Water Filter Systems: Types and Installation Methods

Home water filtration systems come in a variety of filter types and flavors. Before you make up your mind on which type to install in your house, you should get to know more about the uses of home water filter systems and their various types. Normally, the cost depends on the complexity, scale, and type of system. The types of water filter systems and their sizes are:

Filter type

• Reverse osmosis
• Carbon filtration
• Ion exchange that softens the water supply

Filter system size to fit your personal preference and kitchen layout

• Under sink
• Whole house
• Countertop

Reverse osmosis

Reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration systems are popular for many reasons. For one, this type of filter isn’t complex. In RO, dissolved inorganic solids are removed using your household water pressure (around 50-60 psi). RO filtration pushes tap water through a semi-permeable membrane filter.

So, why is this a good water filtration option, and how does it work? Read on to learn the benefits of RO and how it works. Numerous American households use it because:

• It produces super-tasting water.
• It handles its job effectively and safely.
• Its filters are completely automatic; no user intervention is required.
• It’s reasonably priced, which is an important feature of RO systems.
• It doesn’t require you to keep buying cases of costly bottled water because your pure water will cost pennies per gallon.
• Straightforward kitchen tap installation for superior-quality drinking water.

Carbon filtration systems

This is another popular type of home water filtration system. Carbon filters are quite effective and offer you multiple options for use. A simple canister fitted with a carbon filter may be enough if your family doesn’t use too much water. Chemical absorption removes impurities and contaminants from tap water using activated carbon filters. A single pound of activated carbon provides a surface area of roughly 100 acres, so as a filter, activated carbon is quite efficient. Active charcoal carbon filters get rid of sediment, odors, chlorine, as well as other volatile organic compounds; they also improve the taste of water. Note that carbon won’t remove salts and minerals from filtered water.

Carbon filters will eliminate particles that lie in the range of 0.5 to 50 micrometers. Typically, water flows through carbon filters at lower pressure (therefore, steadily) than that of the water supply’s. While carbon filters are used as water purifiers in home and business, they are also used to decontaminate air that may be a tad radioactive from rooms used in radiation and nuclear medicine treatments. This signifies the versatility and effectiveness of activated carbon filters.

Ion exchange

In an ion exchange filter, water traverses a resin that eliminates unwanted ions with wanted ions. For example, these filters are used in replacing calcium and magnesium in your tap water with sodium.Ion exchange filters soften the water supply that’s coming in your home. Generally, municipal water is hard, comprising numerous impurities. Many people opt for water softening because it purifies water used for drinking and cooking.

The resin used to replace unwanted ions in unfiltered tap water should be recharged periodically with new desirable ions. Polymers or ion exchange resins function as mediums in these filtration systems; these purify incoming water and soften it, as well. Usually, these resins take the form of beads made from sodium polystyrene sulfonate, which is quite acidic. These polymers or resins are porous, allowing the medium to replace undesirable impurities and ions in tap water. Based on the function, there are four different ion exchange resins. These four varieties are:

• Strongly acidic – This appears in the majority of water softening filtration systems
• Strongly basic – This uses amino acid groups
• Weakly acidic – This is based on carboxylic acid varieties
• Weakly basic – This feature weaker amino acids

The main function of the majority of ion-exchange filtering systems for homes and small businesses is to soften water. If the water you get is hard, consider ion exchange filtration options.

Water filter under sink installation

Thanks to this kind of water filter installation, the bulky filters on the ends of your kitchen faucet arm are eliminated. This is highly recommended if you’re looking for the most cost-effective water filter installationservice for individuals sinks. However, if you have at least three bathroom sinks, a whole house system is the right choice. This is because you’ll eventually become tired of installing various under sink purification products.

If you can handle DIY plumbing projects well, you can save the cost of having your favorite plumber install your under-sink system. It’s neither difficult nor overly complex to install under sink systems.There should be enough room under the bathroom and kitchen sinks to fit an under-sink water system of every type (RO, carbon filtration, and ion exchange). All you need is above-average plumbing skills to install an under sink filtration system.

Whole house installation

These are the most complex and complete systems for your home. Usually, whole house water filter installation is used when you care about your home water quality in more than two locations in your house. The installation of these filtrations is identical for every type because they differ only in the contaminants they eliminate and the way water is filtered. If you choose to make this a DIY project, you’ll need the following tools:

• A drill
• A tubing cutter
• Assorted drill bits
• 2 adjustable wrenches of different sizes
• Buckets to catch any water remaining in your main supply after being shut off
• A whole house water filter system

Select a location that’s near the main water supply for your home. This way, you’ll ensure that replacing the filters in your system doesn’t become difficult. Remember, you’re filtering the whole incoming water supply for the entire house. If you wish to perform water filter system installationyourself, follow the steps below:

1. Choose a location that’s easily accessible. However, it should be near the main shutoff drive. Make sure you have space under the filter system to change the filter when required.
2. Cut the pipe and install a new shutoff drive. Note that you may require an adapter on each side of the filter to attach your new filter and your pipe.
3. Assemble the filtering system in such a way that you’re sure you can access and replace the filter without much difficulty. Once you’re satisfied with the ease of a filter change, you can mark it for cutting.
4. Mark the pipe to make a useful, accurate cut.
5. Now is the time to install the new filtering system. Remember to put the nuts you need after sliding on the compression rings to make a leak-free connection. Now, give your connection the security it needs by tightening the nuts. You can now turn the water back on at the main valve. If you see there’s any leak, tighten your connections.
6. If your water supply pipe is already equipped with a ground wire, you’ll need to add a jumper cable to restore this feature.

Congrats, you’ve successfully installed an effective whole house water filtration system!

Looking for a water filter installation kit? Great, give McCowin Water a call now!