If you're a new homeowner looking to get the best water you can for you and your family, or if you've owned for awhile, but need to finally address the problematic water you've been putting up with, then we have the guide for you. In the following, we'll go over some of the basics of water filtration, whole-house filter options, and the steps involved in getting one of these installed.
The Importance of Water Filtration
Water is life; everyone knows that a large portion of our physical bodies are made up of water, just like all plants and animals on this planet. But water can also be extremely dangerous, as it forms an ideal medium to carry along dangerous microorganisms, as well as all manner of sediment and dissolved solids. Water has the ability to dissolve more things than any other solvent, earning it the nickname of "the universal solvent." This means that contained within water is a little bit of just about everything it's come across on its journey, from lead, to fecal matter, to PFAs and microplastics.
What this all boils down to is one simple fact: water in its natural state is dirty and generally unfit for human consumption, meaning that water filtration is one of the single most important technologies on the planet. Modern filtration companies offer a wide variety of distinct types of water filtration systems-find a range of water filters at AllFilters, from activated carbon refrigerator filters, to whole-house systems.
What Is a Whole House Water Filter?
The clue is in the name, but there are quite a few different types of filtration systems you can set up for your entire home. Also called a Point-of-Entry (POE) system, as it treats the water right where it enters the home, a whole-house system can be configured and tailored pretty much however you would like, provided you have the space.
Water softeners are perhaps the most popular whole-home options, as the ion-exchange resin they employ is ideal for reducing calcium and magnesium in water, which are the two leading causes of limescale build-up on faucets, fixtures, and countertops. Water softeners can also save you money in the long run, as they are great for protecting your water boiler and pipes from scale build-up and clogging. Most people also find soft water more pleasant to bathe and shower in, and it helps to keep clothing nice and soft in the washing machine, whereas hard water can make clothes stiff, and can wear away at fabric.
Tools and Materials Needed
Unless you are an experienced plumber, then the actual installation of a system like this is best left to a plumber or water treatment specialist in your area, especially if it requires cutting pipes and soldering joints. Normal equipment required would be some sandpaper and possibly degreaser to clean the pipes before making any cuts, soldering equipment, T-joints, ball valves, any other speciality fittings or pipes needed for your setup, and then your water softener or whole-house filter system.
Preparation Steps
Before doing anything, ensure that you have chosen the right spot for your system (see below) and that you have turned off the water supply valve where your water source enters the house. Configurations here can vary quite a bit, as can the best ways to pipe in a system, which is another good reason to leave a job like this to the pros. Before any pipes are cut, they have to be cleaned thoroughly with degreaser, sandpaper, steel wool, or whatever is required to expose the metal underneath for a clean solder down the line. If you have to cut pipe, use a pipe cutter, and ensure you have a bucket on hand to catch the water when you finish your cuts.
How to Choose the Right Location for the Filter
As this will be a whole-house filter, it will obviously have to go in where the water line enters the house, which is almost always on the lowest floor of the home. Within that general space, however, you have some options. You may choose to wall-mount your filter canisters, or place them on the ground. If you are using a water softener, then you will need to choose a spot with access to electricity, for the softener's backwashing function to run. Consider also whether you want the same sort of water going to every room in the house, or a mix. Many people choose to route soft water everywhere but to the kitchen sink, for instance, as hard water often tastes better, and can be preferable for drinking and cooking with.
Safety Tips and Precautions Before Beginning the Installation
You should only attempt a project like this if you are experienced in cutting pipes, plumbing in lines, soldering, and so forth. If this is not your skill set, then you are taking a risk doing a job like this, where even a small error can result in costly water damage. The following guide will give you a basic idea of the steps that will be involved.
Steps to Shut off the Main Water Supply and Drain the System
Something that every homeowner should know is the location of the main water supply shut-off valve. Ensure that this is turned off first, and then drain the lines by opening all of the faucets in the home. It is still wise to have a bucket or towels on hand if you need to cut lines for any dripping water.
Installation Overview
Mounting the Filter Housing
Whole-house filter units are typically tall and blue: four and a half inches wide, and available in a variety of lengths, with twenty inches long being the famous "big blue" standard housing. These housings can usually be wall-mounted, which may be a necessity if your water line is high off the ground.
Connecting the Filter to the Main Water Line
The filter housings will be connected to the new pipes with threaded fittings, usually available in ¾", 1", and 1.5" NPT threadings. Your installer may have a variety of different filter options here, but the most common choices for whole-house filtration would be sediment and carbon filters.
Installing the Filter Media
The filter media itself will either come in a cartridge form, or be preinstalled in the case of many water softeners and FRP (fiberglass-reinforced plastic) tanks. It's very worth the extra steps to install a sediment prefilter before any costly resin cleaners, as that small polypropylene cylinder will be doing a lot of work keeping your downstream components clean, including costly ion exchange resin in your water softener.
Checking for Leaks and Testing the System
It's at this point that you'll be glad that you hired a professional. After they're done, there should be no leaks or issues, because hey-it's their job. They will do an inspection of all the new lines, and probably advise you to keep an eye on how things are flowing for the first few days.
How to Maintain and Replace Filters
Filter maintenance is pretty simple, and usually consists in throwing out the old one and installing a new one. Most water filters can't be effectively cleaned, especially if they are depth gradient filters. Pool and spa filters are good examples of surface filters-easy to clean pleated polyester; a dense bed of activated carbon is not so easy to spray off with the hose.
Conclusion
You can be creative with a whole-house system, and put your designing skills to good use, provided you have some professional help on hand with the actual cutting and soldering. Water is life, so don't skimp on getting the best you can. You can treat your water with as many or as few filtration steps as you would like, with a simple afternoon's installation.\
*This is a collaborative post. All views and opinions are my own.
