What is Whole House Water Filtration?

Point of Entry Filtration Systems (POE)

A whole house water filtration system treats all the water distributed throughout your household and is installed where the first entry point of water is received. This method guarantees that water is filtered the moment it flows into your home, before it comes out of the tap. This equipment is called POE, or a point of entry system. A POE whole house water filtration system used for city water connects directly to your water line and acts as a central filtration device. For homes using a well water supply, POE filtration is installed directly after the pressure tank. Point of entry systems remove odors, chlorine, nitrates, sulfates, and other contaminants, to produce cleaner, better water for everyday use.

POE whole house water filtration systems are advantageous for homeowners; they are durable, easy to maintain, and process a high volume of water. A point of entry system offers peace of mind to homeowners every time a faucet is used. Treating water at its point of entry protects your property, as well as your health. Water using appliances-- water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, etc.-- will have a longer life, and treating your water before it travels through piping prevents scale and mineral buildup.

Point of Use Filtration (POU)

Another filtration method available is a POU, or a point of use system. A POU system will treat only the water that comes from the appliance to which it is connected. These systems include under the counter filters, reverse osmosis systems, and plumbed-in single tap solutions. The benefit of a point of use system is that they are easy to install and less expensive than a POE system. It has a smaller capacity than a point of entry system, as its best suited for installation at a single connection point where there is light usage. Point of use systems require regular maintenance, with filter replacement typically every 3-6 months, point of entry system filters last 5-7 years in comparison. A POU system delivers high-quality drinking water, but can only be installed and used at single water points.

Drinking contaminated water is not the only way it can be harmful. We all need clean water to drink, but how else are we exposed to toxins in water? We don’t always think about our water unless it looks unclean, especially when we bathe in it. But chemicals are just as dangerous to breathe in as they are to drink. When we shower, we’re exposed to contaminants, like chlorine and chloramine when we use unfiltered water, or a POU system that doesn’t filter water other than from the kitchen sink. Showering with untreated water means breathing in potentially dangerous chemicals through aeration. By removing chemicals like chlorine and radon before they enter your water supply, it also means cleaner air.

Whole House Water Filtration Systems

Whole house water filtration systems are one of the most popular solutions for homes because of their ability to address nearly any water contaminant issue. They are relied upon to ensure that homeowners have access to clean, healthy water whenever needed. Not all home filtration systems are equally effective at treating contaminants. Having your water professionally testing before investing in equipment gives you the necessary information to select the best filtration system for your home’s water.

While there are a wide variety of systems that will treat a multitude of issues, there are only two ways for filtered water to be delivered, and only one way to pre-treat water at its source. When deciding between a whole home water treatment device or a point of use system, you’ll need to consider what you want to get out of your filtration system. Do you need high-quality drinking water from only your kitchen tap? Does it matter to you that all other faucets in your home will produce unfiltered water? Point of use systems will restrict your good quality drinking water to a single source in your home, and will not treat water as it flows through your pipes.

Treating all the water that enters your home with a whole house water filtration system will remove undesirables from every drop of water throughout your house—that means toilets, sinks, washing machines, dishwashers, showers, and even ice cube makers. Troublesome stains in toilets? Residue in showers? Hard water problems? Gone. The advantages of having a whole house water filtration system are significant.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) reports that 90% of the world’s water supply is unfit for drinking without some sort of treatment. Water needs to be decontaminated before it can be distributed from a municipal water supply. Most of these treatment plants use chlorine to prevent contamination with germs and bacteria. While chlorine is good for disinfecting water, it’s not good for ingesting and has proven harmful to our health. The good news is that using a whole house water filtration system will remove leftover chlorine from your water supply before it enters your tap.

A whole house filtration system is the best, and last line of defense when other sanitation or city systems break down. But whether you receive your water from a private well or a city supply, there are many filtration options that will remove contaminants from the water entering your home.