Licensing and installation
Who does what, in plain English.
We sell water-treatment equipment, service plans and testing. Installation is plumbing work, so it’s done by an independent plumbing contractor licensed in your state, under a separate agreement directly with you.
Why installation is a separate agreement
Hooking a whole-house water treatment system into your home’s water supply means cutting into potable water lines, adding bypass valves and connecting drains. That’s plumbing.
In North Carolina, plumbing work is regulated under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 87-21 and done by contractors licensed by the state plumbing board. In South Carolina, residential plumbing work is done by contractors licensed through the state’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (see S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 59).
We’re a retailer, not a plumbing contractor. So rather than blur that line, we keep it clean: our quote and contract cover equipment, service plans and testing only. The installation is quoted, contracted and performed by an independent licensed plumber, and you deal with them directly for that work.
It’s one more agreement to sign, and we know that. The upside is that the person doing work on your plumbing is licensed for it, accountable to you directly, and stands behind their own work.
Who is responsible for what
The licensed installer
- Holding a current plumbing license in your state for the work involved
- Quoting, scheduling and performing the installation under their agreement with you
- Pulling any permit your jurisdiction requires and arranging inspections
- Installing to the applicable plumbing code and the manufacturer’s instructions
- Warranting their own workmanship under their own terms
Clear Bridge Water Co.
- Testing, or reviewing your utility’s report, before any recommendation
- Designing the system from your results and quoting the equipment in writing
- Supplying certified equipment and the manufacturer’s warranty paperwork
- Coordinating the handoff so the installer has the design and the equipment
- Retesting after installation, and any service plan you choose
Point-of-use equipment, like an under-sink drinking-water system, can involve less plumbing. We’ll tell you plainly what your specific system involves when we send the quote.
Standards we look for in an installer
A current state license
A plumbing license in the state where your home is, active and in good standing with the licensing board. You can look it up yourself.
Proof of insurance
Current certificates of general liability insurance, and workers’ compensation where the law requires it.
Their own written agreement
A clear contract with you covering scope, price, schedule and their workmanship warranty.
Permits pulled, not skipped
A commitment to pull any permit your jurisdiction requires and to schedule the inspection.
Are you a licensed plumber in NC or SC? Learn about working with us
Permits
Your installer pulls any permit your jurisdiction requires. Permit rules vary by city and county, and by the kind of work, so the installer is the right person to determine what’s needed for your home and to schedule any inspection.
In both states, building departments generally expect to see a contractor’s license when a permit is issued for licensed work. That’s one more reason the person installing your system should hold the license for it.
How it fits into the bigger process
Installation is step three of five. Before it comes testing and a design built from your results; after it comes a retest and, if you want one, a Care Plan. See the full process, or read our promise.
Common questions
Why don't you install the equipment yourselves?
Because connecting a whole-house treatment system to your home's water supply is plumbing work, and in North Carolina and South Carolina plumbing work is done by licensed contractors. We're a retailer, not a plumbing contractor, so a licensed independent plumber does that part.
Who do I sign the installation agreement with?
With the plumbing contractor directly. Their agreement covers the installation work, their price for it and their workmanship warranty. Our agreement with you covers equipment, service plans and testing only.
Do I need a permit?
It depends on your jurisdiction and the work involved. Your installer is responsible for pulling any permit your city or county requires and arranging any inspection.
Who handles a problem after installation?
If it's the equipment, contact us: equipment is covered by the manufacturer's warranty and any service plan you buy from us. If it's the installation, such as a leak at a fitting, contact the installer, who warranties their own workmanship. If you're not sure which it is, call us and we'll help sort it out.
Can I use my own plumber?
Yes, as long as they're licensed for this work in your state. We'll share the system design and equipment details with them.
Start with an honest answer about your water.
Tell us about your home and water source. We'll recommend testing first, and only the equipment your results support.