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Whole house water filtration systems are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners realize just how important clean drinking water is to our health.
A whole house water filtration system is a great investment because it will save you hundreds of dollars over the course of your lifetime. In addition, it will also protect your family against harmful contaminants in your tap water.
But choosing a whole house water filtration system can be overwhelming. That’s why I’m here to help you make the right choice.
In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to choose a whole house water filtration system.
What is a Whole House Water Filter System?
A whole house filter system is a type of filtration system that is installed at the point where your main drinking source enters your home. These types of filters remove contaminants such as chlorine, lead, iron, sulfur, and others from your water before it reaches your taps.
They’re great for homes with multiple bathrooms or if you live in an older home that doesn’t have a separate water supply for each bathroom. You can install whole house water filters yourself, or hire a professional plumber to install them for you.
Whole house filtration systems provide clean drinking and cooking supplies at every faucet in the home. And since they’re installed where your main water pipe enters your home, they’re convenient and easy to maintain.
If you want to install a whole house water filtration system, here are some things to consider:
How Does a Whole House Water Filter Work?
Whole house filters are great because they help to cleanse your water before it reaches the tap. These systems usually include a pre-filter, an activated carbon filter, and a post-filter. Each stage works differently depending on how much filtering power you require.
Pre-filters are used to remove large particles and contaminants from your water. Typically, pre-filters are made out of sand, charcoal, or resin. You should change your pre-filter every two to three months to keep it performing optimally.
Activated carbon filters are used to remove chlorine and chloramines from your water. Chlorine is a common contaminant found in municipal water supplies. Chloramine is a disinfection agent commonly used in swimming pools. Both chlorine and chloramines can cause corrosion and discoloration in pipes and fixtures. Activated carbon absorbs these chemicals and prevents them from entering your home.
Post-filters are used after the activated carbon filter to further remove any remaining contaminants. Most post-filters are made of polypropylene or stainless steel. Change your post-filter every six to twelve months to maintain optimal performance.
Why Do You Need a Whole-house Water Filter?
Whole-house water filtration systems are the best option for treating large volumes of water throughout your entire home. These systems remove harmful contaminants from your water supply before it reaches your taps.
A whole-house water filtration system removes dangerous chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, sediment, chlorine, fluoride, lead, arsenic, mercury, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, pharmaceutical drugs, hormones, antibiotics, nitrates, radionuclides, radioactive materials, volatile organic compounds, and more.
These contaminants cause health problems ranging from skin rashes to cancer. Plus, they can damage pipes, fixtures, appliances, and furniture.
Whole-house water filtration systems are the only way to protect yourself against these dangers. They treat your entire household’s water supply, including drinking water, laundry water, shower water, kitchen sink water, bathroom sinks, toilets, bathtubs, showers, and swimming pools.
Whole-house water filters are the best choice for protecting your family from potentially deadly contaminants.
How Do I Know If I Need a Whole House Water Filter?
There are several signs that you might need a whole home water filtration system. One of those signs is if your water smells or tastes bad. Another sign is if there are streaks on your dishes or deposits on your plumbing fixtures. And finally, if you notice dry hair or skin after showering, or if you find rust stains on your appliances, then you probably need a whole home water filtering system.
However, it’s not always so easy to know whether or not you need a whole house water filter. Some contaminants can be hard to detect, such as lead and copper. Other contaminants can be harder to spot, such as chlorine and fluoride.
So how do you know if you need a whole home filtration system? There are several signs that you should consider before buying a whole home water filtrations system. These include:
A rotten egg smell coming from drinking water
Streaks on your dishes and depositions on plumbing fixtures
Dry hair or skin after shower
Bad flavors in your drinking water
Rust stains on your appliances
Corroded pipes
But it’s not always so simple to figure out which contaminants are causing your problems. Sometimes, the problem isn’t caused by any particular contaminant. Instead, it’s because your water supply is contaminated with multiple contaminants. In this case, you need a whole home filter system to remove all of the contaminants.
How to Choose a Whole House Filter System
There are several factors to consider when choosing a whole house water filter. First, you’ll need to know how many bathrooms there are in your home. Then, you’ll need to figure out how many people live in your home. Finally, you’ll need to find out how much water you currently consume. Once you have those pieces of information, you’ll be able to decide whether or not you need a whole house water filtration.
A whole house water filtration is a great option if you have multiple people living in your home. These systems remove contaminants from your tap water, including lead, chlorine, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, and more.
Whole house water filters come in two sizes: small and large. Small whole house water filters are ideal for homes with 1-2 bedrooms and 2-3 people. Large whole house water filters are suitable for homes with 3+ bedrooms and 4+ people.
Once you know how many people live in the home and how many bathrooms there are, you’ll be able to calculate how much water you typically drink per day. Knowing this number helps you determine whether or not you need to invest in a whole house water filter.
Advantages of a Whole House Water Filter System
A whole house water filtration system is great because it helps protect your health and the environment. It’s easy to install and maintain, too. And, it’s a smart investment.
1. Safer Drinking Water
If your water is already safe to drink, then why bother getting a whole house water filtration system? Because a whole house water filtrating system will remove harmful chemicals and contaminants from your water.
2. Healthy Showers
Your skin is your largest organ. You don’t want to expose yourself to toxic chemicals every time you step into the shower. That’s where a whole house water filtering system comes in.
3. Less Wear & Tear On Appliances
Hard water can short out your appliances. A whole house water filtering system keeps your appliances running longer.
4. Better for the Environment
Bottled water is convenient, but it takes a lot of energy to produce and transport. By using a whole house water filtering system, you’re doing your part to reduce waste and save energy.
Disadvantages of a Whole House Water Filter System
A whole house water filter system is a great option for homes with multiple bathrooms or where you’d like to save money on your monthly utility bills. But before you buy one, here are some disadvantages to consider.
First off, you need a licensed plumber nearby to install this kind of system. And once installed, it needs regular maintenance.
Another disadvantage is that whole house water filters are more complex and costly to install and operate compared to point-of-use filters.
So if you’re thinking about buying a whole house water filter system, think twice before doing so.
Whole-house Filtration Cost
A whole-house filtration system removes contaminants that can affect your health. Whole-house filtration systems cost between $1,000 and $2,300. But installation costs vary depending on where you live.
Installation costs range from $200-$900. Some installers charge extra for additional services, such as installing plumbing or electrical wiring. And remember, you should never pay someone else to perform work that requires a license.
So how do you know whether you need a whole-house filtration system? Here are some questions to ask yourself before buying a whole-house filtration system:
How Long Does a Whole House Water Filter Last?
Whole house water filters typically last anywhere between 3 months and 1 year. You should expect to pay $100-$200 per month for a whole house water filter.
A pre-filter lasts for 3-6 months, a carbon filter lasts for 12 months, and a post-filter lasts for up to 1 year.
So how long does a whole house water filter actually last? Well, it depends on the brand and model you buy. Some brands may last longer than others. But generally speaking, a whole house water filter will last for somewhere between 3 months and 1 year.
FAQs
Do Whole House Water Filters Affect Water Pressure?
May cause decreased flow rate: The supply line runs through the house at a certain speed. You might notice a drop in the flow rate if you’re using the faucet for several things at once (showering, washing dishes, etc.).
Does a Whole House Water Filter Need a Drain?
If you want to install a whole house water filtration system, you’ll have to connect it to a drain.
Is a Whole House Water Filter Worth It?
If you want clean drinking water at any time of day, a whole house water filtration system will be worth the investment. However, if you just want your shower water to get cleaned up, a shower filter will be good enough.
Conclusion
Whole house water filtration systems are an excellent way to ensure that your home has clean drinking water. They remove impurities such as lead, chlorine, arsenic, mercury, bacteria, and viruses from your tap water. This means that you won’t need bottled water to drink, and you won’t have to worry about getting sick from contaminated water.
In addition, whole house water filters reduce the amount of energy you consume by reducing the amount of hot water you use. So when you combine the two, you save money while improving your health.
