Water Filter FAQs

Just because your water looks clean, doesn’t mean it is. Water treatment facilities simply can’t remove all the chemicals present in our tap water. In fact, in order to produce disease-free, potable water, the city needs to add chemicals to the water supply, namely chlorine. You are probably already aware of this since you can often taste the chemicals present in your tap water. However, you may not know that there are trace amounts of over 250 other chemicals also present.

Common sense tells us we should be filtering the chemicals out before we ingest the water.

We offer four different solutions depending upon the needs of your home and family:

• GOOD: Carbon Whole House Carbon Water Filter
  Whole house filtration with premium grade carbon media
  • Zero electricity
  • Zero backwash
  • Zero maintenance
• BETTER: Whole House Carbon Water Filter with Ion Inline Conditioner
  • Zero electricity
  • Zero backwash
  • Zero maintenance
  • Inhibits scale & corrosion
• BEST: Whole House Carbon Water Filter and Conditioning System
  • Zero electricity
  • Zero backwash
  • Zero maintenance
  • Extensive scale reduction
• PREMIUM ADDITION: Reverse Osmosis Purification System with Alkalinity Booster
  • 4 stage filtration installed on one tap: sediment, carbon block, RO membrane, and alkalinity pH booster.
  • Includes a smart faucet with filter indicator.

High Activity Carbon is used to purify liquids and gases in a variety of applications, including municipal drinking water, food and beverage processing, odor removal, and industrial pollution control. It is most commonly produced from coconuts, nutshells, peat, and wood. The materials are heated to very high temperatures to produce highly porous carbon that has a large internal surface area, which is what makes activated carbon ideal for absorption.

See the long (but not exhaustive) list here. There are too many chemicals to name, but the pdf gives a good idea of the effectiveness of activated carbon.

None! We specifically chose water filters that are MAINTENANCE FREE and warrantied for TEN YEARS. 

The Northshore of Chicago has the following common problems:

• Chlorine, which is added to the water by the city to kill bacteria
• Dirt and sediment, which is present in any aging plumbing system like ours
• Other harmful contaminants – In recent years the Northshore of Chicago has seen many contaminants detected above health guidelines including Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic Acids (HAAs), and Emerging Contaminants (ECs).
• Hard water – According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) the Great Lakes region has some of the hardest water in the United States. The groundwater in Northern Illinois and Chicago contain especially high levels of calcium carbonate, in the range of 181 to 250 milligrams per liter, which is considered very hard by the USGS.

The “BEST” water filter option we offer is designed to address all of these issues by removing Chlorine, dirt and sediment, and other harmful contaminants while softening the water without adding salt. If you would like additional information about your water, we can provide you with the most recent Water Quality Report for your area.

Most customers do not notice a water speed reduction, but the filter can reduce the water flow by 8-10 psi.

Any of the whole house water filters will be installed where the water line enters your home, before the hot water heater. That means ALL the hot and cold taps in your home will have filtered water including all sinks, showers, refrigerators, etc. We will install the unit after your sprinkler system if the plumbing allows.

Yes, if you choose the “BETTER” or “BEST” options, as they prohibit scale developing on appliances. When you have hard water, mineral deposits build up the inside of your appliances and fixtures. If you can see mineral deposits in your shower or kitchen sink, you can be sure it is worse inside your plumbed appliances and pipes. This can particularly effect the life of your hot water heater, clothes washer, and dishwasher.

Yes. Bottled water is regulated less than tap water, so bottled water varies widely in taste, quality, and mineral content. But even the best bottled water cannot give you Chlorine-free water in your shower, where you breathe and absorb volatile chemicals. Whole house carbon filter users have reported relief from dry scalp, itchy skin, rashes and other common skin problems.

Traditional water softeners remove calcium and magnesium from your water by going through a salt wash, which adds sodium to your water. Traditional softeners are effective at creating soft water, but also often cause the water to feel slimy and taste bad.

Hard water is deemed so by the amount of calcium and magnesium it contains. Hard water makes soap less effective, and creates scale and film buildup in showers, appliances, and fixtures. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) the Great Lakes region has some of the hardest water in the United States. The groundwater in Northern Illinois and Chicago contain especially high levels of calcium carbonate, in the range of 181 to 250 milligrams per liter, which is considered very hard by the USGS.

No. The system is only designed for use on city water.

No, water softeners are not designed to remove lead from water. Water softeners work by exchanging minerals like calcium and magnesium for sodium or potassium, which helps reduce water hardness. Lead is not affected by this process and requires specific filtration methods for removal.

No. These options are not like salt conditioners. It doesn’t remove calcium and magnesium or add salt to your water, which is what causes the slimy feeling associated with soft water. The combination of all three filters will make your water taste great!

Pitcher filters and refrigerator filters use the same basic concept as the carbon filter, but on a much smaller scale, with inferior carbon media that needs to be replaced often to remain effective. With a whole house water filter, you will be able to just turn on your hot or cold water tap and get superiorly filtered water immediately. No more waiting for it to drip through, no hauling pitchers in and out of the fridge, and no more replacement carbon cartridges.

A Reverse Osmosis (RO) system is a more extreme level of filtering that uses a series of partially permeable membranes to remove ions, unwanted molecules and larger particles from drinking water. RO units will filter out nearly everything from your water including lead, fluoride, nitrates, as well as healthful electrolytes and minerals. If you want to use an RO system, we recommend using a unit that will put the minerals back into your water for better taste and health. Reverse osmosis is a slow process that requires a holding tank and is not cost-effective or practical for whole-house use.

Traditional water softeners remove calcium and magnesium from your water by going through a salt wash, which adds sodium to your water. Traditional softeners are effective at creating soft water, but also often cause the water to feel slimy and taste bad.

The whole house water filters we offer will reduce some presence of water-soluble metal compounds including lead, mercury, nickel, chromium, and other dissolved metals. If you are specifically concerned about lead, we recommend additionally installing a Reverse Osmosis unit under your kitchen sink.

No. Fluoride is added to the water supply by the city to improve bone health. If you are specifically concerned about Fluoride, we recommend additionally installing a Reverse Osmosis unit under your kitchen sink.

No. The unit is designed for homes on city water only, which means you are getting potable, treated water to your home. As an added measure, all the whole house filter options contains bacteriostatic KDF-55, meaning it will prevent bacteria from growing in the tank.

The heads on all three filters fit 1 inch pipes, but we can upsize or downsize when needed.

We recommend installing an RO unit on one tap.

The Chicagoland area uses Chlorine to treat its water.