Do I Need a Whole House Water Filter?

Clean water in your home isn’t a luxury; it’s necessary for you and your family’s health and well-being. But even when water looks safe to drink, it’s very possible it actually contains harmful contaminants. Whether your water is sourced from city supplies or a private well, tap water can harbor impurities, with some being mere nuisances and others posing health risks. A whole house water filter is an option to keep your water safer and cleaner throughout every faucet and fixture in your home. 

What Is a Whole House Water Filter?

Unlike point-of-use systems that only filter water from a specific tap or faucet, a whole house water filter is a point-of-entry system that filters water as it enters your home at or near the main water line. Any faucet, fixture, appliance, or tap connected to your water supply receives filtered water from this device. 

Do I Need a Water Filter?

Several key signs indicate a problem with your water. If you see any of the following signs, you may want to consider speaking with a filtration specialist about your water filter options: 

• Unpleasant taste or odor like chlorine, sulfur, or other chemicals
• Cloudy or discolored water with visible particles floating around or a noticeable brown tint
• Yellow, brown, or reddish stains on sinks, bathtubs, and appliances
• Reoccurring issues with water pressure and flow rate caused by buildup in pipes
• White, chalky deposits and residue on fixtures, faucets, and appliances
• Sudden, unexplained health issues such as gastrointestinal problems or skin irritations

Aside from these obvious signs, you may also want to purchase a water filtration system of some kind if you rely on a private well. Though municipal water supplies can face contamination issues, these water supplies are heavily treated to combat a wide range of hazards. 

Private wells, on the other hand, are not treated unless a homeowner takes action. More than 43 million people in the US rely on private wells for drinking water. However, groundwater is easily polluted by chemicals, pesticides, microorganisms, and other compromising contaminants. Using a private well without a water filter raises the risk of adverse effects on your health and your plumbing system’s longevity. 

 

Learn more about why your well water should be filtered.

 

When to Test Water

If you notice any of the signs listed above, it’s important to test your water to see what contaminants are present. If you rely on city water, you can contact your municipality to obtain water test results. But if you have a private well, you’ll need to conduct your own testing. Kind Water’s Water Test and Survey can help you identify common contaminants in your water. After filling up your sample and sending it in, you’ll receive laboratory results and a personalized treatment solution recommended by one of our filtration experts in just three or four business days. 

What Type of Water Filter Do I Need?

Not all whole house water filters are the same. There are several common types of whole house water filters, and each targets specific types of contaminants. Laboratory test results will serve as a guide for your home. But for now, here’s an overview of common types of whole house water filters and what they target. 

Sediment Filters 

Through mechanical filtration, sediment filters capture and remove particulates such as dirt, rust, and other similar debris. 

Carbon Filters 

These filters use adsorption to attract contaminants like chlorine, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), and other chemicals and keep them from entering your home’s water.

Water Softeners and Conditioners 

Water softeners and conditioners are whole house water treatment systems with the similar goal of treating hard water scale. The two technologies address the issue a little differently. Salt-based water softeners significantly lower calcium and magnesium levels to prevent hard water while salt-free water softeners, also called water conditioners, simply alter the mineral structure, which keeps the calcium and magnesium in water supplies from sticking together to form scale. 

UV Purifiers 

These systems use UV light to destroy or prevent microorganisms from continuing to grow in water supplies. 

Kind Water offers all of these filters and even combines many of them into a singular system to combat major water concerns. Check out our Whole House Salt-Free Water Softener and Filter Combo with UV to learn more. 

Considerations for Whole House Water Filters

There are several factors to think about before you decide to purchase one whole house water filter over another, let alone a different kind of water filter entirely. First, if you’re only concerned about your drinking water, you may want to consider a point-of-use reverse osmosis (RO) system instead of a whole house filter. If you want to treat all incoming water, a whole house filter is the best option. 

When shopping for different choices, look into these variables: 

Filter Capacity 

Figure out how much water you use, what your water pressure and flow rate are, and how hard your water is. Many of Kind Water’s whole home filters support homes with up to six bathrooms, flow rates up to 15 GPM (gallons per minute), and water hardness up to 75 gpg (grains per gallon). 

Maintenance 

Depending on the type of filter you purchase, you may need to conduct regular maintenance, while other systems are largely hands-off. 

Installation 

Some systems are simple for the handy homeowner to install on their own, while others will almost certainly require a professional. Plus, some whole house water filters require electricity to work.