Educational Blogs - Water and Air Quality

Your well water may look clear after a summer storm—but that does not mean it is safe to drink. Heavy rain and flooding can change groundwater conditions, damage well components, and carry bacteria, sewage, sediment, fertilizers, fuel, pesticides, and other contaminants toward a private well. Some problems make water cloudy or give it an unusual odor. Others cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted at all. That is why private-well owners need a plan for what to do after severe weather. The right response is not simply to turn on a filter and assume the problem is solved. It begins with...

Hard water can turn every heating cycle into another layer of hidden scale. Learn how limescale damages tankless and storage water heaters, plumbing, and appliances—and how whole-house descaling can help protect your home.

Why Clear Well Water Can Still Hide a Problem Many homeowners trust their well water because it looks clean. It may pour clear from the faucet, taste normal, and have no noticeable odor. But some contaminants do not announce themselves. Nitrate is one of them. Nitrate can be present in groundwater without changing the way your water looks, smells, or tastes. That is why testing matters. The Minnesota Department of Health notes that nitrate cannot be tasted, smelled, or seen in water, and the CDC recommends annual private well testing for nitrates along with bacteria, total dissolved solids, and pH. ...

Why Does Indoor Air Feel Stuffy? A stuffy home is not always caused by one obvious problem. Sometimes it is a mix of dust, pet odors, cooking smells, humidity, cleaning products, smoke, pollen, and air that simply is not moving enough. EPA notes that indoor air pollutants can come from both outdoor and indoor sources, including cooking, cleaning, secondhand smoke, building materials, consumer products, and home furnishings. These pollutants may include particles, gases, VOCs, formaldehyde, mold, and pollen.  That means a home can look clean but still feel stale. You may notice this more in bedrooms, pet areas, kitchens, basements,...

Key Takeaways Many cities are replacing old lead service lines, but the process can take years.  Lead can enter drinking water through old service lines, plumbing, fixtures, or solder.  You cannot see, smell, or taste lead in water, so testing is the best way to know if there is a problem.  Homes built before 1986 may have a higher chance of lead-related plumbing concerns.  Boiling water does not remove lead.  A properly selected drinking water filter, including certain reverse osmosis systems, can help reduce lead at the tap.  Filter replacement and maintenance are important for keeping a system working properly. ...