What a Whole House Water Filter Removes
- Chloramine or chlorine, which cause the pool smell and taste
- Sediment, the grit that clogs aerators, ice makers and appliance screens
- Organic compounds that affect taste and odor
A filter doesn't soften water. Hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium pass right through. If scale on faucets and fixtures is your main problem, you need a water softener instead of, or along with, a filter.
Test Your Water First
Water from the same area can vary a lot from home to home. Utilities differ, and so do the pipes between the treatment plant and your tap. Buying a filter without a test is a guess.
A free water analysis measures hardness, chloramine or chlorine, pH and dissolved solids right at your tap. The filter recommendation is based on those numbers.
Home Water Filtration System Options
Whole house sediment and carbon filter, $800 to $2,000 installed. Treats sediment, chlorine or chloramine and organic compounds at the main line. It's the most common starting point.
Multi-stage whole home water filtration, $1,500 to $4,000 installed. Combines sediment filtering, carbon filtering and often other media for extra treatment. It's a good fit for homes with more than one water concern.
Under-sink reverse osmosis, $300 to $800 installed. Produces very clean water for drinking and cooking at one tap. It removes a wide range of dissolved contaminants but doesn't treat the whole house.
Combined softener and filter, $1,500 to $4,000 installed. Handles both hardness and chloramine in one setup.
All costs are confirmed in writing before any work starts.
Chloramine: Why the Filter Type Matters
Many utilities in Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County, including LADWP and Calleguas Municipal Water District, use chloramine. Standard activated carbon, like the kind in many pitcher filters, doesn't fully remove it. Catalytic carbon does. That one detail decides whether a filter works on your water.
Keeping Your Filter Working
Every whole house system needs its filters changed. Pre-sediment filters typically need replacing every 3 to 6 months, and carbon media every 6 to 12 months. The plumber confirms the right schedule for your system and your water.
Hard water and scale also wear out water heaters. If your heater is already struggling, our water heater repair page covers the fixes.
