When the house's water main line is attached with a whole house water filter, clean water is provided throughout the house by water dispensers, besides treated water being dispensed in the showers, laundry, baths, faucets, toilets and the kitchen. The whole house water filter's connection to the main water line generally precedes that of the hot water heater.



In the ground in front of the house or in the foundation slab of the house, the 'yard' and the 'house' are generally the two branches into which the main water line is split. Those who have a sprinkler system installed and wish to cleanse the water for their garden are likely to face a problem on that account. The city's water utility or the blueprint of the house may prove to be of assistance, in this regard.

In any particular case, the requirement for a particular kind of whole house water filter may be determined by the different types of contaminants that may be contained in the water. The water has to be cleaned and it is important that all that has to be cleaned out of it be found out about. In water that municipalities supply, the typical contaminants that are found include chemicals, sediment and the minerals that cause hardness. In private wells, the water generally has contaminants that include iron and other metals, sediment and minerals that cause hardness.

Experience with the types of contaminants that may be found in the local wells makes the county officials a suitable source of assistance with obtaining more information about the contaminants. The test for analysing the water may also be carried out by a local laboratory, in the case of a private well. An analysis of the water may also be obtained from the municipal water utilities, upon the submission of a request. For exactly determining its composition, it is important to have the water tested.

A careful examination of the following is important, before acquiring a whole house water filter:

- Rate of Flow: The dishwasher, shower, heater for hot water, toilet, etc, require water and the quantity that is available is termed as the flow rate. Gallons per minute (GPM) are the units for measurement, usually. The toilets and appliances have demand ratings in printed form and these can be used for requirement calculation. Dishwashers typically require 3gpm, whereas 5gpm is required for toilets and 2.5-5gpm is the requirement for showerheads. When maximum use is being made, pressure of water has to be comfortable and uninterrupted. For that, 10gpm is typically the minimum requirement and it may go up to 40gpm. So, a whole house water filter has to meet those standards.

- Size of the filter: The pressure is likely to be greater and more water likely to flow, when the service interval is longer and the filter is larger. Pressure and GPM are impacted greatly by the port size. A filter of 4.5" x 10" may be appropriate and pressure fall-offs are likely to be infrequent in the case of condos or small houses, especially when the sediment levels are low. The filter size that is ideal is 4.5" x 20" for most homes.

- Life of the filter: The sediment filter's life is impacted by the sediment's quantity and quality. Carbon filter cartridges of 4.5" x 20" are likely to remain useful for the cleansing of 100,000-150,000 gallons of water, when the municipality supplies water in a normal way. A stand-alone carbon filter with a carbon bed can provide trouble-free use for a longer time-period, if there is a backwashing valve and a back wash cycle that is regular.

- Size of the port: One inch, for a whole house water filter, is the port size that is ideal. When fitted on to a inch pipe, there are not likely to be too many problems, when 1 inch ported system is used for a home that has a inch piping. There are almost no drops in pressure, when a whole house water filter system that has 4.5" x 20" filter and 1 inch ports is used.