Best Water Treatment Installation Companies in Minnesota Ranked

Minnesota's water quality presents unique challenges, from high mineral content to specific contaminants that can affect your home's plumbing, appliances, and your family's health. Water treatment systems, including softeners and filters, are essential for addressing issues like scale buildup, metallic tastes, rust stains, and odors. This guide provides a clear overview of common water problems in the state, the types of treatment systems available, and practical steps for selecting, installing, and maintaining a solution tailored to your home's needs.

Merle's Water Conditioning

2200 MN-36, St Paul, MN 55109

Merle's Water Conditioning is a water treatment company serving Minneapolis, MN, and surrounding areas. They provide residential and commercial water softener installation, whole house filtration, iron removal, and drinking water systems. With over 64 years of experience as an independent, non-franchised business, they focus on offering innovative and efficient water treatment solutions. Their services include commercial water system repairs and maintenance, ensuring reliable operation for business customers.

5.0

828 Reviews

Taplin Soft Water

st paul

Taplin Soft Water is a family-owned water purification company serving St Paul, MN, and the broader Twin Cities area. Since 1988, they have provided water softener installation and comprehensive water treatment solutions, including whole-house filtration and reverse osmosis systems. Their certified technicians assess water quality to recommend personalized systems tailored to each home or business. Taplin Soft Water has extensive local knowledge of water challenges and focuses on delivering cleaner, healthier water to customers.

5.0

449 Reviews

Hurlburt Heating & Plumbing

1000 County Rd E Suite 115, Shoreview, MN 55126

Hurlburt Heating & Plumbing is a family-owned home services provider serving St Paul, MN, and surrounding areas. Since 1959, they have offered plumbing, HVAC, and electrical services, including water heater repair, water softener installation, drain cleaning, and sewer line repair. Their experienced technicians use modern tools to address a wide range of home service needs. With a long history in the region, Hurlburt combines local knowledge with comprehensive capabilities to support homeowners year-round.

5.0

438 Reviews

Good Guys Plumbing LLC

st paul

Good Guys Plumbing LLC is a family-owned plumbing company serving St Paul, MN, and nearby areas including Oakdale and Woodbury. They provide a wide range of residential plumbing services such as water heater repair and installation, sump pump repair, leak detection, gas line installation, and water softener installation. The company specializes in working with PEX, copper, and galvanized water systems and offers backflow prevention and water treatment solutions. With over a decade of experience, Good Guys Plumbing focuses on residential plumbing needs and maintaining home plumbing systems.

5.0

248 Reviews

The McKays Company

780 19th St, Newport, MN 55055

The McKays Company is a family-owned business based in Minneapolis, MN, specializing in water softener installation and plumbing services. With over 90 years of experience, they provide tailored water treatment solutions that address the unique water conditions found throughout Minnesota. Their services include water testing, installation, and ongoing maintenance to ensure effective water treatment for homes.

5.0

170 Reviews

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Common Water Quality Issues in Minnesota

Understanding the specific characteristics of your water supply is the first step toward an effective treatment plan. Minnesota's water sources, whether municipal or private well, often contain a combination of the following concerns.

Hardness Hard water, characterized by high levels of calcium and magnesium, is prevalent across Minnesota. This mineral content leads to limescale buildup inside pipes, water heaters, and appliances, reducing their efficiency and lifespan ¹. You might notice its effects as soap scum in showers, dull hair, dry skin, and spots on dishes and glassware ².

Iron and Manganese Particularly in areas reliant on well water, iron is a frequent issue. It causes rust-colored staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry, and can impart a metallic taste to water ^{3 2}. In some cases, water may appear clear but leave stains when exposed to air, a sign of dissolved iron. Manganese, often found with iron, can create brown or black staining.

Chlorine, Taste, and Odor Municipal water suppliers use chlorine to disinfect water, which can leave an unpleasant taste and odor in drinking water and may dry out skin and hair ⁴. Other organic compounds or bacteria in well water can also cause musty, earthy, or sulfurous ("rotten egg") smells.

Other Contaminants Depending on your location, other substances may be present. These can include nitrates from agricultural runoff, arsenic which occurs naturally in some bedrock, sediment, or low levels of other minerals ^{5 6}. A professional water test is the only way to know exactly what's in your water.

Types of Water Treatment Systems

Selecting the right system depends on the contaminants you need to remove and whether you want to treat water for the entire house or at specific points of use.

Water Softeners

• Ion Exchange (Salt-Based): The most common and effective method for removing hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium). These systems use resin beads and salt brine to exchange hardness ions for sodium or potassium ions ^{1 7}.
• Salt-Free Conditioners: These systems don't remove minerals but alter their structure to prevent scale buildup. They are a maintenance-free option for moderate hardness but do not reduce existing scale or remove iron ⁸.
• Dual-Tank or Magnetic Systems: Advanced options for high-demand households or alternative scale inhibition methods, respectively.

Whole-House Filtration Systems These units are installed where water enters your home, treating all the water used.

• Sediment Filters: Remove sand, silt, rust, and other particulates. Often used as a pre-filter for other systems ⁹.
• Carbon Filters: Excellent for removing chlorine, bad tastes, odors, and some organic chemicals. They come in various forms, from simple cartridge filters to large tank-based systems ^{10 3}.
• Oxidation & Filtration Systems: Specifically designed for well water with high iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide. They oxidize these dissolved elements so they can be filtered out ⁴.

Point-of-Use Systems These treat water at a single tap or appliance.

• Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems: Typically installed under the kitchen sink, RO is highly effective at removing a wide array of contaminants, including nitrates, arsenic, sodium, and heavy metals, providing very pure drinking and cooking water ^{11 8}.
• Faucet-Mounted & Countertop Filters: Convenient, lower-cost options for improving the taste of drinking water by reducing chlorine and sediment.
• Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection: Uses UV light to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, offering protection for untreated well water ⁵.

The Process: From Testing to Installation

A systematic approach ensures you invest in a system that correctly addresses your water issues.

1. Professional Water Testing This is the critical first step. While DIY test strips can give a basic indication, a comprehensive test by a professional or a certified lab will provide a detailed analysis of your water's hardness, iron content, pH, and potential contaminants ⁵. This report forms the basis for all recommendations.

2. System Selection & Sizing A qualified professional will help you interpret the test results and recommend a system type and size. Sizing a water softener, for example, depends on your water's hardness level and your household's daily water usage. An undersized system will be ineffective, while an oversized one is an unnecessary expense ^{7 8}.

3. Professional Installation Proper installation is key to performance and longevity. Professional installation typically involves connecting the system to your main water line, ensuring proper drainage for softener brine or filter backwash, and integrating it with your home's plumbing and electrical systems if needed. Installation complexity influences cost, which generally ranges from $500 to $1,500 or more ^{12 5}.

Costs and Investment

The total investment for a water treatment system includes the equipment, installation, and ongoing maintenance.

System Equipment Costs

• Basic Water Softener: $600 - $1,500 for the unit itself ¹⁰.
• Whole-House Carbon/Sediment Filtration System: Approximately $1,000 and up for the unit ^{10 1}.
• Advanced Whole-House or Reverse Osmosis Systems: $2,000 - $5,000+ for the equipment ¹¹.
• Combination Systems (for well water): Systems designed to handle hardness, iron, and odor can range from $3,000 to $7,500 or more, depending on complexity ¹⁰.

Installation Costs As noted, professional installation typically adds $500 to $1,500 to the total project cost, though this can be higher for complex setups requiring significant plumbing modifications or multiple treatment stages ^{12 5}.

Long-Term Value While the upfront cost is an investment, a properly maintained system can last 10-15 years or more ^{7 13}. The benefits include protecting expensive appliances (like water heaters and dishwashers), using less soap and detergent, preventing pipe scale, and providing better-tasting, cleaner water for your household.

Maintenance and Care

Regular maintenance ensures your system operates efficiently for its full lifespan.

Water Softener Maintenance

• Salt: Check salt levels monthly. Use high-purity salt cubes or crystals to minimize residue and clean the brine tank annually. Break up any "salt bridges" (hard crusts) that form ^{7 14}.
• Service: An annual professional check-up is recommended to inspect valves, seals, and controls, and to clean the resin tank if needed ¹⁴.

Filter System Maintenance

• Filter Changes: Sediment and carbon filters have cartridges that must be replaced on a schedule (e.g., every 6-12 months). Annual costs for replacement filters can range from $50 to $400 ^{10 9}.
• RO System Care: Under-sink RO systems have multiple filter stages and a membrane, all requiring periodic replacement according to the manufacturer's guidelines.
• System Sanitizing: Periodic cleaning and sanitizing of filter tanks and lines prevent bacterial growth ⁹.

Frequently asked questions

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