A home water test offers a clear picture of your drinking water quality by identifying factors that affect taste, odor, appearance, safety and overall performance of your plumbing and appliances. Understanding these results helps you determine whether additional treatment or professional laboratory analysis may be needed.
Key takeaways:
- A home water test can reveal hardness, chlorine levels, TDS, pH and other indicators of water quality.
- Results may explain issues such as staining, scale buildup, bleach or sulfur odors, and cleaning challenges.
- Both municipal and well water users can benefit from testing, especially after noticing changes in water quality, growing your family or moving into a new home.
- Culligan provides a free in-home water test and expert guidance to help interpret your results.
This quick assessment is the best first step in identifying what’s affecting your home’s water and determining the right next steps for cleaner, great-tasting water.
What common water quality concerns mean
A professional water test measures key characteristics that influence the quality and safety of your household water. These indicators help explain issues such as staining, odors, scale buildup or changes in taste. Understanding what each result means can guide decisions about whether additional testing or treatment may be necessary. Here a few common water problems that can be identified with an in-home test:
Water hardness
Hard water is a problem for many households. High concentrations of dissolved minerals (calcium and magnesium) can lead to issues with hair and skin while leaving spots and stains on dishes and fixtures. Hard water can also impact your plumbing and the efficiency and longevity of water-using appliances. While hardness is not considered a health concern, the impacts on household maintenance can be significant.
Chlorine content
Treatment facilities often use chlorine to disinfect water supplies before being distributed to households. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Health Canada, chlorine levels used for drinking water treatment are generally safe, but elevated concentrations can affect taste and odor. Homes located closer to a treatment facility may notice stronger chlorine characteristics. Although chlorine supports public health, some households choose to reduce chlorine levels for comfort and taste preferences.
Total dissolved solids (TDS)
Total dissolved solids (TDS) is a term that refers to minerals, metals and salts found in drinking water that can impact taste and appearance. Particularly high TDS levels can also cause scaling and corrosion for pipes, fixtures and appliances. While TDS itself is not an individual contaminant, a high reading can indicate the presence of metals or other substances that may need further evaluation.
Acidity of water
In-home testing can help you determine the pH level of your water. If the pH level is below 7, that means it’s acidic. In this case, your water could cause copper to leach from plumbing into the household supply. You may also discover green stains left behind on porcelain surfaces. On the other side, water with a high pH can cause scale buildup that negatively impact pipes and fixtures in your home.
Hydrogen sulfide
If you have well water, it may be a good idea to test for hydrogen sulfide, too. Too much hydrogen sulfide may produce a rotten-egg like odor and negatively affect the taste of your water. While not typically considered a health hazard at the concentrations found in private wells, hydrogen sulfide can corrode metal plumbing components and reduce overall water quality. Its presence may also indicate other underlying water quality concerns that require further testing.
Excess iron
Additionally, well water users can benefit from testing for iron. Excessive concentrations of this mineral can impact how your drinking water smells and tastes while also staining sinks and toilets. Although iron is not considered a health risk at typical concentrations, it can encourage bacterial growth and contribute to sediment buildup in plumbing systems.
Schedule your free water test.
What advanced laboratory analysis for water testing reveals
If you work with your local Culligan water expert for your home water testing, you also have the benefit of Culligan’s IL EPA-certified lab, which can test for additional potential issues, including health concerns. Your water expert may recommend this additional testing based on your water source, where you live or any issues observed, and you can also request this service directly, especially if you have a specific concern that you would like to explore.
Your water sample will be sent to the lab for analysis, and results are available within 3-11 days. This type of testing can reveal information about the following potential issues, as well as other possible contaminants.*
Lead in water
Because this substance typically can’t be tasted, smelled or otherwise observed, testing for lead is one of the only ways to detect this issue. Lead can enter your home’s drinking supply through old pipes or plumbing, so it’s essential to test your water at the point of use.
Arsenic concerns
Another potential problem with your household water supply that’s imperceptible without testing is arsenic. Sustained exposure to this substance over time, even in small amounts, can have significant consequences. Arsenic has been linked to a variety of health concerns, including damage to the nervous system and cancer, according to the World Health Organization.
High copper content
While copper may exist naturally in groundwater in very small quantities, some households may face issues with their drinking water due to an unnaturally high amount of this metal. Wells can become contaminated from nearby agricultural or industrial activities, but the more likely culprit is the corrosion of copper pipes, particularly from water that is more acidic. Excessive copper in drinking water can negatively impact your health.
The presence of bacteria
In addition to sulfur and iron bacteria, total coliform bacteria may sometimes be found in home water supplies. If any amount of coliform bacteria is discovered in your drinking water, it’s possible that illness-causing pathogens may be present as well, such as fecal coliform or E. coli. Issues related to these varieties of bacteria include gastrointestinal distress.
How to interpret your water test report
Your water test results provide a snapshot of the conditions affecting your drinking water. Reviewing these values alongside commonly referenced public health guidelines can help you understand what your results may mean and whether additional steps are recommended.
Below is a simplified reference table of the information your water specialist may walk through during your consultation:
| Indicator | What It Measures | Commonly Referenced Range | What Elevated Results May Cause |
| Hardness | Calcium and magnesium mineral content | Not regulated as a health concern; water over 7 grains per gallon (gpg) of these minerals is considered hard while more than 10.5 gpg is very hard. | Scale buildup on faucets and fixtures, dry skin and hair, reduced water-using appliance efficiency and lifespan |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant used by public water systems | EPA and Health Canada regulations are at 4.0 mg/L | Noticeable taste or odor, potential comfort concerns |
| pH | Acidity or alkalinity of water | EPA guideline is 6.5-8.5 | Low pH may increase corrosion; high pH may affect taste |
| TDS | Total dissolved minerals and salts | Health Canada’s guidelines aim for an aesthetic objective of 500 mg/L | Flat, salty or metallic taste, potential scaling or corrosion |
| Lead | Metal that can enter water through plumbing corrosion | EPA’s action level is 0.015 mg/L | Potential health concerns; point-of-use testing advised |
| Arsenic | Naturally occurring metal in groundwater | EPA’s maximum contaminant level is 10 µg/L | Long-term exposure may carry health risks |
| Copper | Metal that may leach from household plumbing | EPA’s action level is 1.3 mg/L | Metallic taste, potential corrosion issues |
| Coliform bacteria | Microbial indicators of sanitary quality | Any detection requires follow-up | Possible pathway for microbial contamination |
A qualified water expert can help interpret these results in the context of your home, identify contributing factors and recommend appropriate next steps, which may include point-of-use filtration, whole-home treatment or follow-up laboratory testing.
Treatment options following your water test
Based on the results of your home water testing, you should consult with a professional to discuss the findings and decide on treatment solutions that will work for your needs. Recommendations should be based on what’s been uncovered during water testing and an understanding of your household usage requirements.
Partners like Culligan can provide options that work for a variety of budgets and needs, including purchasing equipment directly as well as renting or financing water filtration systems and softeners. Depending on the location and your treatment plan, an installation typically can be scheduled in a matter of days.
Here are some of the components that may form part of your water treatment solution.
Water softeners and conditioners
Hard water can cause buildup in your pipes and plumbing that has long-lasting negative effects, while also causing unsightly, hard-to-clean limescale and soap scum on sinks and showers. Installing an effective water softener helps address these hardness issues for your entire household.
Most commercially available water softening systems use salt to create a brine solution that regenerates the resin beads necessary for this process. However, there are salt-free conditioners that can be used as an alternative in brine-restricted areas.
Reverse osmosis filtration systems
A reverse osmosis (RO) system provides enhanced treatment for a broad array of concerns to help ensure that you have great-tasting drinking water on demand. Typically installed under your kitchen sink, RO systems can help address impurities and contaminants like lead, arsenic, bacteria and much more. Getting fresh, filtered water directly from your kitchen sink also removes the hassle and waste of alternatives like single-use plastic bottles.
Whole-house filtration systems
This kind of water filtration system treats your water at the point of entry, allowing you to enjoy treated water from every tap in your home. Whole-house filtration systems typically address specific issues in your water, including hydrogen sulfide, iron and chlorine.
With this kind of system, you’ll benefit from better-tasting water throughout your home, as well as having treated water available for washing dishes, cleaning clothes, bathing and more. In addition to this support, many households will decide that they could also benefit from systems specifically designed for drinking water as well.
Water test result FAQs
How often should I test my home’s water?
Municipal water users may choose to test when they notice changes in taste, odor or appearance, if they have specific safety concerns like lead or PFAS, or after moving into a new home. Well owners should test at least once a year since private wells are not regulated by the EPA and can be affected by seasonal changes or groundwater conditions.
What does a professional water test include?
A professional test measures indicators such as hardness, chlorine, pH and TDS. It may also identify issues like iron, hydrogen sulfide and more. Laboratory testing can detect chemicals, bacteria and other contaminants that require more in-depth methods.
Why are some contaminants only found through laboratory testing?
Some water contaminants – including most that can have negative health impacts – can only be tested for in a lab because they require specialized equipment, controlled conditions and precise methods to be detected accurately.
What should I do if my water test shows elevated contaminant levels?
Your results will help determine whether additional testing or treatment is recommended. A qualified water expert can review your report, explain what the findings mean for your home and outline options such as point-of-use filtration or whole-home treatment.
How long does it take to receive laboratory test results?
Many laboratory reports are available within a few business days, and most in less than two weeks, depending on the substances being analyzed and the sampling method used.
Learn more about your water
Understanding your water quality is an important part of maintaining a safer home environment and peace of mind. The results of a professional water test can help clarify the factors that influence taste, odor, appearance and the performance of your plumbing and appliances.
A free in-home water test provides an efficient way to evaluate key indicators such as hardness, TDS or pH, while laboratory analysis can offer deeper insight into chemicals, bacteria and other issues that require more in-depth testing. With accurate information, you can work with a trained specialist to determine which treatment options support the needs of your household.
Taking this step helps ensure that your home has cleaner, safer and great-tasting water for daily use. Schedule your free water test today.
*Contaminants may not necessarily be present in your water.
