If you’ve ever noticed cloudy spots on your dishes, scratchy clothes after doing laundry, or dry skin no matter how much lotion you use, there’s a good chance your home has hard water. It’s a common problem here in Minnesota—and we’ve been helping folks tackle it since 1947.

But what exactly is hard water, and why does it matter? Let’s break it down, neighbor to neighbor.

First Things First: What Is Hard Water?

Hard water is water that’s rich in minerals—mainly calcium and magnesium. Now, those minerals aren’t harmful to your health (so no worries there), but they can cause a whole bunch of headaches around the house.

You might not always see hard water, but you can definitely feel it. It makes soap less sudsy, leaves behind chalky buildup, and can be tough on everything from your appliances to your hair.

The Hard Truth: Signs You Have Hard Water

Hard water loves to leave its mark. Here are a few signs you might be dealing with it:

• Spotted glasses that look like they’ve been through a dust storm.
• Soap that doesn’t lather—you’re using more and getting less clean.
• Dry, itchy skin and flat hair (no, it’s not just winter).
• White crusty buildup on faucets and showerheads.
• Dingy laundry that feels rough, no matter what detergent you use.
• Frequent appliance repairs (especially with your water heater).

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. About 85% of U.S. households have hard water—and Minnesota is no exception.

Why Does Hard Water Matter?

We get it—this might sound like one of those “not a big deal” issues. But over time, hard water can do more damage (and cost you more money) than you think.

Here’s why:

🛠 It’s Tough on Appliances
Hard water causes mineral buildup inside your water heater, dishwasher, washing machine, and more. That buildup forces them to work harder—and wear out faster.

💸 It Raises Your Utility Bills
Mineral deposits act like insulation inside your pipes and heater. That means your system needs more energy to do the same job. More energy = higher bills.

🧺 It Makes Cleaning a Chore
From extra soap scum in the tub to dull laundry, hard water makes it harder to clean—and you end up using more detergent, shampoo, and elbow grease to get the same results.

The Fix: Water Softeners Made for Minnesota Homes

Here’s the good news: hard water isn’t something you have to live with. A water softener removes those problem-causing minerals, giving you cleaner, softer water throughout your entire home.

At Commers Water, we’ve been designing and installing water softeners specifically for Minnesota water for over 75 years. Our systems are:

• Efficient: Use less salt and water than most.
• Custom-Built: Designed for your home’s unique water needs.
• Long-Lasting: Built right here and built to last.

And we don’t just sell you a system and wish you luck. We walk you through it, install it right, and stick around to support you however you need—whether that’s routine maintenance, salt delivery, or a friendly check-in.

“So… Is It Worth It?”

We hear that question all the time. And honestly? The answer is almost always yes.

Switching to soft water means:

✅ Longer-lasting appliances
✅ Cleaner dishes and clothes
✅ Softer skin and hair
✅ Lower energy and maintenance bills
✅ Less time cleaning up soap scum and scale

It’s better water—made easy. And that’s what we’re all about.

Why Trust Commers?

We’ve been Minnesota’s water experts since 1947. This is our home too, and we treat your water like we’d treat our own.

No pressure. No pushy sales. Just honest help and solutions that make sense.

When you work with us, you get:

• A local team that knows Minnesota water inside and out
• Custom water softeners and drinking water systems
• Clear, simple answers to all your water questions
• Friendly service—always with a smile

We’re proud to be family-owned, Minnesota-based, and still guided by the same values John Commers had when he started the company: treat people right, do quality work, and never stop learning.

Let’s Fix Your Water—Together

Hard water doesn’t have to be your normal. Whether you’re just curious or ready to make a change, we’re here to help.

Stop by, give us a call, or book your free water test today. We’ll walk through your options, explain everything in plain language, and help you find a solution that actually fits your life.

Because when it comes to water—you deserve the good stuff.

Commers Water. Better water, made easy.

Seventy five years ago John Commers opened Commers The Water Store. The year was 1947 and John Commers had just moved from Minneapolis to St. Anthony. After the move he quickly realized the affliction known as hard water. Mr. Commers proceeded to study hard water and the water softening process at the local library. He realized he could combine his new found knowledge of the water industry and his technical mechanical engineer training from his service during World War II to create a new small business. John said, of his new company, “I wanted to build a better water softener that was service free and easy to maintain if need be.”

Seventy five years later, in 1964 John Commers turned the business over to his son John G. Commers Jr. and his wife Patricia. John and Patricia turned the company into the largest independent water softener dealer in Minnesota. They added a salt delivery service, established two U.S. patents and started manufacturing Commers branded Water softeners. By manufacturing their own water softeners they were able to leave the “one-size-fits-all” approach and began being able to customize their softeners to each individual household. By specifically customizing each water softener, Commers units are more salt efficient and longer lasting than others on the market.
In an effort to provide a comprehensive approach to solving people’s water problems Commers marketed its first drinking water system in 1978. Continuing to provide customers with the best possible drinking water solutions, in 1980 Commers began working with a new technology called reverse osmosis.  Today, Commers continues to be a leading company in delivering customers the highest quality residential drinking water.

Near the turn of the century Commers decided to upgrade their facility. They moved from northeast Minneapolis to Blaine in 1999. Soon after shifting their headquarters, Commers opened two more stores in order to better serve the Twin Cities. Commers Minnetonka opened its doors in 2002, while Commers Burnsville opened in 2004.

As Commers turns seventy five, we continue to strive to the remain leader in Twin Cities water softening business by custom making our units and living up to our founder’s motto.

Commers Water is proud to be recognized as the longest standing accredited member of the Better Business Bureau, holding ourselves to the highest standards since 1947.

Since 1912 the BBB has dedicated itself to fostering an ethical marketplace and creating an environment where buyers and sellers can trust each other.

To be accredited with BBB a business must abide by the BBB Code of Business Practices and the BBB Standards of Trust:

1. Build Trust: Establish and maintain a positive track record in the marketplace.

2. Advertise Honestly: Adhere to established standards of advertising and selling.

3. Tell the Truth: Honestly represent products and services, including clear and adequate disclosures of all materials.

4. Be Transparent: Openly identify the nature, location and ownership of the business, and clearly disclose all policies, guarantees and procedures that bear on a consumer’s decision to buy.

5. Honor Promises: Abide by all written agreements and verbal representations.

6. Be Responsive: Address marketplace disputes quickly, professionally and in good faith.

7. Safeguard Privacy: Protect any data collected against mishandling and fraud. Collect personal information only as needed, and respect the preferences of consumers regarding the use of their information.

8. Embody Integrity: Approach all business dealing, marketplace transactions and commitments with integrity.

Commers Water has adhered to these Practices and Standards since 1947 and will continue to in the future, in order to serve our customers with the utmost integrity.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is investigating contaminated drinking water in two north metro communities. While MPCA and Minnesota Department of Health employees conducted a water sampling near the closed WDE Landfill in Andover, they found high levels of a chemical, which chemical is likely a carcinogen and was discovered in private residential wells near Bunker Lake Boulevard and Crosstown Boulevard.

The “chemical of concern” is called 1,4-dioxane, which MPCA Assistant Commissioner Kirk Koudelka said has been detected near manufacturing sites, industrial sites and landfills. It can be a byproduct of the manufacturing process for products such as cleaners, detergents, adhesives, inks and car fluids. Its main use is as a stabilizer for the chlorinated solvent 1,1,1-trichloroethane, often used for industrial purposes.

1,4-Dioxane is a solvent stabilizer frequently found at contaminated sites where methyl chloroform (1,1,1-trichloroethane) was used for degreasing.

1,4-dioxane may be found as a by-product in consumer products such as soaps and detergents when 1,4-dioxane is created from the breakdown of other chemicals that are used to make certain consumer products.

Treatment Technologies for 1,4-Dioxane: Fundamentals and Field Applications Source: EPA.GOV
Adsorption involves concentrating contaminants on the surface of a sorbent such as GAC, (granular activated carbon) thereby reducing the concentration of those contaminants in the liquid being treated.

What does this all mean?
Manufacturers use this chemical as a degreaser and it can get into our soil and then find its way into our water supply. A whole house filter and Reverse Osmosis System are the recommended treatment.

Whole house carbon for bathing water, when you shower steam is formed and you can breathe in the chemical (inhalation) or if you are in a bath you are soaking (adsorption) in it and the body can absorb it.

Reverse osmosis with carbon filters will reduce the chemical and this is for water that you are cooking and drinking (consumption).