Water Softener & RO
Last updated 2026-06-14
Why our water is hard
McKinney and Collin County tap water is technically hard. Around Painted Tree it typically tests at 7-10 grains per gallon (gpg) with a TDS reading near 230-240 ppm. That hardness is calcium and magnesium, and over time it leaves scale on faucets, spots on dishes, and buildup inside pipes, water heaters, and appliances. Many neighbors also notice it on their skin and hair, especially in winter. None of this makes the water unsafe to drink, but it is the main reason new homes here so often get a softening system.
Softener vs. RO (and why people get both)
These solve two different problems, so plenty of homes install both:
- A water softener uses ion exchange (salt) to swap out calcium and magnesium. It protects your plumbing, appliances, skin, and clothes. It does not lower TDS or purify drinking water.
- A reverse osmosis (RO) unit sits under the kitchen sink and pushes water through a membrane to remove dissolved solids and contaminants. This is what gives you clean drinking water (TDS near zero).
A softener softens the whole house. RO purifies one tap for drinking. One does not replace the other.
Salt-based vs. salt-free
True salt-based softeners remove hardness and use a brine tank. Salt-free conditioners skip the salt and the refills, but they do not remove hardness the same way. Most neighbors who compared the two preferred a real salt-based softener.
Sizing
A common rule of thumb here: with ~7-10 gpg hardness, a 30,000-48,000 grain unit fits a typical family, sized so it regenerates about once a week (most efficient). Size to the number of people in the home, not just square footage. Too small and it regenerates too often and wears out early; too big and it runs inefficiently.
DIY install vs. professional
Many new builds come with a pre-plumbed loop in the garage, which makes a self-install of a store-bought unit very doable. Full-service vendors often tap the city line directly and don't require the loop at all.
Several neighbors have reported garage flooding from softener or RO installs. Use a licensed installer, confirm your builder's plumbing warranty in writing, and add a water shut-off sensor plus a mat under the RO.
Smart questions to ask a vendor
- Salt-based softener or salt-free conditioner?
- What grain capacity, and how was it sized for my household?
- Is RO included, and is it tank or tankless?
- Does the drain run to a dedicated sewer line (not the water-heater drain)?
- What's annual maintenance, filter cost, and after-sales response time?
Test your own water first with a cheap TDS/pH meter before any sales pitch. For live recommendations, ask in the Water Softener topic of the Painted Tree Telegram group.
Get quotes from a few vendors before you commit. Prices, promos, and service quality vary a lot.