For millions of homes, the primary source of water comes from a well. Well water is generally considered to be safe to drink and use for everyday purposes, such as cooking and showering, as long as it is filtered.
Still, when you buy a home with a well, it is natural for you to have concerns about the safety of the water from it. You also wonder how you can filter it so that it poses no risk to your family. Using the helpful information here, you can invest in the best whole house water filter for your well today.
Common Questions about Wells and Well Water
Homeowners who have never before used or drank water from a well naturally have questions about it. Some of the most common questions are:
Is Well Water Really Safe?
With proper care and attention from the property owner, well water can be safe to use for everyday purposes like drinking, cooking, bathing and doing laundry. It is important to note that the Environmental Protection Agency does not regulate the quality or safety of water from wells on private property. As such, it is up to each property owner to ensure that the water coming from the well is safe and free of contaminants.
The best way to ensure that any water that you get from the well on your property is to install a whole house water filter for it. The filter works to remove agents that can not only compromise the taste of the water but also potentially make you and your family sick.
What Contaminants are in Untreated Water from a Well?
Without the installation and use of a high-quality whole house water filter, well water can contain numerous contaminants that can pose a serious health risk to you and your family. These agents are microscopic and cannot be seen and, in some cases, tasted. However, their presence can have a detrimental impact on your water’s safety and quality.
Microorganisms, for example, are commonly found in untreated well water. They can include:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Fungi
- Parasites
They come from human sewage and animal waste that can be present in unfiltered water from wells. When you ingest them, they compromise your digestive tract and cause ailments like vomiting, diarrhea and extreme fatigue.
Unfiltered water can also contain nitrate and nitrite, elements that are commonly used in chemical fertilizers. They seep into wells and contaminate the water. They reduce the blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. Children in particular can suffer from ingesting these agents.
Unfiltered water from a well can also contain a host of heavy metals like:
- Arsenic
- Cadmium
- Antimony
- Copper
- Lead
- Selenium
People who ingest high amounts of these and other heavy metals found in well water can suffer from damages to organs like the kidneys, liver and intestines. They also can develop anemia and cancer.
Additionally, water from a well that has not been put through a whole house water filter can contain organic chemicals. These chemicals come from products like inks, dyes, pharmaceuticals, paints, petroleum, disinfectants and others that people use everyday. Ingesting organic chemicals in high amounts can lead to damage to your circulatory, nervous and reproductive systems.
Finally, water from a well that is not treated with a whole house water filter can contain dangerously high levels of fluoride. Fluoride in small quantities is good for dental health. However, when consumed in large amounts from untreated water, it can cause a condition known as skeletal fluorosis, which results in pain and tenderness in your joints and bones.
How Can You Tell if Your Well Water is Safe?
The most obvious way to tell if the water from your well is safe is by looking at its color. If it has any kind of color to it, it could be unsafe to drink.
For example, if your well water is has a brown or red tint to it, you can assume that it contains heavy metals like iron and manganese in it. These metals can not only taint the taste of your water. They can also cause the water to stain your bathtub, shower stall and sink as well as your laundry.
If your well water has a blue or green color to it, it could contain high levels of copper. The copper may or may not taint the taste of your water. However, it is dangerous to consume even in small amounts. You must install a whole house water filter to eliminate it from your water.
If your water is yellow or has a white or cloudy appearance, it could contain high amounts of organic chemicals. This problem is common with shallow wells.
Another way to tell if your well water could be compromised involves checking its well cap. If the well cap is improperly installed or damaged, it could allow in contaminants. The well also could contain the decomposing remains of insects or animals that crawled inside past the damaged cap and died inside of your well.
Preventing these issues is only possible after you install and use a high-quality whole house water filter. The filter will remove these toxic elements and make your water clear and safe to use.
How Often Must I Change the Whole House Water Filter for My Well?
It is generally recommended that you change your whole house water filter every 30 to 90 days. The frequency at which you change it will largely depend on the quality of the water from your well and how laden it is with contaminants and debris. However, it is recommended that you do not use the filter past three months.
It is also recommended that you purchase and use the highest quality of whole house water filter that is available to you. Even the best filters are not overly expensive. Most are affordable and readily available for purchase in your local big box store, hardware or home improvement store or online.
They also are not difficult to install by yourself. Most have instructions that show you clearly how to install them properly. Still, if you are not confident in your ability to install one or you lack the proper tools, you should hire a licensed plumber to install your whole house water water filter for you.
How Do I Change My Whole House Water Filter?
Changing your own whole house water filter for your well is relatively straightforward. You must ensure that you have the right size filter on hand, however. You can check the filter model number on the current filter being used or in the well’s filter house.
Before you start, you must turn off your home’s water and also unplug appliances like the washer to which the water is connected. You also must avoid using the bathroom while you are changing the filter.
Some of the tools that you need for the job are:
- A filter wrench
- A strap wrench
- Replacement O-ring for the big blue filter
- Food grade silicon grease
- Plumber’s tape
- A large bucket to catch spills and leaks under the whole house filter
- Rags for cleaning up after you are finished
You must depressurize the system before you begin installing the new filter. You also must clean out the filter housing before putting the new one in.
Next, install the new O-ring and then put plumber’s tape around the threads of the filter canister. Insert the new filter, pressurize the system again and then clean up the area where you worked.
The entire process should only take a matter of minutes. However, if you are not sure of how to change out the filter, even with the steps found on its box or container, you may want to hire a professional plumber or handyman for the job. Proper installation of the filter is critical for its function and also for the safety and quality of the water that you get from your property’s well.
Whole House Water Filter Reviews
Some of the leading whole house water filters are:
Aquasana EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST
Aquasana’s EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST filter for well water is a filter system that comes with a built-in ultraviolet or UV purifier and salt-free descaler. It removes 97 percent of the sediments and chlorine as well as 99 percent of viruses and bacteria in your well’s water.
It features a carbon media upgrade that is designed just for well water. It also prevents minerals from building up in your home’s plumbing, causing scaling that can reduce flow and speed of water out of your taps. It is built to provide great tasting water from your well every time.
To make installation of your filter easier, the Aquasana EQ-WELL-UV-PRO-AST comes with a pro install kit. It is designed to connect seamlessly to your whole house filter system and protects your plumbing and appliances from the damages that can occur by using unfiltered water from a well. It is made to be environmentally friendly and prevent contamination to your water and soil.
Some of its pros include:
Easy-to-install design
- Large treatment capacity of 500,000 gallons
- Built-in salt water conditioner
- Reduces herbicides and pesticides in your water
- Includes a UV purifier
- Available with well water filter upgrades
- Water filter replacements are available for it
Another advantage that comes with this particular whole house water filter is that it reduces or eliminates stains, spots and scales in your sinks and shower stall as well as your dishes and glassware.
Some of its disadvantages include:
- Not available with a larger line or higher flow rate
- Can be prone to leaks
- Can cause the system to lose pressure after several months of use
- Can damage tap fittings if it is not changed out every three months
This particular filter gets good reviews for immediate performance but then experiences diminished performance after several weeks of use.
iSpring WGB32B 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System
iSpring’s WGB32B 3-stage whole house water filtration system is designed to protect your entire family from contaminants and debris commonly found in your well’s water. It is a 20-inch filter that with built-in sediment and carbon block filters. It promises to remove 99 percent of the chlorine in your water as well as 95 percent of elements like rust, sediment pesticides, herbicides, industrial solvents and VOCs, or volatile organic compounds.
The maker of this filter also designed it to be easy to install. To answer your questions, it offers a YouTube video that you can watch to learn how to install it properly and also learn about its design and overall benefits. You are left with healthy and safe water that you and your family can use to drink, cook with, and do laundry.
Some of its pros are:
- How-to manual included with the filter
- Designed for minimum maintenance
- Achieves filtration down to five microns
- Made from high-quality coconut shell carbon
- Third-party tested to ensure it meets industry standards
- Filtering capacity of 100,000 gallons
This filter system additionally has a first stage capacity filter that is made from polypropylene. It ensures that the water from your well gets filtered thoroughly.
Some of the cons of this filter are:
- Not effective in reducing or filtering out total dissolved solids or TDS
- Can be prone to leaks
- Can require an additional filter to remove iron and manganese
- Carbon filters are delicate and can break easily
The pressure filters on this system are also delicate and require careful handling. If they are not handled appropriately, they can break when you try to install the system.
Home Master HMF3SDGFEC 3-Stage Whole House Water Filter
Home Master’s HF3SDGFEC 3-stage whole house water filter is designed to remove harmful elements like carbon, fine sediment and iron. It is designed not only for use on city water but also well water.
It has large filter housings that come with one-inch ports that allow for the strongest water pressure possible. It can handle up to 15 gallons per minute.
Its design makes it effective for removing 95 percent of elements like iron, manganese, sediment and both organic and inorganic chemicals. It can also remove foul tastes and odors that can come from the water in your well.
It comes with a host of parts that you need to fit the whole house water filter in your home. You get a steel mounting bracket, bolts, and a housing wrench. It also comes with an easy-to-follow instruction booklet that tells you how to install it correctly.
Some of its pros are:
- Large filters that require less maintenance and service
- First stage sediment filter made out of multi-layer polypropylene
- Has a coconut shell carbon filter for maximum removal of contaminants
- Made to ensure the maximum comfort and safety of your home and well
This filtering system also is made to filter your home’s water without negatively impacting its water pressure.
Some of its cons are:
- May take a few days to begin working completely
- Works best immediately but can suffer performance issues after several weeks
- Can be prone to leaks from its housings
- May not completely stop well water from causing rust stains inside the house
Finding replacement filters for it can also be challenging. Replacement filters may have to be purchased online instead of being available in your local stores.
SpringWell Whole House Well Water Filter System
Springwell offers a whole house well water filter system that is ideal for wells dug on private property. It uses the latest technology found in the water filtration industry. It makes filtering water from your well more economical as well as more environmentally friendly.
This system specifically targets elements that can cause your family to get sick from using untreated water from the well. It removes iron, manganese, and sulfur to name just a few. It makes your water look and smell clean so that it tastes great and does not leave behind stains.
Further, this filtering system comes with a lifetime guarantee. You can have it replaced or refunded if it malfunctions because of manufacturing defects. It also comes with a six-month guarantee to ensure that it serves your household well and that it does what it is designed to do for making your well’s water safe to use and drink.
SpringWell has over 20 years in the water filtration industry and incorporates a strong conviction that every family deserves clean and safe water into its everyday operations. It wants this water filtration system to be the last one that you will ever need or want for making the water from your well safe for your entire family.
Some of its benefits include:
- Removes significant quantities of hydrogen sulfide from water
- Eliminates high amounts of manganese
- Designed to require no maintenance
- Can be programmed for daily backwash to get rid of contaminants
- Can also be set to replenish the filter media bed
SpringWell’s whole house water filter system additionally uses a regeneration process that adds a fresh air pocket to your well to remove any sulfur smell from the water.
Some of its disadvantages include:
- Delicate small parts that can break easily if mishandled
- Filter replacements can be pricier than other brands of filtering systems
- Does not eliminate the need for a reverse osmosis system
- Is not optimally designed for removing iron
Overall, however, it provides fast and efficient filtering for wells on private lands. It makes the water from wells comparable in taste, quality and color to water that comes from municipal or county water lines.
Conclusion
While these four filters are among the best for filtering well water, there is one clear whole house water filter winner. Based on its design, capabilities and technology, SpringWell’s Whole House Well Water Filter System outshines its competition.
The technology found with this filtering system alone makes it a worthwhile investment for your home and family. It has one of the most capable of UV purification systems to remove harmful contaminants that can make you and your loved ones sick. It not only removes carbon and chlorine but also manganese, nitrate, nitrite and microorganisms that are prevalent in most wells today.
It also has technology that makes it easy and convenient to use. It allows users to pair their Bluetooth device to the system to make it easier to program and control.
Well owners can choose at what time it goes through cycles for backwashes, for example. They can also control settings for air draw and timing. They additionally can check in on the valves’ settings and find out how well their filters are working anytime of the day using their smartphone or tablet.
Finally, it offers its high-quality filtering capabilities without compromising the water pressure in your home. You can take showers, cook, do laundry and carry out other normal tasks that you use water for without being inconvenienced by poor water pressure. You get anywhere from 12 to 20 gallons per minute with this water filtering system.
Filtering the water from your well is critical to the health and safety of your household. You can keep it clean, free from unpleasant odors and remove dangerous bacteria, viruses, organic chemicals and metals by using a high-quality whole house water filter specifically designed to treat your well’s water.
Sources:
https://www.epa.gov/privatewells
https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/potential-well-water-contaminants-and-their-impacts
https://www.wikihow.com/Change-a-Well-Water-Filter