Water treatment companies are always looking for ways to differentiate themselves from their competition, and those that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award are already several steps ahead. In addition to its Diamond Certified status, Puronics Service, Inc. sets itself apart by manufacturing all the products it sells and installs, which, according to General Manager John Omans, allows the company to ensure higher levels of customer satisfaction. “We want every customer to have a top-quality experience when they purchase a Puronics product, and an important part of that is controlling each step of the water purification process for them,” he says. “We’re focused on quality every step of the way, from the manufacturing stage to our installation crews and customer service staff.”

Puronics has been manufacturing water treatment equipment for residential and commercial clients throughout the Bay Area and beyond since 1947. The company’s water conditioning, filtering, sterilization/disinfection and reverse osmosis technologies are used for a variety of purposes, from improving household drinking systems to pre-treating water-using appliances (dishwashers, boilers, etc.) for all types of businesses.

Unlike water treatment companies whose lack of experience forces them to limit their offerings to basic filtration or softener systems, Puronics Service utilizes its comprehensive expertise to offer its customers unique technologies that are designed to increase the healthiness of their water. “Our systems have special filters that inhibit bacteria growth and remove chlorine,” explains Mr. Omans. “Not only does this make water taste better, it also feels better on skin, leaves less buildup on pipes and increases the longevity of water-using appliances.”

Puronics’ ability to manufacture, install and service its own equipment also gives it a distinct advantage in terms of quality control. “Our field employees work for and are trained by the same company that makes the products, so they’re able to directly deal with potential problems and provide superior installations,” says Mr. Omans. “We strive to go above and beyond for our customers, and quality control is an important part of that.”

When shopping for a water filtration system, make sure you get one that meets your specific needs. Many homeowners elect to install water filtration systems because they’re sick of hard water stains on their shower doors or wear and tear on their water-using appliances, but few are immediately aware of the variety of systems on the market, all of which have unique advantages and disadvantages. To determine which water filtration system best fits your situation, consider the following tips:

Find out what’s in your water. If your house is hooked up to a municipal water supply, request a copy of your area’s consumer confidence report. The EPA requires local utility companies to provide these reports for their customers on an annual basis, and they may also be available on your utility company’s website or in your local newspaper. Be aware that this report only evaluates the water supply in your area—it doesn’t tell you exactly what’s in your tap water, so it can be beneficial to have a local water expert come to your home and perform a water test.

Choose the right filter. Residential water filtration systems range from refillable pitchers and in-sink models to whole-house water softener systems with built-in filters that catch contaminants. Once you know exactly what’s in your water, you’ll be able to select the right filter for your specific needs. For example, if your water is hard or contains high levels of iron, you’ll likely want a whole-house system.

Know the basics of your plumbing system. Having a working knowledge of the size of your home’s plumbing line and its approximate flow rate can help ensure you get the right filtration system. Other factors include the number of people living in your home, the number of bathrooms you have and how you use your appliances. Do you frequently do laundry and run the dishwasher? Does anyone in your family take long showers? These things can impact the effectiveness of your water filtration system.

Q: How much does it cost to install a new water filtration system?

A: We can give you the list prices of our products, but in order to provide a final price, we’ll need to perform an onsite estimate so we can determine exactly what needs to be done.

Q: What should I look for in a water filtration system?

A: First, find out if the system has been tested and certified by an independent third party. For example, our products are tested and certified to NSF International standards. If you’re buying a water softening system, make sure it has a metered valve so it’s more accurate.

Q: Do your water filtration units soften water or just filter it?

A: Our systems are combination filters and water softeners, so they do both.

Q: Can you tell me if my water needs to be filtered?

A: Absolutely. We’ll come to your home and perform a simple water test to check for hardness, chlorine, total dissolved solids and other issues. This is a free service that we offer as part of our sales process. If you have a private well on your property, it’s likely you deal with more water problems than people on the municipal water supply, so we recommend having your water tested at a state-certified lab before we suggest a product.

Q: Can your water purification systems prevent build-up on my shower door?

A: Yes, we have products that remove the minerals that leave white deposits on shower doors. We can also install systems that get rid of red staining, which is caused by iron in the water, and black staining, which is caused by manganese.