How to Understand a Home Water Filtration System

The principles of home water filtration are simple.

A home water filtration system attaches to the main water line and filters out a variety of substances from the drinking water. The device contains a filter that removes odors and substances from the water such as chlorine and sulfur. In addition, the filtration system removes minerals that cause hard water, such as calcium and magnesium as well as sediment. A home water filtration system is actually very simple to understand and maintain.

Instructions

1. Locate the home water filtration system by looking in the garage, laundry room or wherever the home's hot water heater is installed. The device looks like a large, clear canister that contains water and may be hung on the wall or situated near the floor.

2. Look at the large, clear pitcher that contains water. This is the main canister of the water filter that holds the water while it is being filtered. Look into the center of the canister for a white cylinder. This cylinder is the filter and is what actually removes the sediment, chemicals and minerals from the water. If the outside of the filter looks like solid plastic, the filer is a carbon filter. If the filter has a fan-like appearance, this is a pleated filter.

3. Examine the two pipes that enter the sides of the water filter canister. The pipe that leads into the canister from outside the house is the main water line for the house. The pipe that runs out the other side is the one that supplies clean, filtered water to the household. This line frequently extends straight to the hot water heater.

4. Locate the two water shutoff valves on each pipe extending from the water filter canister. The shut off valves may be silver, like typical shutoff valves, or may be colored levers that move up and down. These water shutoff valves are turned to stop the water flow while the homeowner changes out the filter cartridge inside the home filtration system.

5. Find the copper-colored wire attached to both sides of the pipes. This is the ground wire that connects to the home's electrical system and provides a way to discharge excess electric current in the event of a power surge.

Tips & Warnings

• Home water filtration systems are installed on the water pipe before the home's hot water heater. This way the filer removes excess sediment that can be harmful to the hot water heater.

References

• This Old House: How to Install a Whole-House Water Filter