The Ultimate Guide to Whole House Filters: Understanding Your Options

If you're concerned about the quality of your home's water supply, a whole house filter could be the solution you're looking for. These filters are designed to remove contaminants and impurities from your water before it reaches your faucets and appliances, providing you with cleaner, healthier water for your family to drink and use. But with so many types of filters on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for your home. In this guide, we'll explore the different types of whole house filters and the benefits they offer.

Part 1: Types of Whole House Filters

  1. Sediment Filters

    Sediment filters are the most basic type of whole house filter. They're designed to remove large particles like sand, dirt, and rust from your water supply. Sediment filters typically consist of a spun polypropylene or pleated filter cartridge, and they're usually the first line of defense in a whole house filtration system.

  2. Carbon Filters

    Carbon filters use activated carbon to remove contaminants from your water supply. They're particularly effective at removing chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and some pesticides. Carbon filters can be either granular activated carbon (GAC) or carbon block filters, and they're often used in combination with sediment filters for comprehensive filtration.

  3. Reverse Osmosis Filters

    Reverse osmosis (RO) filters are the most comprehensive type of whole house filter. They use a semi-permeable membrane to remove a wide range of contaminants, including dissolved solids, bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals. RO filters are typically installed under the sink and connected to a separate faucet, but they can also be used as part of a whole house filtration system.

  4. UV Filters

    UV filters use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses in your water supply. They're often used in combination with other types of filters, as they're not effective at removing other types of contaminants like sediment and chemicals.