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Water filtration can be a tricky project to handle when choosing the perfect solution for your home and family. One of the most important factors to consider is the size of the water filter system, which is generally dependent upon the home size and amount of water being used.
For a larger family, it’s safe to assume a larger amount of water will be used. As a result, a water filtration product that is able to handle everyone’s water usage will be imperative. Find out what kind of filters can handle larger amounts of water and what other factors to consider when choosing the best water filter system for your large family.
Why Water Filtration is Essential for Large Families
Water filtration goes beyond improving the taste and smell of your drinking water, and can extend to quality improvements to ensure the health and safety of your family while drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and many other tasks. It can mean instant access to water for better feeling of skin and hair, protection for your plumbing pipes and appliances, healthier water for pets and fish aquariums, and much more.
The right water filter can also help you cut down on costs and waste as you reduce the need for purchasing costly water in plastic bottles.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Water Filter
So what should you consider when looking for the best water filter for your family? Mainly you will want to consider what you want to filter from the water, how much water you will be filtering, how and where the filter will be installed, and how much the filter will cost initially and over time as you maintain it. Let’s look at each point more in-depth.
Water Quality
Different types of filters provide different reduction of impurities. A simple way to find out what you need filtered from your water is to check water quality reports for your area, or purchase an at-home water quality test. Common reduction choices include chemicals like chlorine, sediment and particulate, and hard water prevention. Some may also choose further reduction of impurities like pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and PFAs. Well water may have struggles with iron or manganese staining.
Filter Capacity
Smaller, point-of-use filters, such as refrigerator or in-line filters will have a smaller capacity. Under-sink systems use slightly larger cartridges that provide filtered water from a dedicated faucet, while whole house systems can offer filtered water for the entire home. Typically, the larger the filter cartridge the higher the capacity. Filters with smaller micron ratings will also have a higher filtration rate, which means they will foul quicker and require more frequent replacements.
Installation Type
How the filter will be installed is also something to consider. Do you own your home or do you rent? Some rentals will not allow the installation of a whole house or under-sink system. How much space do you have? Many water filter systems require clearance around the system for proper installation and maintenance, and may take up a lot of room on their own.
For example, traditional RO systems require a lot of space under kitchen sinks for housings, tanks, and tubing. Consider if you are looking for an easy setup or can handle a bit of a DIY project. In some cases, the best option may be to hire a professional plumbing professional for install.
Cost
When considering costs, you should not only consider the initial purchase and install, but also need to factor in the continued cost of filter replacement and other maintenance. Larger systems usually require larger, more costly cartridges upfront. Smaller systems may have more affordable cartridges initially, but they may require more frequent replacement.
Reverse osmosis systems may provide access to purer water, but the initial installation, purchase, and maintenance costs are usually much greater than that of a multi-stage whole house filter system.
Types of Water Filters Suitable for Large Families
If your large family desires quick access to filtered water for specific uses like coffee, tea, baby formula, or other small applications, a compact filter product like a countertop RO system may be an excellent option. However, if you are in need of a broader solution, a whole house system may be the right choice for you. Typically, for a larger family, a system with large capacity 20” x 4.5” filter cartridges is recommended.
In addition, filters with smaller micron ratings will slow down water flow rates more than a filter with a higher micron rating. So to keep the flow rate up in a home with a larger family, a higher micron filter of 25 microns or more may be preferred.
How to Maintain Your Water Filter System
Whichever system you do choose for your family, the best recommendation is to follow the product manual for proper maintenance. Typically, your system will require periodic changing of one or more cartridges. How often replacement occurs will depend on the cartridge type, size, water quality, and water usage.
If the system has a filter housing, you may need to occasionally check and replace O-rings and clean the housing. Any tubing, screws, or other parts may experience wear and tear and require occasional replacement as well. All systems should be periodically inspected for leaks.
How do I know which water filter is best for my family’s needs?
Consider what your filtration goals are. Basic reduction of chlorine and chemical impurities for improving taste and odor of drinking water can be accomplished by a fridge or inline carbon filter. If you have a larger budget and want broader filtration, a whole house system with multiple stages may work best. For ultra pure water, an RO system can provide almost total reduction of TDS. Additionally, you should look at what brand of filter you want to purchase. Make sure to consider company reviews and purchasing from a trusted seller.
How often should I change the filters in a large household?
Larger families tend to require more water for showering, laundry, cooking, and more. As a result, filter changes may happen more frequently than in a smaller household. If your cartridge has a recommendation of replacement every 3-4 months, your household may be closer to every 3 months with the higher water consumption.
The easiest way to tell if your cartridge needs replacement is if there is a sudden reduction in water flow. Typically this is caused by fouling of the filter cartridge.
Are water filter pitchers effective for large families?
If you just need filtered water for drinking only, a water filter pitcher may work okay for your large family. In most cases, however, it is more efficient to purchase a larger solution, such as an under-sink filter or a whole house system, especially if there is a desire for quick access to filtered water for a variety of applications. More water usage requires larger filters to provide enough safe, healthy water to meet everyone’s needs.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, finding the best water filter for your large family will depend on a number of factors unique to your family’s wants. Finding filtration products that provide the degree of water quality, right capacity, feasible installation and maintenance, and that won’t break the bank will create the access to quality filtered water you desire. Whether a smaller point-of-use system for drinking water only or a whole house system, you can find the solution to meet your large family’s requirements.
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