Home Water Filtration: The Real Deal or a Money Grab?

The Okanagan is known for having hard water, in particular, high levels of calcium and magnesium. These can be particularly hard on home appliances, causing buildup and poor efficiency. You may have had home filtration recommended to you, either by a friend or a professional. With rising costs of EVERYTHING these days, it’s hard to know what things are actually worth it and what areas you can cut corners. My husband, John (Refined Plumbing & Gas), has been trying to educate me, for years, on the water filtration units he installs. I tried my best to listen but ultimately it never hit home. That is, until he replaced our filters after just one year. Here is the picture (old filter on the left, new one on the right).

The sludge covering it resembled a combination of mucus and raw chicken. To say it was disgusting was an understatement. I was horrified that without those filters, our water would have carried that sludge (mind you in smaller amounts over a longer period of time), into our home, through our appliances, and into our bodies. I am now officially “Team Water Filtration”. Of course, it may not be in everyone’s budget, but I felt I needed to throw the PSA out there. At Refined, a basic home water filter installation (as of April 2026), is around $1200. If this is something you are interested in for your home, reach out to John for a free assessment!