Range Water Conditioning - 3M Authorized Water Dealer was founded in 1969 and to this day offers expert, customized water solutions for residential and commercial buildings in central and northern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. The 3M Authorized Water Dealer ensures water systems are properly installed and if needed, are promptly and professionally serviced. For ideal results, Range Water Conditioning tests water and offers unique solutions with guaranteed satisfaction. The staff strives to provide superior service along with top-notch products including water softeners, water filtration systems and more.
"They did a great job and thought outside the box to get it installed where I wanted."
Jessi M on January 2024
Range Water Conditioning - 3M Authorized Water Dealer was founded in 1969 and to this day offers expert, customized water solutions for residential and commercial buildings in central and northern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. The 3M Authorized Water Dealer ensures water systems are properly installed and if needed, are promptly and professionally serviced. For ideal results, Range Water Conditioning tests water and offers unique solutions with guaranteed satisfaction. The staff strives to provide superior service along with top-notch products including water softeners, water filtration systems and more.
"They did a great job and thought outside the box to get it installed where I wanted."
Jessi M on January 2024
A happy, healthy family thrives with pure, chemical-free water and safely functioning plumbing and climate control systems at home and at work. Finken is made up of two sister companies Finken Water Solutions & Finken Plumbing, Heating & Cooling working side by side to bring you whole-home and office climate comfort and clean water solutions. Finken Water Solutions is your premium source for water treatment and bottled water for your family and co-workers — we even deliver coffee and water softener salt to your door! For problem water as simple as hard water to as complex as arsenic and nitrate tainting, Finken has chemical-free filtration solutions to purify even the nastiest water. We even offer financing and rental options so everyone has access to the purest water possible, straight out of their tap, for better drinking, cleaner laundry and squeaky clean skin and hair. When it comes to bottled beverages, Finken has you covered from our five kinds of bottled water to our 100+ varieties of brewed beverages. Finken Plumbing, Heating and Cooling is ready to tackle your home or commercial construction or remodeling projects and repairs. We work with the best builders in the business to create safe comfortable homes and working environments. From new construction to remodeling, cozy homes to comfortable apartments and office complexes, Finken is the go-to choice for plumbing, heating and cooling contracting. Got a serious plumbing or HVAC predicament? Finken is on call for you 24-hours a day. When your furnace, air conditioner or toilet is clinkin’ better think Finken!
"Finkens is amazing! They are easy to get a hold of, appointments are easy to schedule. Great softeners and maintenance! We've used Finkens for years and highly recommend their company!"
Nancy H on May 2020
A happy, healthy family thrives with pure, chemical-free water and safely functioning plumbing and climate control systems at home and at work. Finken is made up of two sister companies Finken Water Solutions & Finken Plumbing, Heating & Cooling working side by side to bring you whole-home and office climate comfort and clean water solutions. Finken Water Solutions is your premium source for water treatment and bottled water for your family and co-workers — we even deliver coffee and water softener salt to your door! For problem water as simple as hard water to as complex as arsenic and nitrate tainting, Finken has chemical-free filtration solutions to purify even the nastiest water. We even offer financing and rental options so everyone has access to the purest water possible, straight out of their tap, for better drinking, cleaner laundry and squeaky clean skin and hair. When it comes to bottled beverages, Finken has you covered from our five kinds of bottled water to our 100+ varieties of brewed beverages. Finken Plumbing, Heating and Cooling is ready to tackle your home or commercial construction or remodeling projects and repairs. We work with the best builders in the business to create safe comfortable homes and working environments. From new construction to remodeling, cozy homes to comfortable apartments and office complexes, Finken is the go-to choice for plumbing, heating and cooling contracting. Got a serious plumbing or HVAC predicament? Finken is on call for you 24-hours a day. When your furnace, air conditioner or toilet is clinkin’ better think Finken!
"Finkens is amazing! They are easy to get a hold of, appointments are easy to schedule. Great softeners and maintenance! We've used Finkens for years and highly recommend their company!"
Nancy H on May 2020
Aquarius Home Services is the top home service provider in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Offering expert service in HVAC, Water Softeners, Plumbing and Electrical . Our work is backed by a 100% performance guarantee.
"Nick was waiting for me when I came back from an errand. He was very good at explaining what he was going to do, then did it, then explained what he found. Very professional! Aquarius should tweak their scheduling plan to incorporate windows of when the tech will arrive. The current method of announcing that the tech will be there without stating when is very inconvenient for the homeowner."
Dan F on May 2025
Aquarius Home Services is the top home service provider in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Offering expert service in HVAC, Water Softeners, Plumbing and Electrical . Our work is backed by a 100% performance guarantee.
"Nick was waiting for me when I came back from an errand. He was very good at explaining what he was going to do, then did it, then explained what he found. Very professional! Aquarius should tweak their scheduling plan to incorporate windows of when the tech will arrive. The current method of announcing that the tech will be there without stating when is very inconvenient for the homeowner."
Dan F on May 2025
EcoWater Systems has been developing innovative and state-of-the-art technology to take care of your home water needs.
EcoWater Systems has been developing innovative and state-of-the-art technology to take care of your home water needs.
Klimek Brothers Well Drilling is a full service water well drilling company and will handle all your residential well drilling, agricultural well drilling, commercial well drilling, industrial well drilling and municipal well drilling projects including well cleaning, well rehabilitation and well abandonment. We are licensed and bonded to drill wells in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. We are located in Alexandria Minnesota and drill wells in the central lakes area, but with our expert well drilling knowledge, friendly & prompt service, attention to detail and reasonable prices, we are in demand in the tri-state area and are happy to create new lifelong satisfied friends and customers. If you need any well related service, call us today!
Klimek Brothers Well Drilling is a full service water well drilling company and will handle all your residential well drilling, agricultural well drilling, commercial well drilling, industrial well drilling and municipal well drilling projects including well cleaning, well rehabilitation and well abandonment. We are licensed and bonded to drill wells in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. We are located in Alexandria Minnesota and drill wells in the central lakes area, but with our expert well drilling knowledge, friendly & prompt service, attention to detail and reasonable prices, we are in demand in the tri-state area and are happy to create new lifelong satisfied friends and customers. If you need any well related service, call us today!
Isle Hardware Hank is a leading retailer in the Southern Mille Lacs area.
Isle Hardware Hank is a leading retailer in the Southern Mille Lacs area.
Family owned & operated.
Family owned & operated.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Northfield, MN prides themselves on helping people with something that’s a part of their everyday life: plumbing! Benjamin Franklin Plumbing provides clean service by skilled professionals that are constantly educating themselves to better serve our clients and straightforward pricing. Gives us a call today and if there’s any delay, it’s you we pay! Our guarantee to you is that will show up on time and we'll pay you $5 for every minute we're late. We specialize in the following: • Water heater installation • Tankless water heater installation • Home winterization • Water softener repair and replacement • Drain cleaning And we also offer a full line of drinking water treatment systems, iron removal filters and odor removal equipment. Same-day service is also available for emergencies. We accept Discover, MasterCard and Visa. We look forward to solving all your plumbing repair, installation and service needs. Call us now to schedule an appointment and receive your free estimate. License #060916-PM
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Northfield, MN prides themselves on helping people with something that’s a part of their everyday life: plumbing! Benjamin Franklin Plumbing provides clean service by skilled professionals that are constantly educating themselves to better serve our clients and straightforward pricing. Gives us a call today and if there’s any delay, it’s you we pay! Our guarantee to you is that will show up on time and we'll pay you $5 for every minute we're late. We specialize in the following: • Water heater installation • Tankless water heater installation • Home winterization • Water softener repair and replacement • Drain cleaning And we also offer a full line of drinking water treatment systems, iron removal filters and odor removal equipment. Same-day service is also available for emergencies. We accept Discover, MasterCard and Visa. We look forward to solving all your plumbing repair, installation and service needs. Call us now to schedule an appointment and receive your free estimate. License #060916-PM
Horizon heating and services
Horizon heating and services
Water softeners consist of three main components: a mineral tank, a brine tank, and a control valve. In some smaller units, the mineral tank and brine tank are combined into one cabinet.
Professionals install whole-home systems at the point of entry of the main water line. Smaller units are installed under sinks or near a washer—these units only soften the water for that fixture, not the entire home.
Mineral Tank: Hard water passes into the mineral tank through resin beads, and an ion exchange occurs. Magnesium and calcium ions are exchanged for sodium or potassium ions from the brine tank.
Brine Tank: The brine tank contains sodium or potassium to recharge the resin.
Control Valve: The control valve determines when to clean the resin beads.
Choosing between a salt-based or potassium-based water softener depends on your priorities. Salt-based systems effectively remove hard-water minerals, regenerate efficiently, and are cost-effective. However, they may not be ideal for individuals on low-sodium diets. Potassium-based systems neutralize minerals without removing them and regenerate more frequently. They are more expensive but offer a healthier and more environmentally friendly option. If sodium levels are a concern and cost isn't a major factor, a potassium system may be the better choice.
To calculate your water softener's capacity, determine your grains per gallon (GPG) number by:
Multiplying the number of people in your home by 90. The average number of gallons used per person for washing, drinking, and cooking ranges from 80 to 100 gallons per day.
Multiplying that result by the hardness of your water. The average grains per gallon in the United States is 10 but can range from 0 to 17. You can find your GPG number by purchasing an at-home water testing kit.
Installing a water softener takes between two to four hours on average. The exact duration depends on the complexity of the unit and whether additional plumbing or electrical work is required. If modifications to existing pipes are necessary, installation may take longer. Preparing the installation area by clearing any obstructions can help streamline the process.
Water softeners can last up to 25 years with proper maintenance and care. The lifespan depends on the type and quality of the unit you choose. Single-tank electric water softeners may last around 12 years, while higher-quality models tend to last longer. Regular maintenance, such as routine inspections and timely replacement of salts or potassium, helps extend the life of your system. Most water softeners require minimal repairs over their lifespan.