Easy Ways to Improve Water Quality in Your Amarillo Home

Have you ever taken a sip of water from your tap and thought, Hmm… that doesn’t taste right? Maybe your water smells a little like a swimming pool, leaves white spots on your dishes, or even has a rusty tint. If that sounds familiar, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many Amarillo homeowners deal with water quality issues, but the good news is, fixing them is easier than you might think.

At Plumbing Amarillo TX, we know how important clean, fresh water is for your home. Whether you’re dealing with hard water, chlorine, or rusty pipes, we’ve got some simple, effective ways to get your water back to its best.

Why Water Quality Matters?

Water isn’t just for drinking, it’s everywhere in your home. You use it for cooking, bathing, washing dishes, doing laundry, and even watering your plants. If your water has too many minerals, chemicals, or bacteria, it can affect:

Your health: Contaminated water can lead to stomach issues and skin irritation.
Your plumbing: Hard water can clog pipes, and rust from old pipes can stain sinks and bathtubs.
Your appliances: Washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters wear out faster when they have to deal with mineral buildup.
Your everyday comfort: Dry skin, stiff laundry, and cloudy glassware? That’s often a water quality issue.

Now that we know why clean water is important, let’s look at what you can do to improve it.

Step 1: Test Your Water

Before fixing a problem, you need to know what’s causing it. Think of it like going to the doctor, you wouldn’t just take random medicine without knowing what’s wrong.

You can buy a water testing kit from a hardware store or have a professional plumber (like us) test it for you. Testing will tell you if you have:

Hard water – Too much calcium and magnesium.
Chlorine – The same chemical used in swimming pools.
Iron or rust – This gives water a reddish tint.
Bacteria – This can be dangerous to your health.

Once you know what’s in your water, you can pick the best solution.

Step 2: Install a Whole-House Water Filter

If your water has too much chlorine, dirt, or weird smells, a whole-house water filter might be the answer. This system cleans the water before it reaches your faucets, meaning:

Better-tasting drinking water.
Less chlorine in your showers, which helps with dry skin.
Cleaner water for cooking and washing.

It’s an easy fix that makes a huge difference in your home’s water quality.

Step 3: Get a Water Softener

Amarillo has hard water, there’s no way around it. Those white spots on your dishes, dry skin after showers, and clogged-up showerheads? That’s hard water at work.

A water softener removes excess minerals, giving you:

Softer skin and hair.
Less buildup in your pipes and appliances.
Clothes that feel softer after washing.

It’s like giving your entire plumbing system a spa day.

Step 4: Flush Your Water Heater

Ever notice rusty or brownish water when you turn on the hot tap? Your water heater might be full of sediment buildup. Over time, minerals settle at the bottom of the tank, which can:

Make your water look dirty.
Reduce your heater’s efficiency.
Shorten the lifespan of your heater.

Flushing your water heater once a year helps prevent these issues and keeps your hot water clean.

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Step 5: Replace Old Pipes

If your home is older and has galvanized steel pipes, they might be the reason your water isn’t as fresh as it should be. Over time, these pipes rust from the inside, leading to:

Brown or reddish water.
Weak water pressure.
A higher chance of leaks.

Upgrading to newer pipes, like PEX, can improve both water quality and plumbing reliability.

Step 6: Clean Your Faucets and Showerheads

Ever noticed white crusty buildup around your faucets? That’s from hard water. Over time, minerals clog up tiny openings in your showerheads and faucets, slowing down water flow.

An easy fix? Soak them in vinegar. Just unscrew your showerhead or faucet aerator, let it sit in a bowl of vinegar for a few hours, and scrub off any leftover buildup. Your water pressure will thank you.

Step 7: Use a Faucet Filter for Drinking Water

If you don’t want to install a whole-house system, a simple faucet filter can improve the taste and quality of your drinking water. These filters remove:

Chlorine
Lead
Other contaminants that affect taste and smell

They’re easy to install and make a noticeable difference, especially if you’re a big water drinker.

Step 8: Check Your Water Pressure

Low water pressure can be a sign of bigger problems, like clogged pipes or a failing pressure regulator. If your water suddenly starts trickling out instead of flowing normally, it’s worth having a plumber check it out. Fixing pressure issues can also improve the overall quality of your water.

Step 9: Don’t Ignore Your Well (If You Have One)

Some homes rely on well water, which can have different issues than city water. If you have a well, regular testing is even more important, since well water can contain bacteria, high iron levels, or even pesticides from nearby farms.

Adding a UV water purifier or a specialized filtration system can help keep well water safe and clean.

Step 10: Call a Plumber for Professional Help

Some water problems need more than just a quick fix. If you’re dealing with persistent bad smells, stains, or plumbing issues, a professional plumber can:

Perform a full water test.
Recommend the right filtration system.
Fix any plumbing problems affecting water quality.

And guess what? Plumbing Amarillo TX is here to help. We’ve seen it all and know exactly what it takes to get clean, fresh water in your home.

Final Thoughts

Clean water isn’t a luxury, it’s something every home should have. With a few simple changes, you can improve the quality of your water, protect your plumbing, and make daily life just a little easier.

If you’re ready to upgrade your home’s water, give Plumbing Amarillo TX a call. We’ll make sure your water is as fresh as a cool drink on a hot Texas day.

Attribution: Cover Image by FreePik