The short answer
Clear Bridge Water Co. sells water-treatment equipment, service plans and testing. The installation is quoted, contracted and performed by an independent plumbing contractor licensed in your state, under a separate agreement directly with you. We handle the testing, design, equipment and retest; the plumber handles the plumbing work, permits and their own workmanship warranty.
The short version
- Step 1
We test and design
We start from a certified-lab test or your utility's report, then design a system around the results.
- Step 2
We quote the equipment
Our written quote covers equipment, service plans and testing. Nothing else.
- Step 3
The plumber quotes the installation
An independent plumbing contractor licensed in your state quotes the plumbing work and signs their own agreement with you.
- Step 4
The plumber does the work
They schedule the job, pull any permit your jurisdiction requires, and do the plumbing to code.
- Step 5
We retest
We confirm the system is doing what it's certified to do on your water, then offer an optional Care Plan.
Who you contract with, for what
| Area | Clear Bridge Water Co. | Independent licensed plumber |
|---|---|---|
| Agreement covers | Equipment, service plans and testing | The installation work |
| Price set by | Us, for equipment and plans, in writing | The plumber, for their labor and materials, in writing |
| Warranty | Manufacturer's equipment warranty paperwork, plus any service plan you buy | The plumber's own workmanship warranty |
| Permits and inspections | Not ours to pull | Determines whether one is needed, pulls it, schedules inspection |
| Scheduling | Coordinates the handoff so the plumber has the design and equipment | Books and performs the job |
| License | We're a retailer, not a plumbing contractor | Holds a current plumbing license in your state |
Who warranties what
Splitting responsibilities only works if it's clear who to call. Here's the rule of thumb:
- The equipment itself (a valve, a tank, a membrane) is covered by the manufacturer's warranty. We supply that paperwork and help you use it.
- The installation (a leak at a fitting, a drain line that isn't right) is covered by the plumber's workmanship warranty, under their agreement with you.
- Ongoing upkeep like filter changes, salt and annual retests is what a Care Plan is for.
- Not sure which it is? Call us. We'll help figure it out and point you to the right party.
Scheduling and permits
Once you approve the equipment quote, we share the system design and equipment details with the plumber, and they contact you to quote and schedule the work. The plumber decides whether your job needs a permit and pulls it; in Mecklenburg County, permits are issued to the person actually doing the work.[source] Our permit guide explains what NC and SC rules look like and the questions to ask.
You're also free to use your own plumber, as long as they're licensed for this work in your state. We'll send them the design and equipment specs.
Why we do it this way
North Carolina's plumbing licensing law covers "the installation or replacement of" equipment including "whole-house water purification or treatment systems."[source] South Carolina requires plumbers to hold a specialty contractor license after passing an exam.[source] Connecting treatment equipment to your water supply is plumbing work, and we're an equipment retailer, not a plumbing contractor.
So rather than blur that line, we keep it clean. The honest trade-off: it's one more agreement for you to read and sign, and one more company in the process. The upside is that the person working on your plumbing is licensed for it, answers to you directly, and stands behind their own work, while we stay focused on testing, design and equipment, which is where our attention belongs.
What to check about any installer
- A current plumbing license in your state, which you can verify with the licensing board.
- Current proof of insurance.
- Their own written agreement covering scope, price, schedule and workmanship warranty.
- A clear answer on permits: whether one is needed and when they'll pull it.
These are the same standards we'd want if it were our own home. For the bigger picture on picking any water treatment company, see how to choose a water treatment company, or read the full five-step process.