Connection
Existing softener loop. If the house needs a loop installed, we quote that work first. No surprise day-of plumbing.
Pricing
Three numbers. Same on every page.
$475 to connect on an existing loop. $19.50 every month. 1.625¢ for each treated gallon the valve reports. City water charges do not go away — this is the upgrade on indoor water.
Monthly base
Covers the service standing by: monitoring, maintenance visits, salt, filters, and the equipment itself.
Per treated gallon
Only gallons through our system. A 4-person home at typical indoor use often lands near $70–$85 total per month.
Worked example
4 people × 75 gallons/day × 30 days = 9,000 household gallons. About 40% indoor = 3,600 treated gallons.
3,600 × $0.01625 = $58.50 usage + $19.50 base = $78.00 estimated AquaUpgrade bill.
Your first bills follow the valve, not this average. High irrigation on the house line would raise treated gallons — that’s why we prefer irrigation off a separate unsmoothed line.
Against buying the machine
| Buy + own | AquaUpgrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash to start | $1,500–$4,500+ for a decent whole-home + drinking setup in Southern California | $475 with an existing loop |
| Ongoing | Salt every month or two, filters, the occasional valve or resin job | $19.50 + metered gallons; consumables included |
| Risk | You own a depreciating tank | We own the tank |
| Moving | Leave it, sell it, or pay to move it | We remove it |
We do not add your city water bill into our price and call it “$8.49 total.” That number mixed two bills and hid the $19.50 base. This page is the source of truth.