If you’ve been dealing with hard water, sediment, or other water quality issues in your home, you may be asking, “Is a whole house water softener and filtration system right for me?” While this is a great solution for many, it’s worth understanding the benefits, costs, and alternatives before investing in a whole house system. We’re here to share our expert plumbing knowledge so you can make an informed decision!
What Is a Whole House Water Softener and Filtration System?
First, let’s break this down into water softeners and filtration.
If you have hard water in your home, a water softener uses ion exchange to make it soft. This means it removes minerals like calcium and magnesium that are found in hard water, replacing them with sodium or potassium ions. The minerals found in hard water can lead to scale buildup in pipes and appliances, which can cause clogs, low water pressure, and damage over time. Not only that, but they can dry out your hair and skin.
Filtration, on the other hand, simply removes contaminants from your water. A recent Aquasana report shows that 77% of adults in the U.S. believe that having clean, trustworthy water in their house is important for living a healthier life. Depending on the filtration system, it can remove chlorine, sediment, pesticides, and other chemicals. Activated carbon filters, for example, target chlorine and organic compounds while reverse osmosis systems remove a wider range of contaminants. By using a filtration system that spans your entire house, you can rest assured that the water you drink, bathe in, cook with, and clean with has all been filtered.
A system that combines both water softening and filtration gives you the best of both worlds! Water is first softened, then filtered to remove any remaining impurities. By treating water at its main entry point into your home, you can ensure that you have clean, safe water throughout your house.
What Are the Alternatives?
If you’re wondering whether a whole house water softener and filtration system is right for you, it makes sense to consider the alternatives so you can make sure you find the best fit for your house.
- Point-of-Use-Filters: These filters are applied individually to specific areas, such as your kitchen faucet or under your kitchen sink. If your water quality is good enough that you’re only concerned with filtering it to drink and cook with, then you can get away with simply filtering it in your kitchen as opposed to your entire house.
- Shower Head Filters: These filters are made to fit on any standard shower head. If you’re not concerned about your drinking water and just want softer, less harsh water to shower in, these are a great choice. They minimize the amount of chlorine and minerals that reaches you as you shower.
- Pitcher Filters: These portable water pitchers come with a filter built in. All you have to do is fill up the pitcher with water from your tap and let it drain through the filter cartridge. Pitcher filters are a good solution if all you want is to make your drinking water a little cleaner and tastier. This is often the cheapest and easiest option, but it may not be effective for certain contaminants.
These alternatives tend to be less expensive and more manageable, especially for renters who don’t want to commit to a whole house system. But as you’ll see, there are plenty of advantages to softening and filtering water throughout your home.
The Advantages of a Whole House Water Softener and Filtration System
There are plenty of benefits to getting a whole house water system, but these are the top four we hear our customers discussing.
- Better Water Quality: Whether you rely on well water or you’re dissatisfied with your municipal water, whole house filtration systems are designed to remove a wide range of impurities. Because they work throughout your home, you can trust that water from any household faucet is safe to drink and wash, clean, or cook with. If you have young children, elderly family members, or people with certain health conditions living in your home, it could be especially important to filter your water.
- Less Damage to Plumbing: Hard water isn’t just hard on our bodies—it can be hard on plumbing and appliances as well. Your pipes and faucets can become clogged, leaky, or damaged due to scale buildup, causing issues with dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters, and more. By softening water before it gets to your plumbing, you can keep these minerals from building up in your pipes, fixtures, and appliances.
- Gentler on Skin and Hair: Hard water contains minerals that are harsh on your hair and skin, stripping away their natural oils. This can make your skin dry and itchy, while your hair becomes dull and brittle. Softened water can help keep everyone in your household more comfortable.
More Environmentally Friendly: If your water is unsafe to drink, you might think about simply getting bottled water. But bottled water is not only more expensive in the long run, but also more harmful to the environment by producing a significant amount of plastic waste. By filtering tap water directly at the main source with a whole house system, you can rest assured that water from any household faucet is clean and safe to drink.
The Disadvantages of a Whole House Water Softener and Filtration System
To make sure a whole house water softener and filtration system is right for you, it’s important to also consider the downsides:
- Higher Costs Upfront: Whole house systems vary in price and complexity, and the best setup for your home depends on your filtration needs, household size, water usage, and plumbing setup. In many cases, a high-quality system can cost $1,500 to $6,000, making it more expensive at first than many of the alternatives. However, once the system is installed, its costs will decrease significantly. It requires periodic maintenance (like any major appliance) to keep it in top condition, as well as occasional filter changes or salt refills (if using a salt-based softener).
- Less Suitable for Renters: Renters may not be allowed to install a whole house system. Even if they have the option, they may not want to invest in an expensive water softener and filtration system for a house they will only live in temporarily. In this case, you may be able to reach an agreement to share the costs of a whole house system with the owner—or you may choose to go with an alternative water softener or filtration solution instead.
- Requires Professional Installation: While there are some water softeners and filters you can set up yourself, a whole house system is not one of them. It needs to be integrated correctly with your main water line in order to function properly, as well as avoid potential damage to your plumbing. If you want to learn more about this, you can read how the installation works here.
While a whole house system doesn’t work for everyone, it can provide peace of mind and long-term benefits for those who do want to invest in one.
Our Professional Plumbing Services
If you live in one of our service areas in Louisiana, then you’re in luck. Goodbee Plumbing is a trusted local company, and whether you choose a whole house system or another option, we’re proud to provide water treatment services that include installation and maintenance for water softener, water filtration, reverse osmosis, or combined systems.
With 5-star reviews from customers, 25 years of experience, same-day service availability, and a customer satisfaction guarantee, we’re confident that we can provide the plumbing services you need. Give us a buzz today by calling 985-893-1883!