Water Softener Installation & Repair
Put in a new softener or bring a stalled one back to regenerating on schedule.
Plumbing service
Water Filtration Installation in Westminster, CO
Some people notice the taste or smell of treated water, and some want a sediment filter after work on the lines. Filtration is matched to the problem, not sold as one box for all.
Call, describe the taste, smell or sediment, and a contractor can recommend the right kind of filter.
What filters can do
- Improve taste and odorCarbon removes chlorine and chloramine flavors.
- Catch sedimentA pre-filter protects fixtures and appliances.
- Polish drinking waterAn under-sink unit treats the tap you drink from.
Start with the problem
Test or describe what you notice. A chlorine-like smell, a flat taste, cloudy water, grit in an aerator and staining are all different problems with different fixes.
Westminster's report says the city has not detected lead in its drinking water and lists chloramine as the disinfectant. For taste and odor, a carbon filter is the usual remedy.
Types of filters
Whole-house carbon filters treat every tap and shower, and they protect appliances from chlorine-related wear. Sediment filters catch sand and rust. Under-sink systems treat drinking water only and can add reverse osmosis for a tighter polish.
A refrigerator filter is a minor measure. It treats a single line, and the cartridge must be changed on schedule.
In Westminster
Pairing a filter with the city's treatment
Westminster treats water at two plants, Semper and Northwest, using conventional filtration at one and membrane micro-filtration at the other. The water that reaches a tap is already filtered, so a home filter is a polish, not a rescue.
If you have a softener, put the filter after it or install a pre-filter ahead of it. The order changes the life of both.
Cost
How filtration jobs are priced
The unit and the install both matter. These are the main items.
Ask the contractor for the annual cost of cartridges before choosing a system.
What installation involves
A whole-house unit is installed on the main line after the shutoff and the meter, with a bypass and a pressure gauge. An under-sink unit connects to the cold line and, for reverse osmosis, to the drain.
Westminster lists plumbing system modifications among work that needs a permit. Ask your contractor whether the job requires one.
Maintenance
Every filter has a cartridge life. A clogged cartridge reduces flow, and an old one can stop working while still looking clean. Mark the change date on the housing.
Keep spare cartridges on hand, and ask the contractor to show you how to depressurize and open the housing without a spill.
Choosing a system
Questions to ask
These keep you from buying the wrong filter.
Choosing a filter for your goal
Decide what you want to remove before you shop. Sediment filters protect plumbing and appliances, carbon filters reduce taste and chlorine or chloramine, and reverse osmosis units treat drinking water at one tap.
Ask the contractor for the filter's rated flow and change interval. A whole-house unit that restricts flow or needs costly cartridges every few weeks becomes a nuisance. A water quality report from the utility helps match the system to the problem.
Other water-quality options
Tankless Water Heater Service
Flush scale, repair or put in an on-demand heater.
Faucet & Sink Repair
Cure dripping taps, weak streams, seized shutoff valves and leaking hose bibs.
Common questions
Answers about water filtration
It reduces chlorine, chloramine and some taste and odor compounds. It does not soften water.
Only if you want the tightest drinking water polish. For most taste problems, carbon is enough.
Follow the manufacturer's schedule, often every few months to a year depending on the type and the water.
A clean filter should have little effect. A clogged one can, so replace cartridges on time.
Someone answers at every hour. Close the inlet valve to the housing and then dial. Fresh installs are set for daytime.
Water tastes off or has grit in it?
Call and describe what you notice. A contractor can recommend a filter that fits.