Water treatment · Kayla Morgan
Scale buildup and the softener question
Kayla and Josh Morgan bought their first home last year, and Kayla is home today. Friendly, nervous, and full of questions.
What you know walking in
Service call. White crust on faucets and showerheads and spots on dishes. The homeowners want to know whether they need a water softener. First home, bought last year. Built in 2003, with a softener loop in the garage.
- Softener loop with bypass valve in the garage, 23 yrs
- 40-gallon gas water heater, 7 yrs
- Kitchen and bathroom faucets and showerheads
What you found
- The water tests at 16 grains per gallon. That is very hard water, common in this area.
- White scale on the faucet aerators and showerheads, and spots on dishes. So far it is cosmetic.
- No leaks, no failed fixtures, and the water heater works normally. Nothing has been damaged by the scale yet.
- The builder installed a softener loop with a bypass in the garage. A softener connects there without new piping.
- The water district's annual report shows the water meets drinking water standards. Hardness is not a health issue.
Your price book for this job
Descale and flush
Flush the water heater · Descale or replace faucet aerators and showerheads · Written hardness result · Tips to keep scale down
$285
Standard softener on your existing loop Fits this home
Single-tank softener sized for 16 grains · Connected to the existing loop and bypass · Drain line with a proper air gap · Set-up and the first bags of salt · Hardness test after the install
$2,350
or $59/mo
Softener, whole-house filter, and drinking water system
Everything in the softener option · Whole-house carbon filter · Under-sink reverse osmosis drinking water system
$5,950
or $149/mo
The honest fit is marked. Recommend what the home needs, and only that.
Your goal
Test the water, answer the softener question honestly, and recommend the standard softener instead of the full package. Make sure they understand what each option does and does not do before asking which they prefer.
Difficulty: Real world
Plan you can offer
- Summit Care Club$19.95 a month
Speak naturally. Kayla hears you, reacts to how you say things, and remembers. Headphones make it feel real.