Water testing provides insight into what may be present in your home’s water supply and helps identify conditions that may affect safety, taste, appliance performance and more. By analyzing your water, testing can help identify potential water quality concerns and help determine the most appropriate water treatment options for your home.
This guide explains what water testing is, why it matters and what the results can tell you about your water.
Ready to schedule your free water test? Start here.
What is water testing?
Water testing is the process of analyzing a sample of water to understand its composition and overall quality. A test can identify hard water, microorganisms, chemicals and other elements that may influence your water quality.
Testing can be helpful whether you rely on municipal water or a private well, as it provides a clearer picture of what is present in your water supply.
Why test your water?
Water testing helps homeowners understand the characteristics of the water flowing through their home and identify conditions that may affect drinking water quality, plumbing systems and household appliances.
Testing is important for several reasons:
1. Understanding what is in your water
Water can contain a wide range of naturally occurring substances and other elements introduced during treatment or through plumbing systems. Testing provides a clearer picture of what may be present in your water supply.
2. Identifying potential water quality concerns
Changes in taste, odor, appliance performance or overall water quality can indicate shifts in water chemistry. Testing can help determine whether factors such as high mineral levels, chlorine, dissolved solids, iron or sulfur compounds may be influencing your water.
3. Evaluating hard water conditions
Hard water caused by calcium and magnesium is common in many regions. Testing can measure hardness levels and help determine whether a water softening system may benefit your home.
4. Monitoring private well water
Private wells are not regulated under federal drinking water standards, so routine testing helps homeowners monitor changes in water quality that may occur over time.
5. Investigating stains, buildup or appliance performance issues
Mineral content in water can contribute to scale buildup on fixtures, cloudy glassware or reduced appliance efficiency. Water testing can help identify the underlying cause, typically water hardness.
6. Checking water quality after moving to a new home
A new home may have different plumbing materials, water sources or environmental conditions. Testing provides a baseline understanding of your water quality.
7. Staying informed about local water concerns
Environmental events, infrastructure issues or regional water advisories may affect water supplies. Testing can provide additional insight into your household water.
By identifying these factors, water testing provides useful information that can guide decisions about filtration, reverse osmosis or water softening solutions.
Does everyone need water testing?
Water typically comes from one of two sources: a municipal water system or a private well. Each source has different considerations when it comes to water testing.
City or municipal water
Many people who live in urban areas rely on city water. This water is protected by a variety of regulations like the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Act and the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. In addition to setting standards that regulate the monitoring process for chemicals, bacteria and other potential contaminants in the water supply, the EPA requires the annual publication of a Consumer Confidence Report in the U.S., which includes information on the source of the water supply, water quality and more.
However, these reports describe the water leaving the treatment facility rather than the water arriving at individual homes. Because water travels through miles of distribution pipes before reaching your tap, some homeowners choose to test their water to better understand its condition inside their own plumbing system.
Private well water
If you’re one of millions relying on private wells, that means you’re most likely drawing from an underground water supply called an aquifer. This water isn’t regulated by the same environmental health or community health guidelines that protect the public water system, which means you’re responsible for checking and maintaining your water quality.
How often should you test your water?
Testing frequency depends largely on the source of your water.
For homes supplied by municipal water, there is no guideline for how often you should test your water. Instead, testing may be useful if you notice water quality concerns such as limescale buildup, odors, changes in taste or appearance. Homeowners may also choose to test their water if they have concerns about lead and emerging contaminants such as PFAS.
The EPA recommends private well water be tested at least once per year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); however, Health Canada’s guidelines suggest testing at least once every 6 months. Because private wells are not regulated by federal drinking water standards, regular testing helps ensure homeowners stay informed about their water quality.
Signs you may need a water test
Even if you test regularly, certain situations may warrant an additional water test, including:
- Moving to a new home
- Moving to an area with well water
- Rust stains in sinks, tubs and toilets
- Rotten-egg odor in water
- Spotty dishes
- Irritated skin or dry hair
- Soap scum/limescale buildup
- Changes in the taste, odor or appearance of your water
- Local environmental disasters, including floods and fires
- Reported issues with the local water supply
What does a water test look for?
Different water tests can identify different issues. Here are just a few things a water test might look for:
- Water hardness (high levels of calcium and magnesium)
- Chlorine
- Total dissolved solids (dissolved salts, hardness minerals and metals, known as TDS)
- Iron
- Lead
- Arsenic
- Bacteria
Culligan’s free in-home water test, for example, can identify the presence of chlorine, TDS, hard water and more. For even more information on your water quality, you can also have water tests performed at a laboratory, where experts can look for other possible contaminants including lead, arsenic, bacteria, phthalates and more.* In fact, Culligan’s IL EPA-certified lab analyzes more than 15,000 water samples every year.
What does a water test tell you?
Once your water sample has been checked and tested, you’ll get the information you need to take any necessary next steps. Here’s a breakdown of a few things a water test might tell you:
- The cause of any observed water issues: If you notice an odd odor, taste or color in your water, a water test can tell you what’s causing these irregularities, with common culprits including chlorine, iron, dissolved solids and hydrogen sulfide.
- Whether your water is safe to drink: Even if you don’t notice any issues, many contaminants like lead and arsenic are tasteless, odorless and totally invisible. A water test can identify these potentially unsafe elements.
- The necessary water treatment solutions: Test results can help guide decisions about treatment solutions such as whole-home water filtration systems, under sink reverse osmosis systems or water softening systems.
Learn more about water
Understanding your water quality is only one part of maintaining a quality home water system. The following resources provide additional information about hydration, water treatment and common water quality concerns.
Water basics
- How Much Water Should You Drink In A Day?
- Why Water Is Essential For A Strong Immune System
- Surprising Ways Water Contributes To Wellness
Well water
- The Basics Of Well Water Treatment
- What To Do if You’re Moving to an Area With Well Water
- How Do You Choose The Best Well Water Filtration System?
Problem water
- Soft Water vs. Hard Water: What’s The Difference?
- The Most Common Water Problems And Their Impact
- Sulfur Smell In Water: Where Does It Come From?
Schedule a free water test today
If you would like to learn more about the characteristics of your home’s water, a water test can provide helpful insight.
Culligan’s free in-home water test is designed to evaluate several common water quality factors and provide recommendations based on the results. A local Culligan water expert can perform the test and help explain what the findings mean for your home.
Schedule your free, in-home water test today.
*Contaminants may not be present in your water.
