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Whole house water filtration?

14 years ago

We are doing a major remodel, and our contractor has recommended that we install a whole house water filtration system. He suggested one that works using crushed coconut shells. Anyone have experience with this? Advice on whether it's been worthwhile? Thanks so much!

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Comments (3)

andy_c
14 years ago
Crushed Coconut Shells? I think you got some very 'under sophisticated' information. That's like some saying you need some petroleum to store your food in when he meant Tupperware.

Never get any water treatment device without knowing your water conditions. What are the problems you are trying to solve. City water, well water, odor, iron, etc......

Avoid taking shortcuts.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II
jjmckillop
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you Andy for prompting to me to ask a few more questions. The system my contractor recommends is LifeSource water filter.

It seems to be more about taste and odor than about improving water quality.

Does anyone have experience with a LifeSource system? Is this just $$ I don't need to spend? No matter what, we plan on having a reverse osmosis filter put in for our bar sink for drinking water.

Thanks!
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I have been told that you buy a two filter system: one for sediment and the other for chlorine, etc. They are installed at the point of entrance where public water comes into the house. In my case, the filters will go under the house but in an accessible area (although I can't imagine what is easily accessible under the house). My partner and plumber will set it up. The filters are around $250-300 (total I believe) and have to be replaced once every 6 mos or so. However, my partner seems to feel that once every nine months is more than adequate. He will buy the filters through a company that does the filtration systems for vineyards, but I don't know the name or location of the company. If you want, I can find out. He's probably dealt with them in the past for our well (on our other house in the country). As if water isn't expensive enough, now we've got to pay for ongoing filtration systems.
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I am not a big fan of the all-in-one filtration/softening units. While they can do an excellent job initially, they tend to suffer from a myriad of problems as time goes on. All of the different types of media have a different specific gravity and other physical differences. They require different backflow rates to lift and fluff the beds to prevent compaction and channeling. If you optimize for one media, the others suffer. In addition, the carbon has a much lower life span than the softening resin, and would need to be replaced in 2-10 years, depending upon your water conditions and the amount of carbon in the system. In a single unit containing different materials, it is virtually impossible to remove and replace just one media so they all have to be replaced. Carbon is pretty cheap. Softening resin is not. This adds considerable expense over time. Unless you are severely space limited, it would be better to install a separate carbon filter, followed by a softener.
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I considered installing one, and found that a true whole-house filtration system is expensive and relatively complicated. You would be running a lot of water through it, and there are filters and other components that have to be constantly maintained. I think it would be easier to add a filtration system only for drinking water that you feel really needs it. For example, you could filter cold water to your kitchen sink and refrigerator and probably cover most of your needs. Bruce
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soto
14 years ago
We just installed a whole house filter for a specific problem coming from our well...a sulfur odor. The filter also removes iron. It is called a clear choice filter and was installed by ClearWater systems (no, I have no connection or interest in the company). We are now absolutely ecstatic with our water quality which for the first time has no odor and tastes good. We still plan on keeping our spring water delivery until we eventually get reverse osmosis for drinking water, but the odor from the house water had bothered us a bit when showering or brushing teeth. The odor/iron filter was placed upstream of our softener. Good luck! Soto.

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