If you’re tired of refilling and cleaning your water filter pitcher or buying cases of bottled water, installing a water filtration system could be the solution to your problem. Adding a water filtration system to your home helps to keep your drinking water free of pesticides and contaminants.
Plus, installing a whole-house water filter system removes hard water minerals from your main water line, which makes your dishes sparkle, and your appliances last longer. But who installs water filtration systems? Read on to learn why a plumber is the best professional to hire for the job.
Why You Should Hire a Plumber for Installing a Water Filtration System
Hiring a licensed and experienced plumber is your best bet for installing a whole-house water filtration system. Since plumbers know the ins and outs of plumbing, they know to install a water filtration system near your main water shut-off valve so it can filter and purify all the water that runs through your home. Most water shut-off valves are located in basements, garages, or utility closets. Wherever the location, your plumber will ensure you can easily access it to change the cartridges every three to six months.
Plus, plumbers with experience installing water filtration systems will know what types of tools they need to use to get the job done. For example, they will come prepared with the proper plumbing pipe cutters, plumbing solder, wrenches, and fittings for the job.
Can I Install a Water Filtration System Myself?
While many repairs or additions around the house make good DIY projects, it’s best to hire a local plumber when it comes to plumbing lines. While you might feel tempted to take on a water filtration system installation, there are many issues that could go wrong, including:
Cutting pipes or soldering incorrectly can cause leaks
Attaching fittings improperly can lead to leaks in your plumbing system
Aligning the water filtration system backward or to the incorrect ports will make it inoperable
Can I Hire a Handyperson to Install a Water Filter System?
Hiring a handyperson to install a water filtration system might seem like a good way to avoid paying the higher plumber hourly rate, which typically ranges from $45 to $200 per hour. However, if your handyperson doesn’t have experience cutting and soldering pipes or working knowledge of piping layouts, it can lead to big problems. While many handypeople have experience switching out or tightening plumbing parts, they usually don’t have the qualifications required to install a water filtration system.
On the other hand, if you know a handyperson near you who has the know-how for dealing with complex water lines and plumbing pipe projects, you can consider hiring them for your installation. However, you should research their online reviews and testimonials to ensure they are qualified to install water filtration systems.
How Plumbers Install Water Filtration Systems
Turn off the water supply: The plumber shuts off the water supply from the main water supply line, releases the pressure, and drains the water system.
Cut the pipe: The plumber chooses a location that’s near the water supply and the main shut-off valve, with easy access underneath to change the cartridges. The plumber will mark and cut the pipe with a pipe cutter. Then, they will use the pipe cutter’s reamer blade to remove any raised edges from the freshly cut pipe.
Connect the fittings: Next, the plumber will place a compression nut on both ends of the cut pipe and slide on the ferrule ring to reinforce the shaft. They’ll thread a brass fitting onto the filter housing ports and then seal them securely between the filter port and the fitting.
Install the filter: Next, the plumber will position the filter on the water line so that the water will flow into the “in” port and exit the “out” port. If it’s installed in reverse, the filter won’t function correctly.
Tighten the fittings with a wrench: Next, your plumber will use an adjustable wrench to tighten the compression nuts onto the fittings.
Turn on the water: The final step is to turn off the inlet valve to turn the water back on from the main shut-off valve, and then check for leaks. The tank will fill with water, and the water filtration system will begin filtering it. If the plumber discovers any leaks, they’ll tighten the system until the water stops dripping.
How Much Does a Whole-House Water Filtration System Cost?
Whole-house water filtration system costs can depend on the type of system and the special modifications needed. A standard carbon filter system will run an average of $1,000, but advanced reverse-osmosis filter systems can run up to $4,000.
You also need to factor in installation costs. Depending on the system and any potential modifications, the price of installation can vary from $300 to more than $3,000.
Cost to DIY a Water Filtration System vs. Hiring a Pro
While you can save money on a pro by installing a water filtration system yourself, it’s not a good idea. If the system isn’t installed correctly, it can lead to very costly problems—and there are lots of points where an installation could go wrong. For instance, if you solder the pipes incorrectly or don’t precisely attach the fittings, you can create leaks. And if the whole system isn’t properly aligned and sent to the right ports, it won’t work at all. So save yourself potential headaches and call a licensed plumber for this job.
