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Spots, buildup and soap film
Hardness results help size a water softener for your household.
A free in-home water test is the easiest way to choose the right treatment. We measure hardness, iron and total dissolved solids and take a nitrate screening reading at your tap, explain what the numbers mean and walk you through suitable equipment and installed pricing. Choose our main Des Moines or Marion / Eastern Iowa team to get started.
Four readings, taken at your tap, in front of you. A number only means something next to a reference point, so here are ours.
| What we test | Unit | What it is measured against |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | grains per gallon (gpg) | The USGS bands water as soft below 60 mg/L, moderately hard 61-120, hard 121-180, and very hard above 180. One grain per gallon equals 17.1 mg/L, so "very hard" starts around 10.5 gpg. |
| Iron | parts per million (ppm) | EPA's secondary standard for iron is 0.3 mg/L. EPA describes the secondary standards as non-enforceable guidelines for aesthetic issues such as staining and metallic taste, not health limits. Penn State guidance is that a softener on its own suits dissolved iron under about 5 ppm. |
| Total dissolved solids | parts per million (ppm) | TDS is the number reverse osmosis works on. NSF/ANSI 58 is the industry standard for reverse osmosis systems and requires at least 75% TDS reduction for a system to certify. NSF/ANSI 44 is the corresponding standard for softeners. |
We also take a nitrate screening reading. It is a first look, not a lab result: EPA’s legal limit for nitrate in public drinking water is 10 mg/L, measured as nitrogen, and before any nitrate system is chosen, a lab test for nitrate and arsenic comes first.
Your readings help us size the equipment and choose treatment for your home. Explore our hardness-by-city guide and TDS guide for background before your visit.
We test at your tap and give you written results to keep. Then we explain what the readings mean for your home, compare the treatment options and give you clear installed pricing. The assessment is free and you decide how to move forward.
Free means $0 — no fee, no deposit, no credit toward a purchase you have to make later. Any homeowner on city water or a private well can book one, renters included with the owner's go-ahead, and you do not have to be shopping for equipment.
Compare our published installed prices, then review a quote for the selected equipment and installation scope. System prices include professional installation and taxes. We explain care and applicable warranty terms before you choose. Ask about current financing and any discount that applies to your household.
Travel: Free for the first 50 miles from our Des Moines or Marion office, then $1 per mile beyond. Des Moines: Contact the main team at (515) 709-4674; we confirm coverage and scheduling for your address before booking.
City treatment is a helpful first step, and a home system can improve the water you use every day. A softener addresses remaining hardness minerals and buildup; carbon filtration reduces chlorine taste and odor; kitchen RO gives you a dedicated drinking-water option. We’ll use your tap readings and priorities to recommend the right combination.
For a private well, combine our hardness, iron, TDS and nitrate screening readings with certified-lab results for bacteria, nitrate and any other concerns you want to address. Iowa DNR recommends annual bacteria and nitrate testing, and your county environmental health office can help arrange testing through the Private Well Grants program. Bring recent results to your visit so we can connect them with a suitable treatment plan. If nitrate is the concern, Kind Water Co installs Whole-Home Nitrate Removal, its own tank installed after the softener: we test for nitrate and arsenic at a lab first, choose the system from the lab results and test again after installation.
Use your well’s laboratory results alongside our free hardness, iron, TDS and nitrate screening test to build a more complete treatment plan. We can explain how to request county well testing and help you compare well-water treatment options.
For Des Moines, call (515) 709-4674 or request a screening from the main team. For Marion / Eastern Iowa, call (319) 319-6566. Email hello@kindwaterco.com. Installation is handled by licensed local plumbing professionals we vet and schedule.
The field screening costs $0 and does not obligate you to buy equipment. Travel is free for the first 50 miles from our Des Moines or Marion office, then $1 per mile beyond; we confirm coverage and scheduling for your address before booking.
We measure hardness, iron and total dissolved solids and take a nitrate screening reading at your tap, and explain how the results guide equipment selection. The nitrate number is a screening reading: before any nitrate system is chosen, a lab test for nitrate and arsenic still comes first. For bacteria, lead, PFAS or another specific contaminant, we’ll discuss the appropriate laboratory test. Private-well owners can ask their county environmental health office about Iowa’s free well-testing program.
Bring any recent well-water lab results, or ask your county environmental health office about certified testing through Iowa's Private Well Grants program. Our free in-home test adds hardness, iron and TDS measurements and a nitrate screening reading. We use both sets of results to help select the right treatment for your well and your priorities.
You keep the written results and a clear explanation of your options. We’ll focus on the improvements that matter to you, from easier cleaning and less buildup to better-tasting drinking water, so you can choose a system with confidence.
Whole-home water softening, filtration, and reverse-osmosis drinking water — professionally installed and built to last a lifetime.
Serving Des Moines, Polk County & homes across Iowa
Kind Water Co is a d/b/a of Zero Cap Investments LLC · 600 SE 15th St, Des Moines, IA 50317