Whole-house water filtration
A whole-house filter treats every tap. It's useful for some problems and the wrong tool for others, so start with a test.
Whole-house, or point-of-entry, filtration treats water where it enters the home. It's common for homes on wells or hauled water, where sediment can clog fixtures and softeners, and for households that don't like the taste or smell of their water. It is not a substitute for a softener, and most whole-house filters don't touch hardness.
What problems can it solve?
- Sediment. Sand and grit from a well pump or a haul tank. A sediment filter protects the softener valve and fixtures.
- Taste and odor. Carbon filters reduce chlorine and other taste and odor problems. NSF/ANSI Standard 42 covers filters certified for aesthetic issues like these.
- A specific contaminant. Some filters are certified under NSF/ANSI Standard 53 to reduce a contaminant with a health effect. The certification should name the contaminant you're treating.
Why test first?
ADEQ's study of Hualapai Valley basin groundwater found that total dissolved solids and fluoride most often exceeded aesthetic standards, and that arsenic, nitrate and a few other constituents exceeded health-based standards at some sites. Results varied widely from well to well. If you're on a private well, the right filter depends on what's actually in your water, which only a lab test will tell you.
How does it fit with a softener?
The usual order is a sediment filter first, then the softener, then any carbon filter. On well water, an installer may add other equipment depending on the test. For drinking water specifically, a reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink often does more for less than treating the whole house.
Upkeep
Every filter needs its cartridge or media changed on a schedule. Ask how often, what the replacements cost and whether you can change them yourself.
The water treatment company prices the job after it knows your water, your plumbing and, for repairs, what's wrong with the unit. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has tested your water or seen the install spot is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Will a whole-house filter soften my water?
Usually not. Most whole-house filters handle sediment, taste or a specific contaminant. Hardness takes a softener.
Do I need a sediment filter on a haul tank?
Many homes on hauled water use one to keep grit out of fixtures and the softener. Ask the installer to look at your tank and plumbing.
Related services
More background: Kingman hard water guide.
White crust on the faucets, or a softener that quit working?
Call now and a local water treatment company will help you sort it out.