How Long Does A Whole House Water Filter Last?

Wanting to invest in a whole house water filtration system but not too sure yet if it’s a worthy investment? Now, more and more people are using whole house water filtration systems. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 4 out of 10 Americans use home water treatment units.

You’ll be glad to know that whole house water filters can last for more than a decade or even two. That’s not even the best part yet. The best part is that a whole house water filtration system can need little to no maintenance at all. We’ll get into more of the details later. For now, it’s important to know more about the system and how such a system can last for a very long time.

Whole House Water Filtration Systems

There are point of entry (POE) filters and point of use (POU) filters. A whole house water filter is a POE system. Meanwhile, filters for single or multiple taps are examples of POU systems. 

As POE systems are made to filter huge amounts of water enough to support an entire house, it’s built to last and as long as you buy the item from a trusted and reliable company, you won’t have any problems with a short-lived product. 

While POU filters can also last a long time, you can expect whole house filters to last up to 10 or even 20 years. Even when both types of filtration system can last for a very long time, it comes down to which can be more advantageous.

By knowing the annual upkeep, you can also determine which type of filtration system can enable you to save more. 

Replacing a whole house water filter should be done every three to six months. This depends on the capability of the filtration system, the amount of contaminants in the water and the amount of water being used daily. Ultimately, it’s the capacity that determines the life of the filter cartridge. 

Another variable to know just how much you need to change the filter is the type of filtration system. Filtration systems can either make use of:

Most water filters have a carbon filter. Carbon filters need to be replaced more often than reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis lasts longer but also needs to be replaced.

When Should You Replace Filters?

Depending on the design of your water filter, there can be different indications as to when you should replace the filters. Some water filters have indicator strips that change their color when it’s time to replace the filter.

Some have instructions on their manual as to how long the water filter can be used until it should be replaced. However, it’s not a strict rule. It’s not necessary to replace the filter after it has reached the recommended time. 

It can be expensive to replace filters and it’s important to know other indications as to when replacement is needed. By knowing other indications, you can go well beyond the recommended time saving money by using the filters for a longer time.

Here’s what you need to be more aware to know if it’s time to replace the filters:

  • Taste
  • Appearance
  • Flow of Water

Taste - If the water starts to have an unpleasant scent and taste, you need to change the filter.

Appearance - If the quality of water changes, when there becomes sediments and discoloration, you need to change the filter.

Flow of water - If hot water begins to flow slower and slower, it can mean that the filter is clogged and needs to be changed.

You can also check the filter to see just how stained or ‘dirty’ it is. You can clean the filter to extend its life. However, eventually, the filter will have to be replaced. 

What’s the Best One in the Market?

As mentioned earlier, a whole house water filter needs to be replaced every three to six months. But that’s not the best that the market has to offer. Some whole house water filters are more advanced and can last up to 5 years. 

Imagine how much you can save by not having to keep on replacing filters for 5 years. While they can be expensive, you can still end up saving much more by having a lesser annual upkeep for the system. 

While not having to replace filters for five long years already sounds spectacular, you might find it surprising to know that there now exists a whole house water filter that can last over 20 years. In other words, it’s a system that requires zero maintenance.

This is possible through having a filtration system that can filter up to 3.2 million gallons of water. This is regardless whether the source is city or well water. Investing in a whole house water filter that requires zero maintenance has a lot of benefits.

More than not having the need for maintenance, the technology is also capable of removing all harmful contaminants that may be present in the water. 

Conclusion

For a lot of whole house water filters, the filter needs to be changed every three to six months. There are a few factors that can affect the life of the water filter. They are:

  • The capacity of the filter
  • The contaminants in the water
  • Amount of water being used

If you don’t replace the filter, your water can begin to taste and smell funny, show discoloration and have sediments and the flow of hot water becomes slower. Instead of becoming a safeguard for your home, your filter can instead cause secondary pollution. 

For high-end whole house water filters, they can last up to five years. Replacing filters can be expensive so it’s wise to invest in a filter that can last for a long time. While it is an expensive investment, it helps you save more by having less annual cost for upkeep. 

A great thing about a whole house water filtration system is that they can be combined with a water softener. So, if you don’t want to have problems with hard water, you can just add a water softener to avoid having issues with hard water. 

Our recommendation for you is to invest in a whole house water filter that can last for up to 20 years. Why? Because it’s the first and the last whole house water filter that you’ll need to buy. With needing no maintenance, it helps you save money and you also won’t have to trouble yourself with still having to change the filters.

For a water filter that can last over 20 years, go for the AquaOx Whole House System.

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