There are several choices when it comes to water delivery companies in Lubbock, Texas.  Does it really matter which company you choose?  We think so, for several reasons.

Water delivery is a bit different than water treatment.  Usually, there’s not quite so many options.  For water treatment, there’s an option for just about everything you can imagine: microscopic particles, rust, sulfur, hard water, and more.  There’s even a treatment option specially designed for city water sources.  But water delivery?  Isn’t that just take-it-or-leave-it kind of thing?

Not at Culligan.  We offer two types of water services: drinking water and soft water.  Our Portable Soft Water Exchange program allows you to have the benefits of soft water without a water softening system on the premises.  And our drinking water systems offer a selection of coolers.  In fact, we’re not limited to the familiar bottled-water cooler.  We also offer bottle-free cooler systems – not to mention systems that have hot or cold water options.

There’s another benefit to choosing Culligan as your Lubbock water company.  It’s our customer care.  We look after all the maintenance and all the servicing of your cooler.  And, since your time is valuable, we work hard to honor our appointments.  So feel free to contact us, or use our special introductory rates to give us a try.  We think you’ll see the difference right away.

Reverse osmosis is one of those terms that gets used a lot in water filtration system discussions.  Basically, reverse osmosis uses some pretty cool science to filter undesirables – particles and contaminants – out of your water.

There are two types of reverse osmosis water filtration systems: whole-house and under-sink.  There are advantages to each, but, for many people, a whole-house reverse osmosis system may not be in the budget.  Or it may be flat-out unnecessary.  With that in mind, let’s look at some of the reasons a smaller, under-the-sink type unit may be a good option.

The Advantages of an Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

Very few of us drink water straight from the bathroom faucet – well, unless you count dogs and cats.  Why?  Because we do most of our beverage prep in the kitchen.  So if a whole-house reverse osmosis system is too much for your space or your wallet, an under-sink unit in the kitchen could be a compact, one-room-only solution.

If your primary concern is good drinking water, you’re not absolutely required to have a under-sink water purification unit.  You can buy water by the gallon at the supermarket, or you can subscribe to a bottled water service.  But in terms of sheer output, these pale in comparison to under-sink units.  Our reverse osmosis water filtration system can produce up to 50 gallons of water each day – far more than the thirstiest family is likely to use.  Analyze how much you spend on water and your current budget.  You may find that this is a great solution to a need you may not have even realized you have.

If you’re moving  to the Lubbock area, there are a lot of things here that may be new to you!

As long-time residents of Lubbock ourselves, though, we do know a thing or two about the unique water situation of our city.  And we’re more than happy to help you simplify one decision: Where’s the best water service in Lubbock?  We think it’s right here at Culligan.

If you’ve not used a water service before, it’s good to know the basics.  At Culligan, we offer a full range of water solutions for home and business, including:

* Drinking Water Purification and Filtration Systems

* Reverse Osmosis Systems

* Bottled Water Delivery

* Water Cooler Services (Our water cooler service includes scheduled delivery and maintenance.)

* Soft Water Treatment Solutions

We have a special introductory rate of $10 per month for three months of top-notch Culligan water service for our Lubbock Texas neighbors.  If you’re undecided, feel free to try it out – there’s no contract, and you’re free to cancel at any time!

If you have a well in the general area of Lubbock, Texas, we’re betting you also have a water softener.  Why?  Well, more Americans have hard water coming into their homes than not.  And in West Texas, our water isn’t just a little hard – it’s well above the cutoff point for hard water.

If you don’t have a water softener, we have to wonder, why not?  Not only are water softeners a huge convenience – we’ll explain that in a minute – they can also extend the life of your appliances and your plumbing.  And today’s energy-efficient models mean that you don’t have to worry about getting a part-time job just to cover the additional electricity.

The Benefits of Having a Water Softener

Hard water isn’t pleasant to deal with.  Here are just a few ways that soft water is superior to the untreated kind:

* Soft water can reduce the wear and tear on your appliances and your plumbing.  How?  Because hard water leaves behind mineral deposits that make any water-related task more difficult.  Whether it’s your water heater or your electric teakettle, hard water residue is bad news.

* Soft water cuts down on cleaning time.  When properly configured, a soft water system will  greatly reduce or even eliminate unsightly stains on clothing, sinks, toilets, and taps.

* Soft water makes things feel better.  Softened water lathers up much easier than hard water does, so you can use less soap on yourself, less detergent on your laundry, and less dishwashing liquid in your dishwasher.  And it rinses cleaner, so your skin and hair feels softer.

Still not sure if you need a water softener?  Then call the pros at Culligan of Lubbock, and we’ll discuss your needs and the best solution for you.

It only makes sense that, during a drought, there would be some restrictions on water usage.  In Lubbock, a city of more than 200,000 people, this is especially important. Our water collective usage adds up very quickly!

The City of Lubbock has instituted a series of water restrictions in times of drought.  And, in emergency situations, these can escalate to an outright ban.  Needless to say, this information comes form the Water Department’s very useful web page; for a more detailed description of each stage of the restrictions and the current status of Lubbock’s water, visit this page: http://water.ci.lubbock.tx.us/waterRestrictions.aspx

At the time of this writing, Lubbock was (and had been for a while) at Stage 1 of the water usage restrictions.  Stage 1 basically limits watering your lawn to a total of 3 inches per week and requires careful irrigation practices.  Stage 2 cuts watering down to 1.5 inches per week and adds a interdict against using water to clean sidewalk and other areas.  This continues up to Stage 4, where all nonessential water use is prohibited.  Fortunately, Stage 4 is only declared when there has been a failure of a water source or treatment system, or an extended overuse of the city’s water resources.

Droughts aren’t fun for anyone involved.  We know it can be inconvenient, but if we all work together – and follow the water restrictions when the City of Lubbock puts them in place – we can at least keep a troublesome situation from getting unnecessarily worse.

If you want great tasting water in your home, call Culligan of Lubbock today!

If you want great tasting water in your home, call Culligan of Lubbock today!

For the past few years, Lubbock has been facing a series of drought conditions. While historically this has been a problem for the dry southwest, in the last few years conditions have been even drier than usual.

What exactly is a drought?  It’s when the amount of precipitation – rainfall, snow, and the like – doesn’t measure up to the average amount for an area.  So, even though our summers are hot and dry, we don’t have a drought every year.  Only when the rain is even less than our dry averages does it count as a drought.

What plays into a drought?  Heat has a lot to do with it, but the main problem is a lack of rainfall.  This combination – high heat and very little rain – is especially devastating to plant and animal life.  Droughts cause grass to wither, trees to shed leaves, and animals (and even people) to migrate.  Commercially speaking, droughts are hard on crops and on pasture grounds.  In the end, it’s also hard on the economy, as prices are driven up.

According to USA Today, as of July 2012 more than half of the United States was dealing with some amount of drought.  Droughts can be short and intense, or – as in the case of Lubbock – very, very long.  They can vary in scale from mild to moderate to severe or even extreme.

Drought conditions in Lubbock aren’t unusual. That’s why the city government has instituted a water conservation plan.

Choosing a water system that meets your needs and your budget can be a challenge.  Especially in today’s market.  The abundance of technologies, brands, and information out there can make your head spin, especially if you’re a relative rookie to the water treatment arena.  So what can help you make an informed decision?

Help For Choosing the Right Water System

Fortunately, you don’t have to make this decision alone.  Here’s a few tips that can help you:

1.  Consult with experts.  This is the first step for a reason.  Before you do anything else, find out what you need.  It will do you no good to become an expert on, say, rust and sulfur removal systems when all you need is a single-room, under-the-sink reverse osmosis water treatment unit.

2.  Get realistic information.  Once you know what you’re looking for, start gathering information.  Whenever I’m buying anything more complicated than an electric toothbrush, I use trusted review sites on the Internet to research the item. While water treatment product reviews may not have the excitement of an iPhone review, finding out what those who have actually lived with the product have to say can be vitally important.

3.  Consider other factors.  When you buy a water treatment service, you’re buying more than just an appliance.  You want something that’s backed with a reasonable amount of customer care and a good warranty.  Knowing something of the company’s reputation is a great help here.

At Culligan, we’ll be happy to help you with your decision making process.  We have certified water treatment experts on staff and lot of experience dealing with Lubbock-area water issues.  And we take our customer service seriously.  So give us a call and we’ll share our expertise with you!

If you want great tasting water in your home, call Culligan of Lubbock today!

As you can see from our website, we offer several water treatment systems to our Lubbock Texas customers.  Two very popular options are water softeners and reverse osmosis water filtration units.  But what are the differences between these two things?  Do you need either?  Both?  Neither?  Let’s find out.

Water Treatment System 1: Water Softeners

Water softeners turn mineral-rich hard water into soft water.  Soft water is great for doing laundry, washing the dishes, bathing – just about anything, with one reservation.  That reservation is drinking.  In soft water, the minerals that make it “hard” are filtered out and replaced primarily with sodium.  This means that soft water just isn’t as refreshing as non-sodium-treated water.  And if you have certain health conditions like kidney disease or heart disease, sodium from your water is counted toward your daily limit.

In summary, water softeners are a great choice for homes with hard water, but not as a drinking water solution.

Water Treatment System 2: Reverse Osmosis Water Purifiers

Reverse osmosis water purifiers use a combination of semi-permeable membranes and various filters to remove impurities from water, leaving it tasting great.  These systems can be very large- enough for the whole house – or small, just large enough to sit under the sink.  The under-the-sink units can process up to 50 gallons of drinking water a day, so they’re often a great choice for areas with nasty-tasting water.  Because reverse osmosis water systems are so customizable, they can be a viable solution for homes with true problem water.  However, they don’t really soften water, so you may need a separate water softener systems for that.

Now that the heat of summer is over, it’s easy to let the amount of water your drink each day start slipping.  In hot weather, it’s almost automatic to drink more water.  When it’s moderate or even a bit chilly, not so much.  So, in the interests of keeping everyone well-hydrated and healthy, let’s review five reasons to get your 64 (or more) ounces of water a day – no matter what the weather is.

1.  It’s great for your skin.  Water will keep you hydrated from the inside out, so your skin will look less dry and crinkly than it would if you’re short on the H20.

2.  Boost your mood – and your concentration – with water.  It’s true.  A recent study mentioned elsewhere in our blog has shown that even a tiny shortfall of water can leave you crabby and fuzzy-minded.

3.  It will keep your signals from getting crossed.  Your hunger and thirst signals, that is.  When your body is thirsty, you may misread the signal as hunger and start eating.

4.   Are you breathing?  You’re using up water.  That’s right – even when you sleep, you’re still using up water.  Your body needs to replenish its stores throughout the day, simply because it is working as it should.

5.  Your body about 60% water.  It’s an important part of life and a major component of the human race.  So don’t skimp on a free and healthy way to feel better!

If you want great tasting water in your home, call Culligan of Lubbock today!

Do you have to drink water to lose weight?  The short answer is yes.  Let’s find out why.

*  Do you plan on losing weight by adding exercise to your day or by increasing the duration or intensity of your daily routine?  Then you’ll automatically need more water.  When you sweat, you excrete additional water over and above what is used by your lungs and the rest of your body.  So plan on at least an extra cup or two for shorter exercise sessions, more for longer or intense sessions.  And remember, even a tiny amount of dehydration will make you tired.

*  Do your weight loss goals include changing or reducing your food intake?  Water is vital, both as a belly-filler and more importantly as a transportation system.  Your body needs fresh water each day to clear away trapped toxins and keep working at peak efficiency.

*  Water can, in itself, help you lose weight.  This was proven in a small-scale study that we referenced earlier in this blog.  And, because you can easily mistake thirst as hunger signals, just drinking a cup or two of water can make the munchies diminish.

High quality drinking water is an important part of any weight loss plan – and any healthy lifestyle.