Hard water is more than a minor nuisance in central Iowa. The mineral-rich aquifer beneath Des Moines routinely delivers water with hardness levels above 16 grains per gallon. Left untreated, that calcium and magnesium create scale inside pipes, shorten the life of appliances, and leave spots on every shiny surface. A modern water softener solves those issues—saving energy, reducing soap usage, and protecting your investment in your home.
Many softener issues can be fixed with simple part swaps, but the core resin bed typically loses efficiency after 8-12 years. When that happens, regeneration cycles grow longer and sodium consumption rises. If your system is a decade old, replacement usually costs less long-term than a major rebuild. CountBricks technicians analyze grain capacity, flow demand, and regeneration data to determine the smartest path forward for each Des Moines household.
Every home and municipality is different, which is why CountBricks never shows a one-price-fits-all number. Instead, our AI engine references live material pricing, regional permit fees, and your blueprint data to create an instant, line-item estimate. Still, most projects fall within these Des Moines benchmarks:
• Basic 32,000-grain cabinet softener replacement: $1,650 – $2,200 installed
• Mid-range 48,000-grain two-tank system: $2,300 – $3,100 installed
• High-capacity smart softener with Wi-Fi monitoring: $3,200 – $4,700 installed
• Grain capacity and salt efficiency
• Pipe rerouting for code compliance
• Bypass valve upgrades and drain line length
• Electrical outlet installation or replacement
• City of Des Moines permit filing and inspection
Because CountBricks pulls real-time SKU costs from local suppliers, your price reflects the market today—not last quarter.
AI Voice Estimates in Minutes
Chat with a CountBricks estimator over the phone, describe your existing plumbing, and watch a complete proposal arrive in your inbox before the call ends.
Blueprint Takeoffs Without the Hassle
Upload your floor plan to CountBricks.com/takeoffs and our algorithms identify pipe runs, drain connections, and ideal softener placement automatically.
Transparent Task-Based Pricing
Each task—device removal, concrete drilling, valve install—has a line-item cost. You see exactly where your dollars go.
Pro Craftsmanship
CountBricks partners with licensed Des Moines plumbers who follow the Iowa Plumbing Code to the letter.
1. Voice consultation captures site conditions and your goals
2. AI generates a detailed estimate and timeline
3. You approve the scope through CountBricks.com/portal
4. Materials are reserved at local suppliers in real time
5. Field crew arrives, isolates water, removes old unit
6. New softener is set, leveled, and plumbed to code
7. System startup, hardness calibration, and homeowner walkthrough
8. Final digital invoice auto-populates and syncs to your preferred accounting software
Correct sizing balances hardness removal against salt usage. CountBricks calculates:
• Number of occupants
• Daily gallon consumption per person
• Tested hardness level (GPG)
• Desired regeneration frequency
• Peak flow during simultaneous fixtures
Our estimator then recommends the most efficient unit, often saving clients 20-30% on annual salt costs compared to big-box packages.
• Use high-purity solar salt to minimize bridging
• Keep the brine tank half-full—never empty, never overflowing
• Schedule an annual resin bed backwash with CountBricks.com/services
• Replace pre-filter cartridges every 3-6 months to protect the control valve
• Check the bypass valve quarterly for leaks or corrosion
Most residential swaps finish in one day. Complex rerouting may extend to day two, but CountBricks schedules accordingly so you’re never without water overnight.
Softening removes hardness minerals but not contaminants like lead or nitrates. Ask about adding a reverse osmosis tap during your AI estimate for comprehensive treatment.
Every CountBricks installation includes a 1-year labor guarantee plus the manufacturer’s 5-10-year tank and valve coverage.
Whether your current system is failing or you’re building new, CountBricks combines cutting-edge AI with seasoned trade professionals to deliver the smoothest Des Moines water softener experience available. Visit CountBricks.com/consultation or call our local team to begin.
A 1940s bungalow in Des Moines’ Beaverdale neighborhood suffered from chronic scale that ruined three dishwashers in six years. The homeowner contacted CountBricks through the voice consultation portal.
• Home size: 1,450 sq ft, 2 baths
• Hardness level: 18 GPG
• Existing plumbing: Galvanized to PEX transition
• Objective: Reduce appliance failure and soap usage
1. During a 12-minute call, our estimator captured fixture count and water usage habits.
2. The CountBricks platform generated a 48,000-grain twin-tank softener recommendation, projected salt savings, and a fixed labor schedule.
3. Blueprint AI revealed that relocating the unit two feet would cut 14 elbows, saving $186 in materials.
• Installation completed in 6.5 hours—one hour ahead of schedule.
• Post-install hardness measured 0 GPG.
• Annual projected savings: $210 in energy, $95 in detergents, and longer appliance lifespans.
• Homeowner signed off digitally and received the invoice before the crew left the driveway.
• Consider upsizing your brine tank if basement access is tight; it reduces refill trips.
• Pair a softener with whole-house filtration when iron exceeds 0.3 ppm.
• Use CountBricks.com/takeoffs to evaluate plumbing upgrades during kitchen or bath remodels—tackling multiple projects at once lowers mobilization costs.
From vintage homes in the Drake District to new builds in Waukee, CountBricks scales our process to fit every floor plan. Leverage our AI estimates, transparent material costs, and seasoned installers to eliminate hard water headaches for good. Schedule your consult at CountBricks.com/consultation and experience residential construction done the modern way.
