DIY home water filtration

[LittleLebowski]

I like Sharkbite stuff and have used it successfully. It’s time for a water filter for my well water, as I just had to replace water heater elements all gunked up with mineral deposits.

Is it me or does this kit (https://amzn.to/2Yrehb9) seem pretty danged expensive?

[blues]

I just have a standard canister style whole house water filter coming out from the well pressure tank. The original owner used some wound string filters but I've been using Filtrete (https://www.amazon.com/Filtrete-Standard-Universal-2-Filters-4WH-STDGR-F02/dp/B00910TZM4) and have been very satisfied. So far my appliances have been very happy.

[XXXsilverXXX]

Seems very expensive but if it works as advertised, then worth it. Having had worked installing and selling water filtration on the side for a friend, I still love RO, but If you have a ton of build up you may possibly be replacing filters monthly... That gets expensive. And us #poorfags (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=poorfags) need to keep it cheap.

[Crazy Dane]

That seems way too expensive. I am running a whole house cartridge filter similar to this; https://www.lowes.com/pd/Whirlpool-84219910-Single-Stage-Whole-House-Water-Filtration-System/1201339

Depending on the season, I can get 3 weeks to 6 months out of a 5 micron filter. If you want to go bigger there is this https://www.lowes.com/pd/Whirlpool-Single-Stage-Whole-House-Water-Filtration-System/50412472 Add a hand full of shark bite fittings and you good to go.


FYI, most of the filter housings are the same in regards to filter size and there is multiple types of filters to meet your needs.

[LittleLebowski]

That seems way too expensive. I am running a whole house cartridge filter similar to this; https://www.lowes.com/pd/Whirlpool-84219910-Single-Stage-Whole-House-Water-Filtration-System/1201339

Depending on the season, I can get 3 weeks to 6 months out of a 5 micron filter. If you want to go bigger there is this https://www.lowes.com/pd/Whirlpool-Single-Stage-Whole-House-Water-Filtration-System/50412472 Add a hand full of shark bite fittings and you good to go.


FYI, most of the filter housings are the same in regards to filter size and there is multiple types of filters to meet your needs.

That’s exactly what I was thinking. Is 5 micron good for pretty clean, non sulphurous well water, or go smaller?

[blues]

That’s exactly what I was thinking. Is 5 micron good for pretty clean, non sulphurous well water, or go smaller?

I've been using 5 micron for going on 16 years. No problems.

[Crazy Dane]

That’s exactly what I was thinking. Is 5 micron good for pretty clean, non sulphurous well water, or go smaller?

This is my non-expert opinion, It should work. That said, 1 micron is the finest I have found and it is too fine for my well.. I do have a friend that runs a series of filters. If I remember correctly he runs a 5m, 1m and a carbon filter. He put the 1m to save the carbon filter and only has to change those like once a year. For me the more it rains the faster I have to change mine. When we had the drought a few years ago I went almost 9 months on one filter. I get my replacements at Tractor Supply, a 2 pack is $8. Make sure you put the filter in a place with easy access. Under the kitchen sink is not easy access when you get older. Two years ago I put in a tall pantry cabinet and replumbed so I could put the filter in at chest height. Another pro tip just came to me, put in a quarter turn valve at the filter. When you close the valve you can turn on any faucet down stream to relieve the pressure. Last thing, pick up a tin of plumbers grease to lube the gasket to keep it from sticking. Its a food safe 100% silicon.

[blues]

...and buy spare O-rings. (I usually lube mine with a light dab of petroleum jelly.)

FES313, do you just change yours when you notice the water pressure drop?

I used to change mine based upon time or the look of the filter but a local plumber, (who lives out your way but is now retired, I believe), just told me to stop doing it on time / look and wait for the water pressure to drop.

That said, I get a long time out of the six month rated Filtrete (https://www.filtrete.com/3M/en_US/filtrete/products/~/Filtrete-Basic-Whole-House-Grooved-Replacement-Filter-Standard-Capacity/?N=4315+3294472998+3294529207&rt=rud) filters I linked to above. I can get between six months and a year

[Crazy Dane]

...and buy spare O-rings. (I usually lube mine with a light dab of petroleum jelly.)

FES313, do you just change yours when you notice the water pressure drop?

I used to change mine based upon time or the look of the filter but a local plumber, (who lives out your way but is now retired, I believe), just told me to stop doing it on time / look and wait for the water pressure to drop.

That said, I get a long time out of the six month rated Filtrete filters I linked to above. I can get between six months and a year

I change mine when the wife tells me she cant get the shampoo out of her hair which is way sooner than I think it needs. By the time I notice the pressure drop the filter is really caked up. I don't know what type of source they hit when they drilled my well because during the rainy season the water will rise to just a few feet below the top. It really keeps the well stirred up. During the dry periods it only drops to a bout 10 foot down. The good thing is I will never run out of water.

Drop the Vaseline and get some plumbers grease. The jelly will cause the rubber to harden and leak. I'm still on a 17 or 18 year old gasket.

[blues]

I change mine when the wife tells me she cant get the shampoo out of her hair which is way sooner than I think it needs. By the time I notice the pressure drop the filter is really caked up. I don't know what type of source they hit when they drilled my well because during the rainy season the water will rise to just a few feet below the top. It really keeps the well stirred up. During the dry periods it only drops to a bout 10 foot down. The good thing is I will never run out of water.

I hear that. We haven't had any issues thus far. (House was three years old when we purchased it from original owner / builder.)

Sometimes I'm amazed that the pressure seems to still be normal (for our setup) after a pretty good length of time despite the look of the filter through the clear filter housing.

My neighbor up the road, who I just sold my 686+ to last night, has a setup in his basement like you alluded to above. Three filters mounted on the wall at about chest level. We have only ever had the one filter setup and I've been using the 5 micron for years. I tried two micron at one time but didn't like the way it worked and got rid of it pretty quickly.

The joys of living in the country. (Wouldn't trade it.)

[LittleLebowski]

OK, here's what I'm thinking.

2 of these Sharkbite threaded connectors (https://amzn.to/312Ev5u) for about $14. One of these housings (https://amzn.to/2yn9zkk) for twenty bucks. Add a 5 micron filter and done?

[blues]

Drop the Vaseline and get some plumbers grease. The jelly will cause the rubber to harden and leak. I'm still on a 17 or 18 year old gasket.

I bought some spares at Ferguson's years ago for a few bucks. The only time I've ever had to change them is when they got a bit out of round. (I used to over tighten the filter housing and probably caused the o-ring to get mashed. I can generally tell right away when I fit it back into the groove it's captured within.)

I usually go several years between changes of the o-ring but when you need one, you don't want to have to run out to the plumbing supply store.

I wonder if the grease I have on hand would be suitable. Haven't used it but it is rated as food safe:


https://www.amazon.com/Super-Lube-21030-Synthetic-Grease/dp/B06WLQ251B/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=super+lube+grease&qid=1564409768&s=hi&sr=1-3

[Crazy Dane]

OK, here's what I'm thinking.

2 of these Sharkbite threaded connectors (https://amzn.to/312Ev5u) for about $14. One of these housings (https://amzn.to/2yn9zkk) for twenty bucks. Add a 5 micron filter and done?

I would add a quarter turn valve at the filter unless your water shut off is close to where you are going to put the filter.

[fly out]

OK, here's what I'm thinking.

2 of these Sharkbite threaded connectors (https://amzn.to/312Ev5u) for about $14. One of these housings (https://amzn.to/2yn9zkk) for twenty bucks. Add a 5 micron filter and done?

Seems small. I'd go bigger. Don't forget valves to isolate it. (In the system I'm most familiar with, the plumber had plumbed in a bypass around it, too. Can't say I ever used it, and it adds in three more potential failure points, but I mention it in case it seems useful to you.)

Buy the appropriate wrench for the size of the canister, and when you pick your mounting location, allow for room to swing the wrench through 90 degrees, at least. Also, pick a spot that lets you put a bucket under it when changing filters.

[blues]

I would add a quarter turn valve at the filter unless your water shut off is close to where you are going to put the filter.

Good advice. Our shut-off is only a foot or two away from the filter housing so it's convenient in that regard.


ETA: For the first few years I didn't even realize there even was a filter wrench for the canister. I couldn't believe what a pain it was to open until I realized that the guy I bought the home from just didn't mention that there was one, or leave one behind for me. (Not too bright, but we were apartment dwellers up until then.)

The advice on being able to put a bucket under during the changes is good advice. Ours is just a few inches off the floor on top of a couple pieces of treated lumber. Not enough room to put a bucket, and just enough room to turn the canister with the filter wrench. I always have a small amount of wiping up to do where there's a bit of spillage upon removal.

[Crazy Dane]

I bought some spares at Ferguson's years ago for a few bucks. The only time I've ever had to change them is when they got a bit out of round. (I used to over tighten the filter housing and probably caused the o-ring to get mashed. I can generally tell right away when I fit it back into the groove it's captured within.)

I usually go several years between changes of the o-ring but when you need one, you don't want to have to run out to the plumbing supply store.

I wonder if the grease I have on hand would be suitable. Haven't used it but it is rated as food safe:


https://www.amazon.com/Super-Lube-21030-Synthetic-Grease/dp/B06WLQ251B/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=super+lube+grease&qid=1564409768&s=hi&sr=1-3

I don't see why not. That's the same stuff we use on fire hydrants and pumps. I use a similar product from Super-Lube on my meat grinder and cuber.

[LittleLebowski]

I would add a quarter turn valve at the filter unless your water shut off is close to where you are going to put the filter.

Good call. I'll be placing the order in a day, I like to plan this stuff out.

[txdpd]

OK, here's what I'm thinking.

2 of these Sharkbite threaded connectors (https://amzn.to/312Ev5u) for about $14. One of these housings (https://amzn.to/2yn9zkk) for twenty bucks. Add a 5 micron filter and done?


Scaling is most likely caused by magnesium and calcium in the water. A carbon filter will have little to no effect on the amount of dissolved minerals in your water. Personally I would get my water tested in a lab first and then look at systems for my water.

A side note on scale. While the people selling water systems make it sound scary, a thin layer of scale protects your pipes from corrosion and protects you from the metal in your pipes. Moderate scale prevention is good, aggressive descaling not so good, there’s plenty of middle ground.

[NEPAKevin]

Our water has iron so I have two housings in series as someone previously mentioned. I put shut-off valves before and after the filters both so I don't have to bleed as much air out of the lines after changing them. Had to change the anode rod in the water heater way before it should have needed replacing. FWIW, I picked up a Scaleblaster (https://www.homedepot.com/s/scaleblaster?NCNI-5) when Home Depot had them on the daily deal and installed it. Not sure how you would tell if its working other than to see if/when anything goes bad.

[LittleLebowski]

Our water has iron so I have two housings in series as someone previously mentioned. I put shut-off valves before and after the filters both so I don't have to bleed as much air out of the lines after changing them. Had to change the anode rod in the water heater way before it should have needed replacing. FWIW, I picked up a Scaleblaster (https://www.homedepot.com/s/scaleblaster?NCNI-5) when Home Depot had them on the daily deal and installed it. Not sure how you would tell if its working other than to see if/when anything goes bad.

That Scaleblaster is....really interesting.

[hufnagel]

I would suggest whatever you decide to use, put a cheap (to replace the cartridge) filter in front of your fancy ones, to remove as much of the bigger crud as you can.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Whole-House-Water-Filtration-System-GXWH04F/100471282
https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/d5e50349-7487-47d7-b924-568d643dc559/svn/white-on-white-ge-whole-house-water-filters-gxwh04f-64_1000.jpg

Find the filters on a bulk site for 1/4 the cost at Home Depot as well.

[LittleLebowski]

Good call. I'll be placing the order in a day, I like to plan this stuff out.

Ordered, installing this weekend.

[LittleLebowski]

I’m a little shocked that I didn’t screw this up...

40867

[blues]

Well done, LL. (Pun somewhat intended.)

[NEPAKevin]

Went into the basement to change the filters this weekend and snapped a pic. The previous owners had a single filter kind of suspended by nothing that you had to hold the pipe with one hand while twisting the filter wrench the other so as to hopefully not torque the copper pipes (which I though was f*#king stupid). I put together the double filter assembly on the bench and then mounted it on a floor joist and connected it with pex. It's crude but I'm the first to admit that I'm no plumber.

40923

[Tensaw]

I’m a little shocked that I didn’t screw this up...

Yup. Those Shark Bite fittings make hard things easy(er). Pex too.

We just bought a place with a well and need to add a filter. This thread gives me a good jumping off spot.

[NEPAKevin]

...FWIW, I picked up a Scaleblaster (https://www.homedepot.com/s/scaleblaster?NCNI-5) when Home Depot had them on the daily deal and installed it. ...

Home Depot has a couple descalers on their daily deals (https://www.homedepot.com/SpecialBuy/SpecialBuyOfTheDay) today.