Water Softener in Highland, CA

Highland water and homes

Highland sits at the southern base of the San Bernardino Mountains, divided into Highland, East Highland and West Highland. The City's plan-check materials name East Valley Water District as the water agency, and EVWD also reviews sewer connections where sewer is available. Not every address is necessarily in EVWD's area, so check your bill. This page does not quote an EVWD hardness figure; the district's annual water quality report or a tap test will give you a real number.

Homes here span several eras. The median build year is 1983, and about 44 percent were built before 1980, with the 1980s and 1990s as the biggest building decades. In older homes along Base Line and around the Palm Avenue historic district, the plumber will look at the condition of the main line and shutoff before tying in new equipment. A gate valve that will not close fully, or galvanized pipe with heavy internal buildup, is usually worth replacing during the same visit, since the water is already off and the pipe is open.

Softener types compared

Clues that hardness is costing you

• Water heater taking longer to recover, or making noise
• Crust on fixtures and inside the dishwasher
• Faucet cartridges that stiffen up
• Hair and skin that feel dry after showering
• Spots on the car and windows after rinsing with the hose

Seasonal notes

Highland's foothill location means colder winter nights than the valley floor. A softener in an unheated garage is fine, but exposed piping and any outdoor unit should be protected from frost. Summer heat is hard on control valves in direct sun, so shade matters for outdoor installs. The City of Highland requires permits for plumbing systems and water heaters; the Building & Safety permit counter on Base Line can confirm whether a softener installation needs one.