Whole house water filter
JH, this is true. when i lived in other parts of the country, people knew if they had hard water or not. there was no discussion about it and often, in more traditional homes where the men did not partake in laundry duty, it was the women who were concerned with the water hardness. not to sound sexist, but it was a women’s kitchen table topic. rarely did men talk about it.
another thing about this sort of discussion. if we were not in a city but were in a more rural setting with both a different kind of workforce and with hard water, we would have more input here from folks who understand it – perhaps even geologists. there are still people on eastern long island who have their own wells; i have cousins who have a well and they have to have it tested for chemicals that had been used on the farms in the 1950’s and the next time i go to their house i will ask about the water hardness and i bet i will get more details than all of us on this board can m ention, combined.
i pushed the part about the pipes closing up to make those who question whether they have hard water or not to really think about what they have seen with their own eyes.
andriywww1990
in General Discussion 3 years and 11 months ago
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Guest User | 4 years ago
Is it a good idea to install a water filter for the whole house? Have any of you installed one and is there a brand that you’d recommend.
Arkady | 4 years ago
I put one in years ago & it’s a good idea because it gives longer life to water heater, ice maker, dishwasher, etc. There are several at Lowe’s & Home Depot for around $60. You have to change the filter every few months depending on your usage.
Guest User | 4 years ago
arkady, thank you so much. Do you have a brand you recommend?
andriywww1990 | 4 years ago
here in the city with out good water i don’t here of these as much. On long island where the water seems to taste funny, my father has one. i suspect he has it for the reason arkady says.
Guest User | 4 years ago
If you go see a holistic practitioner in NY they will show you their water filter and tell you how bad NY water is . Just sayin. But we do have hard water which I think is what Arkady is alluding to.
RobertGMarvin
in General Discussion 4 years ago
janedrew—I thought that NYC water was considered soft, not hard.
Guest User | 4 years ago
Some time ago I read an article that said moderately hard but I really didn’t research it further. However below may explain why both of us are right. According to the current map Brooklyn is currently getting “soft water” but I don’ know if that was the distribution in the past.
Water dissolves minerals as moves through soil and rocks. “Hardness” is the measure of dissolved minerals, like calcium and magnesium, in drinking water. The higher the content of calcium and magnesium, the “harder” the water. Water with less calcium or magnesium is considered “soft,” which makes it easier to create lather and suds.
New Yorkers receive their tap water from upstate reservoirs in the Catskill/Delaware watershed, the Croton watershed, or a blend of both sources. Water from the Croton watershed is considered “moderately hard,” while water from the Catskill/Delaware watershed is considered “soft” or “slightly hard.” Citywide, the average hardness is about 1.8 grain/gallon (CaCO3). In areas of the City where Catskill/Delaware and Croton Water supplies are blended, the hardness can reach 7 grain/gallon (CaCO3), which is considered “moderately hard.”
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dep/water/drinking-water-frequently-asked-questions.page
While hard water can leave water spots on shower doors and may affect the efficiency of some equipment, it is safe to drink (in fact, calcium carbonate is the same mineral found in calcium vitamin supplements). If you are operating equipment that uses water, consult the manual to determine the effect, if any, of water hardness.
RobertGMarvin
in General Discussion 4 years ago
FWIW I get plenty of soap lather here in Brooklyn and can easily use a shaving brush and shaving soap. When I’m at a vacation rental in Vermont, with hard well water, that shaving brush doesn’t work well. I always thought that was an indication of our water being soft here.
Also, years ago I was told that our (since replaced) lead water main was safe because calcium deposits lined the pipe. I later learned that wasn’t true because the water was so soft.
hkapstein | 4 years ago
In my experience in Brooklyn, where I have lived, we’ve never experienced the problems associated with hard water. I don’t think I would do it, why fix what isn’t broken with and spend money and time on filters and maintenance. A drinking water filter at your kitchen tap might be a better investment.
But then again, most real new yorkers don’t complain about the water, so if Eric Adams gets the nod, you might get shipped back to Iowa.
Guest User | 4 years ago
Thanks. I wasn’t planning to do it because of hard water. I know everyone says NY water is clean but then people who use filters seem to find a lot of gunk. Also I was reading this
RobertGMarvin
in General Discussion 4 years ago
If you want to filter water for health reasons why not do it at the tap? Is there any utility in filtering water used Dow washing, toilet flushing, etc. ?
Guest User | 4 years ago
Better hair 🙂 Yes that makes sense.
markwalker | 4 years ago
We have just installed a whole house filter.
Some things to consider:
—it will cost thousands for a good one, plus installation by a licensed plumber
—The kind we got filters out particulate matter, chemicals and it softens the water. In a 3 step process. You can choose a system that does only a few of those tasks or all.
—you will need space in your basement near your water hook-up (extra extension pipes added by the plumber will add to the cost)
—You will have a new maintenance task every month — changing the filter. You will have the added expense of the filters. And if you will be scared or disgusted to see how much gunk is collected by the filter don’t buy one.
—If filters are not changed in a timely way once they become dirty your water flow, showers, etc will become a trickle. It’s not optional to forget to change the filter.
—if you want to use a garden hose, mix cement or wash your car, you can and should turn it off for a bit. A small nuisance.
—Your laundry will be cleaner, your coffee will taste great and your friends will stop bringing bottled water w ith them when they visit you.
Only you can decide if it is worth it. We are happy, I must add. But up to you.
Guest User | 4 years ago
Thank you. I was waiting to see a response from someone who had installed one. You touch upon many of the things things I had heard or read and included details that will help me make a decision. Thank you also for the info about needing pipes and extra room. After multiple plumber mishaps, I finally have one I like.
It sounds like a good investment depending on where the ‘thousands’ falls. If I chose something less expensive I could do what urbandad and bob are suggesting. I had initially planned to go that route but wanted to understand the benefits of this approach.
If you don’t mind me asking, how much do the filter costs run per month? And did you use a site or talk to someone to help you decide which filter to buy?
stevecym | 4 years ago
I did bring this up with someone on long island and they said the water had more minerals and needed to be softened and hence the filters.
Lurker | 4 years ago
NY water is 90 percent unfiltered which is amazing and why NYers love to tout it as being special. There’s some truth to that however it is also a bit of hype, as our water is chlorinated just like suburban systems and you can smell and taste it. I don’t have a system yet but am interested as I get all kinds of crud in our aerators, scale etc. There are all kinds of filters and some may require a monthly check but others are every 6 months—depends what you get.
lkrshacmzcy | 4 years ago
Water Treatment is a major part of the Plumbing Industry all over the country…except for New York City. All the manufacturers will tell you the same thing: they cannot get a foothold in New York City. They all say it is because of how fabled New York City water is even though regular tests show otherwise.
That being said I do have a filter myself as do most plumbers I know; it really is not because of the source of the water but yet the system of piping it needs to go through to get to my house.
lkrshacmzcy | 4 years ago
Water Treatment is a major part of the Plumbing Industry all over the country…except for New York City. All the manufacturers will tell you the same thing: they cannot get a foothold in New York City. They all say it is because of how fabled New York City water is even though regular tests show otherwise.
That being said I do have a filter myself as do most plumbers I know; it really is not because of the source of the water but yet the system of piping it needs to go through to get to my house.
Guest User | 4 years ago
I read that as well Chris, thanks for sharing.