A whole home system treats every tap. Your kitchen, showers, laundry, and ice maker all benefit. Charter Oak Plumbing designs and installs systems matched to your water report and your flow needs in New Britain, West Hartford, Southington, and Plainville.
Need help choosing the right setup? Call (860) 414-2051 or visit our home page.
How Whole Home Filtration Works
A whole home or point-of-entry system treats water where it enters your house. First, a sediment stage captures grit that wears valves and fixtures. Next, a carbon stage targets chlorine, taste, odor, and many organic chemicals. Add-on stages address local needs like iron, manganese, or PFAS. Reverse osmosis and nanofiltration can be used in special cases with a storage tank and booster to keep flow strong. UV can inactivate microbes on private wells. Proper pipe sizing and bypass valves keep pressure and service simple.
Start with data. If you are on city water, review your Consumer Confidence Report. If you are on a private well, test your water before you buy equipment.
Learn more about home water treatment types and pore sizes on the CDC site. Check NSF/ANSI standards for the exact reduction claims you want.
Find your CCR • CDC, home treatment systems • NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 explained
Installed System vs. Pitcher or Under-Sink
Coverage. Pitchers and under-sink filters treat one fixture. A whole home filter treats all fixtures. Showers, tubs, laundry, and outdoor faucets get the same benefit.
Capacity. Pitchers handle a few cups per hour. Under-sink units handle a few gallons per minute. A properly sized whole home system supports the main line flow so multiple showers and appliances run without a slow-down.
Claims. Look for NSF/ANSI listings. NSF 42 covers chlorine and taste. NSF 53 covers health contaminants like lead and some VOCs. NSF 401 covers select emerging contaminants. Reverse osmosis is certified under NSF 58. Match the standard to your goal rather than guesswork.
Maintenance. Pitchers need frequent refills and filter swaps. Under-sink units need periodic cartridges and checks for pressure. Whole home systems need media changes based on gallons and water chemistry. The right schedule keeps flow and performance steady.
Costs. Pitcher filters cost little but only serve the kitchen. Under-sink systems average about $550 installed. Whole home systems average about $2,272 with typical ranges from $1,129 to $3,540. Whole home RO runs higher due to tanks, pumps, and plumbing.
Helpful references: NSF overview • HomeAdvisor cost guide • Angi under-sink cost
What The Right Filter Can Address
Carbon media can reduce chlorine and many disinfection by-products that affect smell and taste. Specialty media and certified cartridges can reduce lead and other metals. Reverse osmosis and certain certified systems can reduce PFAS. The exact result depends on the technology, the certification, and timely maintenance. Review the product’s data sheet and NSF listing before you buy.
CDC guide to choosing filters • EPA on PFAS certified filters
Benefits For Skin And Hair
Hard water deposits calcium and magnesium on the skin and hair. That residue can strip moisture and make products lather poorly. Studies report higher eczema prevalence with hard water exposure in adults. Lab work shows increased mineral deposition on hair and reduced fiber thickness and elasticity after hard water exposure. Reducing hardness or chlorine exposure can improve comfort, hair feel, and color hold for many households.
See the research: hard water and eczema review • adult eczema and hard water association • hair tensile strength study • hair mineral deposition study
Protect Your Plumbing And Appliances
Scale and sediment shorten the life of valves, washers, and heating elements. They also reduce water heater performance. Field work and lab reports show efficiency losses in tankless heaters as scale accumulates. Regular filtration, scale control, and scheduled flushing help keep output and efficiency stable.
Learn more about keeping hot water systems efficient on our water heater services page. Planning an upgrade? Explore tankless water heaters. For seasonal tips, read our summer plumbing guide.
Supporting references: PNNL report on water quality and water heating
What Whole Home Filtration Costs
Typical whole home systems range from about $1,129 to $3,540 with an average near $2,272. Whole home reverse osmosis with storage and pumps often falls between $1,000 and $4,800 for equipment and install. Under-sink systems average about $550 installed. Cartridge replacements and media changes add ongoing cost. Budget for filter changes based on gallons used and water chemistry.
Sources for current pricing: HomeAdvisor • Angi whole-house cost • Angi RO cost • Angi under-sink cost • EPA filter fact sheet
How To Choose The Right System
Step 1. Get your water data. Use your CCR for city water or a certified lab test for wells.
Step 2. Map issues to solutions. Chlorine and odor call for catalytic carbon. Lead calls for certified cartridges under NSF 53. PFAS calls for certified RO, GAC, or ion-exchange products verified by a lab or certification body. High hardness calls for softening or conditioning to reduce scale.
Step 3. Size for flow. Match tank size, media, and pipe diameter to your peak demand so showers and laundry run without a drop in pressure.
Step 4. Plan maintenance. Set reminders for filter changes. Add a pressure gauge before and after the filter to track clogging and change media at the right time.
Helpful links: EPA CCR search tool • NSF standards overview • EPA on PFAS filters
Maintenance And Best Practices
Change sediment cartridges before pressure drops. Replace carbon on time to avoid channeling and odor breakthrough. Inspect o-rings and lube with NSF 61 silicone. On private wells, shock chlorinate and retest after major work. Flush storage tanks after plumbing repairs. Drain and flush tank water heaters to remove sediment. Keep records for parts, dates, and readings. Scheduled care keeps water quality stable and protects your plumbing.
For ongoing help, ask about our service plans on the services page. If a pipe bursts, follow our burst pipe guide and then book repairs.
FAQs
Will a whole home filter lower water pressure?
Not when sized right and maintained on schedule. Use large housings or media tanks and change filters before clogging. Add pressure gauges so you can act early.
Do I need reverse osmosis for the entire house?
Use RO only when your water data and goals require it. Many homes do well with carbon plus scale control. Whole home RO needs a storage tank, a pump, and regular membrane care.
Can these systems reduce PFAS?
Certified RO, GAC, and ion-exchange products can reduce PFAS when maintained on schedule. Verify with NSF listings and product data sheets.
How often should I change filters?
Base changes on gallons, time, and pressure drop. Many homes change sediment every 3 to 6 months and carbon every 6 to 12 months. Check the label and keep notes.
What about skin and hair?
Reducing chlorine and hardness can improve comfort for many people. Studies link hard water to higher eczema prevalence and show mineral buildup on hair fibers.
Resources cited above: NSF standards • EPA PFAS filters • eczema and hard water
Ready For Better Water?
We match systems to your water, not the other way around. Get a plan that covers your goals, flow, and budget. See our full plumbing services, explore water heater options, or learn more about filtration in our post Should You Add a Water Filtration System. When you are ready, call (860) 414-2051.