The best change we’ve made to our home since moving in
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Culligan. All photos and opinions are my own. Our family has enjoyed the benefits of our Culligan water systems for years prior to this partnership.
What’s the best change we’ve made to our small home since moving in? Culligan Water.
We spent ten happy years in a tiny cottage in Southern California, where we shared a garden, utilities and other resources with several next door neighbors. For our next phase of life, we were determined to share space and resources in similar ways, but in another location that better addressed the needs of our family. Ultimately we ended up crafting a multigenerational set up by building and settling into a 900 sqft guest house in the Southeast near our extended family.
For this new little residence, which I designed with a sustainable architectural firm, we had hoped to source our water from the main house. But our plan didn't work according to plan, as it would’ve required more land disruption than we’d estimated, along with costly adjustments to existing structures. In the time we spent researching alternative solutions, we had no professional system in place to treat our well water. It tasted a bit off, but other than that we didn’t give it urgent thought, as we didn’t initially realize just how much of an impact the water quality was having on our house and wellness.
In this newly constructed space, the surfaces and windows never seemed to wipe fully clean, and our barely used fixtures were already clogged with grime that impacted everything from the flow from our shower-head, to the collection and usability of the water in our condenser dryer. More importantly, our (then) 6 year-old was suddenly getting headaches for the first time in his life, and a rash on his skin was getting gradually worse. At the same time, his hair was growing dull and heavy. Mine was too. My typically thick and wildly bouncy strands perpetually felt damp to the touch, and I began experiencing new problems with my complexion. Our family spent time, money and energy trying to solve all of these issues through a diverse array of new products that we didn't actually need. It turned out that the solution to everything was simply to treat our household’s water.
We used a testing kit to learn what was in our water and gather facts to inform our decisions. Culligan offers a free and professionally done in-home water test – their experts will walk you through the results and recommend solutions for your water. For those who prefer to start with a DIY format, Culligan also has home test kits, including a PFAS test kit, a city water test kit, and a well water test kit. See more information about Culligan’s water testing here.
Once we better understood the problems with our well water, we worked with our local experts at Culligan to decide decided on two solutions best suited to our needs:
For the efficiency of our household and to address mineral build up, we selected an Aquasential Smart High Efficiency Water Softener.
For cleaner drinking water, we picked an Aquasential Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System.
Both systems have now been in place for two years. As it turns out, that they were, by far, the best improvements we’ve made to our little home since moving in.
Here’s why.
About the High Efficiency Water Softener
Did you know that you can:
improve your household’s energy usage
enjoy longer-lasting soaps, detergents and deep cleans
get your linens to stay brighter + whiter + softer
prolong the longevity of your water-using appliances
prevent waste by avoiding likelihood of appliance repair or replacement … all by avoiding hard water?
That buildup we were seeing in our condenser dryer drawer, the clogged shower heads, the filmy surfaces of windows and counters, the grimy dog bowls, and the complications we experienced when growing greens in our hydroponic farm towers were all due to hard water.
Once we installed the water softener and scrubbed away the buildup, the problems went away. With the cloudy film on the windows wiped clean, only the delightful dog nose smudges and kids’ fingerprints remain. Soft water goes a long way towards keeping your home cleaner for longer.
Similarly, the issues of troubled skin and unhealthy hair were alleviated after the softener system was installed. Thanks to the soft water that’s gentle on our hair + skin, we're now back to our minimalist haircare and skincare routines.
Now, our deep household scrubs, DIY cleaning solutions, and formulas from the local refillery all last longer. And our linens stay bright and happy whether we dry them on the line or in the compact dryer. Plus, I love knowing all of our machines are operating more efficiently with soft water.
Aquasential Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System
As a sustainable small space designer, everything in this house was selected with careful contemplation. Perhaps no space was more considered than our kitchen. So when we realized we could benefit from having a reverse osmosis system in place, I was concerned that the system wouldn’t couldn’t be accommodated within our compact specs, as I hadn’t planned for it.
Thankfully, the Culligan system fit conveniently under our small, custom sink. Plus it worked with existing faucets and other fixtures, so no aesthetic or designs needed to be compromised in order to provide us with the filtration system that reduces 90+ contaminants while providing us with delicious filtered water straight from the brass tap.
We’re two years in, and the only thing I wish we’d done differently is installing the water systems before moving in. It would’ve prevented much confusion, discomfort, and waste. But now that I know, it’s my hope that sharing our experience will help others make more informed decisions about their household’s water. To learn more about your home’s needs and Culligan solutions – schedule an in-home evaluation with your local dealers.
