Done with pitcher and faucet filters?
Learn which key in of whole-house water filter might be right for you.
They remove chemicals and pollutants, improve the smell and taste of water, and protect home plumbing.
Credit:Getty Images / Grigorev_Vladimir
A whole-house water filter purifies water where the main water line enters your home.
It ensures that water flowing from every tap, faucet, or showerhead is freshly filtered.
Because whole-house systems work throughout an entire home, they are expensive.
Before buying one, it’s crucial that you know how it works and its limitations.
What Is a Whole-House Water Filter?
A whole-house water filter is a filtration system that removes specific contaminants from the water that enters your home.
Different types of water filters target common contaminants in your homes water.
Municipal water derives from these sources and rainwater catchments.
Some homes are serviced by private wells connected directly to underground reservoirs.
Municipal watergoes through a treatment center that cleans and filters it before distributing it to you and your neighbors.
If you usewell water, your water is pumped directly from an underground aquifer to your homes pipes.
Well water can contain iron, sediment, silt, arsenic, and other contaminants.
Also, it might need to be pH-balanced.
Even so, hard water in your laundry and shower hookups can damage your plumbing system.
In such cases, a whole-house filter can help.
A section of the existing pipe must be removed and replaced with the filter units.
Current whole-house filter models typically have a pre-filter and a carbon filter unit.
Additional shut-off valves, pipe connections, and electrical grounding might be needed to ensure the system works properly.
Different Types of Whole-House Water Filters
There are several types of whole-house water filters.
Then, pick the best-suited water filter for the problems the test indicates.
Hard water causes scale deposits, clogged pipes, andreduced water pressure.
Both significantly shorten the life of your appliances.
Water softener filters remove the minerals through ion exchange.
With proper maintenance, they have an average lifespan of 15 years.
Sediment Filters
These maintain a clean and refreshing water supply through mechanical filtration.
They physically trap and remove many contaminants, including dirt, soil, and rust flecks.
Sediment filters have small pores for particulate matter to pass through.
These filters do not use chemicals.
However, this purification system is most effective if the water is first treated with a different filter.
Acid Neutralizers
These are ideal for acidic water.
Acidic water can cause severe damage to your home appliances and health.
Acid neutralizers utilize calcite to reduce water acidity.
When water enters these filters, the calcite dissolves, neutralizing the water and raising its pH.
Other factors to consider are the filtration capacity and water flow rate.
Filter capacity refers to how much water your household uses daily, and water flow measures gallons per minute.
Check whether the system you want has been independently tested or certified by reliable certification agencies.
If a licensed professional installs the filtration system, it might be backed by multiple warranties and guarantees.
Cost is an important factor.
Remember to price out the installation, as well as the cost of replacement filters and parts.
Do You Need a Whole-House Water Filter?
You may already see some clues around your home.
However, there are otherpossibly betterchoices if you only need to filter drinking and cooking water.
An under-sink orcountertop filteris more cost-effective.
