Frequently Asked Questions

Private well owners should have their water tested at least once a year for bacteria, nitrates, and other contaminants. If you use municipal water, testing is still recommended if you notice changes in taste, odor, color, or if you want to check for contaminants such as lead or PFAS.

A water quality test can check for hard minerals, pH imbalance, iron, manganese, bacteria, nitrates, lead, PFAS, arsenic, and other contaminants.

Yes. Municipal water is treated before distribution, but it can still contain metals, minerals, and pick up contaminants from aging pipes. Testing helps identify issues like lead, chlorine, hardness, and other water quality concerns.

Yes, free water testing is a reliable way to identify many common water problems, including hardness, iron, pH issues, and chlorine. If additional testing is needed for contaminants like bacteria, PFAS, lead, or arsenic, laboratory testing may be recommended. NMP Water Systems offers free in-home water testing and comprehensive lab testing for a fee.

You should schedule water testing if your water has an unusual taste, odor, or color, leaves behind stains or scale, causes dry skin, or if your water source has changed.

If you use a private well, testing is a good idea after well repairs, heavy rains or flooding, nearby construction or contamination alerts, boil water notices, and/or agricultural or industrial operations in your area. The EPA also recommends annual testing for private wells.

Yes. Professional testing helps identify the specific contaminants in your water so the right treatment system can be recommended.

Yes. NMP Water Systems offers free water testing and paid lab testing to evaluate your water quality and recommend the best treatment options for your home.

Hard water testing measures the amount of calcium and magnesium in your water. The results help determine whether a water softener is recommended and what size system will work best for your home.

Yes, a whole-home water filtration system treats the water entering your home. This improves water quality for drinking, cooking, bathing, plumbing, and appliances.

Maintenance depends on the type of system. Most require periodic filter changes, while some systems also need media replacement or annual inspections to keep them performing properly.

A whole-house filtration system treats all the water entering your home. Typically, a reverse osmosis system provides highly purified drinking water at a specific faucet and/or to your refrigerator.

In many homes, yes. Whole-house filtration removes larger contaminants and improves overall water quality, while RO removes many dissolved contaminants to provide cleaner drinking water.

Proper sizing depends on your water quality, household water usage, and flow rate. A professional water test helps determine the right system for your home’s needs.

You may need a whole-home water filtration system if your water has a bad taste or smell, causes staining, scale buildup, or contains contaminants like chlorine, iron, or hard minerals. Many homeowners also install whole-house systems after testing reveals hidden contaminants, like PFAS, bacteria, or lead.

The best home water filtration system depends on your water quality, source (well or municipal), and household needs. At NMP Water Systems, we perform water testing before installing a customized whole-home water filtration system that targets specific contaminants in your supply.

A whole-house water filtration system is usually installed at the main water line where water enters your home. This allows the system to filter all water before it reaches your showers, faucets, and appliances, providing clean, filtered water throughout the entire house.

A whole-home water filtration system treats all the water entering your home, providing filtered water for bathing, cleaning, and appliances. Point-of-use systems, like many reverse osmosis units, are installed at a single faucet to provide purified drinking water.

Many homeowners choose to use both for customized protection. For example, you may use a whole-home water softener and sediment filter to protect your plumbing system and appliances, while only using an RO unit at your kitchen sink.

A professionally installed reverse osmosis system is properly sized for your home’s water usage and connected for reliable, efficient performance. At NMP Water Systems, we start with free in-home water testing to identify contaminants in your water and recommend the right RO system for your needs.

Our experienced installation team ensures everything is set up correctly, and every installation is backed by a 10-year warranty on equipment and workmanship for added peace of mind.

Common signs include:

• Changes in water taste or odor
• Reduced water production or flow
• You are reaching the manufacturer’s recommended replacement schedule date

Most RO pre- and post-filters require replacement every 6 to 12 months.

Most sediment and carbon filters should be replaced every 6 to 12 months, depending on water quality and usage.

Most reverse osmosis membranes last about 2 to 5 years, depending on water conditions and maintenance frequency.

Carbon filters reduce chlorine, unpleasant tastes and odors, and many organic compounds while helping protect the reverse osmosis membrane.

Yes. Reverse osmosis water systems perform effectively with well water when correctly tailored to your water quality. Pre-treatment may be recommended if your water contains high levels of iron, sediment, or minerals.

Check for low water pressure, clogged filters, a closed supply valve, or a full storage tank. If the problem continues, schedule professional service to inspect the system.

Yes. Many homeowners connect their reverse osmosis system to both a drinking water faucet and their refrigerator for cleaner water and clearer ice.

Reverse osmosis is a water filtration process. It uses a semipermeable membrane to remove many dissolved contaminants. This produces cleaner, better-tasting drinking water.

Yes. High-quality reverse osmosis systems are highly effective at reducing many PFAS compounds.

Yes. Unless local officials specifically state otherwise, you should follow all boil water notices, even if your home has a reverse osmosis system.

Not always. If there is an available opening, such as a soap dispenser hole, it can often be used. If not, a small hole may be drilled to install the dedicated drinking water faucet.

DI water is commonly used in manufacturing, laboratories, electronics, metal finishing, pharmaceutical operations, automotive applications, and other industries where dissolved minerals could interfere with products, equipment, rinsing, or production processes.

Reverse osmosis uses pressure and a semipermeable membrane to reduce a broad range of dissolved contaminants. Deionization uses ion-exchange resin to remove electrically charged dissolved ions. RO and DI can also be combined, with RO providing pretreatment and DI providing additional polishing.

Yes. DI resin eventually becomes exhausted as it captures dissolved ions. We provide periodic DI tank exchange and system service to help facilities maintain high water purity.

DI water is primarily produced for commercial, laboratory, manufacturing, and industrial applications rather than everyday drinking. Drinking water systems are designed around different treatment goals and requirements.

RO physically separates many dissolved contaminants from water using a membrane, while DI uses ion-exchange resin to remove charged minerals and salts. When very high-purity water is needed, DI can be installed after RO as a final polishing stage.

DI tanks should be exchanged when the treated water no longer meets the required purity level. Conductivity or resistivity monitoring can indicate when ion levels are increasing, and the resin is becoming exhausted. NMP Water Systems can establish an exchange schedule based on your facility’s water use and treatment requirements.

DI water can be more aggressive toward certain plumbing and system materials because it has very low levels of dissolved minerals and ions. It may leach metals or other constituents from unsuitable piping, fittings, storage tanks, and distribution components. The appropriate materials depend on the required water purity, application, temperature, flow conditions, and system design.