Tips for Choosing a Water Treatment Company

1..Know your options, your needs will drive the value and price.

The first Tip for Choosing a Water Treatment Company is become educated. While this may seem like a basic step in the process of choosing a Water Treater, as a consumer you should ensure you understand what you are shopping for. Answering the following questions ahead of time is a good starting point for your self-education prior to working with a Water Treater.

• Know the equipment that needs service.
• Understand the requirements the manufacturer recommends for treatment.
• Know the specifications for the equipment.
• What is operational schedule of the equipment.
• Cost to your business to not have the equipment running.

Create a request for proposal while considering the Experience, Education and Expertise in your industry.  Gathering multiple proposals can also allow you to compare multiple vendors to distinguish the price range and value of the services.

2. Review and compare the proposals weighing the costs with the benefits.

Below we have listed common questions our customers have about the details and process of switching to a new Water Treater. While the details of what services are being provided can be somewhat allusive, the most valuable step of the selection process is understanding what’s being offered.

• • Frequency of visits: What is the difference of value in receiving annual, quarterly, monthly, or even weekly service visits?
  • Payment Options: Some companies will have monthly charges that seem smaller, however depending on your needs, you may want to consider paying upfront for a lower total cost.
  • Termination Clause: Ensure it aligns with your business.
  • Chemical delivery equipment (i.e. pumps, controllers): This is one piece of the contract that often alludes buyers. Up front, you may have functioning equipment; however, if it needs repair and requires replacement, how is this handled?
  • Prior vendors’ Chemicals:  While you may have invested in some inventory of chemicals, it is difficult to guarantee the efficacy of someone else’s product. Consequently, to obtain the best performance, you should use the chemicals supplied by your new water treater.

3. Know the risks involved?

There are risks in doing and not doing. In not doing, what is the risk if, for instance, your equipment was to break and what cost to your business would depend on that event occurring? In doing, what are the financial burdens that may be associated, and how will that affect your company’s business.

Which level of service do you need (good, better, best)? Good may be enough for your business if the system isn’t directly aligned with the well being of your company. If it is more directly related, you may want to consider paying more to receive the higher levels of service to ensure minimum downtime. 

4. Ask each company what they claim makes them different and then hold them to that standard.

Understanding what makes a company stand out will make the buying decision easier, while holding the treater to the same standard that they are claiming. All too often we see clients that have a current vendor that is supposed to be conducting monthly visits and the client claims they have not seen their vendor in months. Ensure you have an understanding with the treater upfront on their deliverables and hold them to that standard.

5. Contact references and ask for previous reviews given by each vendor.

Oddly enough this is a lost art of business. We normally do not think to ask for references or reviews from prior customers but doing so will provide insight into how the process will go. You can ask questions that align with the same questions you asked the vendor and if any red flags come up, you are easily able to contact that vendor to ask more questions about the service you will be receiving. You can even go so far as to visit a current customer.

6. Know what each treater’s after-care services include.

Being upfront about unexpected costs may be able to save you money in the long run. Some companies may charge more but cover later equipment maintenance and inspections fees. These should be mentioned in detail up front and covered in the contract.

What is the maintenance like (good, better, best)? Keeping your equipment running efficiently is vital for saving time and money. What burden is on you as the buyer for maintaining the chemical feed equipment? Knowing this can differentiate your level of service required and directly impact price.