Love clean-tasting, fresh water? Read on to find out how to install a whole house water filter in your home, so every faucet delivers the filtered water you need.
A whole house water filtration system is arguably the best way to get fresh, filtered water from every faucet.
If you want to find out more about whole house water filters and are keen to know how to install one in your own home, you’ve come to the right place!
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What is a Whole House Water Filter?
First thing’s first, what exactly is a whole house water filter? Well, the clue’s in the name: it’s a water filtration system that produces filtered water at every outlet in the house.
There are two ways to filter your water: with a filter at a single point-of-use (like the kitchen sink), or to filter at the point-of-entry of the water into the home – the latter is another name for a whole house water filter.
For many people, a single point-of-use (usually installed under the sink) filtration system is enough. For others, especially those with larger homes with multiple water outlets, it makes sense to have filtered water from every faucet.
Benefits of a Whole House Water Filtration System
- Convenient: one system filters the water at every outlet.
- Clean bathing & drinking water
- Descaling: some whole house units can even descale the water at the same time. This helps protect your household appliances and pipes from damaging scale build-up.
- Customization: if you’re unhappy with the taste or quality of your water, you can easily change the water filter configuration in one simple move and change all the water in your home in one fell swoop.
- Low maintenance: you shouldn’t need to replace the filters for months at a time.
How to Install a Whole House Water Filter
Now we’ve outlined the many benefits of installing a whole house water filter, here’s how to do it yourself.
What DIY Experience Should You Have?
If you’re thinking of doing the whole house water filter installation yourself, it’s important to note that this is a relatively difficult DIY job to undertake on your own.
It is advised that you only attempt the installation yourself if you have moderate DIY experience. If you have little or no experience in DIY and using tools, we do not advise attempting this project; instead, it will be easier, safer and faster to find a professional who can do it for you.
Important Note: Make sure to check the conditions of the warranty before attempting the installation by yourself. Some warranties require installation by a certified plumber for them to be validated.
How Long Will it Take?
From start to finish when undertaken by a moderately experienced DIY homeowner, the installation should take no more than 1-2 hours.
What Tools Do You Need?
Here’s what you need to install your own point-of-entry filtration system:
- Your chosen whole house water filter system + fittings
- Pipe cutter
- Plumber’s wrench
- Screwdriver
- Thread seal tape
Once you’ve got all the tools and equipment you need, you can begin the installation process.
Installation Steps
These are general steps that apply to most whole house installations. Use this only as a general guide to get an idea of the task ahead. Always consult the user manual for specific instructions.
Step 1: Select the Type of System You Want to Use
There are two main types of point-of-entry filtration systems to choose from, and they both do slightly different things.
Firstly, perform a simple water check for contaminants. You can buy a testing kit from your local homeware store or online, or use a laboratories services.
Once you know the types of contaminants your water contains, you can choose the right filtration system for you.
The two main types are carbon-based filtration tanks and cartridge-based systems.
The installation process is similar for each but a cartridge based system will take longer if it involves multiple filtration stages.
Step 2: Shut Off Your Water
No matter which type of filtration system you’re installing, you always need to turn off your water supply before beginning the installation.
Find the valve that shuts off the water supply to the location where you’ll be performing the installation and shut it off.
Step 3: Connect to the Main Water Line
Now you need to connect your system to the main water line in your house. The filtration system should come with full instructions on how to do this.
To connect to the line, you will have to cut into the pipe in order to make room for the system. Different system types and sizes require different cuts, so be sure to follow the instructions closely. Take your pipe cutter and make the cut according to the instructions.
One of the best tools for this job is a flex connecting pipe, as these can be bent into the shape you need to fit into the cut you’ve made. Use your thread seal tape to seal every part of the connection, checking that it is watertight and solid.
Tighten and secure every connection to make sure they won’t leak before you turn your water supply back on again.
It’s also worth installing a water bypass switch that can run the water around the water filter without it going through. This makes life much easier when it comes to changing the filters.
Step 4: Restore Water and Test Your System
Once everything is secure, return to your water supply valve and switch it on again. Check your filtration system for any leaks or problems.
Turn on faucets throughout the building and allow water to run for a couple of minutes – this will allow the water to flow through the system and clear out any unfiltered water. You may experience some changes to water pressure as the changes are adjusted to.
With any luck, you’ll now have delicious, fresh and safe filtered water flowing from every outlet.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found our guide helpful, and that you’ve learned the basics for how to install a whole house water filter in your home.
With a moderate amount of experience, you can save yourself time and money by installing your point-of-entry water filtration system yourself, and enjoy delicious filtered water throughout your home in no time.
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