best whole house water filter

When you realize what’s in the water you’re drinking, you need to decide what general type of water filter is best for you.  Do you want the best whole house water filter?  Many families answer yes to this question.  Rather than treating the water right at the tap, or with a water pitcher filter, the best whole house water filter will filter all the water in your house (just like the name implies).

Whole house water filter – overkill?

When I was discussing getting the best whole house water filter with a neighbor, he thought I was going overboard.  But, when you think about all the sources of contaminants getting into your water, it makes sense to try to get the cleanest water possible.  Apart from water contamination in the ground, and additives put in by public authorities, you can get bad stuff in your water from old pipes and appliances, too.  Even though you don’t drink the water in your washing machine, it still may be a good idea to make sure it’s clean.

Is there chloroform in your house?

Even the water you don’t drink can release harmful substances into the air, where you will breathe in the contaminants.  Trihalomethanes (THMs) and ammonia can be released from water when it makes contact with the air.  So, by washing your clothes, you may be releasing noxious chemicals and fumes into the air that your family breathes.  This is likely to be in small quantities, but nonetheless, filtering the water can help prevent it.  Nobody wants to breathe this stuff in.

How does a whole house water filter work?

A whole house water filter is hooked up to the water main line outside your house, so it intercepts all water coming into your home.  So, your toilets, faucets, kitchen sink, washing machine, baths, showers, etc., all have filtered water coming through them.  This is the most thorough way of ensuring the water you’re using is filtered, and can’t release any contaminants.  Ordinarily, the best whole house water filter is hooked in to the water main before the hot water heater.  Some folks actually want to purify the water they use on their lawns and through outside faucets, as well.  This is a bit more difficult due to how most cities run water lines to residential homes.  There’s usually a split, with one line going to the home and one going to the yard.

Choosing the best whole house water filter

There are several variables to consider when selecting the best whole house water filter for your home.  You should make sure the flow rate of the system is at least 10 gallons per minute (GPM).  A 15-40 GPM system is more likely to be what you’ll need.  You should not get a filter smaller than 4.5” X 20”.  Larger homes will need a larger filter, especially if the flow rate is up around 50 GPM.  A filter will probably last for about 100,000 to 150,000 gallons, based on average city water flowing through the filter.  The port size on the best whole house water filter should be 1”.  Even if the rest of the house is piped in ¾” pipe, the port size on the water filter should be 1”.  This, combined with the right filter size, will help ensure there are no pressure drops in the system.