Plumbers

Whole House Water Filtration Systems

A whole house water filter system sounds complicated, but it's actually simple. It is a point-of-entry filtration system that filters water as it enters a house. This means that not only is your drinking and cooking water filtered, but all the water that you use in the home is filtered.

Looking into whole house water filter systems is somewhat confusing. Go to any search engine and you'll turn up results for $50 filtration systems and $2,000 systems. On top of initial cost, figure in the cost of install for top-of-the-line units and, if you aren't moderately skilled at plumbing, some of the other units as well. Here is a look at what is on the market categorized by function and price (since the two are so closely related.)

Why Invest in a Whole House Water Filter?

At the very least, a whole house water filter system will remove sediments from the water. At the other end of the spectrum, the best systems (and most expensive) also soften water, utilize carbon filters and have a multi-stage filtering process that removes microbiological chemicals, inorganic chemicals, radiologicals and a whole host of other contaminants.

Minerals and chemicals in water not only taste and smell bad, but they also cause build-up that can ruin tub and shower walls and reduce the life of a house's plumbing and water heater as well as water-based appliances and fixtures. How do you know what chemicals are in your water? If you have a well, you'll have to get a professional analysis. If you are on a municipal service, the water company should be able to provide you with its latest analysis.

Sediment-Only Whole House Water Filter System

For less than $100, you can get a filter that will strain out sediment such as silt, dust, rust and sand. More expensive models have filters that are self-cleaning, but they are also available with disposable filters which are said to need changed twice a year. Filters are about $30, depending on brand and quality. An example of a basic whole-house water filter system would be Kenmore Heavy-Duty Whole House Water Filter. It costs $69 and the filter is $29. Omni offers a filter for its basic unit ($55) that is carbon wrapped and will also reduce chlorine levels in water. Extra filters are only $14, but must be replaced every three months. An O-ring must be replaced every second filter change.

Moderate Filtration

One of the most common complaints among those who use municipal water is that it has a chlorine taste and odor. Chlorine is the most common disinfectant used to treat water, so it's no wonder that it is such a common complaint. For $200-400, homeowners can get a whole-house water filter system that not only removes larger sediment, but also removes the chlorine taste and odor. These units are often self-cleaning, so no need to spend money on filters. Lowe's sells the Whirlpool Central Water Filtration System for $337.

Top-of-the-Line Water Filtration

For $700 to $5,000, homeowners can get a system with superior filtering capabilities that ensure the purest water. These units soften the water, take out sediment, and remove chlorine as well as industrial chemicals, pesticides, VOCs, radon, nitrates and more. As they have multiple stages of filtration, the units are bigger and require more space. You usually must replace a pre-filter sediment filter every six months and replacement of the filtration media (typically carbon) or the entire tank every three to five years. Associated costs and maintenance vary greatly. A pre-filter for sediment generally runs from between $10 and $20 per filter, but replacing the filtering media on the main unit can cost anywhere from $150 to $650 to replace. The Pelican Carbon Series PC600 has an initial cost of $700. Every six months you must replace a sediment pre-filter for $8 and every three years the filtering media needs to be changed to the tune of $156. The unit uses no electricity and uses no extra water in the filtering process.

A water filtration system can provide homeowners with great tasting drinking water, and will also extend the life of appliances and fixtures that use water. Bathing in filtered water can leave your skin and hair softer. Before you buy, do plenty of research to make sure you aren't paying for features you don't need. And when researching and shopping for a whole-house water filter system, look for models that are NSF or UL Certified to be sure that claims are accurate.

Author Anne Burkley is a writer from central Pennsylvania. She specializes in marketing writing and feature articles on health and home improvement. Want to ask Anne something about her article? Send her a message.