At Suburban Water Technology, Inc., and DBA Shore Water Refining, we have over 60 years of experience in water treatment. We service customers across Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. We are often asked about the return on investment (ROI) of installing a home water treatment system. When it comes to installing residential water softeners or reverse osmosis water filters, the ROI can depend on several factors.
Thanks to our long-standing partnership with EcoWater and our expertise in residential and industrial technical applications of various water treatment systems, we’re very familiar with the nuances of this issue. We’ll break down the types, benefits, and ROI of different water treatment systems for your home.
Lowering Utility Bills and Extending Appliance Lifespan
Hard water causes many problems for homeowners. It can cause scale buildup, dry skin, appliance inefficiency, and make cleansers less effective, requiring more detergent to achieve the same effect. This can be a frustrating and costly problem that wastes both time and money.
When a water softener system is installed, the upfront cost can vary widely — $2,500 to $5,500 — depending on the type. While your home’s value likely won’t increase directly, you’ll save money over time by preventing the issues above by removing the excess minerals that cause them.
Water softeners save money on water and detergent, reduce the frequency of appliance repairs and replacements, and lower monthly energy consumption. Think of installing a water softener system as an investment in the protection of expensive household assets like dishwashers and washing machines from mineral damage.
The exact savings associated with reducing the frequency of appliance replacements and plumbing repairs depend on the hardness of your water, appliance usage, and labor costs. To give you an idea of the impact of hard water, here are some statistics.
Effects of Hard Water:
- Traditional water heater efficiency is reduced by as much as 24%.
- After just 18 months of use, showerhead flow rates drop up to 75%.
- Dishwashers need 70% more detergent to clean dishes.
These issues affect daily usage and efficiency as well as longevity and maintenance needs, which can be costly.
Comparing ROI Across Softeners, Filtration, and Reverse Osmosis
Softeners remove minerals, simple filtration systems remove sediment and contaminants like chlorine, which affect taste, and reverse osmosis systems can do both. Water softeners have an ROI of between 20% and 50% over 3-5 years.
Water filter ROI can vary more. Generally, they can increase home value in some areas, help with appliance efficiency, and save money on bottled water costs. They can pay for themselves in 2 years or less and save up to $600 a year after that.
A reverse osmosis system can provide all the combined benefits of both. A high-efficiency reverse osmosis system can also maximize performance and shorten the period required to reach the break-even point.
Enhancing Property Value and Daily Operational Efficiency
Especially in areas with water quality issues, you can see a measurable increase in home resale value associated with installed, high-quality water treatment infrastructure. In addition to that kind of concrete ROI, there’s also the “soft” ROI, such as reduced maintenance workloads and decreased spending on cleaning supplies and detergents, as noted above.
To receive these benefits, it’s vital that the system be right for your home and properly installed by a qualified professional. Failing to ensure this can lead to long-term issues. Proper installation of the correct system will help ensure that it maintains its value for decades.
Partner with Suburban Water Technology, Inc. for Proven Savings
When you work with a team of knowledgeable experts, like those at Suburban Water Technology, Inc. and DBA Shore Water Refining, you can ensure that the system you choose meets the requirements of your home and water issues to ensure that you maximize the cumulative financial benefits of transitioning to treated water for your home. These include bottled water and detergent savings, reduced appliance maintenance and replacement costs, and increased home value.
We are committed to providing excellent service to customers from Delaware to the Poconos with premier water solutions. Contact us today for a consultation to calculate your specific savings potential!
