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How to Install Whole House Water Filter: A Step by Step Guide
A water filter is a tool you will need to make your drinking water safe. It does not only makes your drinking water safe but also prevents rusting and scale from coming through your pipes. By preventing these things from passing through your pipes, your plumbing life will be preserved. This article will advise you on how to install whole house water filters.
If you want a water filter system, rather than just installing one on your kitchen faucet, you can consider installing a whole house water filter on your main water line. As mentioned before, there are several added benefits of doing this rather than having it set up on several pipes.
Below you will find step by step instructions on how to install whole house water filters. These methods are DIY. If you can’t do the installation yourself, you can always call a plumber. It is a low-cost installation that requires a high level of skill and will take you about half of the day to install.
1. Turn off the main water supply
The first step of this installation process is to turn off the water supply to your house. If the water supply is switched off, open a tap to release any remaining water in the line and the pipe pressure.
2. Select a location for the filter
Next, select a location to set up the filter. The filter usually comes with a template and a kit, so you can mark the spot where you are going to place the pipe. The location you select should be very visible and accessible. Make two cuts and remove part of the pipe. Before removing the cut piece of the pipe, you should keep a bucket nearby to catch any water that may not have been drained.
3. Fittings
First, slide a nut and then a ferrule unto the cut pipe end. Repeat the process on the other side. A brass fitting is to be thread onto the filter’s housing. Before threading it, you should read the instructions given by the manufacturer because each will have their own specifications.
Lastly, you have to tighten the fittings but do not too much. You should tape to seal both the fittings and the filter together.
4. Install the filter
Now that the fittings are installed, the next step is to install the filter. When placing it on the pipe, you need to make sure it’s on the right side and not backward.
The right side means that water should be entering the filter and exiting. It should not be the other way around, or it would not work. The nuts and fittings are tightened once the filter is “fitted.” You may need to use a wrench for this task.
5. Test the filter
Now that the filter is installed, there is a valve on the filter. Make sure the valve on the filter is set to off. When you ensure that the valve is “off,” you can now turn on the main water line to your house. Look for any leaks on the line before turning on the filter’s valve. If there are no leaks, then you can turn the filter’s valve on according to the filter setting. If there are leaks, you may have to tighten some of the fittings, or you may have cut too much pipe. That’s why it’s very important to cut the pipe that was marked.
If your filter works fine, you should leave the pipe running for several minutes. Sometimes, there may be dirt and sediments in the pipe that needs to come out. Once these are expelled and your water becomes clear, it is safe for consumption and drinking. Installing a whole house filter will also have filtered water coming through your shower and all the taps in your house.
Water Filter Maintenance
You followed the installation guide and your filter is working, so what’s next? Well, generally, the manufacturer recommends that you change your filter after using several thousands of gallons of water. Even if you have not used the amount of water required for a filter change, an odor in your water or bad taste may hint that you need to get your filter’s cartridge change.
To replace the cartridge, you just need to remove the housing. If you decide to change the entire filter (usually it takes a while before you get here), the process is just the reverse of the installation minus the pipe cutting. You can then install the new filter once the old filter has been removed.
How to Install Whole House Water Filter: Conclusion
Installing a whole house water filter yourself will take a lot of time and patience. If you do not have these two things, then you should hire a professional to assist you with the process. The steps may appear pretty straightforward, but they actually are not, especially if you are not handy and are uncertain of what you are doing. Just remember, that one of the most important things you need to do before installing the whole how water filter is to read the instruction manual.
Moreover, you also need to take your time because it is not a race and there is no prize for the person who finishes first. You can also make it an interesting project by involving your kids and having them assist you. If you think that you are going to encounter any difficulties, you can always take a few minutes to watch some videos online.
Installation is all fun and games until you have to maintain your whole house water filter system. Some homeowners forget to maintain it. Maintenance just means that you have to change the cartridge ever so often. You should also always have a few cartridges at your home in case of an emergency.
If maintenance is not something you think you will be up to, then you probably should not have a whole house water filter installed. What you can do is just install a simple purifier to your kitchen tap.
Last update on 2023-01-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
About the Author Jack Wilson
Jack Wilson is a water treatment consultant as well as a topic researcher and post editor for all posts on bestpurifiation.com.