Does a Whole House Water Filter Soften Hard Water?

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Whole house water filtration is popular in many households nowadays, as people are growing more and more aware of the health impact of different types of water contaminants.

At the same time, many people also have to deal with hard water and all the issues it brings to the table.

But does a whole house water filter also soften hard water? Or do you need a separate appliance for it? Let’s find out!

Key Takeaways

  • Some whole house water filters may soften hard water slightly.
  • However, they are not designed to target hard water minerals. Rather, their purpose is to remove contaminants from a water supply.
  • You will need to complement your whole house water filter with a water softener to effectively soften hard water.

Does a Whole House Water Filter Help with Hard Water?

A whole house water filter, by default, doesn’t do anything to address the hardness of your water. It’s designed to remove contaminants from the water supply, but doesn’t specifically target the minerals that cause hardness.

In fact, the effectiveness of a whole house water filter may be negatively impacted by severe hardness of the water.

What Is Hard Water?

Hard water is water that’s passed through various mineral deposits, such as limestone or gypsum. Those leave residue in the water supply, which ends up in the water you use for drinking, showering, washing dishes, and pretty much everything else around the home.

In certain quantities, hard water can actually be beneficial due to its higher mineral contents. But it also has various nasty side effects which make it undesirable for many people. For example, it can leave an unsightly film on your dishes after you’ve washed them, and it can coat your hair after showering.

For this reason, many people who live in areas with hard water prefer to treat it which is also known as softening.

How a Whole House Water Filter Works

Big Blue Whole House Water Filter

A whole house water filter usually applies several stages of filtration to ensure that contaminants are thoroughly removed from the water supply. Water first passes through a pre-filter, and is then routed through one or more additional filters which are designed to purify it as much as possible.

Filtration is done at a centralized point from where water is dispensed through the rest of the home. That’s where the “whole house” name comes from. Using a single whole house filter is enough to purify your home’s entire water supply, instead of having to rely on separate filters at each access point.

Whole House Water Filters vs Water Softeners

Whole house water filters and water softeners have different purposes, and are typically sold as separate devices. This ensures optimal performance for the specific treatment provided by each filter.

Using the two in combination is sometimes recommended, especially if you live in an area with particularly hard water. The effectiveness of your whole house water filter might be reduced if water is not sufficiently softened before it reaches the filter.

How a Water Softener Works

Typical water softeners utilize a resin bed made up of small beads with a negative charge. Since magnesium, calcium, and other minerals commonly targeted by water softeners have a positive charge, they are attracted to the beads and “stick” to them as water passes through the system.

This results in water with significantly reduced mineral levels at the output. Depending on the strength of the softener and the hardness of the water supply, you may get very close to removing all minerals completely.

Note that this might also take away some of the healthy properties of your drinking water. Hard water can provide your body with an additional supply of calcium and magnesium, which can improve your health in various ways. If you’re used to drinking hard water, you may have to compensate for reduced mineral content by taking supplements.

Choosing the right type of water purification depends on your individual situation. If you’re dealing with contaminated water, you’ll want to use a whole house water filter to reduce the concentration of different contaminants in the water supply.

On the other hand, dealing with hard water means that you have to use a water softener. Softening your water is also generally recommended when using a whole house water filter on very hard water. The high concentration of minerals may render the whole house filter less effective and/or wear out its filters faster. This can make it more expensive to run in the long term, as you’ll have to spend more on filter replacement cartridges.

Do I Need a Whole House Filter If I Have a Water Softener and Vice Versa?

If your only goal is to soften your water, using a water softener is enough and you don’t have to additionally invest in a whole house water filter. Conversely, if you’re only concerned with removing contaminants from your water supply, a whole house water filter should be enough.

There are exceptions though – as we mentioned above, softening your water before it reaches the whole house water filter can improve its effectiveness and help it last longer. People living in areas with an unfortunate combination of heavily contaminated and very hard water are advised to use both. Otherwise, you may see your whole house water filter get clogged up over time, costing you additional money.

salt-based water softener

Combining the Two

Combining the two approaches is not a bad idea even if your water supply isn’t overly hard. Softening your water can make it more pleasant to drink and to use for purposes like washing your dishes and brushing your teeth.

You must always approach this situation with some research though. It may turn out that investing in a water softener is overkill in your situation, and will only be a waste of money. Using a softener on water that’s already relatively soft won’t do much to improve it.

If you do decide to run a combined approach, in most cases you will want to have the water pass through the softener before it reaches the filter. This will help ensure that the latter works properly and doesn’t receive any unnecessary contamination that it can’t deal with, helping it last longer.

When in doubt, it’s best to consult a water treatment expert and get an assessment of your water quality. You may need to pay for specialized testing to verify the exact situation you’re dealing with. DIY kits that you can use at home only tell you part of the story. They might indicate the presence of certain minerals or contaminants, but won’t inform you about the exact quantities you’re dealing with.

Check if you can get a copy of your local water quality report. This can give you a good insight into the level of contamination you’re dealing with, and point you in the right direction about purchasing the right purification system(s).

If you have any thoughts about the question, does a whole house water filter help with hard water, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

About the Author Alexandra Uta

Alex is a content writer with an affinity for research and a methodical attention to detail. Since 2020, she has fully immersed herself into the home water treatment industry only to become an expert herself. Alex has been using water filters and similar products for years which has gained her lots of hands-on experience.
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