How to Choose a Water Filter | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains the many options available for filtering drinking water. (See below for a shopping list and steps.) SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse Point-of-use filters, including pitcher-style, spout-style, Reverse Osmosis under sink filters, and whole-house filters with disposable cartridges are available at home centers and hardware stores. The whole-house filter that automatically cleans itself is the Braukmann filter, manufactured by Honeywell and available at specialty plumbing supply stores. The large, canister-style filter that is filled with different materials based on your local water quality is a solution installed by Culligan. Cost: $10 and up Time: 5 minutes to 5 hours, depending on the filtration system Difficulty: Easy to Difficult. Depending on the filtration system Shopping List for How to Choose a Water Filter: Pitcher-style water filter [https://amzn.to/2Ls4Kxc] Faucet-mounted water filter [https://amzn.to/2NXQxtH] Under-sink water filter [https://amzn.to/2ZUdDJ5] Under-sink reverse-osmosis water filter [https://amzn.to/2O1PRDB] Whole-house water filter [https://amzn.to/2NV4jxf] Sediment filter [https://amzn.to/34FDkvB] Steps for How to Choose a Water Filter: 1. The simplest way to filter tap water is with a pitcher-style water filter, which has a granulated carbon filter that improves taste and odor, and removes some chlorine and sediment. 2. Faucet-mounted filters have a switch that diverts tap water through a granulated carbon filter. Turn on the switch for filtered drinking water; flip it off when washing dishes. 3. For greater water filtration convenience and capacity, install an under-sink, dual-filter system that has its own gooseneck faucet. 4. For optimum point-of-use filtration, consider a reverse-osmosis system. Water passes through a series of three filters, resulting in extremely clean, pure drinking water. 5. Whole-house water filters are installed near the water main and are ideal for delivering clean, filtered water to every faucet throughout the entire house. 6. There are a variety of filters available to remove a wide range of impurities. 7. Sediment filters contain a stainless-steel pre-screen filter and back-flush system that automatically cleans the filter. 8. For the highest level of water filtration, first have your tap water tested, then call in a water-treatment specialist to install a whole-house filtration system designed specifically to treat your water. About Ask This Old House TV: Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://bit.ly/34RYEP5 Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite How to Choose a Water Filter | Ask This Old House    / thisoldhouse