Water Filter FAQs
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What Kind of Water Filter Is the Enviro Ultimate Combo?
The Enviro Ultimate Combo is a multi-stage water filter designed specifically to filter city water. Three filter stages make up the combination filter:
1. Sediment Filter – the Sediment Filter captures sand, rust and silt that is commonly found in municipal water supplies. It removes any sediment that is 5 micron or larger. For Reference, a human hair is approximately 75 microns across.
2. Carbon Filter – the Carbon Tank intensely filters the water using a proprietary mixture of high quality carbon medias. Its main function is to reduce chlorine, bad tastes & odors, as well as numerous other harmful contaminants.
3. EnviroSoft™ Conditioner – this unique EnviroSoft™ Conditioner transforms scale forming calcium and magnesium into harmless crystals that won’t stick to pipes, fixtures or appliances; providing 99.6% scale prevention without the use of chemicals or salt. Unlike traditional salt-based systems, the Enviro Ultimate Combo wastes no water and does not discharge harmful salt brine into the environment.
What Does the Filter Remove?
The Enviro Ultimate Combo specifically targets contaminants commonly found in city water, including:
- Chlorine and Chloramines
- Sand, rust, silt and other sediment
- Odors and bad tastes
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – these include carbon disulfide, ethanol, formaldehyde, isopropanol, methylene chloride, and many others
- Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) – these include: trifluoromethane (fluoroform), chlorodifluoromethane, trichloromethane (chloroform), bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, tribromomethane (bromoform), triiodomethane (iodoform)
- Haloacetic Acids (HAAs) – these include: monochloroacetic acid, dichloracetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid, and dibromoacetic acid
- Emerging Contaminants (ECs) – these are found in pharmaceuticals, personal care products, food additives, and industrial chemicals
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Water soluble lead, mercury, nickel, chromium, and other dissolved metals
What Does the Filter Not Remove?
The Enviro Ultimate Combo does not remove electrolytes and minerals which are essential to maintain great health. If you are concerned with a more thorough removal of lead, nitrates, nitrites, and fluoride, we recommend you add a reverse osmosis system onto your kitchen sink.
How Long Is the Filter Expected to Last?
The Enviro 1344 Premium Carbon Filter is expected to perform for 1,600,000 gallons (average 8-10 years). The conditioner, containing EnviroSoft™ media, has a 30 year average life expectancy. The prefilter cartridge needs to be replaced once a year on average. This is a simple, low-cost maintenance that is included in your Plumbing Home Service plan.
What’s the Filter’s Warranty?
The manufacturer has a limited lifetime warranty on parts and tanks:
Enviro Water Products (“Enviro Water Products”) warrants to the end user (“customer”) that its tanks (13” & smaller), valves, in/out heads, bypass’s, fittings, NaturSoft® media and housings (“Covered Items”) will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for the life of the system. No warranty is made with respect to defects or damaged due to neglect, misuse, alterations, accident, misapplication, physical damage, installation on water quality outside guidelines for system or damaged caused by fire, acts of God, or freezing… These warranties apply only to the original registered owner so long as the owner owns the home in which the unit was originally installed. Customer must register their system with Enviro Water Products within 90 days of purchase in order to obtain a warranty.
American Vintage Home also offer a Parts & Labor Warranty for a full year after installation. All covered repairs during our 12 month warranty period will be free of charge no matter what, at no charge to you.
What Maintenance Is Required?
The prefilter cartridge needs to be replaced once a year on average. This is a simple, low-cost maintenance that is included in your Plumbing Home Service plan.
How Big is the Ultimate Combo Series?
The entire installation of the Enviro Ultimate Combo Series is approximately 45 inches wide x 55 inches tall x 14 inches deep. The footprint on the floor is approximately 24 inches wide by 13 inches deep.
What is in My Water that I Should Be Concerned About?
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 Enviro Ultimate Combo 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.
Will It Slow Down the Flow of Water at All?
Most customers do not notice a water speed reduction, but the filter can reduce the water flow by 8-10 psi.
Which Taps in My Home Will be Filtered?
The Enviro Ultimate Combo 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.
Will the Filter Extend the Life of My Other Appliances?
Yes. The EnviroSoft™ Conditioner provides 99.6% scale prevention without the use of chemicals or salt. 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.
Will My Water Be Better Than Bottled Water?
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.
SOFTENER QUESTIONS
How Is the Filter Different from a Traditional Water Softener?
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 Enviro Ultimate Combo is different because it uses a no salt technology called Template Induced Crystallization (T.I.C.) that transforms calcium and magnesium into harmless crystals that won’t stick to pipes, fixtures or appliances. The media in the filter, called EnviroSoft™, prevents 99.6% of scale, but is salt and chemical free, doesn’t waste water, leaves the beneficial minerals in, and doesn’t add any sodium to the water.
Another benefit of going with Enviro is the lifespan of the EnviroSoft™ catalytic granules. EnviroSoft™ catalytic granules have been rigorously tested in the real world, used in the commercial industry, and made to be non-sacrificial, therefore it requires no “rest time”. Other similar technologies require replacement every 3-5 years at costs of $600-$1,000 and require you not use their systems for 8 hours a day for proper rest! EnviroSoft™ has an average life expectancy of 30 years!
How Effective is the Softener?
EnviroSoft™ is certified by the DVGW for 99.6% scale prevention, which is equivalent to how salt based softeners perform in scale prevention. EnviroSoft™ is the only salt-free media to earn DVGW 9191 Certification. Based in Germany, DVGW is the most stringent testing lab for water and gas worldwide and has been in business for over 200 years. No other salt-free product in North America has successfully passed this rigorous testing. (DVGW is the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water – there is no American association that rates scale reduction).
Is My Water Hard?
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.
Will this Filter Work on a Well Water System?
No. The system is only designed for use on city water. The Ultimate Combo filter could possibly be used on a monitored well in conjunction with UV or other system with microbiological control.
Will the Softener Make My Water Slimy or Taste Bad?
No. The EnviroSoft™ Conditioner is 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!
If the Water Hardness is Tested after the System Is Installed, Will the Hardness Level Be Different?
If the water is tested after the EnviroSoft™ System is installed the hardness level will not be reduced. The EnviroSoft™ system uses a no salt technology called Template Induced Crystallization (T.I.C.) which prevents hard water minerals from creating scale, while still leaving those beneficial minerals in your water. The result is water that is balanced. Because a hard water test only checks for the amount of calcium in the water, and not if it will scale, the strip may still show hard, but the EnviroSoft™ is still protecting your appliances and your home with treated water.
COMPARATIVE QUESTIONS
How Is the Enviro Combo Series Better Than My Brita/Pitcher Filter/Refrigerator Filter?
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 the Ultimate Combo 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.
How Is the Filter Different from a Reverse Osmosis System?
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.
How Is the Filter Different from a Traditional Water Softener?
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 Enviro Ultimate Combo is different because it uses a no salt technology called Template Induced Crystallization (T.I.C.) that transforms calcium and magnesium into harmless crystals that won’t stick to pipes, fixtures or appliances. The media in the filter, called EnviroSoft™, prevents 99.6% of scale, but is salt and chemical free, doesn’t waste water, leaves the beneficial minerals in, and doesn’t add any sodium to the water.
Another benefit of going with Enviro is the lifespan of the EnviroSoft™ catalytic granules. EnviroSoft™ catalytic granules have been rigorously tested in the real world, used in the commercial industry, and made to be non-sacrificial, therefore it requires no “rest time”. Other similar technologies require replacement every 3-5 years at costs of $600-$1,000 and require you not use their systems for 8 hours a day for proper rest! EnviroSoft™ has an average life expectancy of 30 years!
IN-DEPTH & SPECIAL CASE QUESTIONS
What’s in the Filter Tanks?
1. Sediment Filter – the Sediment Filter contains a white, 5 micron, high efficiency, high performing poly-spun filter that reduces dirt, rust, silt and sediment particles down to 1/20th the size of a human hair.
2. Carbon Filter – the Carbon Tank contains a proprietary mixture of high quality catalytic carbon medias, including coconut-shell carbon and KDF-55.
3. EnviroSoft™ Conditioner – the EnviroSoft™ Conditioner contains proprietary EnviroSoft™ media that is DVGW certified to prevent 99.6% of scale.
Does the Filter Remove Lead?
The Ultimate Combo reduces the 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.
Does the Filter Remove Fluoride?
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.
Do I Need to Worry About Bacteria Growing in the Tank?
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, the Enviro Ultimate Combo contains bacteriostatic KDF-55, meaning it will prevent bacteria from growing in the tank.
What Size Plumbing is Required?
The heads on all three filters fit 1 inch pipes, but we can upsize or downsize when needed.
My Apartment or Condo Doesn’t Have Main Water Line Access, But I Want Filtered Water. What Should I Do?
We recommend installing the H-300-NXT Everpure filter from Pentair under your kitchen sink to filter your cold water with a separate tap. The H-300-NXT Everpure filter is a commercial grade water filtration system that reduces contaminants that affect water taste while preserving minerals and vitamins natural found in drinking water, much like the Enviro carbon filter. Commonly installed in restaurants, the undersink filter is compact but mighty. It reduces lead, chlorine, tastes and odors, sediment, VOCs, THMs, and Emerging Contaminants (ECs) like those found in pharmaceuticals.
Does the Chicagoland Area use Chlorine or Chloramines to Treat the Water?
The Chicagoland area uses Chlorine to treat its water.
What Certifications Does the Enviro Ultimate Duo Combo have?
The Carbon Filter is IAPMO certified to reduce chlorine by 97%. The IAPMO is the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. IAPMO tested and certified to NSF/ANSI 42 Chlorine Taste and Odor, and structural integrity. IAPMO tested and certified to NSF/ANSI 61 for Material Safety. (NSF = National Sanitation Foundation, ANSI = American National Standards Institute).
The EnviroSoft™ Filter is DVGW certified to prevent 99.6% of scale (DVGW is the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water – there is no American association that rates scale reduction).