10 Types of Whole House Water Filters

whole house water filters
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We all want clean, healthy water for our homes: it’s essential for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and laundry. When it comes to choosing the right house water filtration system for your household, however, you may be confused. Are whole-house water filters the best option for you? What is the whole house water filter cost? What are the different types available and what benefits do they bring? 

In this blog post, we will explore the various options for whole house water filters so that you can make an informed decision about which one is best suited to your family’s needs.

Key Takeaway
  • There are many types of whole house water filters available, each with its own unique benefits.
  • Carbon filtration systems are effective at removing chlorine and other contaminants from your water while reverse osmosis systems provide the highest level of filtration and purification.
  • There are also sediment filters that can trap dirt, rust, and other large particles as well as ultraviolet light systems that

10 Types of Whole House Water Filters:

There are various types of whole house water filtration systems such as:

1) Sediment Filters

Whole house sediment filters are a type of water filter that can treat all the water that enters your home. They are designed to remove sediments such as dirt, rust, and other particles from your water supply before it gets to any faucets or appliances.

How It Works

This house water filter system works by removing all particles, such as sand, silt, or other unwanted solids as the water passes through it. It’s easy to set up a system and can be connected directly to your main water pipe. As water flows into the filter, the sediment particles are trapped inside its high-precision mesh media so they cannot escape and continue through your house’s plumbing.

Pros:

  • A whole house sediment filter will prevent these sediment particles from clogging up pipes and fixtures such as showerheads or kitchen sinks, reducing wear and tear on your plumbing.
  • It can also improve the taste, color, and odor of your water as well as protect devices like dishwashers and hot water heaters from potential fouling caused by sediment build-up.

Cons:

  • For one, a whole house sediment filter requires regular maintenance that can be both labor-intensive and costly.
  • If you choose to DIY your whole house filter system instead of hiring a professional, you could spend hundreds of dollars just on the various parts or tools you’ll need.
household sediment water filter system

2) Catalytic Activated Carbon

When looking to improve the air quality in your home, a whole house catalytic activated carbon filter may be just what you need.

How It Works

This form of filtration works by drawing air from your home into the system where it passes through several layers of media. First, smaller particles like dust and pollen are caught by pre-filters within the filter itself. Then, a semi-porous carbon scent and gas adsorber is used to catch any remaining particles that have made their way through the pre-filters. Finally, the air is sensed and circulated back throughout the house with freshly filtered air.

Pros:

  • One of the greatest advantages of using a whole house catalytic activated carbon filter is that they offer powerful filtration without requiring electricity.
  • Traditional air purifiers require electricity to run, but these ones do not. This means they are not only an eco-friendly option, but they can be cost-effective as well since no energy is necessary to power them up.

Cons:

  • These large filtration systems require regular maintenance and filter replacement, meaning you may need to call in a professional for upkeep or buy expensive parts.
  • You also need to consider the water usage – higher-end models can potentially use thousands of gallons of water over the course of months or years.

3) Activated Carbon Whole House Water Filters

Whole house activated carbon filters are a great way to make sure that your water supply is safe and clean. They use the power of activated carbon to remove odors, tastes, and other contaminants from a home’s water source. Activated carbon is preferable to other forms of filtration due to its ability to remove microscopic impurities as well as larger sediment particles.

How It Works

It works by bonding with soils and contaminants in the water as it passes through the filter, trapping them until they can no longer be released back into the water supply.

Pros:

  • They filter out any large particles as well as heavy metals, solvents, and more from all drinking water entering the home.
  • With a whole house activated carbon filter, you can enjoy cleaner and better tasting water across every faucet in the home without the hassle of multiple faucet-based filters.
  • Activated carbon filters have proven environmental benefits by reducing unnatural chemical runoff into local bodies of water and can even help reduce household energy costs due to their very low flow rate requirements.

Cons:

  • Primarily, these filters can be very expensive to install, and the upkeep isn’t necessarily cheap either; frequent filter replacements may mean an extra expense or two for your monthly budget.
  • Plus, depending on the brand and type of filter you choose, it might cause your HVAC system to work harder than it normally would. As a result, this can lead to additional energy costs in the form of higher electricity bills.
activated carbon whole house water filter

4) Activated Alumina

Whole house-activated alumina filter systems are a great way to purify your household water supply. It is an efficient and effective method for reducing fluoride, arsenic, and other contaminants in your water.

How It Works

The system works by using a specialized aluminum oxide that is formulated to absorb impurities from the water. As the water passes through the filter media, it is attracted to the surface of the activated alumina beads, trapping pollutants before they enter your home’s plumbing system.

This process removes up to 99 percent of the impurities without adding any additional taste or odor to the water.

Pros:

  • These filters can be effective at improving water quality, removing things like fluoride, arsenic, and mercury from your tap water.
  • These systems also require minimal maintenance and come with incredibly long downtime between filter changes – usually every 9 – 12 months.
  • Additionally, the filter media usually lasts up to many years which makes these systems cost-efficient moving forward if you compare them to point-of-use filters that have to be changed multiple times each year.

Cons:

  • While they are effective at removing certain dissolved solids from water, such as fluoride and arsenic, these systems can’t remove particles larger than 0.3 microns in size – including chlorine, sediment, and other impurities you don’t want in your drinking water.
  • Additionally, the cost of purchasing and replacing filters is higher compared to filtering solutions that use both carbon and resin filters.

5) Reverse Osmosis Whole House Filtration Systems

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is the best whole house water filter. This whole house filtration system has become popular in recent years because it provides a great way to filter water throughout your home.

How It Works

The way the system works is by passings the water through a semi-permeable membrane that filters out most chemicals, metals, and harmful compounds while allowing essential minerals to remain in the water. The process also strips away any unpleasant tastes or odors so you get clean drinking water every time.

Pros:

  • RO whole house filtration systems are simple to install and maintain since they use less energy compared to many other filtration methods.
  • Plus, with built-in sensors that notify you when maintenance is needed, it’s an extra peace of mind when it comes to ensuring safe drinking water for your family.

Cons:

  • This system can take up to 6 hours to process and filter a tank of water.
  • Another key drawback is that reverse osmosis systems are costlier than other types of whole house filtration systems due to the parts requiring more frequent replacement.
reverse osmosis water system

6) Ion Exchange Whole House Filters

Ion exchange whole house filters provide a great way for homeowners to ensure their home’s water systems are clear of contaminants and pollutants. By using an advanced filtration system that utilizes a combination of specialty media, these filters can remove hazardous metals, bacteria, and organic compounds.

How It Works

The combination of different filter media works as an ion exchange process, allowing positively charged ions to attach to all of the desired substances while preventing substances with negative charges from attaching to the filter in the process. As water moves through the unit, these dangerous materials get absorbed into the media during the ion exchange process and are safely removed from the water system afterward. This ensures all the water entering your house is safe and clean without expensive and disruptive plumbing changes.

Pros:

  • By targeting and eliminating up to 99% of contaminants like chlorine and lead, you can be sure you’re drinking safe, delicious water.
  • Furthermore, such filters also improve the taste of your water, making it sweet and refreshing.
  • Another bonus is that you’ll have softer hair and skin after bathing due to the whole house filter.

Cons:

  • On the downside, they require salt replenishment every couple of months to be effective. Not only is this an additional cost associated with the filter, but also salts can compromise water quality.
  • They are more expensive than other more basic models and have high wastewater ratios thus increasing waste amounts.
 Ion Exchange Whole House Filters

7) Acid Neutralizers

Acid neutralizer filters are an essential part of water filtration systems. These filters help reduce the amount of sulfuric acid and other corrosives present in a home’s drinking water.

How It Works

An acid neutralizer filter works by releasing a mineral like calcite or magnesite, also known as “neutralizing media” into the water stream. This neutralizing media binds with the corrosive compounds, allowing them to be removed from the system by a filter cartridge type placed in it.

Depending on your water supply, you may need to install more than one filter for optimal protection against acidity in your drinking water.

Pros:

  • This type of filter reduces the acidity in your water supply, resulting in better odor and taste, as well as providing extra protection against scale buildup that can damage pipes and fixtures.
  • By neutralizing acidic elements such as chlorine, iron, and sulfates, it creates a more balanced pH level within the home – making your drinking water tastes much better.
  • In addition to improved taste, these filters help protect appliances like dishwashers and irons from corrosion caused by acidic water.

Cons:

  • As these units require expensive filters to work effectively, the overall cost of the installation and operation may be too much for budget-conscious consumers.
  • Additionally, acid-neutralization filters require frequent maintenance and freshwater replacements.

8) Kinetic Debris Filters

KDF (Kinetic Debris Filters) are an important filter to keep in mind when considering your water filtration system, especially for whole-home systems.

How It Works

KDF filter works by removing chlorine, bacteria, and other contaminants through a process called redox (reduction-oxidation). In the presence of moisture and oxygen, electrons travel between two metals in the KDF filter, creating an electrical charge which attracts minerals and other unwanted particles away from the purified water. When these particles form a layer on either side of the electrodes, they become trapped inside the filter, leaving only clean water left behind.

Pros:

  • KDF filters use a combination of oxidation and reduction to remove contaminants from water.
  • KDF filters provide comprehensive filtration by targeting both chemical and physical contaminants.
  • They can reduce levels of iron, lead, hydrogen sulfide, bacteria, mercury, and more in your drinking water.
  • Plus, they’re extremely easy to use and maintain.

Cons:

  • One of the main cons is that they can become clogged over time and have to be changed every several months or even more frequently depending on use.
  • Also, KDF filters are not recommended for people who have skin sensitivity issues since they remove beneficial minerals found in water, such as magnesium and calcium.

9) Iron, Manganese & Sulfur Filters

Iron, Manganese, and Sulfur are among the most common sources of contaminants in well water, and installing a filtration system is often the best way to reduce or remove their presence.

Iron systems use special filters to reduce iron levels – eliminating ‘rusty’ odors and tastes that often accompany iron-tainted water. Manganese filters trap and reduce sediment, chlorine and other harmful compounds until they are below the acceptable standards set by the EPA.

Sulfur systems address sulfur odors which can be caused by naturally occurring bacteria within well water that metabolizes hydrogen sulfide.

Pros:

  • Unlike old-fashioned methods of obtaining clean drinking water, these systems are affordable and easy to install.
  • Additionally, an efficient filtration system can also help extend the longevity of appliances that use water by eliminating troublesome mineral buildup.
  • Furthermore, many models come with filters that can be changed quickly and easily by a homeowner and require minimal maintenance.

Cons:

  • Installation of the system can be challenging and often require the help of a professional to ensure it is being properly set up.
  • Furthermore, if you live in a region where there are frequent power outages, you may want to reconsider as these systems rely on electricity in order to operate correctly.
  • Finally, be sure that your water well has been thoroughly tested by a qualified technician in order to determine which type of filtration system is most suitable.

10) UV Water Filters

A UV water filter is a kind of filtering equipment that uses the power of ultraviolet rays to make water safe for drinking. These filters work by using light to kill any microorganisms in the water, making it pure and safe to drink.

They work similarly to other kinds of filtration systems, but without any chemical usage. This makes them cost-effective, fast, and environmentally friendly alternatives to other traditional purification techniques like chemical dosing and chlorination. Moreover, they are extremely versatile and can be used on a range of sources such as tap water or surface water from reservoirs and ponds.

Pros:

  • They are incredibly efficient when it comes to eliminating harmful bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and other organisms in water without the use of any chemicals.
  • Moreover, since UV filters do not add any unwanted substances to the water, unpleasant odors and tastes are generally avoided.
  • UV filters need minimal maintenance.

Cons:

  • Perhaps the most concerning downside is that UV filters do not remove chemical contaminants present in your water such as heavy metals and chlorine; these pollutants will only be removed with deeper filtration processes such as reverse osmosis.
  • The installation of a UV filter typically requires professional assistance, meaning you may need to pay extra fees for installation and service calls.

Final Word

Understanding the different types of whole house water filters available and their pros and cons can help you determine which one is right for your home. As always, it’s important to understand your local water quality report before selecting a whole house water filter—you want to make sure that you are taking steps to improve the safety and taste of your drinking water.

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