Whole House Water Filter--How to Choose the Right Whole House Water Filter System For Your Home

Having a whole house water filter can greatly enhance the overall quality of your drinking water. Some benefits of having a whole house filter include:

• Clean, fresh water from every water source in the home
• Removal of toxic chlorine
• Provides cleaner air and vapors, alleviating allergies and asthma
• Protection from carcinogenic chemicals-- from drinking, absorbing, and inhaling toxic contaminants.

Even though most tap water sources are fairly safe, the water coming out of your faucet may not be as clean as it should be. Furthermore, a good filter will produce great tasting, odorless water, removing harmful contaminants while leaving in beneficial minerals.

Whole house water filters work by purifying all of the water sources in your home. This is done by connecting the filter main water line so that all water dispensers in your home releases treated water. The filter is usually connected to the main water line prior to reaching the hot water heater.

There are few types of water filters available, but the most commonly used ones are reverse osmosis and activate carbon systems. The reverse osmosis system works by forcing the water through a membrane, while leaving the contaminants and particles on one side of the membrane.

Carbon filtration systems work by passing water through granular activate carbon (GAC) or a carbon block, removing contaminants.

Both systems provide excellent water quality, removing harmful chemicals, sediments, micro-organisms, cysts, and other organic compounds. However, each system removes different types of contaminants, so your choice will depend on what type of water you have in your area. You can usually find this information in your local municipal water quality report.

The common contaminants a water supply may have are:

• Chemicals. A whole house water filter can remove a large variety of chemicals including chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, various acids, and many other substances found in the water.
• Iron. Both ferrous (clear water iron) and ferric (rust water iron)
• Micro-organisms
• Sediment. Most commonly dirt, dust,sand, and rust.
  

Which type of whole house filter you need depends on what types of contaminants you need to remove from your water.  Generally, those who are on a city water supply needs a filter that can remove sediment, chlorine, chemicals, and micro-organisms.  Those who have a private well water system may be concerned with sediment,iron, hard minerals, and other contaminants. 

Not all whole house water filtration systems are considered equal. Here are a few variables you should consider when buying a whole house filter:

• Filter size. An ideal filter size for most homes would be 4.5” x 20”. Some larger homes may need a 50 gpm flow rate with a 2.5 cubic foot carbon bed and 1 1/2" ports.
• Port size. Generally, the ideal port size is 1".
• Flow rate. The water filter's flow rate is measured in gallons per minute (GPM). This determines the amount of water available to run your shower, appliances, septic tanks, hot water heater, and any other water source. The flow rate you need will depend on the size of your house and your family. Generally, a good filter system will have a flow rate more between 10-40 gpm.
• Life of the filter. How long the filter lasts will depend on the quality of the water, and the sediments in it. A good quality whole house 4.5” x 20” carbon filter cartridge should last between 100,000 to 150,000 gallons in normal municipal city water supplies.

Regular maintenance of your filter will ensure quality performance over the long term.  It is imperative to follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding maintanence to avoid making your filter less efficient, and possibly making your water quality worse by re-contamination of chemicals and bacteria  While some filters only need a simple cartridge replacement, other filters must be maintained by a certified professional.

The cost of whole house water filter systems vary depending on the size and the type of system. On average, you can expect to pay between $1500-$3000 for a larger system. A smaller systems, such as an under sink unit, can cost between $300 and $500.

If you have a municipal system water you can expect to pay a minimum of $700 for a solid system. If you have well water, you can expect to pay $700 upwards to $3000. You can usually get a cheaper deal if you purchase a whole house water filter system online opposed to a local dealer.

When buying a water filter system, also consider the operating and maintenance costs, as well as the replacement cartridges (if applicable).