Whole House Water Systems
If you want to enjoy clean and filtered water in your home, a whole house system is essential. These systems protect you from contaminants, safeguard your skin and hair, and make cleaning easier than ever.
Water enters the house plumbing through a service pipe, passes a meter to measure consumption, and then heads into branching pipes to each fixture in the household.
Water filtration system
The water that comes out of your home’s taps travels through miles of pipes, aquifers, and treatment systems before reaching you. This can leave it contaminated with a variety of substances. Water filters are one of the best ways to prevent these contaminants from entering your household water supply.
The best option is a whole house filter system that provides clean water for all faucets and water-using appliances. These systems can reduce or remove chlorine, heavy metals, toxins, and other contaminants from your household water. They can also reduce the amount of mineral build-up in your appliances and improve their performance, extending their lifespan.
Most of the time, you will want a multistage reverse osmosis water filtration system to protect your family’s health and improve the taste and appearance of your household water. These types of filters eliminate a wide range of contaminants, including PFAS, lead, arsenic, fluoride, and hard minerals.
Another type of household water filtration is a water softener, which reduces the hardness of your household water. It works by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions in your water with sodium ions from salt. These bind with your water molecules and keep them from sticking to surfaces like pipes and faucets.
Reverse osmosis unit
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems use multiple stages of filtration to provide high-quality drinking water. The first stage uses a sediment filter to remove dirt, sand, and rust from the water, which helps prevent clogs in subsequent filters. Next, a pre-carbon block binds with positively charged ions to prevent chemical compounds like chlorine and chloramines from passing through. Finally, the reverse osmosis membrane removes larger molecules from the water, including sodium, high levels of lead, and dissolved minerals. These toxins are then flushed from the system into the drain.
Many homeowners prefer to install a point-of-use reverse osmosis system to treat the water that comes out of one faucet, such as a kitchen sink. household water systems This type of water filtration system is usually less expensive than a whole-house RO system, and it’s easier to install.
In addition, a point-of-use system doesn’t waste any water like a whole-house RO system does. However, it’s important to note that these systems don’t remove all contaminants from the water. They may still contain traces of minerals that are important for human health, such as calcium and magnesium.
Kinetico offers both point-of-entry and point-of-use reverse osmosis systems that are third-party certified to reduce more contaminants than other comparable systems. You can also choose to add a Mineral Boost cartridge to your RO system to remove hardness and increase the amount of healthy minerals in your drinking water.
Water softener
A water softener eliminates hard minerals in your home’s incoming water supply. These minerals can clog pipes, prevent soap from lathering and damage internal heating systems and water-based appliances. A water softener removes these minerals using ion exchange. It replaces them with sodium ions, which are less damaging to your plumbing and appliances. A salt based system can be metered or timed, so you only use the amount of sodium you need for the softening process.
A water softener is a large container that contains resin beads which hold the magnesium and calcium ions responsible for hard water. When the resin reaches capacity, it is recharged in a brine solution that washes away the magnesium and calcium ions. A softener is connected to the household plumbing, typically close to the incoming water pipe. It can also be a part of a whole house water filtration system.
A water softerener should have smart features like water usage monitoring to help you set and track conservation goals. It should also provide real-time alerts when household water systems supplier it’s time to replenish the salt or perform maintenance. Some water softeners have leak detection capabilities, which can protect your home and help avoid expensive repair bills. Water softeners are available in a variety of sizes to fit your household’s needs. Determining which size you need depends on how much water you use and the hardness of your water supply.
Water heater
A water heater keeps your home’s hot water system running smoothly and efficiently. They work by storing a large, insulated tank and heating it on demand when water is called for at the tap. These systems are often overlooked until they stop working, and that can be a huge inconvenience for your family.
The cold water enters the water heater through a dip tube at the bottom, then it flows into the heater’s tank. Here, it is heated by either gas flames below the tank or electric elements suspended within it. The temperature is controlled by the thermostat, and the hottest water rises to the top. A drain valve is located near the bottom for removing sediment from the tank, and a pressure relief valve helps keep water pressure below the safe operating limit.
A water heater’s size and type depends on the number of people living in your home and your peak usage hours. A conventional tank-style water heater is the most common option, and they typically hold from 20 to 80 gallons. A digital display allows you to view the current water temperature and set a timer to turn off the water heater when you’re done using it. The newest models are more efficient and come with long warranties, too. Some also include a sacrificial anode for protecting the tank from corrosion.
