Suggestions on where to test well water?

  • 311hemi
    Dayton, MN
    Posts: 742
    #1282132

    Does anyone have any suggestions on where to get well water tested for a new home?

    The next door neighbor had tannins in his water and needed a tannin removal system, and I believe I will have the same issue. I know I will need a water softener.

    I know the neighbor used Commers or Kinitco. I wasn’t looking to go with a place like this…..but I guess I would entertain them giving me a quote on a softner/tanning removal. I can get a decent discount through Ferguson on the equipment so I was thinking about going that route.

    Wade Boardman
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 4453
    #1169531

    Quote:


    Does anyone have any suggestions on where to get well water tested for a new home?

    The next door neighbor had tannins in his water and needed a tannin removal system, and I believe I will have the same issue. I know I will need a water softener.

    I know the neighbor used Commers or Kinitco. I wasn’t looking to go with a place like this…..but I guess I would entertain them giving me a quote on a softner/tanning removal. I can get decent deals though Ferguson on this equipment so I was thinking about going that route.


    those places that sell/install water softeners are a huge rip off. They want 2-3k for something you can get at HD or Menards for $500 or so.

    Have them check your water and see what you need. Get a quote. then go price out the stuff yourself.

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22538
    #1169537

    Which one at HD or Menards uses no electricity ?

    the_popper
    Suburbs of Chicago, IL
    Posts: 46
    #1169548

    Quote:


    those places that sell/install water softeners are a huge rip off. They want 2-3k for something you can get at HD or Menards for $500 or so.

    Have them check your water and see what you need. Get a quote. then go price out the stuff yourself.


    x2 I worked very breifly for a “Water Purification” company as a “water tester.” My job consisted of going to peoples homes, showing them how “bad” their water was compared to if they used my company’s system. My pay was commision based depending on how many people I sold a unit to. The company spent $250 making the units and sold them for $5000. I left shortly after starting because I felt like a dirty/lowlife person for working there, I felt like I was personally scamming people.

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22538
    #1169556

    Quote:


    Quote:


    those places that sell/install water softeners are a huge rip off. They want 2-3k for something you can get at HD or Menards for $500 or so.

    Have them check your water and see what you need. Get a quote. then go price out the stuff yourself.


    x2 I worked very breifly for a “Water Purification” company as a “water tester.” My job consisted of going to peoples homes, showing them how “bad” their water was compared to if they used my company’s system. My pay was commision based depending on how many people I sold a unit to. The company spent $250 making the units and sold them for $5000. I left shortly after starting because I felt like a dirty/lowlife person for working there, I felt like I was personally scamming people.


    What do you do now ?

    znak
    Byron, Mn. Rainy Lake
    Posts: 144
    #1169558

    I just sold my home and had to have it tested by the county for $100, less if you bring a sample in.

    bclii
    MN/AZ
    Posts: 478
    #1169582

    Go to your county extension office. $25 or sometimes free here in Dakota county. It’s a non bias result.

    TheFamousGrouse
    St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 11832
    #1169588

    Quote:


    Go to your county extension office. $25 or sometimes free here in Dakota county. It’s a non bias result.


    Totally agree, go the county route first.

    After that, call any realator who’s located in a rural area and they will have options for you. Well drilling companies will also have a list of testing services.

    If you think about it, anyone who could gain financially by telling your your water is bad cannot be trusted to tell you that your water is good.

    Grouse

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22538
    #1169591

    This is good advice. Tannins removal is something different than softening water. We have tannins in our water at the cabin, we run a 5 micron in-line filter to remove most of them… still the water is hard as heck… hence I use lots of soap and shampoo We had ours tested by Aitkin County, I want to say it was about $25 or so. With a new home and new well, I would have thought the well driller would of had it sampled ???

    the_popper
    Suburbs of Chicago, IL
    Posts: 46
    #1169600

    Quote:


    Quote:


    Quote:


    those places that sell/install water softeners are a huge rip off. They want 2-3k for something you can get at HD or Menards for $500 or so.

    Have them check your water and see what you need. Get a quote. then go price out the stuff yourself.


    x2 I worked very breifly for a “Water Purification” company as a “water tester.” My job consisted of going to peoples homes, showing them how “bad” their water was compared to if they used my company’s system. My pay was commision based depending on how many people I sold a unit to. The company spent $250 making the units and sold them for $5000. I left shortly after starting because I felt like a dirty/lowlife person for working there, I felt like I was personally scamming people.


    What do you do now ?


    After that I worked in a sales position for a year before moving in to my position as a Legal/Compliance Analyst at a large asset recovery management firm. Simply put, I work for a debt collection agency; but the flexibility can’t be matched, PERIOD. I made a deal with my bossman when I started here, “If the fish are biting or the birds are flying I can take off to go fish and hunt.” The only stipulations are that someone from the department needs to be in the office during business hours while I’m out, and that I need to take my bossman fishing at least twice a year. Its a great deal if you can work it out. I went ice fishing 47 times in the three months of ice season this year, and have been open water fishing 19 times since January 1st. 66 days on the water in 4 months is pretty darn good considering I work a full-time job, and play in a band on the weekends.

    live-bait
    Stacy,Minnesota
    Posts: 13
    #1169617

    i drill wells for a living. Just cause your neighbor has tannins means nothing unless your well depths are the same. There are many places that do water testing. Get your water tested find out the hardness and other mineral contents and go from there.

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22538
    #1169621

    Nice Sounds like a much better gig

    311hemi
    Dayton, MN
    Posts: 742
    #1169638

    Quote:


    i drill wells for a living. Just cause your neighbor has tannins means nothing unless your well depths are the same. There are many places that do water testing. Get your water tested find out the hardness and other mineral contents and go from there.


    They are around 300 ft from us, and there well was drilled to the same depth. I have a call into my builder to see if they or the well people submitted a test. Even if they did, I’m not sure that test will check for tannins/iron/ect. I think they need to make sure it’s safe for drinking.

    richt
    rochester, mn
    Posts: 3
    #1169665

    Try Ward Labs . You probably would want the W-5 or W-6 test. For the homebrewers on the board, their brewer’s test is excellent if you’re an all grain brewer and want to know what’s in your water.

    Mike W
    MN/Anoka/Ham lake
    Posts: 13310
    #1169736

    http://watercontrolinc.com/

    These guys are located in ramsey. Just drop off a sample but dont mention any of your concerns. They do sell water softeners that will also remove Tannins. This might be the same softeners Ferguson is carrying now.

    So why are you not on city water in Mounds view? Would guess even the WAC and SAC charges would of been less than drilling a well and septic. Not that Mounds View has great water.

    Mike W
    MN/Anoka/Ham lake
    Posts: 13310
    #1169738

    Water control should give you a read out of what is in your water and what they recommend for a softener that they carry. If they give you any guff for not being a contractor give me a call.

    311hemi
    Dayton, MN
    Posts: 742
    #1169758

    Quote:


    http://watercontrolinc.com/
    So why are you not on city water in Mounds view? Would guess even the WAC and SAC charges would of been less than drilling a well and septic. Not that Mounds View has great water.


    Thanks Mike. I should have clarified this is for a new home I am building in Linwood.

    Mike W
    MN/Anoka/Ham lake
    Posts: 13310
    #1169773

    City or County up there should have a good resource for testing to. All we test for is Hardness and Iron. If my customers have more concerns than that I send it to water control.

    P. Norts
    Carol Stream, Il
    Posts: 22
    #1169982

    My dad owned a sewer and septic company when I was little. He had connections at the health dept. Each year he would take them a sample of the water from our cottage and have it tested. I don’t know if this is a practice they would do for all, but worth a check.

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