Water Treatment Equipment – RENTING VS. PURCHASING?
Simply put, good water treatment equipment costs money. Cheap equipment typically is junk that will not last long. When it comes to water treatment equipment, you usually have the option of renting or buying. When making a decision about a purchase, it’s a good idea to consider carefully all the options available.
Let’s examine the two options and see which one might be the right one for your needs.
RENTING
There are a few decent reasons why you may want to consider renting instead of buying equipment. The primary benefit is that with a rental you typically aren’t responsible for the maintenance and relative expenses that come along with it. This can be advantageous for people who are renting their home or living somewhere temporarily.
If you plan to move frequently, or you know from the outset that you’re buying a home simply as an investment so that you can remodel it and sell it again, renting might be a better option for you.
Another good reason you may want to consider renting vs. owning is if you have exceptionally bad water. This typically means that the equipment is going to be working EXTRA hard and need a lot of maintenance. Other than that, for most people, purchasing the equipment is usually a better option all around.
OWNING
Purchasing your water treatment equipment offers the advantage of not continuously having to pay for something every month and actually owning it. You simply make the purchase, the transaction is complete and the only thing you have to pay for is the standard maintenance the unit may require. Should you move residences, you can move it with you as you would your washer, dryer or any other appliance you own.
Purchasing your own water treatment equipment allows you also to make a decision on exactly what to buy and that it will be new, an option not always available with rentals. A qualified water treatment specialist will help you assess your SPECIFIC needs and help you determine how much is reasonable for you to spend on water treatment. They can come up with different solutions and, in some cases, it may end up costing less than you think.
What You Can Expect
When you have water treatment equipment in your home, there will be some unavoidable expenses. You will have to have filters changed periodically for drinking water systems and, salt or potassium chloride will need to be added for softeners. Depending on the unit it may need to be monitored by a professional water treatment technician on a yearly basis to ensure that it is doing what it’s supposed to do. Depending on the water treatment equipment you purchased you may need your local water specialist to add new media to the unit. Changing out filters and other devices applies to high-end equipment as much as it does to simple tap water filters.
At the end of the day, whether or not you want to rent or purchase is a personal choice based on your unique needs and budget. Professional water treatment technicians will generally give you both options. If you own your home purchasing is generally the best and most cost-effective option. If you are renting your residence or in a temporary living situation, renting a system may be the ideal choice for you.
About The Author, Terry Reeh, EcoWater Systems of Nebraska:
With more than 25 years experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Terry is a WQA (Water Quality Association) certified water specialist, LEVEL 3, as well as a WQA certified sales representative. EcoWater Systems of Nebraska is one of the biggest water treatment and water delivery businesses in the state and Terry currently sits on EcoWater Systems (a Berkshire Hathaway Company) national Peers committee, as a water treatment expert advising other water professionals with less experience on best trade and technology practices.