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Buyer's
Guide: Whole House Water Filter Systems
In This Buyer's Guide:
- Why Should You Buy a Whole House
Water Filter System?
- Which Contaminants
Does a Whole House Water Filter System Reduce?
- How to Install a
Whole House Water Filter System
- Which Whole House
Water Filter System is Right for You?
- Good
- Pentek
Complete Whole House Filtration System 160367
- OmniFilter
Whole House Water Filter
System BF7
- Better
- OmniFilter
Whole House
Water Filter System U25
- Aqua-Pure
Whole House Water Filter System AP101T
- Aqua-Pure
Whole House Water Filter System AP11T
- Best
- 3M Aqua-Pure
Whole House Water Filter System AP902
- 3M Aqua-Pure
Whole House Water Filter System AP903
- Aqua-Pure
Whole House Water Filter System AP801-C
- Featured
- Pentek
UV-120-1 Ultraviolet System163007
- Pentek
UV-120-2 UV Water Filter System
Why
Should You Buy a Whole House Water Filter System?
A
whole house water filter system can filter much larger amounts of water
than most other types of filters, including countertop, undersink,
faucet-mount and pitcher water filters, and thus
are ideal for large
households. These filters can greatly improve the efficiency of any
household applicances connected to your water line, such as your
washer, dryer or hot water heater. A whole-house water filter may also
act as a pre-filter, lengthening the filter life of other water filters
used within your home.
Which
Contaminants Does a Whole House Water Filter System Reduce?
In
general, whole-house filters may remove sediment, dirt, rust and heavy
metals from your water - contaminants which can cause harm to any
household appliance that is connected to your house water line. Some
whole-house filters also reduce chlorine taste and odor. Some are UV
filters, which inactivate harmful microorganisms in your water, but
must be used in conjunction with other whole-house filters if the
reduction of contaminants such as sediment, dirt, rust and chlorine, is
needed.
How
to Install a Whole House Water Filter System
Minor
changes to your household plumbing are required to install a
whole-house water filter system. Follow all instructions contained in
the packaging for your whole-house unit when installing your system.
The general steps involved in the installation of most whole-house
water systems are as follows:
1. Determine where to install. A whole-house filter should be installed
near the central water line going into your house.
2.
Shut off the water at the main outlet coming into your home. Turn the
shut off valve to the installation site, for both hot and cold water,
to their completely closed position, and clear the water lines of any
remaining water before proceeding.
3. Using a pipe cutting tool,
cut into the main water line, making sure to carefully follow all
instructions included with the whole house unit package.
4. Use pipe fittings to connect the unit to the water line.Wrap the
ends with Teflon tape to prevent leaking.
5. Turn the water back on and check for leaks. Adjust the fittings if
necessary.
6.
Flush the system completely after installation, by going to the nearest
faucet and turning on the cold water until it runs
clear.
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Which
Whole House Water Filter System is Right for You?
To
determine which whole-house water filter system will be most effective,
you should first test your water to see which
contaminants need to be
removed. Since most whole-house filters remove similar contaminants,
you may want consider other factors such as micron
rating, (the smaller this number, the more efficient the filter will be
at removing smaller particles) flow rate and filter life. Also,
consider whether or not the
whole house system will be used in conjunction with other home water
filters such as a shower filter, undersink filter, or refrigerator
filter. If so, it may only be necessary to purchase a whole house
filter that specifically reduces sediment and dirt, as most other
filters will reduce chlorine. Or, if you're going for maximum
filtration, you may want to use a more advanced whole house filter, in
conjunction with several other efficient home water filters.
Below
are the whole house water filter systems we carry. We also have an
abundance of compatible cartridges in stock which may or may not filter
as well as the cartridge included in the initial whole house filter
installation package. Visit our website for more details on compatible
filter cartridges. The following filters are rated "good, better or
best," based on their use with the filter cartridge that is included in
the
system package. At the bottom, we have listed a couple of UV
whole-house filters as well.
Good

This filter reduces sediment, dirt and rust, along with chlorine taste
and odor.
Micron rating = 10
Flow Rate = 10 gallons per minute
Filter Life = 3 to 6 months, depending on the level of contamination
and the amount of water used

This filter reduces sediment, sand, dirt and rust and provides a very
basic level of whole house water filtration.
Micron rating = 30
Flow Rate = 30 gallons per minute
Filter Life = 30,000 gallons, or 3 to 6 months, depending on the level
of contamination and the amount of water used
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Better

This filter reduces dirt, sand sediment, rust particles and chlorine.
Micron rating = 5
Flow Rate = 5 gallons per minute
Filter Life = 15,000 gallons

This filter reduces dirt, rust and sand sediment.
Micron Rating = 5
Flow Rate = 8 gallons per minute
Filter Life = 2,000 gallons

This filter reduces dirt, rust and sand sediment
Micron Rating = 5
Flow Rate = 8 gallons per minute
Filter Life = 2,000 gallons
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Best

This advanced filter reduces sediment, dirt, rust and other impurities
down tot he 5 micron level.
Micron Rating = 5
Flow Rate = 20 gallons per minute
Filter Life = 100,000 gallons

This
filter reduces the odor and taste of chlorine, along with sediment,
dirt, rust and other impurities down to the 5 micron level.
Micron Rating = 5
Flow Rate = 20 gallons per minute
Filter Life = 100,000 gallons

This filter reduces dirt, sand, rust and sediment from your water.
Micron Rating = 5
Flow Rate = 20 gallons per minute
Filter Life = 3 to 6 months, depending on the level of water
contamination and usage.
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Featured
These
whole house water filter systems are ultraviolet systems, which use a
UV light bulb to inactivate bacteria and viruses. UV filters must be
used in conjunction with a standard whole-house filter, as there is no
cartridge to remove sediment, dirt or other particles.

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