Choosing the Right Water Filtration System – My Honest Consultation Approach
When a homeowner calls me about water filtration, I don’t start by rattling off equipment lists. I ask one simple question first:
👉 “Why do you want this? What problem are you trying to solve?”
From there, the right answer usually reveals itself. Let me walk you through it the way I do with my customers.
If You Say: “I want the cleanest drinking water.”
The answer is reverse osmosis (RO) — installed under your sink.
Removes dissolved solids, contaminants, and chlorine taste.
Great for cooking and drinking.
Not a whole-home solution, but if pure drinking water is your goal, nothing beats it.
If You Say: “I’m tired of scrubbing scale off my shower glass.”
The answer is a softener or conditioner. Both attack hardness (calcium and magnesium) but in different ways:
Traditional water softener (salt-based):
Removes hardness completely through ion exchange.
Downsides: you have to add salt every month or two, it needs a drain and an outlet, it backwashes, and the electronic head can fail over time (especially outside in Texas heat).
Water conditioner (my personal preference):
Doesn’t remove minerals but changes them so they won’t stick.
No salt, no drain, fewer moving parts, no electronic head to fry in the sun.
It won’t test as “soft” in a glass, but your fixtures, glass, and water heater will thank you.
If You Say: “My water smells like chlorine” (or “my PEX is leaking”).
The answer is a whole-home carbon filter (often paired with KDF media).
Removes chlorine and chloramine from city water.
Helps with taste, odor, and protects plumbing (especially PEX pipes) from oxidation.
Bonus: also extends the life of your water heater and appliances.
If You Say: “I want all of the above.”
Then you build on layers:
Carbon filter at the source (to remove chlorine/chloramine).
Conditioner or softener to tackle hardness and scale.
RO under the sink for the cleanest drinking water.
That way, every system is solving a specific problem — not just sitting there looking fancy.
The Honest Bottom Line
Every consultation comes down to this:
What’s bugging you the most?
What one system solves that issue directly?
And then — if you want — we can nerd out about how the other pieces build on top.
For me personally, I lean toward conditioners over traditional softeners. Less maintenance, fewer failures, and more peace of mind. But every family is different, and the “right” solution is the one that makes your life easier without adding hassle.
Cheers and God bless,
— Mark, Brazos Home Services
