Why I Founded The Water Softener Blog: A Consumer-Advocate Mission

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My customers always came first—and they still do. I built The Water Softener Blog so homeowners can make informed, safe, and cost-smart decisions about water treatment without facing sales pressure, gimmicks, or misinformed service and salespeople.

Who I Am (and Why This Matters)

For more than thirty years, I’ve worked across the water treatment industry: delivery, residential and commercial installation, service technician and troubleshooting, trainer, and sales and service representative. I’ve seen what works, what fails, and—too often—what’s sold when it shouldn’t be. That broad, hands-on perspective is what I bring to every guide, checklist, recommendation, insight, and review on this site.

What I Believe

  • People over products. Equipment is a tool; the right diagnosis is the solution.
  • Evidence beats hype. Water tests, field data, and standards—not marketing claims—drive recommendations.
  • Long-term ownership matters. I factor in maintenance, parts, and 5-year costs—not just today’s price.
  • Bias has no place here. I link to multiple vendors, disclose affiliate relationships, and explain exactly why I recommend these products.

The Gaps I See (and How This Site Fixes Them)

  • One-size-does-not-fit-all sales. Real homes have unique chemistry, flow rates, and usage. You’ll find sizing guides, treatment trains, and decision trees tailored to those realities.
  • Thin reviews. Many “best of” lists skip testing. Here, I publish methods, criteria, and limitations in Truth-in-Testing reviews.
  • Hidden costs. Ownership costs aren’t fine print—they’re front and center in my Costs & Ownership content.
  • Missing diagnostics. Not listening to the customer, smells, staining, running out of soft water, water usage for the home and family, off-tastes deserve evidence, and the right problem-solving solutions, not guesses. How does this affect water quality and possible resale value? The Investigator Series walks through root-cause problem-solving step by step.

How I Work (E-E-A-T in Practice)

  • Experience: Field notes from real-world installs and service calls (no customer identities or faces).
  • Expertise: I cite standards (NSF/ANSI, EPA/CDC) and manufacturer specs in plain English.
  • Authoritativeness: Key guides may be peer-reviewed by licensed pros; I’ll show “Reviewed by” with a date.
  • Trust: Clear editorial policy, testing methodology, corrections, and a no-pay-to-play pledge.

What You’ll Find Here

  • Buyer’s Checklists: Verify sizing, certifications, installation fit, and ongoing costs before you buy.
  • Treatment Guides: Arsenic, VOCs, iron/manganese, sulfur odor—evidence-based solutions and maintenance.
  • Truth-in-Testing Reviews: Methods, pass/fail criteria, best-for/not-for, and alternatives.
  • Pro Tips: Maintenance schedules, operating efficiency, preventing salt bridging, and extending system life.
  • Costs & Ownership: Five-year cost projections, repair vs. replace decision matrices.

Editorial Standards & Disclosures

How we make money: When I recommend a product, I may use affiliate links. I never sell placement or take payment for positive coverage. I always link to multiple retailers and provide non-affiliate options when useful. If I haven’t personally used a product, tested something, or have a customer who uses it and shares their experience with it, I’ll say so—along with why it still made the cut (or didn’t).

Corrections & updates: Water standards and products evolve. I revisit key pages, update dates, and publish corrections to keep guidance current.

My Promise

I started this site because I love the water treatment business, meeting new people, solving problems, and helping families get safe, great-tasting water—period. If a cheaper, simpler option solves your problem responsibly, that’s what I’ll recommend. The right answer is always to "listen to the customer" and "test first," and that's where we start.

Quick Links


I wish you Good days and Good water!



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Published: September 26, 2025 • Last updated: September 26, 2025

Location: United States

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