Osmosis Reverse Water Filter
How an under-sink RO filter works stage by stage, what it removes and misses, when it is worth having on Durham Region tap water, and the upkeep it needs.
6 min read
Plumbing guides: Water Quality
68 articles from the Hayes Plumbing team on water quality for homes in Oshawa and Durham Region.
68 articles in Water Quality
Need a plumber for this? See our water softener installation and water filtration installation pages, or call (905) 576-3043.
Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration
What certified reverse osmosis systems are tested to reduce, how RO compares with carbon filters and softeners, and what the Region of Durham's 2025 water report says about chlorine, fluoride, sodium, lead and hardness.
6 min read
Reverse Osmosis Water System
The parts of an under-sink RO setup, tank versus tankless units, the Ontario drain rule, and what installation, upkeep and cost look like with Hayes Plumbing.
6 min read
Whole House Reverse Osmosis System
Whole-house RO treats every tap, but it brings reject water, a storage tank and pump, pre-treatment and corrosive water to manage. When a Durham well can justify one, and what most homes use instead.
6 min read
Drinking Water Filter Cartridge Replacement Tips
Learn when a drinking water filter cartridge is due for replacement in Oshawa, what to check first, and when to call Hayes Plumbing & Bathroom Renovations.
6 min read
Water Softener vs Water Filter: Which Does Your Home Need?
If you are comparing a water softener vs water filter for your Durham Region home, you are asking the right question — but they solve very different problems. A water softener removes hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium that cause scale buildup. A water filter removes contaminants like chlorine, sediment, lead, and bacteria that affect
7 min read
How to Maintain Your Water Filtration System
Keeping your water filtration system in tip-top shape is a key part of ensuring that your home’s water is always clean and safe. In Oshawa, Clarington and the Durham Region, understanding how to maintain these systems can make a real difference in the quality of your drinking water. Not only does proper maintenance keep things
6 min read
Handling Water Pressure Problems in Your Home
Water pressure problems are more common than you might think. They can sneak up on homeowners in Oshawa, Clarington, and the Durham Region, making daily tasks a hassle. Imagine turning on the tap in your kitchen, hoping for a steady stream of water, only to be met with a trickle. Such problems disrupt day-to-day activities
5 min read
Exploring the Benefits of Installing a Water Softener System
Hard water can be a common issue in many homes, especially in regions with high mineral content in the water supply. This type of water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, which can cause a myriad of problems. These can range from dry skin and dull hair, to limescale buildup in your pipes and
6 min read
Choosing the Right Water Filtration System for Your Oshawa Home
Selecting the right water filtration system for your Oshawa home is a crucial decision that requires careful analysis and a thorough understanding of your specific needs. It not only impacts the quality of the water you consume but also determines the longevity of your household appliances and plumbing system. By choosing the right system, you
5 min read
How to Save Water
Canada has been blessed with plenty of clean water, and it’s our responsibility to protect that privilege. One part of protecting our resource is to conserve water by ensuring we’re not using more than we absolutely need. While this may seem like a challenging process, there are dozens of easy ways to conserve water around
4 min read
Here’s Why You Need an In-Home Water Filtration System
Water is one of the most important components of life. Most living creatures need water to survive and would perish in a few days without it—humans included. Having clean drinking water is imperative because impurities can make you and your family sick. The quality of water differs around the world. Depending on where the water
3 min read
Save Money by Saving Water
It might not seem like it now, but clean water is a scarce resource. Only 1 percent of the entire world’s water supply is safe for human consumption. And yet, despite the obvious issue of scarcity facing all of us, the average North American still uses between 80-100 gallons of water a day. A lot
4 min read
Plumbing Issues That Only the Pros Should Handle
DIY plumbing has become quite a popular activity in recent years. Ambitious homeowners with absolutely no experience whatsoever are installing the plumbing in a new bathroom or kitchen, thinking a quick YouTube tutorial is all they need to learn the intricacies of the profession. Only after a few failed attempts do they realize that installing
3 min read
The Importance of Water Filtering Systems
How frequently do you drink water directly from the faucet in your kitchen sink? If you are comfortable to only drinking water from bottles which you purchased in a store, this water will likely taste odd for you. You may consider this as a hint that you should be having your own water filtration systems
4 min read
Save Water All Throughout Your Home
Anywhere we regularly use water, there is also that good chance there is something we can do to reduce our usage. There are actually three areas in the home where we can make changes with the most impact: the kitchen, the bathroom, and the garden. If you are looking for minor ways you can
4 min read
Emergency Plumbing
Toilet 101: What to Do When Yours Overflow
An overflowing toilet is something that no one wants to see – EVER! However, this is also a plumbing problem that all of us would likely deal with at some point. When water rises from the bowl, chances are that the culprit is a clogged toilet drain. Fortunately, this has an easy fix with some
4 min read
Water Heater 101: Awesome Maintenance Tips
Residential water heaters can definitely give you that great deal of comfort no matter what the season is. This is why it is important to commit to a comprehensive maintenance regimen if you want to ensure that your water heater will perform efficiently. When you understand how the technology of water heater works and once
3 min read
Rusty Water: Finding Its Source
As homeowners, we expect that the water coming from our taps is clean and clear, right? What if the colour and taste are suddenly a little… off? The culprit for these changes could be rust, and depending on the age of your water heater and pipes, it could be coming from the interior of your
3 min read
How to Recover from Residential Water Damage
Whether it is from a broken pipe or a flash flood, water damage can easily be one of the most devastating home disasters that a homeowner can face. Your water-damaged valuables are often unsalvageable, cleaning up the mess it leaves is also back-breaking, and the threat of mold development will linger for weeks. Fortunately, quick
4 min read
Water Pipes: Should They Be Insulated?
For most homeowners, deciding whether their homes’ hot water pipes should be insulated is a fairly easy decision. When you can have effective insulating pipe sleeves for a few dollars, it is hard to resist the simple energy savings that will eventually pay off for the years to come. However, not all homeowners know about
3 min read
Water Quality
Water Pressure Loss in the Shower? Here’s How It Can be Avoided
Have you ever experienced loss of water pressure in the shower? If you have, then you know how troublesome it is – even if the cause is as simple as a flushed toilet. What makes it much worse if the problem is chronic and it makes it quite impossible to rinse away soap and shampoo.
3 min read
How to Solve Water Filter Issues
There are some under-sink water filtration services problems that can actually be resolved on your own. These common issues include water type and tank damages, among others. If you want to check the problem, then you should get an old towel ready for any drip and a headlamp or flashlight so you can see in
3 min read
Water Heaters
Ways to Keep Your Water Heating Bill Low
In your daily battle to save energy, your hot water heater is the weakest link. One of the reason is that you are probably still using a conventional type of water heater. That kind of heater continuously works to keep your water hot and ready any time you need it. However, as much as
3 min read
Looking for prices?
Our 2026 Oshawa plumbing cost guide and Durham Region bathroom renovation cost guide publish the planning ranges we work from.
Have a plumbing question?
Call (905) 576-3043. We are happy to help, and estimates are free.