Frequently Asked Questions About Water Softeners

What makes Ohio Valley Pure Water the best choice for a water softener?

That’s simple! Our Wholesale Pricing, Great Reputation & Impeccable Service – Our wholesale pricing allows our customers to get more bang for the buck. We have the most 5-star reviews on Google, Cincinnati BBB and Angie’s List. That doesn’t happen by chance. We have been in business since 1988 so we know what works and what doesn’t. 0ur employees (which are all family) wear uniforms, clean shaven, clean haircuts, no tattoos or piercings.

Who is your manufacturer?

We custom build our own water softeners using four different American made manufacturers:

Fleck (owned by Pentair) is the manufacturer of our valve which is made in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Structural (owned by Pentair) is the manufacturer of the resin tank which is made in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Resin Tech is the manufacturer of the water softener resin which is made in Camden, New Jersey.
Clack Corporation is the manufacturer of our salt tanks which are made in Windsor, Wisconsin.

Every component of our water softener is made right here in the USA. Because our water softeners are not mass produced like our competitors, this allows us to have full control of each USA made component. Our water softeners are built to last for years without the bells & whistles. Additionally, each component comes with its own manufacturer warranty.

What makes water softeners different from each other?

Five things: size, resin, valve, warranty, and components.

Size: The amount of resin in the water softener will determine the size (how often it backwashes) which will determine how long the water softener will last. For examples, our in-stock water softeners come in a (ex-small) 24,000 grains, (small) 32,000 grains, (medium) 48,000 grains and (large) 64,000 grains water softener.
Resin: Is the resin American-made or foreign-made and is the resin 8% cross-link or 10% cross-link? The majority of resin sold in America is 8% cross-link foreign-made resin to compete with the lowest price. 8% cross-link resin is manufactured for non-chlorinated water and 10% cross-link resin is manufactured for chlorinated water. 100% of city/ county water is chlorinated water by law. Even when you buy a national brand water softener, you’re not guaranteed that you’re getting 10% cross-link high-quality American-made resin. Studies show that American-made resin will usually last two to three times longer than foreign-made resin. We only used American-made 10% cross-link resin from Resin Tech which is manufactured in Camden, New Jersey.
Valve: Is it a timer valve (good), metered valve (better) or digital valve (best)? A timer valve (good) is the least expensive option because the backwashes are timed. For example, every two days. The metered valve (better) counts the gallons of water first before backwashing. The digital Valve (best) is best because uses a solid-state microprocessor with LED display that shows the time of day, remaining capacity, and regeneration cycle in process. Studies show the digital valve (best) uses 50% less salt than a timer valve (good) and 25% less than a metered valve (better).
Warranty: All of our manufacturers offer an honest 10-year warranty on manufacturer defects on everything except for the digital valve. The digital valve comes with a 5-year manufacturer warranty for manufacturer defects. The part would be FREE but the customer would always pay the labor charge to replace or fix the parts. Nobody offers a real lifetime warranty including parts and/ or labor so don't be sold by the hype. Some may claim to have a lifetime warranty until you read the fine print. Just read their reviews.
Components: Where are the components that make up the water treatment system made? When systems are mass-produced you have no idea. Like some things, some manufacturers will assemble their products in the USA but their components are actually made overseas for two reasons. 1) To keep price down 2) It allows them to sell their products for a higher profit margin.

Why do you say this will be the last water softener we will ever buy?

There are 3 major components that make a water softener: 1. Resin & resin tank, 2. Valve & 3. Salt tank. When one of those major components go bad, we just replace that individual component. By doing it this way we save our customers thousands of dollars over time.

How do your water softeners compare to your local competitors in Cincinnati?

Being in business since 1988 has allowed many customers to own both our water softeners and that of our competitors. According to our online reviews, customers who have owned both have said the quality is the same except our prices are 50 - 75% less. Why? As a wholesale water treatment company we do not have commissioned sales reps, commissioned installers, national advertising, large retail office space and expensive overhead. Of the 31 different water treatment companies in the Cincinnati market a water softener averages $4,000.00 to as high as $6,000.00 installed and a complete water treatment system which includes a water softener, carbon filter and reverse osmosis system averages $5,500.00 to as high as $8,000.00 installed.

How do your water softeners compare to what you can buy online?

Like the water softeners sold at the big box stores these water softeners compete for lowest price and are replaced 75% more often than a high-quality water softener. Why? Most people buy them for their extremely low price not realizing A) they only last a few years B) there are no local service companies to service them C) most people do not have the technical experience to service their own water softener as needed. Most people would agree quality control is often sacrificed to meet lowest price. Our prices are already 50 – 75% less than our local competitors comparing apples to apples because of our wholesale pricing. The reason we are Cincinnati’s highest rated water treatment company is because of our excellent service after the install. That is something you will never get from an online purchase.

How do your water softeners compare to the big box stores like Home Depot/ Lowes/ Menards & etc.?

Like the water softeners sold on-line these water softeners compete for lowest price and are replaced 75% more often than a high-quality water softener. Why? Most people buy them for their extremely low price not realizing A) they only last a few years B) there are no local service companies to service them C) most people do not have the technical experience to service their own water softener as needed. Most people would agree quality control is often sacrificed to meet lowest price. Our prices are already 50 – 75% less than our local competitors comparing apples to apples because of our wholesale pricing. The reason we are Cincinnati’s highest rated water treatment company is because of our excellent service after the install. That is something you will never get from a big box store purchase.

What kind of salt should I use in your water softener?

The type of salt you will use will depend on if you will have a reverse osmosis system or not. Most customers do not drink softened water because of the extra sodium intake which can lead to high blood pressure. Most customers drink and cook with reverse osmosis water which removes sodium along with 1,000’s of other contaminants which allows them to use regular water softener salt safely. If you plan on not having a reverse osmosis system installed then you should only buy Potassium Chloride (salt alternative) pellets for water softeners. This will put potassium in water rather than sodium which will prevent anyone from getting high blood pressure from the water softener. The down side is Potassium Chloride pellets cost six times more than regular water softener salt. Regardless Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, Walmart, Meir’s and etc. carries both types of salt.

Why don't you sell salt free/no salt water softeners?

Magnetic water conditioning units have been on the market for years and are not a new product. You will not find this kind of product sold by any water treatment dealer in the Cincinnati area. Why? Because your water hardness has to be less than 7 grains hard (moderately hard) to be effective. If you lived down South, then this would be a great idea. Many of our customers have bought a no salt water softener before on-line until they realize it didn’t work. Great idea if you live in the right place.

Where do you install a water softener?

The best location would be at the water softener rough-in that the builder put in when the house was being built. If your home does not have a water softener rough-in then the 2nd best location would be by your main water shutoff coming into the home. For most families that would be in the basement. That way every faucet in your home will have soft water. Any other location cannot guarantee you soft water throughout your house. Note: Water softeners should not be installed in a location where they cannot freeze. Note: Our water softeners come standard with a by-pass valve to by-pass the water softener whenever needed.

What is considered standard installation for a water softener?

Any new construction home with a complete water softener rough-in already installed by the builder.

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Why do you charge a $49.00 estimate fee?

Our competitors offer free estimates or free water testing because their sales reps are on commission only which is usually around 25%. With their inflated prices they can afford to offer this. Free water testing is a ploy to get in to your home because everything they test for you can get from your local water department with a simple phone call. We do apply the $49.00 to the purchase price if installed within 30 days.

What’s the best way to prevent leaks?

3 Things:

Water Pressure – Maintaining water pressure around 60psi at all times
Annual Maintenance – not neglecting annual maintenance and not attempting to do it yourself
- NOTE: Majority of leaks we go on are from customers doing their own service and not doing it correctly or neglecting service all together
Water Alarms – Water alarms don’t prevent leaks but they prevent damage or minimize damage by immediately alerting you when there is a leak. It makes a loud chirping sound when water is detected. A must have for any home.

What are the conditions of the manufacturer warranty?

The system must be maintained with manufacturer-approved replacement parts from Ohio Valley Pure Water. Save all receipts for verification.
Failures resulting from fire, freezing, neglect, self-service, accident, alteration, abuse, or acts of nature are not covered.
Customers must have a working water pressure regulator not to exceed 75psi.
The system must be maintained by Ohio Valley Pure Water only. Save all receipts for verification.
Incoming water chlorine must not exceed .5 mg/L.
Chloramines must not be present at all.

Water Softener Services in Cincinnati, OH - Ohio Valley Pure Water

Name: Ohio Valley Pure Life
Address: 4139 S Yorkshire Square, Cincinnati, OH, 45245, US
Telephone: (513) 231-5531

Hard water can wreak havoc on your skin, plumbing, appliances, and more. When water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, it becomes hard water. Hard water can create several problems in your house such as clogged pipes, soap not dissolving correctly, and leaving water spots.

At Ohio Valley Pure Water, we can install a water softener that will remove the minerals that cause the water to be hard. If hard water goes left untreated, it can create a scale buildup within your pipes and water appliances. The buildup can even begin to reduce the efficiency in your water heater causing an increase in energy expenses.

Signs You Need a Water Softener

There are numerous signs a household needs a water softener installed. At Ohio Valley Pure Water, we’ve outlined the three most common issues our clients have before they have a water softener installed.

Dry, Itchy Skin

Typically, hard water can cause the skin to become extra dry and itchy because of the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water. What’s happening is that this water isn’t nourishing your skin, it just dries it out. The minerals in the water will just settle on your skin leaving an irritating residue that can’t be washed away with soap.

Dirty Dishes

Do your dishes have spots on them after they’ve been washed? A sign that you have hard water is that you’ll notice white spots on your glassware and dishes. In addition, the appearance of soap scum in your kitchen and bathroom will also signify that you have hard water.

Plumbing Problems

If you’ve noticed you’ve been calling the plumber more than usual; the problem may lie within the water. Hard water can easily damage steel pipes due to the minerals that are found in hard water. If you’ve noticed your pipes are beginning to form leaks, it’s recommended to get your water tested to determine if you need a water softener installed.

Water Softener Company That Can Solve Your Water Problem

If you’ve been experiencing issues with your water filtration system, such as mineral buildup affecting your skin and hair, spotty dishes, and damage to water-using appliances, it's time to consider the benefits of a water softener. Water softeners, including salt-free water softeners and sodium ion exchange water softeners, effectively treat hard water by removing mineral deposits.

You shouldn't have to worry about your water usage affecting your life. Explore various types of water softeners and find a solution tailored to your water supply and usage. Call us today at (513) 231-5531. to learn more about the advantages of water softeners and how they can enhance your water quality.

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If you’ve been experiencing any of the issues above, then it’s time to say goodbye to itchy skin, spotty dishes, and plumbing problems with a water softener. For more information, call us today at (513) 231-5531.

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