There’s no denying the fact that a trend in the plumbing world has been an emphasis on a higher quality of water. Obviously, this isn’t something that’s brand new in 2026, but it’s also something that we see continuing to be a priority. When it comes to a “higher quality of water,” we’re essentially going to divide that into two categories (for the sake of this blog post). There is certainly more that goes into water quality, but we want to look at this (from the perspective of a homeowner) and discuss what you can do to impact the water quality in your own house.

The first of these two categories would be the adverse effects of hard water and how a water softener system can help resolve these issues. Although hard water is safe to drink and wash with, it goes without saying there are also some negatives that accompany it. Add in the fact that the Kansas City area experiences above average levels of hard water and you can quickly see why water softener installations are a popular service for our KC plumbing business.

The second of these two categories would be water filtration systems. As you can probably imagine, water filtration systems come in all shapes and sizes. Throughout this week’s blog post, we’ll discuss a few of the possible options, as well as discuss a system that combines water filters and water softeners, thus giving you the best of both worlds! Before we do that though, we would like to give a quick hello to anyone stopping by our blog for the first time. Welcome to Stine-Nichols Plumbing! As a plumbing business offering residential, commercial and new construction services, we understand the value provided by water filtration systems and water softener systems. However, with so many options on the market, it can seem a little overwhelming determining which systems are reliable and which aren’t worth the investment.

Need some recommendations on quality water softeners and filters? Give us a call at (816) 348-3481 and we would be more than happy to do just that!

The Many Types of Water Filtration Systems

To get this blog post started, we’ll talk about the different forms in which you’ll find water filters. In choosing a system for your home, you’ll want to consider factors like reliability (making sure it completes the task it’s intended to), required maintenance (how often do you need to change the filters) and brand name (choosing a system that’s tried and tested). So…what types of water filtration systems are there?

Water filtration systems come in different sizes. There are the under-sink water filtration systems that are designed to filter water at a specific faucet. There are the filters installed in your fridge, which provide filtered water right there. There are whole-house water filtration systems, which are designed to remove contaminants throughout the home’s plumbing system. There are several brands that sell water filtration systems in each of these capacities, so it’s important to find one made by a reputable company!

To take it one step further, the exact “contaminants” the water filtration system is responsible for removing can vary as well. Once you’ve decided whether you want a filter for a specific faucet or the entire house, you’ll want to determine the type of filter. One of the most common water filters would be an activated carbon filter. These carbon filters are responsible for improving the taste and smell of one’s water, by removing chlorine and other unwanted contaminants. While this is the most common water filter type you’ll see, it’s definitely not the only one. In the section below, we’ll talk about a few of the different filters offered by NuvoH2O. However, a few other types of water filtration systems include reverse osmosis, UV and ion exchange. In any case, as we’ve already mentioned, every plumbing system is going to look a little different. Whether that be in the residential or commercial world, it’s important to recognize this and also utilize the expertise of your local plumbing professional to find a water filtration system that works for you!

Water Filtration System + Water Softener? YES!

Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we’ve had the opportunity to work with several different water filtration systems and water softener systems. If you’re looking for a system that combines each of these into one, then we think you’ll want to check out NuvoH2O. They have systems that are just a softener, as well as those that are both softener and filter. Our team has installed dozens of them over the years and here are a few reasons why many of our customers love them:

Different Systems Available – With NuvoH2O, you’ll find they have a number of different systems to pick from, including those with filters that focus on varying purposes (sediment, iron, carbon, chloramine). Having a number of different systems to choose from can be incredibly beneficial for homeowners. Not every home’s plumbing needs are going to be the exact same, so having the ability to select a unit that makes most sense for you can be a plus!

Ease of Maintenance – With any product you install into your plumbing system, you’re going to want to be well aware of the maintenance requirements. After all, for many homeowners, you’ll be searching for a system that doesn’t require a whole lot of maintenance tasks, right? One advantage we’ve noticed with NuvoH2O is how customer-friendly they are and the fact that they don’t require much work to keep up and running.

Effective – Perhaps the most important reason why we’ve found these systems to be so popular is the realization that they’re effective and achieve proven results. Is there a more relevant attribute than that?

Interested in learning more about NuvoH2O water softener and water filtration systems? Our team is an approved installer of their products and would be happy to answer any questions you may have! We’ve installed several of their systems over the years and feel confident in the ability of their products to consistently get the job done!

Looking for a Plumber or Need Advice on Which System to Purchase?

As we mentioned in the opening paragraph, hard water is present in the Kansas City area. That helps explain why water softener systems have become a popular option for KC homeowners. Whether that be by way of a salt-based system or a citrus-based one (like those from NuvoH2O), it’s no surprise that many homeowners are inquiring about their possible solutions to the frustrating hard water. Likewise, I think many would agree that anything you can do to improve the overall water quality will be well worth it. And that shows why water filtration systems are a worthwhile investment. From under-sink filters to whole-house filters and even those installed in your refrigerator, you have plenty of options in this category too.

Long story short, there are more than a few options to pick from! If you need help finding a system that aligns with your needs and budget, we would be happy to help out. Furthermore, we can also assist with the installation as well! To learn more and speak with a member of our team, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 or fill out the form HERE.