Installing a Water Filter

Intro

Water from a public utility must meet strict health requirements. If you think that your water is unsafe, have it tested by a local health department, the utility company, or an extension service office of a state university.

Even safe water may have a bad taste or odor, and it may produce stains. A filter could be the solution.

If chlorine causes water to taste bad, a temporary solution is to run water into a pitcher and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. By morning much of the chlorine odor and flavor will be gone, making the water more palatable.

Softening water
Hard water -- water laden with minerals -- can hinder the lathering action of detergent, making it difficult to clean clothes. Hard water may also stain fixtures and ceramic tiles and clog pipes. A water softener uses ionization to solve these problems. It also can remove rust from water.

Checklist

Time
An hour or two

Tools
Tools for working with copper or galvanized pipe, groove-joint pliers, canister wrench

Skills
Working with copper or galvanized supply pipe

Prep
Find a convenient location to install the filter so that you can change cartridges easily.

Materials
Water filter, pipe adapters, shutoff valve, perhaps a jumper wire with clamps

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Problem-Solving Filters

A plumbing inspector or local contractor should know which type of filter works best for the water in your area. Here are some qualities of the most popular filter types.

Step 1

Turn off the main water shutoff valve. On the house side of the main shutoff, break into the supply line. If the pipes are galvanized, find a union or cut with a hacksaw and install a union. Cut into a copper line using a tubing cutter.

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Undersink Filters

If your main concern is the quality of your drinking water, there's no need to filter all the water entering the house. Install a small filter under the kitchen sink and hook it to the cold water. A unit like this can be installed simply by connecting tubes to the stop valve and faucet.

Step 2

Install a ball or gate shutoff valve on the house side of the water filter. Remove the insides of the valve before sweating the valve body in place. (Some plumbers like to install a bypass loop with additional stop valves so water can be rerouted should the entire filter unit need replacing.)

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Step 3

Purchase the adapters you need to connect the filter to your size and type of pipe. (These parts may come in a kit, but be sure they fit your pipes.) Install the adapters on either side of the filter. Hold the filter in place and measure for cutting the pipe that emerges from the new shutoff valve.

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Step 4

Slide nuts and ferrules onto the pipes on either side. Slip the filter onto the pipes, slide the ferrules and nuts over to the filter, and tighten the nuts.

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Step 5

Place a filter cartridge in the canister and twist the canister onto the filter unit. Tighten with a special canister wrench.

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Safety First: Jumper Wire for Grounding

If the electrical system is grounded via the cold-water pipe, adding a water filter will interrupt the path to the ground, leaving all your electricity ungrounded. Install a jumper wire using approved grounding clamps.

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