Soft water is not complicated. Picking the right system is where people get sold the wrong thing. Here is how to choose, in plain English.
The valve, the sizing, salt vs salt-free, and the warranty. The four things that decide whether a softener does its job for years or lets you down in two.
Tell us where to come. We test for hardness, pH, TDS, iron and more, show you the results on the spot, and leave you an exact quote. No obligation, no pressure.
Rather talk? Call (800) 951-5898, Mon to Fri 8 to 5, Sat 9 to 5.
Sarasota runs on hard water. It comes up out of the Floridan aquifer loaded with minerals, and those minerals end up as scale in your water heater, spots on your glass, and stiffness in your laundry.
City water is treated for safety, and you can taste it. Well water around the county can add iron and sulfur on top of the hardness. Two homes on the same street can need two different systems, which is why we test the water before we recommend anything.
The best softener is not the biggest one or the one on sale. It is the one that matches your water. Everything below follows from that.
Compare any system, from anyone, on these four. If a seller will not talk about one of them, that tells you something.
The control valve runs the whole system. We build on Clack valves because they meter your actual water use, regenerate on demand instead of a timer, and can be serviced years from now instead of thrown out. A softener is only as good as its valve.
A softener is sized to your home: bathrooms, people, and water use. Too small and it regenerates constantly and still lets hardness through. Too big and you paid for capacity you never use. Sizing comes from a real water test, not a guess.
They are not the same thing, and the difference matters more than anything else on this page. The next section lays it out straight, because a lot of homeowners have been sold one expecting the other.
Every system we install carries a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty on the equipment and a 1-year labour warranty on our work. Both in writing, before you buy. Ask any seller to show you the same, in writing, the same way.
A salt-based softener removes hardness. A salt-free conditioner does not. That is the whole difference, and it is the one that counts.
Salt-based softening pulls the calcium and magnesium out of your water. That is what stops scale in the water heater, keeps fixtures clean, and gives you that soft feel in the shower and in your laundry.
Salt-free systems condition the water so scale sticks less. The hardness is still in the water. If your goal is no scale buildup and actually softer water, a salt-free unit will disappoint you, and we would rather tell you that now than after it is installed.
Salt-free has its place if you only want to reduce sticking and skip the salt. We will tell you which one fits your water and your goals. And if your water does not need a system at all, we will tell you that too.
We test your water at your tap, show you the numbers on the spot, and size the system to your home. After the test, we confirm the recommendation is right for your home before anything is installed. No obligation, no pressure.
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Every system we install carries the same split coverage, so you know exactly what stands behind the equipment and behind our work.
The equipment is covered by a 5 year manufacturer warranty. If a covered part fails in that window, the manufacturer stands behind it.
Our installation work is covered by a 1 year labour warranty. If something about our install needs attention in the first year, we come back and make it right.
You never chase a factory on your own. Call (800) 951-5898 and we handle the service visit and the warranty paperwork with you.
We install and service water softeners in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Parrish, Venice and Port Charlotte, across Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. Lakewood Home Services carries a 5.0 star rating across 165 Google reviews, and we have served roughly 500 homes across the area. Every job starts with a free in-home water test, so the system is sized to your water and your home before you spend a dollar.
See also: Water softeners and conditioners · Clack control valves · Free in-home water test
The one sized to your water and built on a valve that lasts. For most Sarasota homes that is a metered, salt based softener on a Clack valve, sized from a real water test. Book the free test and we will show you the numbers before you decide.
No. They do different jobs. Salt-free conditioners reduce scale sticking but do not remove hardness from the water. If you want soft water and real scale protection, you want salt based softening.
Size follows your water hardness and your home’s water use: bathrooms, people, and flow. We measure at the free in-home water test and size the system to fit your home, not to upsell you.
Every system we install carries a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty on the equipment and a 1-year labour warranty on our installation work.
We test your tap water on site for hardness and other key measures, show you the results on the spot, and leave you an exact quote. After the test, we confirm the recommendation is right for your home before anything is installed. There is no obligation and no pressure.
Book a free in-home water test. We will show you exactly what is in your water and confirm the right system for your home before you spend a dollar.
Get My Free Water Test Call (800) 951-5898“I highly recommend Lakewood Home Services. Elie is great and very personable and isn’t pushy at all. He laid out my options for home water treatments and thoroughly explained the differences. My water system was installed less than a week after my original inquiry on their website.”
“We had the pleasure of working with Tyler and Noe from Lakewood Home Services today, and they did an outstanding job pressure washing, cleaning, and sealing the pavers on our front walkway and driveway. From start to finish, they were professional, thorough, and incredibly detail-oriented.”
“I had a fantastic experience with Lakewood Home Services! They installed a top-notch water filtration system in my home, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The team was professional, knowledgeable, and efficient, ensuring everything was set up perfectly. My water quality has improved significantly.”