Water Conditioning as a Side Business

Water Conditioning as a Side Business

The Portland Beacon recently profiled two entrepreneurs in Portland, Michigan who are making what they’re hoping is a smart business move. Kevin Covert and Jeremy Russo are launching G&B Water Conditioning as a side business while they work toward buying the established G&B Pool and Spa Supplies business by April 2026. They're capitalizing on local water issues including PFAS, nitrates, and arsenic contamination, offering the usual lineup of softeners, RO systems, and whole-house filters with free in-home testing. They're betting on compelling market math: 85% of US homes deal with hard water, but only 30% have softeners installed, leaving plenty of room to grow. The timing makes sense too—while pool season keeps one side of the business busy, water treatment provides year-round revenue potential. They're planning to leverage existing customer relationships and local market knowledge to expand into new services.

Summer School: Kitchen Table Toolbox

The Water Quality Research Foundation rolled out their "Kitchen Table Toolbox" webinar last week, showcasing a collection of free resources that dealers can actually put to work. Industry veteran Richard Mest walked through WQRF's practical tools, including a Softening Benefits Calculator that shows homeowners exactly how much money they'll save, an interactive Contaminant Map loaded with 131 million data points to help identify local water issues, and quick educational videos perfect for team training or customer education. The toolkit also includes ready-made social media content with suggested posts, making it easier for dealers to build their online presence. If you missed this one, their next free webinar is June 25 covering "Counterfeit Filters".

Series 5000 vs. 5015 Pure Water Hoses (Sponsored)

Joel gets asked all the time: "What's the difference between the Series 5000 and Series 5015 pure water hoses you offer at Specialty Sales?"

Answer: Both hoses are NSF 61 certified and deliver exceptional quality, but they're engineered for different applications and environments.

Key Differences That Matter:

• 🏗️ Series 5000 - Heavy-Duty Champion: Jacketed PVC construction for demanding industrial environments and rough handling

• 🔍 Series 5015 - Visual Advantage: Clear PVC design allows real-time monitoring of water flow and blockage detection

• ⚖️ Flexibility vs. Durability: Choose lightweight flexibility (5015) or reinforced durability (5000) based on your conditions

• ✅ NSF 61 Certified Quality: Both meet rigorous potable water standards for safety and reliability

WATCH: Tyler does a side-by-side comparison (1 min)

Not sure which hose fits your application? Contact the team by clicking here or by replying to this email directly!

AmeriFree Water Launches Freedom Series

AmeriFree Water just threw its hat into the crowded whole-home filtration ring with the launch of their Freedom Series, targeting West Coast homeowners dealing with drought-stressed water supplies and PFAS contamination. The Irvine-based company is taking a consultative approach with free in-home assessments before customizing systems that combine carbon filtration, ion exchange, and sediment removal—basically trying to be the opposite of one-size-fits-all competitors. What's interesting is their decision to keep everything in-house, from engineering to installation, which gives them control over quality but limits scalability compared to companies using dealer networks. CEO Anthony Romaldo says they're planning to expand beyond California next year.

Why Does Soft Water Feel Slippery?

Complete Water Systems in Phoenix just tackled one of the most common customer complaints about new water softeners with an education piece explaining why soft water feels "slippery." The company breaks down the science behind the silky sensation and explains that it's actually your skin being truly clean instead of coated with the mineral film that hard water leaves behind. This kind of proactive customer education is great to have handy, since the weird slippery feeling is often the first thing new softener customers call about, sometimes thinking something's wrong with their system. The article includes practical adjustment tips like using less soap and trying natural products, which helps customers get comfortable with their investment instead of developing buyer's remorse.

What else is happening:

• Just add iron: researchers found that iron powder outperforms activated carbon as adsorbent for PFOS (even when it rusts)

• Aquasana lists out 12 eye-opening stats about microplastics in water, including that 90% of Colorado rainwater samples contained microplastics

• WQA Podcast drops a new episode titled Top Federal & State Issues Affecting Water Industry

• Ohio-based and locally owned Aquatek Water Conditioning writes all about DIY water filters and why they often fall short

• CGC Water Kinetico, a 4th generation family business, releases an article detailing what do about the water quality when moving to a new home