How to Install Whole-House Water Filter on a Well Properly?

More than 60 million Americans are exposed to contaminated tap water every year. That’s why most of them opt for a whole house water filter installation to solve this frustrating problem.

Rural residents usually rely on well water for their everyday water supply.

Most of the private wells are dug rather than drilled, making them susceptible to contamination. Therefore, how to install whole-house water filter on a well is the preferable option for them.

Scroll and discover straightforward tips and hacks on how to install a whole-house water filter on a well, from switching off the water system & depressurizing it to cutting pipes and installing the fittings. Protect your family from waterborne diseases and unleash the “ultimate handyman” in you!

What Will You Need in This Tutorial

You’d better be ready and prepare all the home repair tools needed to accomplish your DIY task. It will protect you from mistakes that accompany disasters. We don’t want that to happen, so make sure you have all of these things to kick-start your home water filtration installation :

A Whole-House Filtration Unit

There are different options for a whole-house filter system for your well water in the market. These include sediment filters, activated carbon, UV filters, and reverse osmosis.

Typically, sediment filters for well water work the best in removing heavy debris from your private well, whereas activated carbon filters are known to be one of the front runners in any water treatment system.

They remove at least 60 chemicals and substances such as VOCs (volatile compounds), sediment, heavy metals, chlorine, chloramine, and other pollutants that may diminish water quality.

Homeowners who suspect microbial contaminants in their drinking water may use UV filters. UV light kills bacteria and other harmful microorganisms in your well water.

On the other hand, Reverse Osmosis is versatile enough to filter out well water impurities such as nitrates, arsenic, chloride, and microorganisms.

Complete Installation Kit

Every water treatment product comes with complete installation hardware such as a shut-off valve, connect fittings, tubing, and mounting brackets. Other devices also contain a bypass valve which will keep the water running from the bypass line while you’re using the filter.

Adjustable Wrench

A well-equipped plumbing toolbox must include an adjustable wrench. You will use it to provide leverage and grip to tighten the fittings. It would be great to use an adjustable wrench with a handle grip so that you can maneuver it easily.

Pipe cutter

A pipe cutter is a specialized plumbing tool used to cut/slice pipes. It incorporates a grasping device with sharp-edged wheels that slowly penetrate through the tubes or pipes and sever them further in each rotation.

If you’re working in confined spaces, a mini cutter is more desirable, and it works exactly like a typical pipe cutter.

Drill and bits

Drills and bits are commonly used as one of power tools in any woodworking project. In your DIY agenda, you would use these two for the mounting base plate of your whole house filter unit.

Screw Driver

You can’t be a DIYer without a screwdriver. It is a power tool used to match the screw heads and attach them to mount anything to the walls or any surfaces. You will use it to secure the filter onto the plywood.

Teflon Tape

A Teflon tape, also called plumber’s tape, is a thin white tape used to seal the pipe threads. You will use this tape when you start installing the fittings.

Bucket

Any water system repair and modification isn’t complete without a bucket. It will collect any water leaks from the pipe after it is cut. You can place it beneath the pipeline to ensure that any excess water will be disposed of properly.

Sandpaper

This tool is optional, but you can use sandpaper to smooth out the pipe ends after being cut. It will help you refine the surface of the pipe, giving it a pristine look.

Plywood

Use plywood as a mounting base for your whole house filter. It will support the unit and give the entire plumbing system a neat, clean, and organized look. Make sure to mount it securely so it won’t come off quickly.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these nine quick and easy steps to install your brand new whole house filter sweat-free!

Step 1: Identify The Right Place To Install The Whole House Water Filter

The best spot to install your whole house filter system is near or within the primary inlet of water into your home. It will help filter the water through the system as it branches out into different plumbing lines.

Pro Tip: Although there’s nothing wrong with an outdoor installation, it would be best to install it in the garage or somewhere far from an unsafe environment to increase the lifespan of your whole house water filter.

Step 2: Switch Off The Main Water Supply Line

Before you jump-start your DIY installation, it would be safe to turn off the main water supply immediately. It will prevent catastrophic water damage to your interiors (walls, floors, personal belongings, etc.)

Step 3: Depressurize your water system

Open the faucet and drain the water lines to relieve the pressure. It will reduce water leaks from the pipes when you cut them. A private water well usually takes longer to depressurize because of the pressure tank.

Pro Tip: Monitor the pressure gauge located on the pressure tank. Once it reads 0 PSI, it is clear that the whole system has been depressurized successfully.

Step 4: Assemble the Whole House Filter Unit

The most efficient way to install the whole-house filter system is to assemble every component beforehand. Instead of cutting the pipes first, it is more time-saving and practical to build the filter.

Kindly refer to the installation manual and follow the instructions on how to attach each part. You would see an inlet port on one side and an outlet port on the opposite side. Attach the fittings accordingly.

If your system comes with a bypass valve, you might want to install it too. A bypass line will be helpful if you don’t wish to experience water interruption throughout your house, even when you’re changing the filter or doing some minor pipeline repair.

Step 5: Cut The Pipe

Grab the pipe cutter to cut the pipe, but before that, you might want to use a pencil to mark the area you need to cut to be precise. Then, use the pipe cutter and position the wheels on the mark.

Tighten the cutter into the pipe and twist it using the handle to cut all the way through. Don’t forget to slide a bucket underneath to catch all the water coming from the pipes.

Step 6: Use the sandpaper and polish the cut pipes

Hand-sand the cut pipe to remove any lingering debris. It will erase all the markings left on the surface. Please don’t overdo it, though, to avoid altering the shape.

Step 7: Insert the pipe fittings

First, attach the compression nut with the small end on any of the pipe ends. Afterward, slide the ferrule onto its proper place & do the same thing for other pipes.

Then, wrap the Teflon tape around the threads of the fittings to provide a secure seal and prevent leaks.

Step 8: Mount the plywood to the wall and install the whole-house water filter

Get the piece of plywood you prepared and use the mounting brackets and screws to affix it onto the wall securely. Use the drill and bits to make a hole and use the screwdriver to tighten the screws. The plywood will serve as the mounting plate of the filter.

Mount the whole house filter to the plywood and connect the pipes to the filter. Make sure that the incoming water line is coupled with the inlet port of the filter. The outlet port can’t produce the right amount of water that you need otherwise.

Step 9: Switch On The Main Water Supply Line

Slowly switch on the main water line and check if there are any leaks from the pipes. If you find leaks on the bypass line, tighten up the fittings. Voila! Your well water filtration system is now ready to serve you and your family.

Conclusion

Before buying a whole house water filter for well water, it is highly advisable to get a water testing kit first. It will help you detect what contaminants are present in the water. Some systems use multiple filtration methods to filter out various contaminants.

Now that you’ve learned How to Install Whole-House Water Filter on a Well, it will be easier for you to provide clean and safe drinking water for your family! How was the tutorial? For any DIY topic suggestions, please leave your comments below!