How Do You Hook Up a Water Filter to a Water Line?

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You don’t have to be a professional plumber to hook up a water filter to your water line.

But the surprising thing is that more than 90% of homeowners still pay professional plumbers to install their water filters and spend as much as USD $100-$300.

Apart from the money spent on buying supplies, DIY installation costs almost nothing. It’s also very straightforward and only takes a couple of hours to complete.

This blog post will show you how to hook up a water filter in short, simple steps.

How to Install a Water Filter

Hooking up a water filter can be a walk in the park when you have the right tools at hand. Here are seven simple steps you can follow to install your water filter.

1. Get your tools and supplies ready
   Before installing a filter to your water line, make sure you have all the necessary tools and supplies right next to you. It makes the work faster and prevents any mishaps while installing the filter. You’ll be needing:
   • A water filter kit, including filter cartridges
   • Fittings and tubings
   • Shut off valves
   • Wall Mounting bracket
   • Bypass valves (if you want to bypass any pipes)
   • Teflon tape
   • Filter threads
   • Adjustable wrench
   • Pipe cutters
   • Bucket
   • Old Towels or napkins
2. Turn off the main water supply
   Turn off the water supply at the main valve before you start installing. It will reduce the pressure in the system. It’ll also prevent obstacles that may arise as you cut through the water line and install your filter. Cutting a water line filled with flowing water will only create a mess and slow down the installation process.
3. Drain remaining water in pipes
   Drain the water left in the pipes by opening all the faucets in the house. You can keep these faucets open throughout the installation process to release pressure in the system.
4. Determine and mark out the point in the line to hook up the filter
   Whole house water filters are typically installed near the shut-off valve of the main water line so that the water flowing through all valves is filtered.
   But if there are some pipes you need to bypass (like a pipeline supplying your garden hose), you can easily avoid them using a whole house water filter bypass.
   More importantly, ensure that your filter is as close to the main water valve as possible.
   Once you’ve decided where to mount the filter on your water line, make a mark on the pipeline to indicate where you will cut the pipe.
5. Cut into the main water line
   Before cutting the pipe, ensure you have a bucket and a napkin close to you. There’ll be excess water left in the line, and to avoid making a mess when you cut it, place the bucket under the pipe as you cut (remember to wipe off any water that trickles down to the floor).
   Cut at the marked points on the water line with a pipe cutter. After cutting the pipes, remove rough edges from the ends of the cut line with sandpapers to prevent any accidents.
6. Hook up the filter
   First, screw pipe fittings into the filter head. Then, carefully secure the fittings using filter threads or Teflon tape. The tape and threads are to prevent leakages from the filter head.
   Carefully tighten the pipe fittings with your hand, or use an adjustable wrench (be careful not to damage the pipe fittings).
   After screwing the pipe fittings into the filter head, mount the bracket on the wall at the correct position, and screw the filter head onto the bracket.
   Then with the filter head well supported by brackets on the wall, install the filter cartridge and housing. This filter cartridge will need to be changed occasionally.
7. Let the water flow
   Once you’re done installing the filter, you can now let the water flow. Turn back on the main water valve supplying the house. Don’t forget to close all house faucets before turning on the main water valve.
   More importantly, check for leaks in the newly installed filter and the pipes. If you find any leakage, seal them by tightening all the nuts and fittings properly, or if not, get a professional to inspect.

How to Maintain a Water Filter

Like all appliances, water filters need regular maintenance. Your whole house water filter will provide a continuous supply of high-quality water and maintain a constant flow rate only if it’s serviced regularly. 

You don’t need to service your whole house filter every other week or month. Instead, it’s recommended that you replace the filters 3-6 times a year. Although the type of filter and the nature of the water can determine how often exactly.

How to Replace Water Filter Cartridges

Below are three easy steps to follow to replace your filter cartridges:

1. 1. 1. Prepare your tools and supplies
         You’ll need screwdrivers, wrenches, water, soap, and buckets to change filter cartridges. Make sure you prepare and gather all these tools before you start servicing the filter. You’ll also need a new filter cartridge, so ensure you have that already purchased and ready to be installed.
      2. Turn off the water supply
         Turn off the water supply at the main water valve to release pressure. This will make maintenance easier and faster. Then, open all faucets and fixtures in the house to release even more pressure in the filtering system.
      3. Change the filter cartridge
         First, unscrew the filter housing using the wrench, and clean the housing, to remove the cloudy deposits caused by sediments and debris in the unfiltered water. Then remove the old filter cartridge and dispose of it. Install the new filter cartridge, and then screw the filter housing into place.
         Changing the filter cartridges at the right time keeps water filters running smoothly. If you successfully set up your whole house water filter, pay attention to the filter’s maintenance needs to promote optimal functioning.