Whole house water filters

boo coo tracks · Nov 13, 2017

Need advise ? Looking at a 2 container system. Carbon filter & a filter with citric acid. Filters last 6 months. Anyone use citric acid ??
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old__man · Nov 13, 2017

What are you trying to filter out? Are you on city water or a well?

boo coo tracks · Nov 13, 2017

Septic tank & well.
tracks

Lelandwelds · Nov 13, 2017

Citric acid water softeners sound like treating water with magnets. I dont think citric is a strong enough or reactive enough acid to soften directly. I dont see how it would recharge an ion exchange resin.

I hope to eventually switch to a rain water cistern system. I will use a twin or quad density depth media filter and a carbon block filter. Both in big blue filters with UV sterilizer. I might need to parallel two carbon blocks.

I have enough roof area to catch water for a family of four. When garage is added to the mix, I am golden.

DC73 · Nov 13, 2017

One of the 2 or 3 most recent episodes of Ask This Old House featured the installation of a citric acid water softener. Sounded pretty good to me.

DC

matt_i · Nov 13, 2017

I use the AP801 which I think is made by Aqua Pure. Has 1" ports and a large filter, I use a carbon cannister. I usually change every year.

I have an iron problem so I use a potassium permanganate system.

I use standard NaCl to soften then.

Last improvement was a titanium element "powered anode" for the water heater which took the last of the smell away.

Now I am happy and so are all family members

Firebrick43 · Nov 14, 2017

The citric "softeners" are great! At lightening your wallet. Snake oil. Get a water test and see the level of hardness an rust/magnesium you have.

A big blue coarse and fine particulate filter and a carbon are always a good way to start but the citric filters only sort of work at best if you have water chemistry correct but most don't work at all.

old__man · Nov 14, 2017

I have the standard water softener. Works great. New code around here dictates that the backwash has to drain via french drain and not into your septic. This is apparently quite important to avoid sceptic problems. I don't know if this is a problem with citric devices.

Falcon67 · Nov 14, 2017

Having lived with a well that was tested at 27 grains and had quite a bit of sulfur, I'd go with a good salt/brine softener after a good sediment and charcoal/carbon whole house setup. We changed sediment cartridges on that house every quarter, charcoal every 6 months.

d300 · Nov 14, 2017

Chelating agents are quite effective and the citric acid will cut through existing calcium build up.

Nuvoh20 is one of many 'no-salt' types. Not an endorsement, just one of many that I have been looking at.

matt_i · Nov 14, 2017

My reading suggests that the brine backwash is excellent (due to its greater density) at lifting floating solids out of the septic tank and pushing them into the drainfield. Which over time causes problems.

old__man · Nov 14, 2017

matt_i said:
My reading suggests that the brine backwash is excellent (due to its greater density) at lifting floating solids out of the septic tank and pushing them into the drainfield. Which over time causes problems.

Interesting. Like I said earlier new code here explicitly prohibits this. I think the brine kills off a lot of the digesting bacteria or something to that effect.

Code here is strange...can't have a drain in my garage that goes into the outdoors but the backwash has to go into the outdoors.

Lelandwelds · Nov 14, 2017

old__man said:
Interesting. Like I said earlier new code here explicitly prohibits this. I think the brine kills off a lot of the digesting bacteria or something to that effect.

Code here is strange...can't have a drain in my garage that goes into the outdoors but the backwash has to go into the outdoors.

Well, dont point that out! Some desk jockey will decree it a hazardous waste and you will have to haul both with a disposal company. Into the landfill. Or, you will be required to burn it.

nes999 · Nov 14, 2017

Id you go with a standard water softener buy a good one. When I first moved on ours cracked. Being short on cash we bought the cheapest possible. I was adding bags of salt per week and had some cavitation issues. After a few years a family member who is a plumber talked me into buying a good one. Now I add a bag or 2 ever 6 months to a year.

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Showkey · Nov 14, 2017

I have standard salt softener plus a PH neutralizer system ........backwash of both systems is released outside in the woods.........all vegetarian in the discharge area flourishes and are not harmed by the backwash.

In winter the backwash is sent to the septic system ( to prevent a ice mess and possible system freeze up cause back in the basement).

Look around you can find dozens of “studies” on no harm to the septic.......and dozens stating backwash to the septic should be avoided. Winter I have found no viable alternative and to date no septic issues. Our area mandates septic tank pumping every three years.

https://www.plumbingsupply.com/septic.html

http://extension.missouri.edu/webster/water-softeners-and-septic-tanks.aspx

lawfarm · Nov 14, 2017

I did a ton of research and bought a genesis duo combination carbon filter/ 40,000 softener from www.discountwatersofteners.com. They had great recommendations and customer service, and the unit was easy to install and works great!

Makoto · Nov 14, 2017

we have a rainsoft and its amazing. filters last 2 years and i'm in houston so we have some of the worst water around. only maintenance is filter every couple years and salt every 6 months or so. never going back if i can help it.

boo coo tracks · Nov 16, 2017

Thanks to all who replied & links. This site always impressed me with a wealth of information.
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Whole house water filters

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