How Much Does it Cost To Install a Water Filter System?

Whole house water filtration system cost

Installing a whole house water filtration system typically costs around $1,800, although actual costs may be higher or lower depending on the size of your home. If you are worried about the cost of a whole house water filtration system, it helps to put the expense into perspective.

Even if you are only purchasing a single case of bottled water for your family each week, you will probably spend hundreds, if not a thousand dollars or more, just to provide the hydration your household needs for a single year. When you calculate those costs out over years or decades, it is easy to see how a whole house filtration system cost concern fades away.

In fact, installing a quality whole house water filtration system could actually pay for itself in a surprisingly short period of time. Once that water filtration system is in place, you will never have to drag another case of bottled water into your home again. You will never have to feel guilty about throwing those plastic bottles away, and you will never have to worry that the water flowing out of your tap will end up making the people you care so much about sick.

Water filtration systems for home installation

If you are tired of carrying cases of bottled water and putting empty bottles in the trash, installing a water filtration system for your home is the obvious answer. Once that water filtration system is in place, you can say goodbye to bottled water, enjoying fresh clean filtered water for pennies a gallon and possibly saving enough to pay for the cost of the system and its installation.

There are several types of home water filtration systems available, including whole house systems that provide ongoing filtration to the water entering the home, under the sink units that filter water flowing through the tap and cartridge systems that simply attach to the bathroom or kitchen faucet. The type of system that is right for your home will depend on your budget, your needs and your personal preferences.

Under sink water filtration system

If you do not want or need a whole house water filtration system, an under the sink unit can be a good compromise. These smaller and less expensive water filters hook into the water line under the sink, providing on demand filtration every time water is dispensed from the tap.

You can place these under the sink water filtration units in the kitchen, the bathroom or anywhere else you need a steady supply of freshly filtered and safe to drink water. And since the cost of these standalone units is less than a whole house model, you could theoretically install one in multiple rooms and still save money.

Water filtration installation cost

Installing a whole house water filtration unit is a complicated procedure, and it is smart to hire a professional to do the work. A professional water filter installer can also provide advice and guidance as the project progresses, including what type of water filter will work best for your home and what kind of testing should be conducted to make sure the unit is working the way it should be.

A number of things can influence the final cost of the water filtration system installation, starting with the size of the home and the complexity of the plumbing. A larger home will obviously require a larger whole house water filtration system, and that will drive up the cost of installation. Some older homes may also require retrofitting of the plumbing, and that additional work will also mean a more expensive installation.

Water filtration system installation labor cost

Labor costs to install a water filtration system average $200 to $300 if you plan to hire a pro to do the work. If you are in the market for a whole house water filtration system, you can take the DIY approach, or you can hire a professional to do the work. For most homeowners, hiring a pro will be the way to go, since this type of installation requires specialized skills and tools beyond those included in the typical handyman collection.

While labor costs average $200 to $300, actual prices will vary depending on a number of factors, including the size of your home, the complexity of the installation and the area where you live. If you want to get the biggest bang for your buck, you will want to shop around, vet proposed providers carefully and ask lots of questions.

Water purifying machine prices

There is more than one way to purify the water you use to bathe, drink and clean your clothes. The type of water filtration system you choose will depend on a number of different factors, from how much water your household uses and how you pay for it to the size of your home and the size of your budget. Here are some of the most common types of water purifying machines and what you can expect when you choose them.

Ultraviolet

UV light is one of the most powerful decontaminants, and ultraviolet water filtration systems use UV rays to remove contaminants and leave behind clean and safe drinking water. Ultraviolet purifying machines costs from $200 to $1,000.

Water distiller

Distillation is a time-honored process, one that has been used for hundreds of years. A water distiller puts a modern spin on this ancient practice, removing contaminants from your water and giving you peace of mind that the liquid flowing out of the tap is safe to drink. Water distillers costs from $50 to $4,000.

Chemical inject

Some chemicals are dangerous and bad for your health, but other chemicals can actually make your drinking water safe. Chemical injectors work by adding these beneficial elements to your water, killing off bacteria and other contaminants and rendering the water safe to drink. Chemical injectors systems cost from $300 to $1,000.

Rainwater filtration system cost

Rainwater recapture can be a good way to maximize efficiency while minimizing water use. Costs to install a rainwater filtration system averages $8.000 to $10.000, including the cost of the water collection tank. The water tank is by far the biggest expense, but it is also an indispensible part of the installation project.

You may not think you need a filtration system for rainwater, but rest assured you do. When you picture pure water, you may picture the rain falling from the sky during a summer thunderstorm, or the melting snow flowing down the bank in your backyard. But that rainwater is not always as pure as it looks, and this type of hydration is subject to the same contaminants as tap water.

Rainwater filtration is designed to render this type of water free of those contaminants, using advanced filters to remove odors, bacteria, heavy metals and other dangerous substances. If you use a rain barrel or other capture method on your property, installing a rainwater filtration system can provide a nearly endless supply of fresh clean hydration for your home and family.

Water filtration system price breakdown

There are many parts to a water filtration system installation, and many different factors that will influence the final price. Every installation is different, and the final price you pay will be affected by things like the size and square footage of your home, the age and complexity of its plumbing and your own personal preferences. Here are some of the factors that will influence the price of your home water filter installation project.

Point-of-use (POU) vs. Point-of-Entry (POE)

Point-of-use (POI) systems filter water as it exits the tap, while point-of-entry (POE) systems provide filtration to the water entering your home.

Filtration types costs

• Carbon filtration cost - Some water filters use removable cartridges to remove contaminants, and those filters have a limited lifespan. You will need to factor the cost of those disposable filters into the per gallon price of fresh filtered water.
• Reverse osmosis - Reverse osmosis uses science to filter your water, giving you a number of benefits compared to cartridge-type filtration. You will need to weigh the extra cost of a reverse osmosis system against the convenience this type of system provides.

Filter size

The size of the filter is another important consideration, one that will influence the operational cost of the system. Smaller filters will need changed more often, while larger ones will be more costly to install and replace.

Installation

Installation costs will vary widely depending on where you live, how large your home is and what type of water filtration system you choose. Shopping around and doing some of the work yourself can save you a lot of money, so do your homework and ask the right questions.

Maintenance

The cost of the water filtration system is just one of the expenses to consider. Once the whole house or standalone filtration system is in place, you will need to maintain it to keep it working properly. That can mean buying replacement filters, hiring a plumber to check the system and watching for problems along the way.

Water systems types cost

Water filtration systems run the gamut, from relatively simple and inexpensive unit to whole house installations that can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. As you contemplate which type of water filtration is best for your home, you need to get to know the options. Here is a look at the various types of water filtration units on the market today.

Whole house

This type of water filtration system typically costs about $1,800. A whole house water filtration system is just what it sounds like; a system that filters water as it enters your home. Once this system is in place, you will not have to worry about the safety or cleanliness of your water.

Reverse osmosis

Costs for this kind of system start as low as $500 but can run as high as several thousand dollars. Costs will be higher if you do not currently have a way to flush the system. Reverse osmosis water filtration systems use the latest science to remove contaminants from your drinking water, leaving behind water that is clean, crisp, delicious and safe to drink.

Under sink

With costs starting at just $150, this type of water filter is among the most affordable. With an under the sink system, you can control your water filtration, all for less than the cost of a typical whole house or reverse osmosis system.

Countertop

Countertop water filtration is among the most affordable choices, with some models costing less than $100. These countertop-mounted models are also portable, so you can take them with you when you move.

Faucet mounted

Another budget-friendly choice, with costs as low as $50, faucet-mounted water filters are also highly portable, so you can move them where you need them. These water filters use cartridges that are mounted on the water faucet itself, giving you a steady stream of fresh clean water.

Pitcher

You can purchase a filtration pitcher for less than $50, and this type f water filtration is the ultimate in convenience and portability. These special pitchers have removable filter cartridges built in, so you can pour a glass of fresh filtered water anytime you like.

Water purifier brands cost

There are several big brands in the water filtration space, including Springwell and Aquasana. Here are the typical costs for each option.

Springwell

With an average cost of $1,500, the Springwell name is ne of the most widely known and best respected brands in the world of water purification. These systems provide an affordable option for all kinds of home installations, including whole house and standalone models.

Aquasana

With an average cost of $1,300, Aquasana is anther leader in the field of water filtration, and their state-of-the-art systems can filter out heavy metals, chlorine and other potentially dangerous contaminants.

DIY vs. hire a pro

As with any other type of home improvement, you will have an important decision to make when installing a whole house water filtration system in your home. That decision is whether to take a DIY approach to the selection and installation of the system or hire a professional to tackle the job.

There are a lot of things to consider when making this choice, starting with how much experience you have installing other types of plumbing products. If you are totally comfortable around your home's plumbing system, you may be able to save some money and use a DIY approach to installing your new whole house water filtration system.

Keep in mind, however, that the installation of a whole house water filtration system is a much bigger project than replacing an old water faucet or fixing a leaky pipe in the kitchen. You will need a certain comfort level to even attempt this type of project, and if something goes wrong you could end up with real problems, including a flooded home.

Unless you are an expert at all things plumbing, there are real advantages to hiring a pro to complete your whole house water filtration system installation. For one thing, you will gain real expertise, including solid advice on which type of filtration system and which type of filtering media will work best for your part of the country, and for the type of water flowing into your home.

If you have hard water, for instance, you will probably need a different type of whole house water filtration system than a neighbor whose water is extremely soft. This type of expert advice and guidance can be extremely valuable, and you should not discount it, even if you are a plumbing expert and a dedicated do it yourself.

Pros and cons

Installing a whole house water filtration system can be a smart move, especially if you live in a part of the country where water contamination and other problems are commonplace. Even so, whole house water filtration is not the right choice for everyone, and it is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully. Here are some key things to consider when contemplating the purchase and installation of a whole house water filtration system.

Pros

• You will have peace of mind knowing that the water your family drinks is filtered and free of contaminants
• No more lugging heavy and unwieldy cases of bottled water
• Your water will taste, smell and feel better
• Whole house filtration systems can accommodate water softeners, freeing you from hard water stains and corrosion on your appliances
• No more guilt at throwing out all those plastic water bottles

Cons

• Installing a whole house water filtration system can be costly
• This type of installation will not be possible if you rent your home
• There are other, less expensive, options, like filtration pitchers and faucet attachment units
• You may need to install new piping to accommodate the filtration system

As you can see, there are a lot of things to think about before researching, buying and installing a whole house water filtration system in your home. For many homeowners, these types of systems are the perfect choice, a way to provide their family members with an endless supply of clean, clear water. For others, the benefits are far less obvious, and in the end the decision is up to you.