What Is the Difference Between Whole House Water Filtration and Point-of-Use Filters?

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Proper water filtration can improve the appearance, odor, and taste of tap water. Once the filtration system removes chemicals and impurities, the water becomes safe for drinking.

You can use point-of-use filters or whole house water filtration systems to treat your water. Here are some of the main differences between the two systems:

Whole House Water Filtration

A whole house water filtration system treats water at the point where it enters your house. If your house has a concrete slab foundation, the water entry point might be on your foundation wall below the laundry room or kitchen.

The entry point can also be located beneath the frost line in houses with a basement. You may also find the main water line inside the crawl space of your home.

Whole house filters use multiple types of filters and purification methods, such as carbon filters, sediment filters, and UV sterilization. Sediment filters include a media filter and filter housing that helps with the removal of larger impurities such as clay, rust, dirt, silt, and sand.

Carbon filters use activated carbon with a larger surface area to offer effective filtration capabilities. They trap smaller impurities such as chlorine and organic compounds.

Some whole house filtration systems use ultraviolet sterilization to trap and kill microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. UV filters create the safest water for drinking as they remove organisms that can cause infections.

The main benefit of whole house water filtration systems is that all the water in your house is clean and safe for use as soon as it comes out of the faucet. Filtration systems also get rid of minerals in hard water to protect your appliances and plumbing from scale and premature wear. You can use this treated water to cook and clean without worrying about contaminants or mineral buildup.

Point-of-Use Water Filtration

Point-of-use water filtration systems are placed at specific water outlets in your home. These filtration systems can be used on faucets in laundry rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor outlets. Other places where you can use individual filtration systems include showerheads, bathtubs, dishwashers, and ice makers. Point-of-use filtration systems focus on specific water impurities like metals, minerals, parasites, and bacteria.

If you want to filter a wider range of impurities, select an under-the-sink filter that combines several filtration technologies. Under-the-sink filters use mechanical filtration, reverse osmosis, and carbon filtration to trap as many contaminants as possible. You can also find filters that attach directly to the faucet.

Point-of-use filtration systems have quick installation processes and may be an affordable water treatment option. Since they only work at specific points of the house, they use less energy than whole house filtration systems. These smaller devices may require more frequent replacements or maintenance services over time.

Choose a Filtration System

The water filtration system you choose depends on your budget, the quality of water in your area, and your household’s water usage needs. When you hire a water treatment professional, they will assess your home’s water purification needs and suggest an appropriate filtration system.

They also perform tests on your water to identify which contaminants are present and which filters will be most effective. Contact a water treatment company today to learn more about installing a filtration system in your home.