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How to Install Water Filters

Installing a new water filter can be a great investment, but in many cases, the installation process can be daunting. How to install a water filter will depend on which type of filtration system you have and how your home is configured.

Proper installation of clean water filters is essential for them to function correctly. Because of this, it is often preferable to have a professional do the installation for you. We’ll explore the installation process and explain why a professional can help make the process as easy and seamless as possible.

Considerations for Installing Water Filters

If you are exploring how to install water filters, there are a couple of key considerations that will help you determine the installation process. There are different types of water filters, and many will require a unique process to properly install. Let’s take a look at some of the most important considerations that will impact how to install a water filter.

Point-of-Use or Point-of-Entry?

The first major decision that will determine the installation process for your water filter is where your filter is going to be installed. Water filters can be broken down into two broad categories; point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE).

Point-of-use systems are used to provide water at a discrete location within your home. Often this is at your kitchen sink to provide filtered drinking water. Some point-of-use systems are small enough to be installed under your sink, while others must be installed nearby and piped in.

In contrast, point-of-entry systems are installed where the municipal water line comes into your house. Point-of-entry systems are designed to condition or filter the water supply going throughout your entire home. 

Each different system will require unique considerations. Systems designed to deliver filtered water at a single tap will battle space constraints, while whole- water filter house systems tend to be larger. Both systems will require modification of existing plumbing, so a high degree of knowledge about plumbing and comfort working with it is required.

What Type of System?

Depending on whether you are installing a reverse-osmosis system, a water filter that uses activated carbon, or a water softener, you’ll have different considerations for your installation. Each of these systems functions differently, and those differences result in different needs for installation.

Reverse-osmosis filters and water softening systems both need a way to expel wastewater containing unwanted contaminants. To understand this better, let’s take a look at how reverse osmosis and water softening systems work since these are the most common types of residential water filtration systems.

Reverse osmosis systems take tap water and force it across a membrane at high pressure. The membrane in the system is semi-permeable, meaning water can pass through it but sediment or other molecules larger than the pores in the membrane cannot. The size of the pores in the membrane will be a determining factor in which contaminants it keeps out. 

While most of the water entering reverse-osmosis water filtration systems is pushed through the membrane and comes out filtered, a small percentage of water is not. This water contains the concentrated contaminants that were left behind during the process and must be flushed down a drain, which is usually done through a drain line.

Ease of Access

Most water filters will require some type of maintenance over the years, so taking the time beforehand to consider how to maximize access can save you a lot of headaches down the road. Take the time to fully understand the maintenance process before you install your system so that you can identify any potential problems beforehand.

Many water filtration systems have more than one filtration media installed, which may need to be replaced at different intervals and involve a different process to complete. Walking through each of these procedures before you begin the installation can help you identify any shortcomings with your installation location.

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The Advantages of Professional Installation

The truth is, you should probably leave installing your house water filtration system to the professionals. Even if you are handy and have a familiarity with plumbing, there are some very good reasons why the professionals at Rayne Water can help save you time and stress.

Product Knowledge

The professionals who work with water filtration systems every day know what’s needed to ensure the installation goes smoothly. Most water filtration systems have requirements that are unique for them to function correctly. Having a deep understanding of the product itself is advantageous and helps ensure the installation process runs smoothly.

Experience

No two installations are alike, which is why it is so hard to provide a comprehensive water filter installation guide. Just like each water purification system may have unique requirements, each home is different and will require special considerations during the installation process. 

Professionals can identify pitfalls early on and help avoid any unnecessary problems down the road. With experience comes exposure to what works and what doesn’t work. Understanding the common mistakes for water filter installations can help you avoid costly repairs down the road.

Ease

Having someone else install your water purification system is by far the easiest solution available. You won’t have to worry about rerouting plumbing in tight spaces or dealing with coming up with innovative mounting solutions. Instead, you’ll get access to clean, filtered water without breaking a sweat.

This is also important because some people let a daunting installation process stop them from enjoying clean, filtered water. You shouldn’t have to go through a complicated installation process or learn a new trade to enjoy the benefits of one of our water filtration systems. Instead, with a Rayne technician performing your installation you’ll have ready access to filtered water before you know it.

Proper Function

One important thing to keep in mind about your water filtration system is they tend to be a long-term investment. Filtration systems can last decades with proper maintenance. It will need to stand the test of time, which is why you want to invest in a high-quality system like Rayne. In order for it to provide clean filtered drinking water for years to come it needs to be installed properly.

By having a professional technician perform the water filter installation, you’ll be assured your system is set-up correctly from the beginning. This can help you avoid any issues with the unit down the road, such as leaks, which may lead to costly repairs. With proper installation, you’ll have the access to perform any required maintenance, which will ensure your system remains functioning over the years.

Why You Should Install a Water Filter

Some people might wonder if installing a water filter is worth the trouble. After all, your tap water has already been treated hasn’t it? 

Unless you are drinking water from a private well, in which case you should definitely be filtering your water, the water coming out of your tap from your community water supplier has undergone a series of treatments. These treatments are designed to bring water into line with regulatory requirements for clean water, most notably the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act.

Unfortunately, water quality violations happen all the time in the United States. In fact, a report released by the National Resources Defence Council (NRDC) found an estimated 77 million people were exposed to water in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act in 2015. In the same year, there were over 80,000 violations reported for water delivered from municipal water suppliers.

Further evidence of the risk posed by water quality violations is not difficult to find. A report released in 2019 by the Environmental Working Group found over 7.5 million people in California were being exposed to elevated levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS), which are a type of chemicals are commonly used in firefighting foams, food packaging, and cosmetics.

Keep in mind, many water quality violations are only noticed after consumers have been exposed to contaminants. For protection in real-time, you must filter your water against a wide range of contaminants, including microbes, PFAS, disinfectant chemicals, solvents, pesticides, and other common contaminants.

Final Thoughts

Installing a water filter system can be a challenging process that requires a solid knowledge of plumbing and an understanding of the system you plan on installing. You’ll also need to consider how to maintain the system and give yourself access to perform routine maintenance. 

Because of this, it is recommended that you have a professional install your water filter system. If you aren’t sure about what to look for in a water filter, contact Rayne Water to have a water quality test done at your home. By understanding exactly what contaminants are in your water and what your desired outcome is, one of our professional technicians can guide you towards the product that fits your needs. 

To learn more about how to install water filters or what filtration systems are available in your area, please contact Rayne Water today.

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Sources:

  1. https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/c-s1-05.pdf
  2. https://www.explainthatstuff.com/howwaterfilterswork.html
  3. https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/ask-well-should-you-filter-your-water/
  4. https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/27/us/pfas-california-contamination-trnd/index.html