Struggling with hard water in Hoffman Estates, IL? Angel Water understands the specific water challenges faced by residents here. Our high-quality water softening systems are designed to eliminate excess calcium and magnesium, providing soft, clean water for your home or business. With over 50 years of experience in the water treatment industry, we are dedicated to enhancing your water quality and ensuring your complete satisfaction.
Water Softeners in Hoffman Estates, IL
How Do I Choose the Right Water Softener and Get Started?
The process begins with a water test to identify contaminants. Understanding these issues helps us develop a solution. We then conduct a plumbing inspection to determine the best installation spot. Finally, we determine the type and size of the necessary equipment.
Thinking, “Can’t you just tell me over the phone? You installed my neighbor’s system!” We understand – we’re consumers too. However, your neighbor’s water or plumbing might differ slightly. Our goal is to ensure you have perfect water for drinking and bathing. We provide unbiased third-party water testing and employ licensed plumbers as required by Illinois law, prioritizing your family’s health and well-being.
Why Choose Angel Water?
Expertise:
Over 50 years of experience in resolving water quality issues.
Advanced Technology:
Our water softeners use the latest technology for efficient operation.
Customer Satisfaction:
Free water analysis and customized solutions tailored to your needs.
Qualified Professionals:
IDPH Licensed Plumbers in Illinois ensure high-quality service and regulatory compliance.
Highly Rated:
Over 1,000 5-star ratings on Google demonstrate our commitment to excellent service.
Licensed Plumbing Company:
The only water softening company in Illinois that is also a licensed plumbing company.
Lifetime Warranty:
The only company offering a lifetime warranty on our ERR-3700 series filters.
A+ BBB Rating:
An A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau shows our commitment to quality service.
Benefits of Water Softening
Prevent Scale Buildup:
Soft water helps prevent scale buildup in pipes and appliances, extending their lifespan.
Better Cleaning:
Enjoy cleaner dishes, softer laundry, and easier cleaning.
Improved Skin and Hair:
Soft water is gentle on skin and hair, reducing dryness and irritation.
Learn How to Protect Your Family from Harmful Contaminants
Is Hoffman Estates water safe to drink? According to recent tests, consuming the village’s contaminated tap water could cause serious health problems. Since the water is hard, it could also cause damage to your home.
You shouldn’t have to worry about water hurting your home and health. Instead, read this guide to find out:
- Where Hoffman Estates water comes from
- The recent test results for contaminants in the region
- What you can do to protect your home and health
- How Angel Water can help you get cleaner water
Where Does Hoffman Estates Get Its Water?
Hoffman Estates water comes from Lake Michigan. The village has purchased its water from the City of Chicago since 1985. Chicago uses two water treatment plants to treat the water and then sends it to two reservoirs owned by the Northwest Suburban Municipal Joint Action Water Agency. It is then pumped to Hoffman Estates and gets no further treatment before being sent directly to homes and businesses.
According to the Hoffman Estates Annual Water Quality Report, the village has the capacity for 11.8 million gallons of water storage. It also has six groundwater wells for emergency use.
This water system is by no means impervious to contamination. After all, the source water from Lake Michigan regularly comes with a variety of impurities. And because the water only receives treatment rather than filtration, many of those pollutants can still find their way into your tap. As we will see, some of these contaminants can even be unintended byproducts of the water treatment process.
Does Hoffman Estates Have Hard Water?
Not only have tests revealed the presence of harmful contaminants in the region’s water, but they have also shown the presence of hard water minerals. Moreover, the water throughout Chicagoland is some of the hardest in the country.
For example, Hoffman Estates’ neighbor to the west, Elgin, IL, has a hardness level of 171 mg/L or 10 grains per gallon, which is considered very hard. The water in Hoffman Estates likely has a similar level of hardness and can lead to all sorts of frustrating issues, including:
- Calcium deposits on dishes, faucets and showerheads
- Dry, Irritated skin
- Brittle and fizzy hair
- Discolored clothing
- Damage to dishwashers and water heaters
- Brown stains inside toilet bowls
Beyond this, hard water can also cause many more expensive problems for homes and businesses. The good news is you can get rid of these issues with a water softener. We will discuss this solution in more detail below.
What’s in Hoffman Estates Drinking Water?
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors Hoffman Estates water, and the tests from past years reveal many significant impurities.
While none of these totals exceed legal limits, this does not mean the water is safe. In fact, most of the legal limits set by the EPA are over 20 years old and overdue for an update. For several reasons, the limits also aren’t strict enough to protect human health.
The good news is organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) exist to bring awareness to the dangers of water contamination. The EWG does this in part by setting more stringent health guidelines than the EPA.
The chart below features the pollutants detected in Hoffman Estates Water between 2014-2019 that exceed EWG’s health guidelines.
| CONTAMINANT | TOTAL |
EWG RECOMMENDED
|
| Chromium (Hexavalent) | 0.186 ppb | 0.02 ppb |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA9) | 23.8 ppb | 0.06 ppb |
| Radium-226 and 228 | 3.15 pCi/L | 0.05 pCi/L |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | 32.9 ppb | 0.15 ppb |
Let’s take a closer look at these four pollutants and the problems they can cause.
Chromium (Hexavalent)
Hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, is a carcinogen that comes from industrial pollution. The contaminant is best known as the problem with the California town’s water in the film Erin Brockovich. However, hexavalent chromium isn’t just a problem in California. It’s also one of the top pollutants in Northern Illinois.
Health problems associated with consuming chromium-6 include cancer, respiratory disease, dermatitis and problems with the heart and lungs.
Unfortunately, as long as industrial pollution continues to plague Lake Michigan, hexavalent chromium will remain an issue in Hoffman Estates water.
Haloacetic Acids
The haloacetic acids are nine disinfectant byproducts formed from chlorine or chloramine treatment. These acids frequently form as an unexpected result of the water treatment process.
The EWG reports totals for all haloacetic acids and each individual acid on its website. Of these acids, three of them exceeded the EWG’s health guidelines. They are:
- Dibromoacetic Acid
- Dichloroacetic Acid
- Trichloroacetic Acid
The tests also revealed trace amounts monobromoacetic acid and monochloroacetic acid in Hoffman Estates water.
The health concerns associated with drinking water containing haloacetic acids include cancer, problems during pregnancy and developmental issues.
Radium-226 and 228
Radium-226 and 228 are two of the most common radium isotopes found in the natural environment. The granite bedrock in Illinois contains a lot of radium-226 and 228. Therefore, the contaminants naturally get into the water as it flows through the earth.
Drinking water containing too much radium-226 and 228 can increase your risk of cancer and kidney problems. It can also cause problems during pregnancy and developmental issues in children.
The presence of radium in water can also cause dangerous radon gas to form as it decays. Radon is the second largest cause of lung cancer in the country behind cigarette smoking.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
TTHMs is another group of harmful pollutants that forms because of water disinfection. The four chemicals are:
- Bromodichloromethane
- Bromoform
- Chloroform
- Dibromochloromethane
According to the EWG, bromoform is the only one of these chemicals that does not exceed their health guidelines in Hoffman Estates. However, the reports still show a noteworthy quantity of bromoform present.
Consuming water with these chemicals in it can increase your risk for bladder cancer, liver cancer and kidney cancer.
Other Contaminants Detected
Other than the above pollutants, the EWG also lists five additional elements present in the village’s water. These include:
- Chromium (total)
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Strontium
- Vanadium
While none of these elements exceed the EWG’s guidelines, any amount of pollution in water is dangerous. Some of the contaminants could cause illnesses, such as cancer. For more information, please visit the EWG’s Hoffman Estates page.
How Can Hoffman Estates Residents Get Clean Water?
No two households in Hoffman Estates have the exact same water situation. So, to determine the right solution for your home, we will need to first figure out exactly what’s in your water. We can then help you find the right solution to give you the best possible water.
Here’s how to do this:
Step 1: Perform a Water Test to See What’s in Your Water
The best way to diagnose your water problems is by performing an EPA-certified water test. This test will show which pollutants you’re dealing with and the hardness level of your water.
The best way to get a water test is at a licensed company like Angel Water. This way, a water treatment expert can help you understand the results of the test and what steps to take next.
Step 2: Consider an NSF/ANSI 58 Certified Reverse Osmosis System for Eliminating Contaminants
If your water test reveals that you have most of or all the contaminants listed above, then a reverse osmosis (RO) system will probably be your best option.
An RO system can remove:
- Chromium (Hexavalent)
- Chromium (Total)
- Molybdenum
- Haloacetic Acids
- Strontium
- Total Trihalomethanes
- And more!
membrane effectively eliminates the contaminants from water and even some minerals that are good for you, such as calcium and magnesium. Fortunately, RO systems also add those healthy minerals back into the water before dispersing it throughout the home.
To get the best RO system, you should check to see if it’s NSF/ANSI 58 certified. This certification indicates that the system has gone through strict testing to confirm it does what it’s supposed to do.
Step 3: Get an NSF/ANSI 44 Certified Water Softener to Remove Hard Water
Homes with hard water will want to consider a salt-based water softener. These devices employ an ion exchange process to take hard water minerals out of the water. Even though this requires periodic salt replacement to work, the extra effort is worth it since it’s much more effective than salt-free alternatives. The reason for this is salt-free conditioners can’t soften water. They only treat it so that it won’t clog plumbing fixtures. The resulting water is still hard.
The top ion-exchange water softeners available are EcoWater water softeners. EcoWater systems are the best because they’re NSF/ASNI 44 certified to soften the water and eliminate radium 226/228. You can also connect them to your Wi-Fi and smartphone to control them remotely.
Step 4: Enjoy Professional Installation and Maintenance
To get the most out of your system, you need to have it installed and maintained by a professional. After all, most manufacturers require at least yearly expert maintenance to maintain their warranties and keep the system working well. Letting an expert handle caring for your system will also save you time and stress.
Get Better Water in Hoffman Estates Today!
While Hoffman Estates water isn’t perfect, that’s no reason to lose hope! Instead of settling for unhealthy water, you can take control by getting your water tested and choosing the right solutions.
Angel Water has helped people do this in Hoffman Estates and the surrounding region for more than half a century! We only employ licensed plumbers and perform EPA-certified water tests to give our customers the best results. We’d be happy to help you find the right system and install and maintain it for great long-term results.
Please call us today at (847) 382-7800
or fill out the form below to talk with an expert or schedule a free consultation!
How do I know what system is right for my family?
Get A Free Water Test!
Just fill out the form below and we will reach out to schedule the best time for your free water test!
Would You Like to Know More About Water Quality in Hoffman Estates?
If you want to understand the quality of the water your family depends on everyday, contact us today. One of our representatives is standing by to help you schedule your free water test. We’ll send one of our local water expert to test the water at your tap and explain common problems and solutions for your specific water composition so that you can rest easy, knowing that your family is drinking the healthiest water possible.
