Water Systems & Equipment
Learn about different types of water systems and equipment for residential properties, explaining key components, costs, maintenance, and tips for choosing the right system.

The Complete Guide to Residential Water Systems & Equipment

Access to clean, safe water is one of the most essential elements of a functional home. Delivering high-quality water relies on complex residential water systems and equipment that require proper installation, maintenance, and occasional repairs or upgrades.

This guide explores the key components of home water systems, the issues that impact water quality, and the different types of water treatment solutions available. Read on to learn the basics of water wells, piping, storage tanks, heaters, softeners, filters, and more.

Boiler Replacement
Generally, you can expect to pay $5,300–$9,500 to replace your home's boiler. Price will vary for electric, gas, and wood models.
GET ESTIMATES
Emergency Plumbing
You can typically expect to pay $68–$450 for emergency plumbing, depending on the severity of the problem at hand.
GET ESTIMATES
photo of a geothermal heat pump
Ejector Pump
Generally, you can expect to pay between $850–$5,500 for a new ejector pump, depending on the type of pump you need.
GET ESTIMATES
Get Free Estimates From Professional Plumbers
Match with a plumbing expert to help you with installation or repair.

Types of Water Supply Systems

Your home's water source determines what kind of supply system you need. The two main options are private well systems or connecting to public municipal water systems.

Private Well Systems

Homes outside municipal water supply areas must get water from a private well drilled on their property. Well systems pump groundwater to the surface from underground aquifers using submersible pumps. Wells provides autonomous water supply for homes not connected to city plumbing.

Key private well system components include:

A submersible pump in the well shaft that pushes water to the surface. Well pumps require electricity and occasional maintenance or replacement when they fail.

A storage tank that maintains system water pressure between pump cycles. These use bladders or diaphragms to separate air and water. Tank sizes range from 2 to over 100 gallons.

PVC, polyethylene, and metal pipes connect well components and transport water. Piping runs underground and through the home's plumbing. Proper sizing depends on peak usage.

Larger tanks hold hundreds or thousands of gallons in reserve for periods of high demand, preventing pump overuse. Consider adding storage for homes with higher daily usage.

Well pump
Adobe - Royalty Free

Well owners must monitor water quality, perform equipment maintenance, and make repairs. Annual costs average $300 - $500, but major repairs like replacing a well or pump can cost thousands.

Municipal Water Systems

Homes in cities and towns receive treated surface or groundwater from public supply systems. Water flows through underground service lines maintained by the utility, then into your home's plumbing.

Municipal water requires no special on-site equipment besides household plumbing and fixtures. You pay monthly bills based on metered usage rather than equipment maintenance and operation costs.


Water Quality Issues

While municipal water is rigorously treated and tested, private well water quality varies. Hardness, bacteria, metals, pesticides, and other issues may necessitate treatment.

Testing and treating private well water quality issues is important to protect your household's health and home systems. Contaminants or high hardness can damage plumbing and appliances if left untreated.

Hardness refers to high dissolved calcium and magnesium mineral levels. Hard water leaves scale and mineral buildup on plumbing, fixtures, and anything washed with it.

Hardness is measured in grains per gallon (gpg). Over 20 gpg is very hard and causes major scaling. Extremely hard water exceeds 30 gpg. Testing determines your exact water hardness.

Iron bacteria are microorganisms that feed on iron in water. They leave red-brown slime, clog plumbing over time, and must be treated with shock chlorination or filtration.

Groundwater may contain arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, chromium and other heavy metals from natural deposits or industrial/agricultural runoff requiring treatment through ion-exchange or reverse osmosis filtration to remove.

Agricultural runoff may introduce pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, industrial chemicals like solvents, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into well water requiring treatment. Granular activated carbon filters help reduce them.


Water Softeners

Softeners remove hardness minerals and prevent scale by exchanging calcium and magnesium ions for sodium or potassium through ion exchange.

Traditional softeners use sodium chloride salt for ion exchange regeneration. Hardness minerals attach to the salt during the process. Sodium models increase the water sodium content. Potassium costs more but avoids this.

Salt-based softeners need periodic salt refills and resin bed cleaning to control bacteria and resin fouling. Salt costs run $5-$10 monthly.

Salt-free conditioners use catalytic carbon-coated resin media. Hardness forms harmless crystals upon contact that do not bind and cause scale. The media must be replaced when sites become saturated.

Salt-free conditioners avoid added sodium and delivered salt but have higher up-front costs. They effectively soften water but do not remove other contaminants.

Typical installation costs range from $2,000 - $4,000 for full home salt-based units and $500 - $2,500 for salt-free conditioning

Water Softening System
Adobe - Royalty Free

Water Filtration Systems

Filters remove particles and contaminants through different physical, chemical, and biological treatment methods. Point-of-use and whole-house options are available.

Filtration examples include reverse osmosis systems that push water through membranes to remove contaminants and activated carbon filters that chemically absorb impurities.

Common residential filtration methods include:

Forces water through a membrane to remove ions and particles, including >90% of contaminants.

Adsorbs chemicals and traps particles. Also improves odor and taste.

UV light kills bacteria and microorganisms by neutralizing DNA. Requires frequent bulb replacement.

Strains out particulate matter through porous media. Less effective on chemicals.

Reverse Osmosis filtration system
Adobe - Royalty Free

Reverse osmosis and activated carbon remove contaminants in multi-stage under-sink and whole home systems.

Installing new filtration systems ranges from $30 for basic faucet filters to over $3,500 for extensive whole-house units with multiple stages.


Water Heaters

Heating water represents about 18% of home energy costs. Choosing an efficient heater helps save on bills. The two main options are tank and tankless.

Tank Water Heaters

Tanks store 30-50 gallons of heated water for on-demand use. Conventional tanks cost $400-$1,500. Gas-fueled are less expensive to operate than electric. Well-maintained tanks last 6-12 years.

Drain and flush sediment 1-2 times per year to maintain a tank water heater. Check heating elements and anodes for wear. Replacement may be needed over time.

Water Heater Tank
Adobe - Royalty Free

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless heaters provide unlimited hot water on demand without storage. They cost more up-front at $1,000-$4,000 but last over 20 years. Natural gas tankless models have the lowest operating costs.

Proper installation is key for tank water heaters. Maintenance keeps them running efficiently. Heating elements or thermocouples may eventually need replacement as well.

Tankless water heater in a home
Adobe - Royalty Free

Fixing & Replacing Water Pipes

Fresh household water comes through interior pipes from the main inlet. Pipe materials include copper, CPVC plastic, PEX, and galvanized steel.

Over time, leaks, corrosion, freezing, and wear can damage pipes. Repairing specific leaks may be preferable to full replacement. However, re-piping the entire plumbing system may be necessary if there are multiple leaks or extensive corrosion.

Copper pipes resist corrosion but may develop pinhole leaks over decades of use. Plastic pipes are cheaper but get more brittle and prone to cracking with age. Steel pipes corrode. PEX tubing is flexible but cannot be used for steam lines.

For DIY repairs, clamps and sealants can temporarily fix small leaks. Re-piping a whole house costs $4,000-$10,000 and often requires plumbers. Evaluate options upon detecting leaks.


Learn More About Water Systems


So, What's the Best Water System for Your Home?

There is no universally "best" whole home water system. The ideal equipment and treatment depends on your water source, contamination issues, usage, and other factors.

Work with professionals to test your water and profile usage. Use the results to customize robust filtration, softening, safety, efficiency, and convenience into an integrated system that meets your household's needs.

Private well owners must monitor water quality closely and plan for more involved treatment and maintenance. Public water hookups transfer those duties to utilities, requiring only supplemental filtration and conditioning.

Investing in adequate purification ensures your home's water system delivers premium quality, protects appliances, and prevents potential health hazards from contaminants.

Top Pick
ars logo

4.6

GET QUOTE
Limited Time:
Save Up to $300 On a New Water Heater!
Best Service Selection

4.9

GET QUOTE
Limited Time:
$100 Off Drain Cleaning Services
Best Discounts/Financing
roto rooter logo

4.6

GET QUOTE
Limited Time:
$75 Off Plumbing or Drain Cleaning

The Bottom Line

Reliable water systems provide the foundation for everyday home functionality and convenience. Investing in appropriate treatment safeguards your household from contaminants, appliance damage, and plumbing corrosion. Work with experts to create a customized whole-home water system that meets your family's needs.


Frequently Asked Questions About Water Systems & Equipment

How often should I test my private well water?

Test private well water annually for bacteria and nitrates and every 3-5 years for other chemicals. Re-test after major events like flooding or groundwater contamination in your area. Also, test comprehensively when moving into a home with an existing well.


What level of water hardness causes scale buildup issues?

Hardness levels above 10-12 grains per gallon are considered very hard and begin forming noticeable scale in pipes and fixtures. Extreme hardness exceeds 30 grains per gallon. Testing determines your exact water hardness.


What’s the difference between a water softener and a water filter?

Water softeners specifically address hardness by exchanging minerals for sodium ions. Filters remove a broader range of contaminants but do not reduce hardness. Many households use both softening and filtration systems for comprehensive treatment.


How can I improve low water pressure in my home?

Inspecting and replacing clogged filters, adding a booster pump, or re-piping with larger diameter water lines can help resolve low pressure. Consult professional plumbers for the best solution.


How much does re-piping an entire house cost?

Whole home water line replacement averages $4,000-$10,000 depending on size and pipe type. Copper pipes are generally the most expensive. Get quotes from multiple plumbers before a major re-piping project.


Meet the Contributors

Danny Lipford

Founder

Joe Truini

Contributor

Jodi Marks

Jodi Marks

Contributor

Elisabeth Beauchamp

Elisabeth Beauchamp

Staff Writer

Alora Bopray

Alora Bopray

Staff Writer

Sam Wasson

Sam Wasson

Staff Writer

Alexis Curls

Alexis Curls

Staff Writer

Amy DeYoung

Amy DeYoung

Contributor

Sean Donnelly

Sean Donnelly

Contributor

Sarah Horvath

Sarah Horvath

Contributor

Jonathon Jachura

Jonathon Jachura

Contributor

Sharon Lord

Contributor

Coty Perry

Coty Perry

Contributor

Dan Simms

Dan Simms

Contributor

Dani Straughan

Dani Straughan

Contributor