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
You deserve a safe and reliable home. Get the job done right the first time with outstanding customer service from the Twin Cities top rated electrician. Outlets, fans, lighting, smoke detectors, switches, and service panels. Your full service electrician.
"Fantastic. I have already used them again."
Heath A on May 2025
You deserve a safe and reliable home. Get the job done right the first time with outstanding customer service from the Twin Cities top rated electrician. Outlets, fans, lighting, smoke detectors, switches, and service panels. Your full service electrician.
"Fantastic. I have already used them again."
Heath A on May 2025
Professional Mechanical Services offers a wide range of HVAC and plumbing services, including air quality control, energy cost reduction, water filtration, and services for your plumbing and sump pump in Maple Lake, MN and the surrounding areas. Family-owned and locally based in Big Lake, Minnesota, Professional Mechanical Services provides superior HVAC and Plumbing services for residential and commercial properties. We service and repair all brands of HVAC equipment! Looking for new equipment? Professional Mechanical Services is proud to offer Daikin products – the leading brand of HVAC equipment.Water heater or other important household equipment not working and you needed it fixed yesterday? We provide SAME-DAY emergency services. We’ll even work with your insurance company and handle all paperwork if you need us to.
"Nathan has helped us fix the issue by getting a correct team in place, He was professional and gentle. It was nice working with him."
Krishna D on April 2025
Professional Mechanical Services offers a wide range of HVAC and plumbing services, including air quality control, energy cost reduction, water filtration, and services for your plumbing and sump pump in Maple Lake, MN and the surrounding areas. Family-owned and locally based in Big Lake, Minnesota, Professional Mechanical Services provides superior HVAC and Plumbing services for residential and commercial properties. We service and repair all brands of HVAC equipment! Looking for new equipment? Professional Mechanical Services is proud to offer Daikin products – the leading brand of HVAC equipment.Water heater or other important household equipment not working and you needed it fixed yesterday? We provide SAME-DAY emergency services. We’ll even work with your insurance company and handle all paperwork if you need us to.
"Nathan has helped us fix the issue by getting a correct team in place, He was professional and gentle. It was nice working with him."
Krishna D on April 2025
Specializing in all phases of residential heating, plumbing, and cooling services and repairs. We serve the Twin Cities Metro area residentially and we also do commercial business under the name Priority Air Mechanical. We guarantee your satisfaction and we won’t leave until the job is done right. We pride ourselves on the quality work we provide, while delivering great customer service! Check out our services offered and call or click to schedule a free estimate today!
"Charged $1,000 for less than an hour of work with no material. I will NOT hire again."
Tim K on October 2024
Specializing in all phases of residential heating, plumbing, and cooling services and repairs. We serve the Twin Cities Metro area residentially and we also do commercial business under the name Priority Air Mechanical. We guarantee your satisfaction and we won’t leave until the job is done right. We pride ourselves on the quality work we provide, while delivering great customer service! Check out our services offered and call or click to schedule a free estimate today!
"Charged $1,000 for less than an hour of work with no material. I will NOT hire again."
Tim K on October 2024
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
New Construction, Remodel, Residential, Service, Light commercial, RPZ testing and rebuilding Family run licensed, bonded, & insured
New Construction, Remodel, Residential, Service, Light commercial, RPZ testing and rebuilding Family run licensed, bonded, & insured
With experience in water conditioning since 1972, we have the experience, products and services to meet your needs. We are professionals who are dedicated to assisting you by offering high quality products and reliable service. From water softeners and filtration systems to water treatment and salt services, we can help. Call us today!
With experience in water conditioning since 1972, we have the experience, products and services to meet your needs. We are professionals who are dedicated to assisting you by offering high quality products and reliable service. From water softeners and filtration systems to water treatment and salt services, we can help. Call us today!
Emergency line: 320-980-7020** Service call Regular: 85.00 per hour** Minimum Service call (15 min or less ) 45.00** Sewer Cam Service: 179.00 per hour
Emergency line: 320-980-7020** Service call Regular: 85.00 per hour** Minimum Service call (15 min or less ) 45.00** Sewer Cam Service: 179.00 per hour
Ellingson Plumbing, Heating, A/C & Electrical provides quality products and services to meet your residential and commercial plumbing, mechanical and electrical contracting needs. We offer 24 hour service, 7 days a week & 365 days a year.
Ellingson Plumbing, Heating, A/C & Electrical provides quality products and services to meet your residential and commercial plumbing, mechanical and electrical contracting needs. We offer 24 hour service, 7 days a week & 365 days a year.
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.