Water softeners, filters and water testing

Start with the problem

The City of Toronto says its tap water is safe to drink and that softening systems are usually not needed. So we do not start by selling you one. We start by asking what you are noticing, and where.

Plenty of people still want one of these systems, for taste or personal preference, and that is a fair choice. Homes outside the City system, and especially homes on a well, can be a different story, and testing matters more.

What each system does

• Water softener. Reduces the minerals that leave scale. It needs a place near the main line, a drain, and regular salt.
• Whole house filter. Sits on the main line and treats all the water coming into the house. Filters need changing on schedule, or they stop doing their job and can slow your water pressure.
• Reverse osmosis. Usually a small unit under the kitchen sink that feeds one tap for drinking and cooking. It needs a drain connection and regular filter changes.
• Under-sink filter. A simpler option for one tap. Check what the filter is actually certified to remove.

What we check before installing

• Space and access. You will need to reach the system to change filters or add salt.
• The main line. Where it enters, what it is made of and whether the shut-off works.
• A bypass. So you can service the system without shutting off the whole house.
• A drain and power. Softeners and some other systems need both nearby.
• Water pressure. We check it before and after, so you know the system is not choking your supply. See low water pressure.

Water testing, and what to test for

A test is only useful if it answers your question. Hardness, lead and well water contamination are different tests, and a filter that fixes one may do nothing for another.

For lead in an older Toronto home, the City offers free testing for homes built before the mid-1950s. Call 311 to register for a kit. If the result points to your pipes, see lead water service replacement. A filter can be a stopgap, but check that it is certified to remove lead.

For well water, an accredited lab is the place to go. Tell us what you already know and we can talk through what the results mean for your plumbing.