How To Install Whole House Water Filter

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Imagine this: Plow on the tap, any tap, and the water is fresh and free from unpleasant taste and odors. Even the h2o in the shower doesn't smell like chlorine! This is easily achieved by installing a whole house water filter. Whole firm h2o filters are also known every bit point-of-entry systems considering they are installed directly into the main water line.

To do this, a piddling plumbing know how is required. Nigh people opt to phone call in a plumber to become the chore done, but that will set you back an extra few hundred dollars. If you're reasonably handy and patient, it's possible to larn to set up the system yourself with a picayune knowledge nether your belt. (And a few tools, of course!)

Installation Location is Everything

Needless to say, you lot can't stick a water filter just anywhere and promise it works. Ideally, whole house water filtration systems should exist installed most where your habitation'southward main water line enters the edifice. That mode, you'll have filtered h2o all over the house! There are a few more things to consider earlier you start. Choose a location that:

Is easily attainable. Like any water filter, whole house systems crave regular maintenance, like installing replacement filters. If y'all can't hands access the system, y'all'll be less probable to stick to a consistent maintenance schedule, leading to premature breakdown of your shiny new water filter. No, thanks! Pick a spot that'south like shooting fish in a barrel to get to, and your water filter will thank you.
Is upstream of the water heater and close to the principal close-off valve. The reason for this is simple. If water is filtered before it runs through the h2o heater, the heater itself volition be processing purified water free from damaging sediment and scale. Your h2o heater (and all hot-water appliances) will last longer, and the installation is just as easy.
Is installed afterwards the pressure tank if your home runs on well h2o.
Is preferably inside. Information technology'southward technically possible to install a water filter outside, but whole house water filters are best kept in the garage or basement instead for maximum lifespan.

Should a POE water filter be installed earlier or subsequently a water softener? It depends.

If your habitation runs on city water, install the water filter earlier the water softener to preemptively remove chlorine that would otherwise wear out the ion exchange media. Some other reason to install before the water softener is to prevent force per unit area bug.

Those running on well water should probably install a whole house water filter afterward the water softener, to avoid reduced menstruum during backwash cycles. Well h2o doesn't naturally comprise any chlorine, so unless y'all add information technology yourself, there won't be any around to damage the softening resin.

Whole Firm H2o Filter Installation Diagram

Courtesy of best-osmosis-systems.com

What Y'all Need in Your Toolbox

It's highly unlikely that a whole house water filter would come with all of the tools and parts required for installation. The exact parts and tools will vary slightly depending on the model, but here's a general listing:

Tools:

Drill and drill $.25
Adjustable wrenches
Hacksaw or pipage cutter
Screwdrivers
Bucket
Teflon record
Soldering materials (extra)

Parts:

Your new filtration system, of course
Tubing
Mounting brackets (for some water filters merely)
Fittings
Close-off valves
Force per unit area gauges (extra)
Bypass valves (actress)

The Installation Procedure

Got everything? Let'southward get started! Lucky for yous, the installation process is virtually the same regardless of which whole house h2o filter you purchase, and then this guide should work for anybody. Information technology will have some time, so set up aside a few hours upwardly to a full afternoon for your DIY project, depending on your level of plumbing feel. With a trivial patience, your new whole home h2o filter volition be up and running in no fourth dimension.

How to Install a Whole House Water Filter

E'er call up to read the manual through all the way before you begin installation. It's wise to bank check your metropolis plumbing codes, also, to make sure your setup complies. E'er telephone call the manufacturer if you take whatever questions. Read through this entire guide start as well and then y'all know what'due south coming at each footstep of the way. For extra help, this video gives you lot a good visual of what the procedure should look like.

Before you do anything, shut off the main water supply.
Side by side, drain the h2o left in your home'southward plumbing arrangement by opening all the faucets and fixtures. This step will as well release water pressure.
Use the hacksaw or pipe cutter to cut out a section of the main h2o line at your chosen location. The department needs to be big enough to fit your new filter organization, so measure out carefully before yous cut. Keep a bucket handy every bit well in case some leftover water spills out.

Sand the precipitous edges of the pipes and remove whatever built up sediment or scale from within the pipes.
Add shut-off valves to make maintaining the h2o filtration system a whole lot easier. For the near convenient combination, install a valve on each side. Y'all can also install a featherbed to permit water usage even when the system is beingness serviced. At this stage of installation, keep all the valves airtight.
The all-time way to know if it's fourth dimension to modify filters is by checking input and output water pressure. Nosotros recommend installing one pressure estimate near both shut-off valves to easily tell when the filters demand to be replaced.
Consider screwing a piece of plywood to the wall behind where the water filter system volition sit down for easier mounting.
Now comes the tricky office: installing the actual system. To start, check to be sure the in and out ports are facing the correct way. If your pipes don't fit into the ports, you can use adaptors to make it piece of work. Don't ever overtighten plastic fittings or they may crack. But utilize Teflon tape on threaded ends to reduce the adventure of leakage.
Choose from push fittings or soldering. If you utilise push fittings, you don't take to bother with soldering at all. If you similar to solder things, clean the ends of the pipes before you lot begin and be certain not to get the oestrus close to plastic parts that may melt.
Does the whole house water filter come with housings? Rinse them out first with warm water, grease the O-rings, and be certain they aren't loose after you install them.
Set up? Time to test your work! Merely turn the water back on.
Go along the featherbed valve closed, simply open all the others.
Whatever leaks? If at that place are, don't stress. Just tighten fittings and water filter housings as needed to strengthen seals.
If y'all're the proud owner of an onetime home, there'southward a run a risk your house relies on water pipes to ground your electrical system. To go on the organization grounded, attach a copper-wired jumper cable with grounding clamps from one side of the water filter to the other. Easy peasy!
Let the faucets run for a few minutes to flush the system of whatsoever air bubbles and debris that entered the pipes during installation.
Read the instructions that come with the water filter to exist sure the filtration media is activated properly.
Subsequently the pressure is back to normal, turn off all the taps and telephone call it a day!

A notation on the bypass valve: Normally, this valve will stay closed. The only fourth dimension you'll need to open it is when the h2o filtration system needs to be serviced. At that point, just open up the bypass valve and close the regular valves so your home will still accept admission to water during filter maintenance.

You've got this!

If you were intimidated to begin with, don't be! Installing a whole house water filter on your own is totally doable with the proper tools. To avoid rendering your home waterless for a 24-hour interval or ii, make sure you have ALL the parts and tools you need earlier you start cut up the main water line. Equally long as you do, the procedure should get smoothly.

If you go stuck during the installation procedure, call the manufacturer'southward customer service line and they should be able to walk y'all through it. Likewise, at that place is no shame in hiring a professional to exercise the setup for you. Sure, it will add to the toll, just better safety than pitiful. Alternatively, you can always share a comment or question below, and we'll be happy to get you back on track!