Home Water: Are you asking about it when you buy or sell?

Home shopping is both a fun and a stressful time in your life, particularly right now with the market experiencing so much flux. Selling a home is a just as nerve-wracking. We’ve got suggestions for both buyers and sellers to consider when it comes to something that might not always be top of mind during the process – that is, WATER. Why is water so important? There are plenty of reasons of course, not the least of which is that a safe water supply is crucial, not only to your family’s health and welfare but to just about every other purpose you can think of. From washing clothes, to pipes to bathing, water is something you should be asking about.

Buying a New or a Resale?

Perhaps you’re thinking about a new home purchase and if so, you might assume there are no questions about the water supply since it’s a brand new home. It’s important you still ask a few pertinent questions of the developer. Most significant of course is whether the water will be sourced from a municipal supply or from ground water (a drilled well.) The answer will reflect the duty of care that you, as a homeowner, will be responsible for.

Well Water

Obviously, municipal water is assumed to be safe (more on that in a moment) while well water will require more consistent attention, testing and additional safety measures may want to be considered such as UV water sterilization systems. UV lighting will sterilize water, sterilizing bacteria and virus contaminants in a chemical-free, natural way. For homes on a well water system, UV lighting systems that are appropriately sized according to the home’s footprint should be a consideration for the health and safety of your family.

Municipal Water

Many new homeowners don’t even think to question the municipal water supply, assuming it is safe, clean and clear. Often, that is indeed the case but municipal water faces different challenges based on local terrain, source of the local water supply and more. Some communities are served by a source where a naturally occurring odour may be overpowering but the water is fine while others may occasionally find their water is cloudy for no apparent reason. Many new homeowners may still choose to install UV systems (or other filtration methods such as those offered by Watermaker Orangeville) even in their new homes despite being served by municipal water. Here’s why that makes sense:

• New piping systems may actually still contain significant debris, dust and detritus accumulated throughout the building process. Flushing out your pipes, whether you install any kind of filtration system is still a good idea when you first move in.
• Periodically testing your municipal water is also a good idea, particularly if you notice the development of any unusual odours or the water has suddenly turned cloudy. Just because it’s municipal water doesn’t mean accidents don’t happen, and spring in particular – with large water runoff – can be a potentially dangerous time.
• Surface runoff, even in new developments can potentially contain hazardous materials including such pollutants as oil, dirt, chemicals and lawn fertilizers. In any new development you will want to make sure that the builder has followed all municipal codes and you may even want to ask about storm water runoff and drainage. Many new homebuilders are incorporating stormwater management ponds into their community plans. These aren’t just to make the community look good – they serve a valuable purpose too. Talk to your new homebuilder and ask what, how and from where the water will be sourced and maintained in your new home.

Resale

• If you are buying an older home, you’ll want to ask a lot of these same questions plus, depending on the age of the home, a few extra questions too!
• Older homes might have additional water source issues that need to be taken into consideration such as old, corroded or even lead piping. Lead piping was actually banned back in 1975 (a year after Watermaker Orangeville opened for business) but the reality is some homeowners may not have been able to absorb the cost of replacement and rely on filtration systems instead. Additionally, there could still be some municipalities who have not yet completed a cycle of replacing all their older municipal piping and extensive networks of underground water running through lead pipes is still a challenge for some communities.
• If you are the seller – arm your buyer with the information they’ll need to know by doing your homework. Have a home inspection already completed, arming your buyer with all they need to make a good decision. A little bit of homework on your part could actually help the sale of your home go faster.

How do I test for lead?

• You cannot see, smell or taste lead in your water supply so the only way to know for sure is by testing. Ask the team at Watermaker Orangeville about testing options and the alternatives we offer to help keep your drinking water safe. We have a range of products from the previously mentioned UV systems, to Reverse Osmosis, Iron Filtration and whole home systems.

Poor water quality can lead to a host of issues in your new home whether that home is new or “previously loved.” You might see staining on your bathroom fixtures including taps, tubs and sinks – likely caused by hard water. Your pipes could be at risk with build up of scale over time, also leading to potential appliance damage and certainly to excess wear and tear. You might even notice changes to your hair and skin. If you forgot to ask important questions about your water supply during the purchase process, (and these days, with bidding wars who could blame you) that’s ok – there are still plenty of ways for you to maintain a safe, healthy water supply for you and your family. Talk to the experts at Watermaker Orangeville about the many options we offer from installed, permanent fixtures to home delivery of bottled water. For most of us in North America, water is something we simply take for granted but at Watermaker, we know what you see is not always clear or contaminant free. If you didn’t ask at point of purchase – ask us TODAY!