Whole House Water Filtration Buying Guide

Having treated water in the entire home might not seem like that big of a deal, but it ensures that a family is using safe water for every single task. There are so many different chemicals, types of bacteria and other contaminants that could negatively affect a human’s life. This is the reason that water softeners are very important in every household. Before installing one, you need to check and compare water softener cost of different brands.

Most people filter the water they consume, or purchase bottled water at this time. Is a whole house water filter really necessary? Many believe that is the case, and they are searching for the best whole house water filter out there available online or in stores.

Whole House Water Filtration Buying Guide

What is  Whole House Water Filtration?

The filter easily connects to the main water line at a home. This is to make sure that all the water is treated before it is directed to different parts of the home. Once it is attached, the filter works as expected.

The only thing that some might notice is that yard water might not be treated. That is because some houses are set up where the main water line is divided between house water and yard water. Keep that in mind if the yard water is ever used for something other than vegetation on the property.

What type of Whole House Water Filter do I need?

The type of whole house water filter a person needs is going to come down to what type of issues are found in the water. Certain water sources are more likely to have issues than others. For example, water from a city might have chlorine, chemicals, and minerals. In well water, iron and hardness minerals are usually found. A private well needs properly analyzed and tested so that the right type of filter is purchased, says QualityWaterLab.com.

When in doubt, get the water tested beforehand. People living in the city should always contact their local water utilities to get a copy of the latest water analysis. This will help save time and money, purchasing just the right set up needed.

Water Softening Vs. Water Filtration

Water softening and water filtration are similar, but not the same thing. Softeners are only going to remove hardness minerals for the most part, while filters remove more contaminants. For those who want both, there are water conditioner units that handle everything.

Types of Common Contaminants

Sediment

If a person sees the contaminants in the water, this is referred to as a sediment. Dirt and sand are just a few examples of this. If the water is that bad, a lot of filtration is needed to make the water usable. It might take some special filtration to get the water great. Once the sediment becomes finer and finer, it is treated much more efficiently.

Chemicals

If there is some type of chemical in the water, a carbon filter will take care of it. While several chemicals are found in water, chlorine is the most common in city water. There is always a chance of more serious chemicals, so adjust accordingly if needed. Carbon does have the ability to remove many chemicals, so the same filter might be usable.

Iron

The two types of iron that are common contaminants ferrous and ferric. Remove the two types in slightly different ways. Ferric, which is known as red water iron needs a sediment filter. Ferrous is a clear water iron and removable by oxidation.

Not to mention the money you’ll save. There’s really no reason not to.

Whenever you want to remove Iron from your well water or the whole house, you can follow this well water iron filter buying guide here: https://www.rezpectourwater.com/best-iron-filter-for-well-water/

Selecting a Whole House Water Filter — What to look for:Flow rate

The best whole house water filter out there is going to have a solid flow rate. Flow rate is measured in gallons per minute, and the amount needed comes down to each household. On the low-end, families might only need 15 GPM. A larger house should go with 40 GPM or more.

Filter size

The general rule is that the larger the filter, the more amount of water will flow freely. A good starting point to look for filters is something in the 4.5″ x 20″ range. If the home uses a larger port size, a slightly larger filter size is needed.

Filter life

The lifespan of a filter depends on just how many gallons are handled. Homeowners should expect around 100,000 to 150,000 gallons filtered properly until the filter needs replaced. If carbon filters are needed only, they will last quite a bit longer.

Port size

Most homes are using a 1″ port. If the home uses 3/4″ piping, a 1″ port is still going to work just fine. The larger the port, the bigger the filter.