Well water filtration systems come in two categories: whole house and point of entry. The key distinction between them is that the former system involves a single filter installed before the water pipeline diverges to the outlets in your house, whereas the latter features individual filters for every single dispenser.
Opting for a single filter placed at the Point of Entry (POE) entails the water entering your home is already purified. The direct benefit is that the indoor pipeline’s lifespan increases, as the chemicals and minerals can no longer deposit along their span. However, the durability and efficiency of a POE is in direct correlation with selecting one that’s a appropriate for your home. Let’s find out what you need to find out in order to make an informed decision.
What contaminants are prevalent in your water source?
Before you start considering different brands, it’s important to determine the nature of the contaminants that require filtration. For instance, if the water feed comes from the municipal services, then your POE filter should be designed to stop mainly chlorine, chemical residue and hard minerals. Alternatively, when the inline is hooked to a water well, you’ll require a filter that can deal with sediments, harder minerals and iron.
Remember that correctly determining the quantity of contaminants present in the water supply is also important. Establishing whether the contaminant level is low, intermediate or toxic implies taking samples and performing tests on them. Working with a professional retailer who doesn’t just want to sell you the most expensive filtering system is the best way to ensure that the water supply in your household is 100% purified.
What is your household’s combined water flow rate?
Flow rates, measured in gallons per minute (GPM), constitute the quantity of water streaming through each outlet and appliance in the household. This includes the bathtub/shower, faucets, the water heater, toilets, the dishwasher, etc. Selecting a filter that can supply a sufficient water flow to ensure all these dispensers can run simultaneous at consistent rates will prevent issues like low water pressure and extend the lifetime.
Ideally, you should check the information provided by the manufacturer of each appliance. When that is not possible because you are no longer in possession of the documentation, remember that showers typically require between 2.5 GPM and 5 GPM, dishwashers need approximately 5 GPM on average and standard toilets call for 3-4 GPM. The added GPM of the appliances constitutes the necessary flow rate of the water purification filter.
Does the filter you intend to buy have NSF Certification?
Always check if the filter you intend to buy presents the NSF seal of approval. The NSF Certificate represents a guarantee that the materials and craftsmanship are up to code with the modern standards in the field of water filtration systems. Irrespective of whether or not you have chosen a water purification filter designed for the specific contaminants in your water supply and with the correct GPM/dimensions, the NSF Certification is the best way to ensure that you should not experience issues throughout its expected lifetime.