A Halo water system treats the water for your whole house, not just one tap. It fits Florence, SC homes bothered by chlorine taste and smell, or by scale.
Sometimes the answer is Halo. Sometimes it is a softener, or nothing at all. This guide covers what Halo does and what Florence’s water report shows.
What does a Halo water system do?
A whole-home system sits on the main water line, where water enters the house. Every tap then gets treated water, including showers, the washer and the water heater.
Many whole-home systems do two jobs:
- Filtering. Whole-home filters often use activated carbon to reduce chlorine taste and smell.
- Salt-free conditioning. This step is meant to change how hardness minerals behave, so less scale sticks to surfaces.
Conditioning does not remove calcium and magnesium from the water. That is the main difference between a salt-free system like Halo and a softener.
Our page on Halo water systems for Florence, SC homes covers the options.
What is in Florence city water?
The City of Florence’s 2024 water quality report is a good place to start. The main source is the McQueen Branch Aquifer. Most of the water comes from wells. The rest comes from the city’s Pee Dee River surface water plant.
Here is what the report lists:
- Chlorine is the disinfectant, at an average of 0.87 parts per million. The report lists no chloramine.
- Total trihalomethanes averaged 74 parts per billion. The limit is 80. Single samples ranged as high as 91.5.
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5) averaged 18 parts per billion. The limit is 60.
- Lead was 1.1 parts per billion at the 90th percentile. No sites were over the action level.
- The report flags no violations.
- The report gives no figures for hardness, iron or PFAS.
Trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids form when chlorine reacts with natural matter in water.
The report describes the city system, not your own tap. A test at your home also shows hardness, which the report leaves out.
Timmonsville homes have been on City of Florence water since 2013, so this report applies there too. Hartsville runs its own city water system.
Halo or a water softener: which do you need?
A water softener uses salt to remove calcium and magnesium from the water. You add salt over time, and the softener needs a drain for its cleaning cycle.
A salt-free system like Halo needs no salt. The minerals stay in the water.
A softener may fit if:
- You want water that feels soft and lathers soap easily.
- Scale is heavy on fixtures, glass and appliances.
A filter and conditioner may fit if:
- Chlorine taste and smell are your main complaint.
- You want less scale without adding salt.
Some homes use both. For more on softeners, read about water softener installation in Florence, SC.
What about well water in the Pee Dee?
Treating well water is a different job from treating city water. Wells can carry iron, a sulfur smell, sediment or bacteria. A system set up for city water may not handle those.
If your home runs on a well, test the water before you choose equipment.
What signs point to whole-home water treatment?
- You notice a chlorine smell or taste at the kitchen tap or in the shower.
- White crust forms on faucets, showerheads or glass shower doors.
- Scale builds up inside the kettle or coffee maker.
- Dishes and glasses come out of the dishwasher with spots.
- Your water heater pops or rumbles as it heats.
- Your household skips the tap and buys bottled water for drinking.
Scale settles in tank water heaters, and it can build up inside tankless units too.
What does NSF certified mean?
NSF International tests and certifies water treatment products against public standards. Two standards come up often:
- NSF/ANSI 42 covers looks, taste and smell, such as chlorine.
- NSF/ANSI 53 covers contaminants that affect health.
A certification covers specific claims for a specific model. Before you buy any system, ask to see the listing for that exact model.
How do we help you choose?
Your Quality Service Company plumber starts with your water, not a product. They will check your water before recommending equipment. They will quote any equipment before work starts.
Quality Service Company, LLC has served Florence and the Pee Dee since 2003. Our people live where we work.
To compare other options, see water treatment for homes in Florence, SC and the Pee Dee.
Common questions
Does a Halo system soften water?
No, a Halo system does not soften water the way a salt-based softener does. A salt-free system like Halo leaves calcium and magnesium in the water. If you want the slick feel of soft water, a softener is the better match. Some homes pair the two.
Is a filter required for Florence city water?
No, the City of Florence’s 2024 water quality report flags no violations. Filtering city water is mostly a choice about taste, smell and scale. The report lists chlorine as the disinfectant. A test at your home shows what reaches your own tap.
Can a Halo system treat well water?
Whether a Halo system fits well water depends on what the water contains. Wells can carry iron, a sulfur smell, sediment or bacteria. A system set up for city water may not handle those. Test the well first. Then your plumber can explain which equipment, or which combination, matches the results.
Do whole-home water systems need upkeep?
Yes, whole-home filters use media or cartridges that wear out and need replacing. How often depends on the system, your water and how much water your household uses. Softeners also need salt added. Ask for the upkeep schedule in writing before you buy. Call (843) 920-2004 or book online.