Confused About Whole House Water Filters? 5 Things You Need To Know

We all want access to clean water, and sometimes tap water straight up doesn’t cut it. It’s no wonder that interest in water filters has skyrocketed in recent years. With so many options available it’s difficult to know which one to pick, apart from the well-known pitcher water filter. Looking into sources like best-osmosis-systems.com would paint a clear picture of how a whole house filtration system can be worth it for everyday use.

Whole house water filters are the best method of cleaning water for the entire house. A whole-house system cleans bigger quantities of water without the hassle of waiting too long for it. Conveniently enough, whole house water filters can cover many budgetary needs and specifically target certain aspects of filtration desired by the client.

1. How a whole house water filter works

Typically a whole house water filter takes water and passes it through a filtering mesh or compound that may consist of several different layers. How these filtration systems work depends on how they were built and what they are targeting.

There are many different kinds of whole house filter systems and all have different methods of filtration. Some are mechanical as they physically pass the water through layers of filters, and others are absorbent or even chemically altering.

2. Types of water filters and what they remove

Certain water filtration systems only clean water at the point of use, which is the sink. This kind of filter is installed in line with the water pipe and connected to a separate faucet to provide clean drinking and cooking water. This is a great option for someone that does not want to pass filtered water through the entire house and all its devices.

Whole house water filters are totally different. The complexity of an under-the-sink filter might be misjudged as one that cleans all the water that comes into the home. It’s a good filtration option if its only use is to clean drinking water.

Mechanical filters

The main use of a mechanical whole house water filter is to physically extract particles in the form of dirt or sediment from the water. A simple barrier that sifts out these particles is what makes the basis of a mechanical filter. The complexity of such a filter can vary as there are filters that implement ceramic filter media with different degrees of pore sizes to clean water on a pathological level.

Implementing such a filtration system on the main water pipe cleans the entire water source of unwanted particulates. This means that clean water will not only be used for drinking but cleaning and heating utilities as well. It’s important to reduce solid pollutants like sediment before they enter electrical devices that use water as they can be harmed by sand, rust and other dirt. Mechanical sediment filters are very useful when dealing with untreated well water.

Absorption water filters

Carbon-based water filters are usually used as absolution filters which are highly capable of cleaning out contaminants in the water. Carbon has a vast inner surface with many cracks and crevices that capture chemical residue as the water passes through it. Carbon filters come with either a cylindrical cartridge that has a groove in the center through which the water can pass or with granulated carbon that also removes unpleasant odors and tastes from too much chlorine.

Carbon filters are hugely versatile as the carbon itself can be made from wood or even coconut shells. Combining a mechanical filter with a carbon-based filter creates a layering filtration system that offers a wide array for cleaning water for daily use at every outlet.

Reverse osmosis filters

Water filtration units that use reverse osmosis are used to extract dissolved inorganic solid compounds such as calcium and magnesium. Calcium and magnesium in water are responsible for producing limescale on surfaces. Limescale is very corrosive and can be responsible for damaging various elements of devices that use water like washing machines. This reduces their efficiency and contributes to shortening their life by impairing their long-term functionalities.

The way a whole house reverse osmosis filter cleans water is by using water pressure to force it through a semipermeable membrane. This method is not entirely efficient in removing all contaminants but with a few other layers, it can handle it quite well. Usually, reverse osmosis systems come with a few other cartridges like an activated carbon one, that take care of other water-based contaminants. It can even be used in line with a sediment filter.

3. Installing a whole house water filter

Most whole house water filtration systems require to be installed on the main pipe that supplies water to the home. Some serious DIY skills are needed to be able to install such a filter by oneself. The good news: Most of them come with very detailed instructions on how to install, use and maintain. As they stand, some help may very well be required from a professional West Chester plumber. This not only ensures correct installation without any leaks but also ensures proper functionality.

4. Maintaining a whole house filter

As with any other type of filter, using a whole home water filter entails some maintenance work, mainly regarding the filtration medium. This is to ensure effective functionality to offer high-quality cleaned water. Regular replacements of cartridge are a must for some filters. Sediment filters can be cleaned and reused, thus extending their life for a while longer.

5. Removing unwanted components

Depending on the region and the quality of the available drinking water, point-of-entry filters are designed to clean out specific unwanted components. Each area has its issues and they can be dealt with by altering ways of implementing water filtration. Some regions have high quantities of scale, heavy metals, or pathogenic organisms. Some water sources can benefit greatly from layering a few systems one after the other to provide the best quality filtered water.

High quantities of chlorine and fluoride can be removed from water to improve smell and taste. Chlorine can irritate the skin and cause dandruff or irritate the eyes, thus a whole house water filter cleans not just drinking water, but the water used for washing as well.

Wrapping up

The quest to find the perfect water filter may seem intimidating at first but the wide array of available filters were made to help everyday users. At the end of the day, one’s health is greatly improved and household devices greatly benefit from the use of a whole house water filter.