What’s in Your Kid’s Bath Water?

How Hard Water Quietly Destroys Your Plumbing Hard water is a sneaky little homewrecker. It doesn’t bang pots and pans or announce its arrival. It slips into your home completely unnoticed, flows through your pipes like everything is fine, and then—slowly, quietly, methodically—begins ruining your plumbing from the inside out. If you live anywhere in Southwest or South-Central Missouri or Northwest Arkansas, hard water is practically guaranteed. Our region sits on limestone-rich bedrock, which means your tap water is carrying a nice crunchy cocktail of calcium, magnesium, and iron straight into your pipes. And while these minerals won’t hurt you, they will absolutely beat the hell out of your plumbing, water heater, fixtures, and appliances. Here’s the full breakdown of what hard water is doing inside your home, why it’s worse here, and how to stop it before it costs you thousands. What Hard Water Actually Is Hard water simply means water that contains high levels of dissolved minerals—primarily calcium and magnesium. These minerals aren’t dangerous, but they’re extremely destructive when they accumulate inside the plumbing of a home. Every time you run a faucet, take a shower, or turn on your washing machine, those minerals are flowing through your pipes. And every time the water heats up or evaporates, the minerals separate from the water and turn into scale. Why Hard Water Is Worse in Missouri and Northern Arkansas The ground here is loaded with limestone, which dissolves into groundwater. Cities like Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Republic, Branson, and Lake of the Ozarks all rank extremely high on national hardness scales. In some neighborhoods, the hardness levels are so high that water can destroy a water heater in just a few years. How Hard Water Quietly Eats Away at Your Plumbing When your water dries or heats up, the minerals cling to whatever surface they touch. Inside your plumbing system, that mineral buildup begins layering inside pipes and fixtures like plaque in an artery. Scale Buildup Inside Pipes Narrows Water Flow As scale coats the inside of your pipes, the diameter of the pipe effectively shrinks. The more it shrinks, the harder your plumbing system has to work to push water through. Over time, this leads to: reduced water pressure, clogged lines, higher stress on fittings, and eventual failures. In older homes, this can escalate into full pipe replacements—an expensive, invasive nightmare. Hard Water Attacks Your Water Heater First Your water heater is the front-line victim of hard water damage. When hard water is heated, the minerals rapidly separate and settle at the bottom of the tank. Over time, the sediment forms a thick, concrete-like layer that: reduces efficiency, traps heat, forces the burner to work harder, makes the heater pop, rumble, or crackle, and eventually causes tank failure. Many water heaters in the Springfield and Branson areas die 5–7 years earlier than they should because of untreated hard water. Replacing a water heater isn’t cheap—and doing it early is even more painful. Hard Water Eats Away at Faucets and Fixtures If you’ve ever seen white crust around your faucets, showerheads, drains, or toilet hardware, you’ve met scale buildup in person. What you’re seeing on the outside is only a preview of what’s happening inside the pipes behind the wall. Scale forms a rock-like layer that corrodes metal, clogs aerators, restricts flow, and permanently stains surfaces. Hard Water Damages Appliances Connected to Water Lines Your expensive appliances are quietly suffering, too. Hard water destroys: dishwashers, washers, refrigerators with ice makers, tankless water heaters, humidifiers, and coffee systems. The more minerals in the water, the faster these appliances fail. A home without a proper water softener is essentially sending all appliances into early retirement. Signs Hard Water Is Already Destroying Your Plumbing Most homeowners don’t realize they have a hard water problem until something breaks. But if you know what to look for, you can catch the damage early. Low Water Pressure: Minerals lining the inside of pipes restrict flow. If your pressure is slowly dropping over time, hard water is often the reason. White Crust on Faucets and Showerheads: Those chalky deposits are calcium and magnesium. If the outside looks like that, the inside is worse. Cloudy Shower Glass and Soap Scum Everywhere: Hard water binds with soap and creates film that sticks to everything—glass, tile, tubs, and sinks. Frequent Appliance Breakdowns: If your dishwasher or washing machine seems to die early, scale buildup is usually the culprit. Water Heater Noise: If your water heater sounds like it’s boiling rocks, that’s literally what it’s doing. Rust or Orange Stains: Iron in hard water leaves behind reddish-orange staining in toilets, sinks, tubs, and fixtures. Why Hard Water Costs Homeowners Thousands The damage from hard water compounds year after year. Without treatment, you’re looking at huge long-term expenses. Scale buildup increases your utility bills because your water heater works harder. Appliances fail years early. Plumbing lines clog and need replacement. Faucets corrode and lose pressure. And your home’s water-using systems become less efficient overall. Many homeowners don’t connect these symptoms to hard water, but once the minerals are removed, the difference is immediate. The Only Real Solution: Remove the Minerals Before They Enter Your Home Cleaning doesn’t fix hard water. Chemicals don’t fix hard water. Replacing fixtures doesn’t fix hard water. The only real fix is preventing the minerals from entering your plumbing system in the first place. Install a High-Quality Water Softener A water softener removes calcium and magnesium—the exact minerals responsible for scale buildup. Once those minerals are gone, your plumbing system stops accumulating scale overnight. With soft water: pipes last longer, water heaters run efficiently, appliances stop dying early, shower glass stays clear, and faucets and fixtures stop crusting over. Homeowners often say, “Why didn’t I install this years ago?” Pair It With a Whole House Water Filter for Best Results A water softener removes hardness minerals, but a whole house water filter removes chlorine, sediment, chemicals, and foul tastes and odors. Together, they give you: better-tasting water, cleaner fixtures, longer-lasting appliances, healthier skin and hair, and dramatically improved water quality throughout the home. Most large homes in our service area need both systems to fully eliminate the water problems caused by local groundwater conditions. How Aquasani Helps Homeowners Fix Hard Water Problems Aquasani LLC (RainSoft of Springfield, MO) has been testing and treating water across Southwest & South-Central Missouri and Northwest Arkansas for decades. We know exactly how brutal the hard water is here because we deal with it every single day. Our diagnostic water test reveals: how hard your water really is, whether iron or sediment is present, what contaminants need to be removed, and what size system your home actually needs. Bigger homes need higher-capacity systems, and most generic store units can’t handle Missouri water in a 3,000–5,000+ sq. ft. home. We size systems correctly so your plumbing, fixtures, and appliances stop suffering. Protect Your Plumbing Before the Damage Gets Worse Hard water won’t fix itself. The longer it flows untreated, the more damage it does. If you want to protect your plumbing, lower your bills, extend the life of your appliances, and stop fighting mineral buildup in your house, it starts with fixing the water. Call Aquasani today at (417) 881-4000 to schedule your free water analysis. We’ll show you exactly what’s in your water, how it’s affecting your home, and what your best long-term solution is.

If you live near Lake of the Ozarks, you already know the water can get… spicy. Between iron deposits, aging wells, and mineral-heavy local geology, some homeowners start to notice their sinks, toilets, and showers slowly turning the color of a forgotten pumpkin pie. That’s exactly what happened to one lakeside family — until Aquasani stepped in with a whole-house solution that turned their water from rusty to remarkable. The Problem: When Your Home Starts Matching a Fall Color Palette When we first tested this home’s water, the iron levels were high enough to leave: • orange streaks in every toilet • rusty rings in the sinks • brownish-yellow tint in bathwater • that unmistakable metallic smell (the “Eau de Dockside” aroma) The homeowners had tried scrubbing. They had tried “iron removing” cleaners. They even tried pretending it wasn’t happening. Iron doesn’t care. It always wins — unless you treat the source. Aquasani’s Solution: Iron Elimination + Full Softening System Once we ran the water test (free, fast, and surprisingly fun), the fix was clear: Step 1: Install a RainSoft chemical-free iron filtration system Removes dissolved iron before it ever hits a faucet. Step 2: Add a high-capacity water softener Stops stain-forming minerals from building up again. Step 3: Rinse, reset, and watch the house glow The water turned clear instantly, and the fixtures slowly returned to normal as the stains lifted. The After: Crystal-Clean Water & Fixtures That Sparkle Again Within a few days, the family messaged us saying: “We forgot our tub was actually WHITE.” Here’s what clean water restores: • stain-free toilets and sinks • clear bathwater • no more rusty odor • dishes that don’t look pre-soaked in iced tea • laundry that actually comes out the color it went in No more orange. No more mystery rings. Just clean, neutral-smelling water the way it’s supposed to be. Why This Happens So Often at Lake of the Ozarks Lake-area water is notorious for: • iron-rich wells • mineral-heavy groundwater • outdated plumbing • seasonal fluctuations (especially late summer) Homes get stained fast. Systems fail faster. And many homeowners think scrubbing is the only option. It isn’t. Treat the water itself, and your whole home stops aging prematurely. Thinking Your Water Might Be Doing the Same Thing? If your sinks or toilets look like someone tried to dip-dye them, it’s time for a checkup. Aquasani LLC (RainSoft of Springfield, MO) is fixing water across Southwest & South-Central Missouri and Northwest Arkansas, including the entire Lake of the Ozarks region. We’ll test your water for free, show you exactly what’s in it, and give you a real fix — not a bottle of cleaner. 📞 Call 417-881-4000 for a FREE water analysis. Your house deserves water that doesn’t embarrass it.

If your utility bill keeps climbing but nothing in your home has changed, there’s a good chance the culprit is sitting quietly in your basement… plotting. Yes—your water heater is probably stealing from you. Before you call the cops, let’s talk about why it happens, how hard water makes it worse, and the one upgrade that stops the money-leak for good. Hard Water Makes Your Water Heater Work Overtime Here in Southwest & South-Central Missouri and Northwest Arkansas, hard water isn’t just “annoying.” It’s aggressive, stubborn, and loaded with minerals. Those minerals settle inside your water heater tank like mud at the bottom of a river. Over time, that layer of rock-hard scale: Acts like insulation around the heating element Makes your heater burn more energy to do the same job Shortens the life of the appliance Causes rumbling, popping, or “gravel” sounds Every extra hour your water heater works is money you’re paying for absolutely nothing. How Much Money Are We Talking? Enough to hurt. Studies show that just ¼ inch of scale build-up inside a water heater can reduce efficiency by up to 40%. That means: Higher energy bills Longer wait times for hot water More wear and tear A water heater that dies years earlier than it should And if you own a high-end or larger-capacity heater? The cost stacks even faster. Gas Heater? Electric Heater? Doesn’t Matter—Hard Water Wins Every Time Mineral buildup doesn’t care what kind of heater you have. Gas heaters waste more fuel as scale buries the burner plate. Electric heaters fry their elements faster. Tankless models clog and throw error codes like they’re auditioning for a reality show. Hard water doesn’t discriminate. It destroys everything equally. The Real Fix: Stop Minerals Before They Enter the Tank Flushing the water heater helps—but only a little. Replacing it works—but only until scale forms again. If you actually want to fix the problem, you need to cut the minerals off at the source. That’s where a whole house water filtration system with a premium water softener comes in. When you remove calcium and magnesium before the water reaches your heater: No scale No overheating No more overworking No more mystery noises No more throwing money in the furnace every month Your heater runs like it’s brand new. Your energy bill chills out. Your equipment lasts dramatically longer. Other Sneaky Hard-Water Costs You Might Not Notice A water heater is only one of the victims. Hard water also damages: Dishwashers Washing machines Fridges with dispensers Boilers Faucet fixtures Showerheads Luxury appliances If your home is your castle, hard water is the dragon chewing through every expensive thing you own. How a Whole House Water Filtration System Pays for Itself When homeowners call Aquasani, this is usually what they say: “I’m tired of replacing things.” “My utility bill doesn’t make sense.” “My water heater sounds like popcorn.” “My hot water doesn’t last anymore.” And nearly every time, the fix is the same: eliminate the minerals, protect the equipment, and your home stops bleeding money. A whole house water filtration system: Extends the life of your water heater Prevents scale in every appliance Reduces repair and replacement costs Drops heating bills Makes cleaning easier Protects plumbing Increases home value It’s one of the few upgrades that pays for itself and makes your home feel better every single day. Fixing Water Across SW & South-Central Missouri and NW Arkansas If you want your water heater (and every appliance it feeds) to stop stealing from your wallet, we can help. Aquasani (RainSoft of Springfield, MO) installs whole house water filtration systems that actually fix your water—not treat the symptoms. We’ll test your water, show you exactly what’s happening inside your pipes, and give you real solutions that save money long-term. 📞 Call (417) 881-4000 for a FREE water analysis.

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM AQUASANI: These stories are fictional and created solely for your amusement. Even so — our techs have walked into some crazy situations over the years. Please don’t make any of these stories a reality. If you need help with your whole-house water filtration system, softener, or have questions about your water, Call RainSoft of Springfield, MO / Aquasani today at (417) 881-4000. THE HOMEOWNER WHO USED HIS WATER HEATER AS A SPACE HEATER It was cold. The basement was drafty. Brian wanted heat. So he turned up his water heater to 170°F, opened the hot-water drain valve, and let it “steam out the room like a sauna.” It steamed. It steamed a LOT. Condensation soaked the walls, ceiling, wiring, insulation, and every cardboard box within 40 feet. Mold grew overnight. The floor warped. The breaker tripped. The water heater started making a sound like it was contemplating retirement. Aquasani arrived to a sauna that smelled like wet cardboard and regret. We turned the temperature down. We turned the valve off. We gently explained central heating. Brian nodded even though h e did not understand. Aquasani - We’ll keep your water clean And you house out of stories like this.

PFAS in Missouri: What Families Need to Know in 2025 Introduction — Heads Up, Homeowners If you’ve heard the term “forever chemicals” floating around Missouri news lately, you’re not wrong to worry. PFAS have become one of the hottest—and frankly, scariest—topics in drinking water. And if you’re raising a family anywhere across Southwest & South-Central Missouri or Northwest Arkansas, this is one of those issues you cannot just “ignore and hope it goes away.” Spoiler: PFAS don’t go away. That’s why they’re called forever chemicals. At Aquasani LLC (RainSoft of Springfield, MO), we spend our days fixing water, busting myths, and explaining why your tap water sometimes tastes like it has… personality. So here’s the 2025 breakdown every Missouri family needs to read. What PFAS Actually Are (And Why Everyone’s Talking About Them) PFAS—Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances—are synthetic chemicals used in everything from non-stick pans to firefighting foam. They’re incredibly good at resisting heat, water, and oil… and incredibly bad at breaking down in the environment. They build up in soil. They build up in rivers. They build up in you. And because the carbon-fluorine bond is one of the strongest in chemistry, these things stick around for decades, sometimes centuries. Families should care because PFAS exposure has been linked to: Developmental issues in children Reduced immune response Hormone disruption Certain cancers Pregnancy complications How PFAS Get Into Missouri Drinking Water Think of PFAS like glitter. Annoying, everywhere, impossible to clean, shows up where it shouldn’t. PFAS enter our water through: Industrial runoff Manufacturing plants have historically used PFAS in coatings, fabrics, packaging, and more. Firefighting foam Airports, military bases, and training sites have heavily used PFAS-based foam that seeps into groundwater. Landfills & wastewater PFAS-containing products break down slowly and leach into the environment. Everyday household items Non-stick pans, stain-resistant carpets, wrappers, and waterproof clothing all shed PFAS into dust and water systems. If there’s one thing PFAS are good at, it’s traveling. The State of PFAS in Missouri in 2025 Missouri is taking PFAS seriously—but the data is still unfolding. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources continues testing drinking water systems for PFAS even though the EPA delayed some enforcement deadlines in 2025. Several municipal systems in Missouri, including areas around Springfield, have reported PFAS detections in recent years. Private wells—very common in the Ozarks—are not automatically tested. Homeowners are responsible for their own testing. Missouri health officials note that PFAS contamination is likely more widespread than current data shows, because many systems only test for a limited number of PFAS types. Here’s the truth: If you rely on public water… you might have PFAS. If you rely on a private well… you probably have no idea. What PFAS Exposure Means for Your Family PFAS don’t just “pass through.” They build up. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable because these chemicals can affect developmental systems, hormone balance, and long-term immunity. Adults aren’t immune either—PFAS exposure has been linked to: Higher cholesterol Thyroid disruption Kidney and liver problems Certain cancers This isn’t fear-mongering. This is what the research shows. And unlike bacteria or chlorine, PFAS aren’t something you can “boil out” or “let run.” Can Household Filters Remove PFAS? Yes—but not all filters can. This is the part most families get wrong. To remove PFAS, you need systems certified under: NSF/ANSI 53 (activated carbon filters that reduce PFAS) NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis systems proven to reduce PFAS) Whole house water filters can remove PFAS if they use the right media and are designed for chemical reduction—not just taste, odor, or sediment. Cheap Amazon systems? They don’t touch PFAS. Pitchers? Don’t count on it. A whole-house system with the correct filtration technology can dramatically reduce PFAS levels while also fixing hard water, scale, chlorine, and everything else Missouri water throws at you. What Missouri Families Should Do Next Find out what’s in your water Request PFAS test results from your city OR get your private well tested. Use filtered water for drinking & cooking PFAS exposure is primarily through ingestion. Install the right filtration system Activated carbon and reverse osmosis are the most reliable PFAS removal technologies. Replace filters on schedule PFAS removal requires properly maintained media—no exceptions. Work with a certified local expert You want someone who understands both PFAS and Missouri’s notoriously difficult water profiles. (Hi. That’s us.) How Aquasani Helps Families Protect Their Water At Aquasani LLC (RainSoft of Springfield, MO), we aren’t just fixing hard water. We’re helping families protect their homes from the contaminants that matter most. Our services include: FREE Water Analysis — including PFAS screening options Whole house water filtration systems designed for chemical reduction Reverse osmosis systems for drinking water Maintenance programs to ensure your system stays effective Education, transparency, and real-world guidance for families We fix water across Southwest & South-Central Missouri and Northwest Arkansas, and we take your family’s water seriously. Ready to Know What’s in Your Water? Don’t guess. Don’t wait. And definitely don’t assume your city or well is PFAS-free. Call Aquasani LLC / RainSoft of Springfield, MO today at (417) 881-4000 for your FREE Water Analysis. Your family deserves clean, safe, PFAS-free water—let’s make it happen.

When homeowners in Southwest & South-Central Missouri and Northwest Arkansas call us, they usually ask some version of the same question: “What’s the difference between all these filters? And which whole house water filtration system do I need?” Great question — because not all filtration is created equal. In fact, the three major filtration types (Mechanical, Chemical, and Ion Exchange) all tackle different water problems. And depending on where you live, you may need one, two, or all three working together. Let’s break down the Filter Battle so you know exactly what each system does — and which one wins for your home. Mechanical Filtration — The “Bouncer at the Club” Mechanical filters are simple, strong, and no-nonsense. Think of them as the bouncers of your water supply. Their job? Physically blocking the big stuff before it gets further into your plumbing or into your expensive appliances. What Mechanical Filters Remove Sediment Sand Rust flakes Gunk from old pipes Floaties you definitely don’t want in your bathtub Mechanical filters use screens or cartridges with tiny pore sizes (5 microns, 1 micron, sub-micron, etc.) to trap contaminants. Pros Affordable Simple and reliable Protects downstream filters and softeners Great for well water or old municipal lines Cons Don’t remove chemical contaminants Need to be replaced or cleaned regularly Not enough alone for most households Best for: Homes with sediment, discoloration, or “crunchy” water coming from rural wells or old cities like Springfield, Nixa, Joplin, Lebanon, West Plains, and much of NW Arkansas. Chemical Filtration — The “Detox Specialist” Chemical filtration isn’t about adding chemicals — it’s about adsorption (not absorption), typically using activated carbon. This type of filtration removes things that affect taste, smell, health, and water safety. What Chemical Filters Remove Chlorine & chloramines VOCs Pesticides PFAS (with the right carbon or advanced media) Bad tastes and odors Organic chemicals Pros Makes water taste and smell dramatically better Removes harmful chemical compounds Essential for city water Cons Doesn’t remove hardness minerals Needs high-quality carbon (cheap systems on Amazon are worthless) Must be professionally sized to the home’s flow rate Best for: Anyone on city water in Missouri/Arkansas. If you can smell chlorine in your shower — you need this. Ion Exchange — The “Mineral Assassin” Ion exchange is the technology behind true water softeners and some specialized filtration units. This is the only filtration process that removes hardness minerals — the calcium and magnesium that destroy appliances, wreck plumbing, dry out your skin, and make soap basically useless. What Ion Exchange Removes Hardness minerals Clear-water iron Some forms of manganese Certain heavy metals (depending on media) Pros The ONLY way to eliminate hardness Saves appliances years of life Makes soaps and detergents actually work Protects tankless heaters (which hate hard water) Cons Doesn’t remove chemicals or sediment Needs professional installation and setup Cheap “salt-free softeners” are scams (you know who you are…) Best for: Nearly every home in our service region. Missouri and NW Arkansas have some of the hardest water in the Midwest — period. Which Filter Wins the Battle? Here’s the twist: they’re not fighting each other. The real “battle” is between your water problems and the right combination of treatment. Most homes benefit from all three technologies working together: Mechanical → traps sediment Chemical → removes chlorine, chemicals, PFAS, VOCs Ion Exchange → eliminates hardness This is why a professionally built whole house water filtration system beats any single Amazon unit or DIY filter stack. If your water has: Sediment → you need mechanical Chlorine or chemical taste → you need carbon Hardness (hint: EVERYONE here has it) → you need ion exchange When combined, you get water that feels better, tastes better, protects your home, and makes appliances last longer. Why Aquasani Builds Better Systems As the authorized RainSoft dealer for this region, Aquasani designs custom systems based on: Your water test Your home size Your flow rate Your family’s needs Local water chemistry No guessing. No Amazon “miracle filters.” No overpriced big-box store gimmicks. Just a tailored whole house water filtration system that works. And yes — we test your water for free. Ready to Find Out Which Filter You Need? If you want water that’s softer, safer, cleaner, better-tasting, and easier on your plumbing and appliances, schedule your FREE Water Analysis today. Call (417) 881-4000 or visit aquasani.net. Let Aquasani LLC help you get the perfect whole house water filtration system — built for Missouri and Northwest Arkansas water, not for generic online shoppers.

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM AQUASANI: These stories are fictional and created solely for your amusement. Even so — our techs have walked into some crazy situations over the years. Please don’t make any of these stories a reality. If you need help with your whole-house water filtration system, softener, or have questions about your water, Call RainSoft of Springfield, MO / Aquasani today at (417) 881-4000. We’re here to keep your water clean… and your house out of the next edition of this series. THE FAMILY WHO SAID THEIR TAP WATER TASTED “SPICY” Act I — Meet the Vargas Family The Vargas family was normal. Completely normal. Until one day. One fateful Tuesday morning, they turned on the kitchen faucet… and noticed something odd. The son takes a sip, smacks his lips, and goes: “…is the water… spicy?” Dad laughs it off. Mom rolls her eyes. The daughter tries it. She chokes dramatically. “OH MY GOD, IT IS SPICY.” Not “warm.” Not “metallic.” Not “chlorine-y.” Spicy. Like jalapeño-in-the-throat spicy. The entire family starts arguing: “Maybe the city added cayenne?” “Maybe Dad messed with the pipes.” “Maybe the dog licked the faucet.” “Maybe it’s ghosts.” Finally, they agree on one thing: This ain’t normal. Act II — The Investigation Begins They try every tap: Kitchen sink: spicy Bathroom sink: spicy Shower: aggressively spicy Fridge water: medium spicy with notes of confusion Mom Googles: “Can water be spicy?” Google: “No.” But the Vargas household is living proof that something somewhere has gone very, VERY wrong. They all start trying to diagnose the problem: Dad: “It feels like my water is biting me.” Mom: “My lips are tingling?!” Daughter: “I think the water hates us.” The son (the bravest of the group) takes another sip and says: “It burns like Taco Bell mild sauce, but stays in your throat like regret.” Act III — Enter Aquasani: The Calm in the Storm They call Aquasani. Your tech arrives expecting normal stuff: Hard water? Iron? Sulfur? Lemonade packet in the toilet for TikTok? But spicy water? Brand new territory. The tech tests the water. Reads the results. Pauses. Slowly turns to the family. “…Did someone recently work on your water heater?” Dad blinks. “Oh yeah. Last week. I flushed it myself.” Tech: “What did you flush it with?” Dad proudly says: “A vinegar-pepper mix!” The entire family snaps their heads toward him like he admitted to a crime. Dad continues explaining, completely oblivious: “I saw on a DIY blog that vinegar helps descale, and pepper helps… uh… freshen the lines.” The tech stares at him like he’s trying to understand humanity as a concept. Then the tech asks the crucial question: “Sir… did you rinse it after?” Dad, quiet as a mouse: “…no.” Act IV — The Hot Sauce Boiler The water heater had become, in essence… A giant pepper-tea slow cooker. A spice-infused cauldron. A flavor chamber of doom. For days, the heater had been slowly marinating the water in vinegar and black pepper like it was prepping it for a barbecue competition. Every hot water line in the house? Contaminated. Every cold line connected via crossover? Tainted. The whole plumbing system was one big spicy-soup distribution network. The tech bursts into laughter he tries SO HARD to hold in. Mom looks like she’s about to file for divorce. The daughter is wheezing. The son is crying with joy. Dad disappears emotionally. Act V — The De-Spicification Fixing this absurd situation required: Draining the hot water heater Flushing the entire plumbing loop Replacing a few filters thoroughly contaminated with “Dad’s special blend” Opening windows And a lecture titled: “Please Never Put Cooking Ingredients Into Plumbing Again.” Within a couple hours, the water finally tasted like… water. Not fajita seasoning. Not enchilada steam. Not salsa-flowing-through-copper-pipes. Just water. The family rejoiced. Dad apologized 17 times. Mom wrote “DO NOT TOUCH WATER HEATER” on the tank with a Sharpie. The Moral of the Story If your water tastes like it should be served with chips… Call Aquasani (417) 881-4000. We fix water. We do NOT do seasoning.

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM AQUASANI: These stories are fictional and created solely for your amusement. Even so — our techs have walked into some crazy situations over the years. Please don’t make any of these stories a reality. If you need help with your whole-house water filtration system, softener, or have questions about your water, Call RainSoft of Springfield, MO / Aquasani today at (417) 881-4000. We’re here to keep your water clean… and your house out of the next edition of this series. THE MAN WHO INSTALLED HIS WATER SOFTENER BACKWARDS (AND TURNED IT INTO A POTATO CANNON) Act I — Meet Doug, Destroyer of Manuals Doug was a handy guy. At least… he claimed to be. He bragged about “doing all his own plumbing,” which, in reality, meant he once tightened a garden hose and felt powerful for 48 hours. One Saturday, Doug decides to install a water softener. He sees two ports: IN OUT And decides these are merely suggestions. He hooks the house water supply to the OUT port… and hooks the house plumbing to the IN port. Basically he made the water softener inhale from the wrong side and exhale into the abyss. He steps back, wipes his hands, and says the famous last words: " Looks right to me.” Narrator: It was not right. Act II — The Pressure Build-Up From Hell Here’s the thing about backwards plumbing: Water softeners do NOT enjoy it. In fact, they hate it with a passion. When Doug turned the water supply back on, the unit made a noise plumbers call: “Oh shoot.” Because instead of water flowing through the system, it forced water into the resin tank from the wrong direction… …and began pressurizing like a shaken soda can in a microwave. Doug’s wife heard the first warning sign: A deep, terrifying WOOOOOOOMPH from the basement. But Doug said, “That’s just the system activating.” No. That was the system charging up like a medieval siege weapon. Act III — The Softener Becomes a Weapon of Mass Hydration After about 45 seconds, the pressure reached levels normally reserved for SpaceX launches. Then… BOOOOOM. The system blew the discharge line off the unit with such violent force that it shot a jet of water across the basement like a fire hydrant having a bad day. It blasted the wall. It blasted the ceiling. It blasted a shelf of Christmas decorations so hard that Santa’s head popped off. Doug ran downstairs and screamed, “WHAT IS HAPPENING?!” His wife screams back, “YOU INSTALLED IT BACKWARDS!” He yells, “NO I DIDN’T!” She points to the arrows stamped into the plastic that clearly say: ➡️ FLOW ⬅️ FLOW Doug: “…Well how was I supposed to know?” The arrows. The manual. The diagram. The label. The sticker. Common sense. All ignored. Act IV — Enter Aquasani, AKA “The Cleanup Crew” When the Aquasani tech arrives, he sees: A soaked basement. A half-exploded softener. A Christmas reindeer floating in a puddle. Doug looking like he aged 15 years. Doug’s wife looking like she aged 0 years because she was right the entire time. Tech walks over, kneels down, inspects the ports, and says: “…Doug… you plumbed the IN into the OUT.” Doug mutters, “Yeah I’m… starting to see that now.” Act V — The Education of Doug It takes: A complete re-plumb. A new discharge line. A resin purge. A system reset. And a very patient explanation of “how arrows work” …but eventually the house is back to normal. Doug learns a valuable lesson: READ. THE. LABELS. His wife learns a valuable lesson: Doug is no longer allowed to touch anything that requires water, tools, electricity, or intelligence. And the tech leaves with an incredible story to tell the shop. Moral of the Story If you don’t know which way the water flows… call Aquasani (417)881-4000. We love you, but we also love your drywall.

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM AQUASANI: These stories are fictional and created solely for your amusement. Even so — our techs have walked into some crazy situations over the years. Please don’t make any of these stories a reality. If you need help with your whole-house water filtration system, softener, or have questions about your water, Call RainSoft of Springfield, MO / Aquasani today at (417) 881-4000. We’re here to keep your water clean… and your house out of the next edition of this series. THE MAN WHO TRIED TO “RECHARGE” HIS WATER SOFTENER WITH GATORADE Act I — Meet Tyler, Chemist Extraordinaire (But Not Really) Tyler is a gym bro. He believes everything can be improved with electrolytes. Water? Needs electrolytes. Coffee? Needs electrolytes. Soup? Needs electrolytes. Relationships? Probably electrolytes. So when his water softener stopped working, he did the most Tyler thing possible: He tried to give it a sports drink. He said — and I quote — “I figured the softener needed electrolytes… because, you know… electrolytes help performance.” Reader, they do NOT. At least not for plumbing. Act II — The Gatorade Incident Tyler grabs a gallon jug of neon-blue Glacier Freeze, cracks it open, and proceeds to pour THE WHOLE THING into the brine tank. Not diluted. Not mixed. Not thought through in ANY capacity. Just straight-up blue Gatorade, splashing in like he’s hydrating an NFL linebacker. He even shook the tank afterward, “to activate it.” Within 30 minutes, strange things began happening. Very, very strange things. Act III — The House Turns Into a Smurf Crime Scene The water coming out of the faucets… turned blue. Not slightly tinted. Not “maybe it’s the lighting?” I mean TOILET-BOWL CLEANER BLUE. The bathwater looked like a kid’s science experiment. The sinks looked like a melted popsicle. The washing machine stained every white towel sky-blue. Tyler’s wife walked into the bathroom and, upon seeing the tub, screamed: “WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE WE’RE BATHING IN WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID?!” Tyler’s explanation: “It’s electrolytes, babe.” She nearly divorced him on the spot. Act IV — Enter Aquasani, Bringer of Logic and Non-Blue Water The Aquasani tech shows up, walks downstairs, opens the brine tank, and… just stands there. Eyes squinting. Brain buffering. Mouth trying to form words but failing. Finally: “…Did you put… GATORADE in this?” Tyler: “Just a gallon.” Tech: “…WHY?” Tyler: “Electrolytes?” The tech sits down on the stairs and laughs silently for twelve full seconds — the kind of laugh where no sound comes out and your soul leaves your body. Then he gets to work. Act V — The Cleanup (AKA “The De-Gatoradening”) What it took to fix the house: Full resin tank flush. Full brine tank cleaning. Full system purge. Hot water heater drain. A t least 90 solid minutes of explaining why electrolytes DON’T recharge resin beads. Several prayers. A reset on the whole plumbing loop. And a promise from Tyler that he will never, EVER perform DIY hydration therapy on household appliances again. When the water finally ran clear, Tyler’s wife hugged the technician like he’d returned from war. The Moral of the Story? Gatorade is for humans, not plumbing. Electrolytes DO NOT fix water softeners. Tyler needs supervision. And when in doubt: Call Aquasani (417) - 881 - 4000 — NOT your fridge, pantry, or gym bag.