cloudy water |
| How it works | Ion exchange, recharged with salt | Filter media or cartridges |
| Maintenance | Keep salt topped up | Replace cartridges or media on schedule |
| Often paired with | A sediment or iron filter | A softener |
Many well-water homes need both: a filter to remove iron and sulfur first, then a softener for hardness. We explain what you need and what you don't.
Whole-home vs. point-of-use systems
Whole-home (point-of-entry) systems treat water where it enters the house, so every tap, shower, appliance and the water heater gets treated water. This is the answer for scale, iron, sulfur and staining.
Point-of-use systems treat water at one tap, usually the kitchen sink, for drinking and cooking. They suit city-water homes that are mostly happy with their water but want better taste, or as an extra step on top of a whole-home system.
We'll tell you if a point-of-use filter does the job, since there's no reason to install a larger system than you need. We don't carry a product line we're trying to push. We explain the options and the maintenance each needs, and you decide.
We'll look at your well, pump and water together. Estimates are free.
Protecting your water heater and fixtures
The best reason to treat your water may be the part you can't see. Minerals form scale inside pipes, on heating elements and at the bottom of tanks. Scale insulates the water from the heat, so heaters work harder and wear out sooner. The same minerals clog faucet aerators, shower heads and valves.
- Water heaters: less scale and sediment means fewer flushes and a longer life. See water heater service.
- Faucets and showerheads: fewer clogged aerators and spray holes.
- Dishwashers and washers: less buildup in the heating elements and lines.
- Toilets: fewer rust stains and rim jet blockages.
- New fixtures: a new faucet or toilet lasts longer when it isn't coated in scale. See fixtures.
Treating water pays you back over time in fewer repairs and a longer life for the things that use it.
What to expect when we install a system
- Call or book online. Tell us what you notice and whether you are on city water or a well.
- We look and test. We check your plumbing, your water supply and what you are trying to fix, and recommend a test where it makes sense.
- You get options and an upfront price. Systems matched to your water and your household, with the price agreed before work begins.
- We install it. We connect the system to your main line, set up the drain, power and bypass, and test for leaks.
- We show you how it works. You learn how to add salt, change filters and what normal operation looks like.
- You're covered for a year. Our 1-year personal guarantee covers parts and service.
Our plumbing maintenance plan includes a whole-home plumbing check, so your filtration system gets looked at too.
Water treatment for city-water homes in Cape Coral and Fort Myers
Not every filtration question involves a well. Homes on city water in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples also ask us about taste, chlorine smell and scale. City water is treated and tested by the utility, so the aim is different: improving taste, softening hard water and protecting your plumbing, not making water safe to use in the first place.
- Kitchen sink filter: a point-of-use filter for drinking and cooking water.
- Whole-home carbon filter: reduces the chlorine taste and smell at every tap, including the shower.
- Softener: reduces scale on fixtures, glass and heaters where water is hard.
- Salt air and coastal homes: in canal and beach areas, softened water leaves fewer spots on glass and finishes already stressed by salt air.
If you tell us what bothers you, we'll tell you whether a simple filter is enough. Many city-water households only need one small addition.
Water filtration near you
We install water softeners and filtration in every city in Lee and Collier County, including:
Water filtration and softener FAQ
Do I need a water softener in Southwest Florida?
Many homes do, especially those on well water or in areas with hard water. Signs include white scale on faucets, spotty dishes and soap that won't lather. We can tell you whether a softener will help and what size suits your household.
What causes the rotten-egg smell in my water?
It is usually hydrogen sulfide, which is common in private well water and sometimes shows up only in the hot water because of a reaction in the water heater. A filtration system designed for sulfur removes it, and we can tell you what fits your situation.
What's the difference between a water softener and a water filter?
A softener removes hardness minerals that cause scale. A filter removes things like sediment, iron, sulfur and chlorine taste, depending on the filter media. Many well-water homes need both.
Is whole-home or point-of-use filtration better?
Whole-home systems treat all of your water and fix scale, staining and odor throughout the house. Point-of-use filters treat one tap for drinking water. We recommend the smaller option when it solves your problem.
Will a water softener help my water heater?
Yes. Hard water leaves scale inside the tank and on heating elements, which shortens the life of the heater and makes it less efficient. Softening the water reduces that buildup.
Do you install systems for well water?
Yes. We look at the well, the pump and the pressure tank together with the filtration system so everything works as one setup, and we recommend a water test to match the system to your results.
How much does a water softener or filter cost?
The price depends on the type and size of the system and the installation involved. We give free estimates and an upfront price before work begins.