Isolating Some Plumbing from Whole House Filtration

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Paul1977

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#265570 28-Jan-2020 14:02

We are putting a whole house water filter in our new build.

It has been suggested on Geekzone before that it would be worth separating out the outdoor taps and toilets so they aren't filtered (to prolong filter life).

We have had this priced at about $900 to isolate just the outdoor taps, and an addition $300 to isolate the toilets.

The plumber is happy to do it, but feels it's unnecessary as they filters need to be replaced annually regardless and he doesn't think we'd go through enough water to use up the filters in less than a year.

What are other geeks thoughts on this?

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#2408228 28-Jan-2020 14:33

i'd isolate if that's possible.

i think the plumber is correct, you'll have to change it anyway so it probably makes no difference.

but $900 out of 1 million dollars, is a sneeze. i'd do it on that basis. like leather seats. makes no difference to the safety or performance of the car. but i'd do it.

there is however a very small chance that if the filter gets clogged up faster than expected, at least the toilets and garden are not contributing to the accelerated wear. so one off 900 bucks from a million, people spend more on their hair annually.

wratterus

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#2408231 28-Jan-2020 14:36

I think it would depend on how much you will use the outdoor taps. Toilets aren't a massive user in the big scheme of things, but if you have a large lawn/garden that you plan on watering a lot, I'd definitely look at isolating them. Tiny cost in the big scheme of things as has been mentioned.

davidcole

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#2408260 28-Jan-2020 15:06

Or a large courtyard and you plan on waterblasting a lot.

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Handle9

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#2408275 28-Jan-2020 15:39

Honestly I wouldn't bother unless the filters you are using are particularly expensive. If it's a couple of $20 Jumbo's why spend $900 to save $10 a year.

It's very easy to say it's only $900 but there are a lot of only $900 in building a new house.

openmedia

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#2408299 28-Jan-2020 16:23

Are you filtering town supply or tank water?

For washing clothes, toilets and watering the garden I'd still consider an initial particle filter.

Drinking water etc filter as much as possible if tank water.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

Scott3

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#2408317 28-Jan-2020 17:11

Some area's have issue's with the toilets getting stained by the water supply.

I wouldn't isolate them unless you are sure the water supply in your are doesn't stain (i.e. have lived or have friends in the area).

Ge0rge

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#2408344 28-Jan-2020 18:37

I'd question if you need to filter at all.

We're on tanks from rain water. Nothing more than a gauze before the pump to keep the possums out, and a gauze on entry to the house to protect the taps if an impeller should lunch itself.

Five years, two adults and three children and no issues.

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richms

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#2408359 28-Jan-2020 19:38

If the filter cant take your full flow without dropping considerable pressure, then this will help with the water pressure changing when the toilet is done filling. I have my toilet tap almost off because used to have terrible flow and it would cut out once I was in the shower and make it have a signifigant change in temperature (colder) which was not pleasant.

Richard rich.ms

Delphinus

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#2409405 28-Jan-2020 23:26

Ge0rge: I'd question if you need to filter at all.

We're on tanks from rain water. Nothing more than a gauze before the pump to keep the possums out, and a gauze on entry to the house to protect the taps if an impeller should lunch itself.

Five years, two adults and three children and no issues.

Same here, no issues in 10+ years.

Had one summer where the water went bad for some reason. Smelt very odd. Drained tanks, flushed out what I could, and dumped a load of chlorine in.

I do have a low point before it goes into the tanks which I can drain from, sludge usually collects here. I'm pretty careful to clean the gutters regularly too.

Handle9

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#2409412 28-Jan-2020 23:59

Delphinus:

Ge0rge: I'd question if you need to filter at all.

We're on tanks from rain water. Nothing more than a gauze before the pump to keep the possums out, and a gauze on entry to the house to protect the taps if an impeller should lunch itself.

Five years, two adults and three children and no issues.

Same here, no issues in 10+ years.

Had one summer where the water went bad for some reason. Smelt very odd. Drained tanks, flushed out what I could, and dumped a load of chlorine in.

I do have a low point before it goes into the tanks which I can drain from, sludge usually collects here. I'm pretty careful to clean the gutters regularly too.

Seeing the state of our jumbos after 6 months I'd always want filters on rain water at a minimum. It's not like they are expensive. We also have UV on our place which I'm not so concerned about.

Paul1977

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#2410443 30-Jan-2020 21:50

openmedia:
Are you filtering town supply or tank water?

For washing clothes, toilets and watering the garden I'd still consider an initial particle filter.

Drinking water etc filter as much as possible if tank water.

Town supply. Mainly for chlorine reduction.

davidcole

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#2410444 30-Jan-2020 21:55

Paul1977:
openmedia:
Are you filtering town supply or tank water?

For washing clothes, toilets and watering the garden I'd still consider an initial particle filter.

Drinking water etc filter as much as possible if tank water.

Town supply. Mainly for chlorine reduction.

I’m just surprised at the state of our sediment filter on our (Lower Hutt) town supply.

Paul1977

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#2412303 4-Feb-2020 11:15

richms:

If the filter cant take your full flow without dropping considerable pressure, then this will help with the water pressure changing when the toilet is done filling. I have my toilet tap almost off because used to have terrible flow and it would cut out once I was in the shower and make it have a signifigant change in temperature (colder) which was not pleasant.

@richms that's a good point. The filters have pretty high flow rate, but it's probably inevitable that there will be some reduction in flow, especially if we require a pressure limiting valve before the filter.

If the toilets and outdoor taps are separated before any pressure limiting valve and filter they should have far less impact on the flow rate of the indoor taps.

Am I on the right track?