Chaud Company Plumbing · Southeast Idaho
Hard water leaves scale on your fixtures and spots on your dishes, and it is hard on your water heater. We install water softeners and conditioners the right way, for one price you hear before we start.
Pocatello's water comes from deep wells in the Lower Portneuf River Valley Aquifer. It picks up calcium and magnesium on the way, and those minerals are what make water hard.
According to the City of Pocatello Water Department, Pocatello's water is very hard and averages 350 parts per million, about 20.5 grains per gallon. The City says water above 10 grains per gallon is considered hard.
Source: City of Pocatello Water Department FAQ (pocatello.gov/855/FAQs). Hard water is safe to drink. Water in Chubbuck, Blackfoot and other towns, and private wells, can be different.
The City also points to the everyday problems: harder cleaning and laundry, less efficient water heaters and other appliances, and white, chalky deposits on dishes.
If you see two or three of these, a softener or conditioner is worth a look.
People use the two names as if they mean the same thing. They don't. A softener takes the hardness minerals out of your water. A conditioner leaves them in and works to keep them from forming scale. We install both: Pacific Water softeners and NuvoH2O salt-free conditioners. Here is how they compare.
What it does: Removes the calcium and magnesium that make water hard, using resin that is cleaned (regenerated) with salt. The result is truly soft water.
Who it's for: Homeowners who want soft water, not just less scale: less soap use, less spotting, and the soft feel many people like on skin and laundry.
Upkeep: Salt. You add salt or potassium pellets to the brine tank when it runs low. It needs power and a drain line.
From the manufacturer: Pacific Water, Inc., a manufacturer in Salt Lake City, Utah, says its Sentry II metered softeners keep track of the water your home uses each day and do not regenerate unless they need to.
What it does: Helps prevent scale. It does not remove calcium and magnesium, so the water still tests hard and does not feel slippery-soft. According to NuvoH2O, its citric-acid cartridge (CitraCharge) keeps those minerals suspended so they are less likely to stick to pipes, fixtures and appliances.
Who it's for: Homeowners whose main goal is protecting plumbing and appliances from scale, and who don't want salt, a power connection or a regeneration cycle.
Upkeep: A cartridge instead of salt. NuvoH2O says to replace it about every 6 months for most homes, depending on water use and hardness.
From the manufacturer: NuvoH2O says its system works without salt or electricity and makes no wastewater, and that it is designed for scale, not for chlorine, sediment or iron. It also says well water should be tested first.
With water as hard as Pocatello's, a salt-based softener is the usual pick if you want true soft water. A salt-free conditioner is a fair choice if scale protection is the goal and you'd rather skip salt. We'll tell you straight which one fits your home, and we won't sell you more than you need.
Brands we install: Pacific Water softeners and NuvoH2O salt-free conditioners. When a job calls for it, we also install North Star softeners.
Manufacturer details from pacificwaterinc.com and nuvoh2o.com. Product details and warranties vary by model and can change.
Get your one price on the phone before we start. Here is what is in it.
If your home needs something extra, like a longer drain run or a tight spot to work in, we tell you and price it before any work starts. The number you hear is the number you pay.
Best Deal guarantee: show us a written quote from a larger plumbing company for the same job, and we'll beat it.
Already dealing with a failing tank? See our water heater repair and water heater replacement pages, or head back to the Chaud Company Plumbing homepage.
We install water softeners and conditioners in and around Pocatello:
Not sure we cover your address? Call 208-232-2292 and ask.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 to 5. After-hours and weekend calls cost extra, so ask when you call.
The City of Pocatello Water Department says Pocatello's water is very hard and averages 350 parts per million, about 20.5 grains per gallon. The City notes that anything above 10 grains per gallon counts as hard. Hard water is safe to drink, but it leaves scale and spots and makes soap work harder. An older USGS study of groundwater in Bannock County also found most of the water sampled to be very hard. Chubbuck, Blackfoot, American Falls and other towns use their own water systems, and wells vary, so your own water may be different. Ask us if you want to know what to expect at your address.
A salt-based water softener removes the calcium and magnesium that make water hard, so you get truly softer water. A salt-free conditioner does not remove those minerals. It is meant to keep them from forming scale, but the water is still hard. If you want soft-feeling water and the strongest protection against hard-water problems, a softener is the usual choice. A conditioner can fit if scale protection is your goal and you'd rather not use salt. We install Pacific Water softeners and NuvoH2O salt-free conditioners, so we can recommend what fits your home. Call 208-232-2292 and we'll talk it through.
No. A salt-based softener removes calcium and magnesium from the water. A salt-free conditioner does not. According to NuvoH2O, its citric-acid cartridge keeps calcium and magnesium suspended in the water so they are less likely to form scale on pipes, fixtures and appliances, and the minerals stay in the water. That means the water still tests hard and does not have the slippery feel of salt-softened water. If you want soft water, choose a softener. If you mainly want to prevent scale without salt, a conditioner may fit.
A salt-based softener, like the Pacific Water softeners we install, needs salt or potassium pellets added to the brine tank when it runs low. A NuvoH2O conditioner uses a cartridge instead of salt. According to NuvoH2O, the cartridge is replaced about every 6 months for most homes, depending on water use and hardness. Ask us which routine suits you better.
We install Pacific Water softeners and NuvoH2O salt-free conditioners, and North Star softeners when a job calls for it. Parts and equipment carry the manufacturer's own warranty, which varies by model.
You get one price, and you hear it before we start. The price depends on the system that fits your home and household, so we'll ask a few questions and give you one number. It includes the bypass valve and drain line for softeners, connection to your existing plumbing, startup and setup, and haul-away of your old unit. No haggling and no surprises. Call 208-232-2292.
It can. The City of Pocatello notes that hard water can reduce the efficiency of water heaters and other water-using appliances, because scale builds up where water is heated. A softener helps keep minerals out of your hot water system. If your water heater is already failing, see our water heater repair and water heater replacement pages.
The City of Pocatello says hard water is safe to drink and that a softener may address many of the problems hard water causes, but it does not recommend drinking soft water. Softeners add a small amount of sodium or potassium as they work. If you want to keep a drinking tap off the softener, or have questions about your health or diet, ask us when you call and talk to your doctor.
Every Chaud Company job comes with a one-year labor warranty. We also stand behind our Best Deal in Town guarantee: show us a written quote from a larger plumbing company for the same job, and we'll beat it. Parts and equipment carry the manufacturer's own warranty, which varies by model.
We install water softeners in Pocatello, Chubbuck, Blackfoot, McCammon, Inkom, American Falls and Downey. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 to 5. After-hours and weekend calls cost extra, so ask when you call 208-232-2292.
Call Chaud Company Plumbing and get one price, with no haggling and no surprises.
Licensed #027511 · Local since 1985 · One-year labor warranty on every job · Mon–Fri 8–5, after-hours and weekend calls cost extra
