Test every six months, especially if you have a well. Seasons change, groundwater shifts—your water’s personality can change like the weather. Spring melts, summer droughts, fall leaves—they all mess with it.
Also test after any plumbing work or if you move into a new house. That cute bungalow from 1952 might have hidden surprises in the pipes. An old house is like a secret box—you never know what’s sealed inside.
One final rule: don’t be shy about it. Talk to your neighbors. If your water tastes odd, theirs probably does too. You might start a little block party of water testing—with snacks, obviously.
