Just did a full DIY install. This video was great. I think I watched it about 7 times. I am not afraid to jump into a job but your video made me feel much more at ease. Thanks for the info! Everything works, I didn’t flood my garage… so, Win 😂. Love the system.
That’s awesome!! You’re very welcome. My goal was to do a literal step by step with some tips peppered in there so people could really do it themselves and not hit any major road blocks. Happy you got it installed successfully
My system was just delivered. I’m really glad I found your video, it’s much easier to understand than the instructions that came with the system. Thanks excellent video.
Your information was invaluable! What a great step by step guide. I watched this a couple of times times and I was very confident. Thank you, Great job
Great JOB! I really appreciate the time you took to produce such an informative DIY video. I’m going to add a system to my house and like that the Shell system is made in the USA. Now that you have had the Shell System for a while are you still happy with it? Would you change anything about the system if you had an opportunity? Thanks again
That you I appreciate that. We still love the system. Haven’t had any problems at all. On initial install I had a small O-ring in the port that plugs in for the brine tank that I had to replace. I pinched it and it would allow a tiny bit of water to drip. So I replace the small O ring. It wasn’t anything big but that was the only issue I had. Otherwise we had had a great experience with the system. It is nice having the whole home filtration and soft water.
Thanks! Nope, the water doesn’t have a weird taste. The salt mainly is used to scrub the minerals off the resin matter in the tank during the flush/regeneration cycle. Then it flushes all the salt waster out and your system runs through the filtration tank. It only uses salt water during the regeneration/cleaning cycle. For water at your fridge though, most people install a reverse osmosis system for drinking water in the kitchen. And usually there under the sink they place a loop you can tap into so your water going to the fridge is coming from your reverse osmosis. At least in a lot of newer homes they will have that. Otherwise Ives seen people just plumbing their fridge line off their reverse osmosis themselves for that reason.
Nice vid.... Was wondering if you could add a check valve after the filter and a bleed before it so when you shut off the main you will have just residual pressure you can bleed off from the bleed valve and not have to worry about the house pressure being bled off. Just a thought...
Yep. You’re on the right track. You could isolate the system with shut off before and after. It’s really up to your imagination if you understand what’s going on. 🤙🏼
I might be working on doing a full how to Video showing if there is no loop and how to create your own break in the water line to install a system. Just need to get a mock set up built to show a full walkthrough
Truly a great video. Will use links when I move forward on this. Could you please suggest how one could implement a spigot to provide soft water for car washing?
You could install an inline T that has threads or your preferred method of connecting a spigot. Just branch off anywhere after the outlet side obviously. But depending on how much room you have and the area your setting things up in you can get creative with it.
Hey Brian thanks for the great step by steps and I have a question about the filters. In some video's I have seen two styles of filters inside Culligan WH-HD200-C Whole House Water Filter System 1” Inlet/Outlet which hold the following Sediment filter into a activated Carbon water filter before water goes into the softner system. Most of the videos have them before and not at the end oif line before sending water back into the house.
There’s different set up but they still accomplish the same thing. The idea behind having the sediment filter before your system is to keep any larger particles from entering your system from the water supply. The idea behind having it placed after your system and before the house is that you let your system catch and filter your water and then the sediment filter will catch anything that possible makes its way through & it will protect your home from anything that’s inside your filtration system from getting out. So if the large matter or resin beads inside your filter tanks for some reason makes its way out the sediment filter will catch all that before it get inside your house pipes. It’s more of a protection for the home in a sense. I had a buddy who’s filter system broke on him randomly and all the matter inside his filter tanks blew through his whole home, clogged all his shower heads, sink faucets and dunked up his tankless water heater. Not to mention if that gets into any of your other appliances. So if he would have had a sediment filter after his system it would have clogged the filter and not gotten past not the house. Either way they help. Some manufacturers suggest putting it before , some after.
@@FortKnoxCo thanks that does make sense and will design the layout with one sediment filter before the softener system and then place the activated Carbon after the system and before it goes into the house. Thinking of adding some presure gauges from the city line and one from the line into the house. Thinking that it will let me catch any presure dropping before things get stopped or cause any issues with the devices in the house.
You can install it before or after the system. Honestly, it’s whatever your preference is. There’s two different trains of thought behind it. The manufacturer in this situation recommended it be installed afterwards, I believe the idea was if anything made it through the system or out of the system, it would catch it before it goes into the house. Obviously, the other way of looking at it when installing before the system, would be to catch anything from your Supply line and not let it get into your system. The only thing I’ll add is, I’ve seen a couple situations where a water softener has malfunctioned, and it allowed the particle matter out of the tank to get into the pipes of the house, this caused a lot of problems for the water heater and all of the appliances and fixtures. If the sediment filter is installed after your softener, it could have prevented this. So in general, I like installing it after the system.
Hey. Nice video. Shouldn't the particle filer go before the filter tanks? To protect them? You have the filtered tanks out puting to the sediment filter..
They said it was usually installed after, to catch anything that may make its way through the tank or out of the tanks. I’ve looked it up and different system show it installed both ways. It seems to come down to preference it seems. Either way before it gets to the house it should be in line. I had a friend who’s old water softener took a dump and the filter caught all the particles from the filter tank and kept it from getting into the house pipes/appliances/fixtures, etc. so I see the plus in having it after the system in that situation worst case.
Thanks for the comprehensive video. 2 questions: 1. Will the tank and sediment filters pair with a standard water softener/brine tank system (I already have an existing system)? 2. I'm hoping the whole house filter will eliminate the need for an under-sink R/O system - will it?
If you want to use the carbon tank with your already installed water softener I’m sure it would work but I’d recommend just installing the whole new system while you’re at it. And test a pre or post partial filter can be added to any filtration system. As far as the whole water system being filtered and softened it technically is drinkable filtered water throughout the house…. But in most cases the cold water at the kitchen sink is a dedicated hard water line. It is bypassed usually to be hard water for watering plants and such. Just the way things are commonly plumed. So depending on your specific set up in your home the water at the cold sink might still be hard, just like the water spigots for the hoses on the outside of your home. They are all hard water, unfiltered. That is why most people still use a reverse osmosis system in the kitchen to filter their cold water line for drinking. You could install the whole home system and then do a harness test on the cold water at your kitchen sink. If it’s showing that it’s softened water then that means it’s going through your filtration system. If the cold water is still hard water then I’d say you need a reverse osmosis there for that drinking quality source. I hope that all makes sense.
enjoyed your video very helpful I installed my softener and was concerned about adding a fiiter to my system, it states to add filter before softener on your video you added after softener which will be best before or after softener thanks Al
Thank you so much I appreciate that. Yes you are right some systems ask you to place the filter before and then some do it after. Either way you’re good and it’s another added benefit. The idea of doing it after is to catch anything that may make its way through the filters and through the softener to catch it before it goes into your house, by placing it before the system you’re doing just that Which is catching any large particles before they go into your system and then into your house. I believe the only reason to do it after is to prevent anything from the system, such as the carbon or resin from the two tanks, making its way out and into your house. But the theory of putting it before is to catch any those large particles coming from the city water supply. So if I had to put money on it, I would say you could do it after and let your system catch any of those large particles, and obviously protect your house from having anything coming out of your system and into your water. I hope that all makes sense. Either way a pre-or post filter is a great addition.
Thank you for the fast reply it liked the way you installed your filter assembly this did not occur to me about adding a board to studs for filter mounting thanks again. Am waiting for next info video
Yes. That little elbow that they give you to attach. The drain line is just in case that brine tank were to malfunction and it overflowed. In most cases I haven’t seen anyone install that. But it’s just there as an option. If you have the space or a drain nearby, you can go ahead and just attach it would run that line somewhere you’re OK with the water draining. But I believe most people don’t install that because it never gets any use. Thank you for watching and commenting
If you already have a water loop set up for a water softener I’d assume the house was built to code and has the proper check valves and anti siphons in place. I haven’t seen a check valve connected to the water softener system itself but I doesn’t hurt having one before the hot water. Usually that’s installed at or near the water heater plumbing. I have one in line on my tankless water heater for the inlet side of the water heater.
Amazing response time! Please suggest benefit of this product over your previous reviewed aquasure softener at 1/3 the price aside from Bluetooth app control. I see whole house filter with that line as well. Thanks!
I would say the aquasure works Amazing. Zero complaints with that and would highly recommend it. Value and function 100%. This whole home filtration just goes the extra stem and filters the water not just for hardness but all the other bad stuff, similar to making it drinking quality like a reverse osmosis. The reason people put a reverse osmosis at their kitchen sink still, which I did, is due to the way the houses are usually plumbed. The kitchen sink specifically has a hard water line, bypasses from the water loop that your softer er/filtration would be on, just like exterior hose spigots. This is because people will fill water from the kitchen sink to water house plants and you don’t want to use filtered/softened water for that. So the kitchen area may still need a drinking quality water source. But with the whole home filtration you are adding in that second tank that has an activated carbon matter and other filtration components sometimes and you are getting soft water and filtered water. So you do pay more for that combination. The bluetooth and all that jazz is nice but I don’t use it much. I just add salt to my brine tank when needed and move on. The pre/post filter you seek is an added bonus to most systole in general, good to keep large partials out of you home water lines and appliances. I’d say both have their value, soft water is my first priority, whole home filtration is the just the next level up.
Is there a difference when installing the Sediment particle filter last to the house, to where some house install the Sediment Filter 1st, to collect the street water and then transfer to the filtration tank.
Yep you beat me to it. That gets asked often. It’s mostly preference and manufacture suggestions. But both ways is okay. Shell water systems said they always say to do it after the filtration system
I have a question. I found an online document and some other videos for the filtration tank with that same head unit and bypass valve and the document and other video shows to install the water coming from street to the upflow inlet from the tank which is the left inlet. On your video you are installing the street water to the down flow inlet. Those upflow and downflow letters are engraved in the head unit . Is that correct? Or does not matter? Thanks
Yes, it does matter which way you connect it. It will have them marked on the head unit. I believe when I received this unit they had not been marking the valves yet and used to allow the unit to run the other way. But I believe since then they have it marked the way they want you to connect the until. Should be inlet and outlet
Unfortunately I haven’t made that video yet. But I have been asked a couple times to show the method of installing or creating your own water loop. So I may be doing that in the future. But in short, if you have your main water like in the wall that supplies the house you would cut about a 12” section out somewhere between where it comes into the home and before it splits to the water heater and house cold lines, you would install two 90 degree elbows to bring the line ends out from the wall, have male threaded ends on those and that would essentially be where you install your water softener. You’re just creating a break in the continuous line to make it first go through your softener and then continue on. The one important thing when cutting that line other than making sure the water is turned off, is securing those pipe ends or stabilizing the line in the wall so it has some support. You don’t want the water line to me moving around a lot especially since you’ll be connecting stuff to the ends and they could be bumped around
I see that you have only 1 value with the backwash feature. Does that 1 valve backwash both tanks, or would you need 2 valves with backwash to backwash both tanks? Thanks!
Are you referring to back wash feature as the portion of the process where the resin tank/water softener flushes itself with the salt water during its regeneration cycle? The system doesn’t need two head units with a backwash feature, I believe it only needs to be done on the softener tank which is why it comes with a head unit that incorporates that all in the top of the softener tank, the other tank just acts like a giant carbon filter which brings your water to a drinking quality, the softener tank has the resin beads in it that needs “scrubbing” to clean off the minerals/hardness periodically and that’s done by flushing itself with the salt water during regeneration cycle.
The small flush line needs to get to a drain. If your house is not plumbed for a flush like that already goes to a drain line the washer machine drain then you’ll need to run it to something similar.
@@Good_Things_To_Know I believe so, if the sump pump usually handles the plumbing/toilets/sinks etc. then it should be fine. I believe the sump pumps are meant to handle regular plumbing needs. when it flushes out it's just water and medium to hight flow for a short time.
Should be, yes. I’m assuming your well water eventually makes it way to a single line of water coming in, and that line can have the softener installed in line before the water runs to the house and splits to the water heater
I’m not sure what you mean by that. I would use the valves the unit comes with. The carbon tank has a head valve that is very simple, in and out. The resin tank has the big head unit with the plug in regulator and all. I wouldn’t use any other valves that didn’t come with the unit.
I don’t have any complaints. Haven’t had any problems with the system after installing it. Only had to add the salt to the brine tank. Other than that it’s been set it and forget it. As far as quality of the material the system is made out of they are on par with any other system I’ve installed. The head unit being able to connect to your phone is more advanced than some other cheaper systems. Others are all programmed at the head unit. This one you can view some stats and usage numbers from your phone when your near the system.
Yes. I used 1” for all the connections since my softener I ordered was 1” connections. Depending on the brand you go with they may offer 3/4” or 1” system options.
No. It just needs to be inline on your water supply and installed before the water splits to your water heater and cold lines. It’s just the first thing in the system to filter everything down the line
99% sure it won’t because the water line coming into your home has a split off to a couple water sources in your home avoiding the water loop. One of them being the hose spigots around of the outside the house and the sprinkler system. Another is usually the cold water that goes to the kitchen sink. All this is usually a common practice because you don’t want filtered water for plants usually. So the water on the outside of the house is obvious but the cold water source at the kitchen sink specifically is done assuming you might be watering plants in your home. So this was a standard way of plumbing homes for ages. This is also why people usually install a reverse osmosis system at their kitchen sink so it can filter that cold water which is hard water from the street so you can have a drinking source in your kitchen.
Their consolidator system should perform just as their other, just with the space saving benefits. They have it described as being able to filter exact way as the other two tank system. It looks like the benefits of it are really just the space saving. As far as the ability or the amount that it can filter before regeneration would be the only difference I would expect. Because you’re not having as much filtration between two tanks and it’s consolidated into one I would assume that it might regenerate more often than a system that has two tanks, but that would only be if you have very large house or lot of water usage. I think your budget or maybe the space that you’re working with it would be a good option.
@@NoShredDad no the frequency of its regeneration cycle is not really a worry. I’m just saying if you were to compare it to a split tank my guess is that it wouldn’t have to regenerate as often, but even like most systems they have some type of combination tank and it does well withlarge homes. So to have everything condensed into one tank is not going to be a problem.
NOPE! Not ANOTHER app on the phone! Not another app that needs to update or simply be abandoned. The UI only needs to be on the unit. If one is too lazy to to the unit really needs to rethink a lot of things. Not aware of any water softener not made in the USA. We agree, a whole house filter is good. Wish more RO systems for the kitchen and ice maker were out in the utility room rather than having a leak potential under the kitchen sink.,
Our home is on a slab. All utilities and water are underground but we don’t freeze much out here If you have water lines in your home you would just create a loop to tap into the main water line before it splits to your water heater and cold water. Put the softener in and have it in a location that can stay warm enough to not freeze. Not sure if there is anything special you’d need other than that. I don’t know if there is already something in line to help with preventing damage to the water lines when they freeze.
I would like to think it’s a little bit of both. Obviously labor seems to cost more in the US. But I’d like to believe the product you’re getting has a bit more care and quality in the whole process. I haven’t had any problems to report with the systems I’ve installed or use myself.
This video is 7 months old. As far as the reliability of this system. What do you think? Impartial opinion. I am looking for a system, but i am not sure how much of your review was influenced by the company. No disrespect to you. Many people from other parts of the internet complain about other companies' customer service and system longevity and reliability.
Understandable. We haven’t had any problems since installing. No leaks and not function problems. All I’ve had to do is add salt to the brine tank as usually expected. The water is still soft, I recently checked it again to see how it was operating. We have no complaints. I think it really just comes down to what you want, a full home filtration system or just a water softener. I think that is what your main choice is on system/$$. I gave the manufacturer my honest opinion when they sent it and I installed. They took a couple ideas with the hose hook ups and clarifying the set up process to be more diy or understandable. They seemed very genuine and had good communication & customer service
I just bought a very similar system from Softpro but I am having difficulty and they dont seem to have the same requirement for a sediment filter after the whole house filter and softner. I have tried looking up whole house sediment filters to buy but almost all of them have low flow rates and I dont want to drop my water pressure after buying a whole house filter rated for 14 gpm. Any recommendations?
I would recommend the Aquasure High Flow Filter and housing, I just put a link at the bottom of this video for it. Should take you directly to the item I’m talking about. I haven’t had any problem with this filter and it’s a 5 micron filter so it should restrict too much at all.
Thank you so much for the information videos. You have saved me a whole lot on installation. I just purchased the whole system with the uv light. Can you please tell me where the uv light goes. For example. Should the uv light be the first then the filter canister on the wall.
Thank you, I’m happy you found it helpful. It’s preferred and highly recommended to install the UV after the softener. This is because the UV works better on water that’s clean and clear of the minerals or anything else that could be in the water.
@@robertkifan4376 honestly they both work great. The aquasure is a bit more affordable but the shell water system offers the whole home filtration aspect. So you do pay more but you are also getting more. It really depends on what you want. Do you just want water softening or water softening and house water filtration. They are both great systems
@@FortKnoxCo I want the whole house water filtration system and softener! Thx again for the help and great video you made, I will be ordering the shell water system
I have the links to the system on their website. Should show you the process and different options they have. Some systems come with more depending on what you need
Just the carbon (black material ) tank because it activates the new material inside. The other tank gets flushed with the salt water when you actually run the start up cycle on the system Once it’s all assembled.
Ha ha, best bang for the buck is pure BS. Way over priced. Please folks, shop around and compare these systems because you can get much more for much less money.
Always good to do your own research. Biggest cost savings I’ve seen is installing a system yourself rather than buying from a company who’s at your door with a pamphlet and offering install with it. I’ve seen some crazy prices for units. I like shell water systems also because they are a US company based in TX. Thank you for the comment. All feedback is appreciated
They system is so expensive because it supports jobs in Ohio where the valves are Built and Wisconsin where brine tank was made and back in Ohio where the media tanks were made and all the truckers in between
Just did a full DIY install. This video was great. I think I watched it about 7 times. I am not afraid to jump into a job but your video made me feel much more at ease. Thanks for the info! Everything works, I didn’t flood my garage… so, Win 😂. Love the system.
That’s awesome!! You’re very welcome. My goal was to do a literal step by step with some tips peppered in there so people could really do it themselves and not hit any major road blocks. Happy you got it installed successfully
My system was just delivered. I’m really glad I found your video, it’s much easier to understand than the instructions that came with the system. Thanks excellent video.
Thank you I really appreciate it. That way my goal
Your information was invaluable! What a great step by step guide. I watched this a couple of times times and I was very confident. Thank you, Great job
Thank you I really appreciate that. Glad you could get it done and save yourself some money
Love gents like you showing, teaching DIY 🎉🎉🙌🙌 major wins, thank you 🌅🌅🥳🥳
I really appreciate that. Thank you
This was an excellent tutorial I bought a new softener to replace an old one - I knew nothing but now understand how it all works - thank you!!
That’s great to hear. Thank you for
Commenting. I really appreciate it.
Great JOB! I really appreciate the time you took to produce such an informative DIY video.
I’m going to add a system to my house and like that the Shell system is made in the USA.
Now that you have had the Shell System for a while are you still happy with it?
Would you change anything about the system if you had an opportunity?
Thanks again
That you I appreciate that.
We still love the system. Haven’t had any problems at all. On initial install I had a small O-ring in the port that plugs in for the brine tank that I had to replace. I pinched it and it would allow a tiny bit of water to drip. So I replace the small O ring. It wasn’t anything big but that was the only issue I had. Otherwise we had had a great experience with the system. It is nice having the whole home filtration and soft water.
I did my purchase today i told them about you thank, good to me
That’s awesome. I appreciate that! Your going to love the system. We have no complaints
Wish I saw this before I bought
Aww man. Sorry to hear that.
Awesome video, is going to help me a lot when doing mine thanks, question, will the ice cubes coming from the fridge have a weird taste? Salt? Ty
Thanks! Nope, the water doesn’t have a weird taste. The salt mainly is used to scrub the minerals off the resin matter in the tank during the flush/regeneration cycle. Then it flushes all the salt waster out and your system runs through the filtration tank. It only uses salt water during the regeneration/cleaning cycle.
For water at your fridge though, most people install a reverse osmosis system for drinking water in the kitchen. And usually there under the sink they place a loop you can tap into so your water going to the fridge is coming from your reverse osmosis. At least in a lot of newer homes they will have that. Otherwise Ives seen people just plumbing their fridge line off their reverse osmosis themselves for that reason.
@@FortKnoxCo thanks again! Will be getting a system soon
Nice vid.... Was wondering if you could add a check valve after the filter and a bleed before it so when you shut off the main you will have just residual pressure you can bleed off from the bleed valve and not have to worry about the house pressure being bled off. Just a thought...
Yep. You’re on the right track. You could isolate the system with shut off before and after. It’s really up to your imagination if you understand what’s going on. 🤙🏼
I really wish someone would do a video installing a system without a loop. Just install from a 1” pipe no loop. This is a great video though.
I might be working on doing a full how to
Video showing if there is no loop and how to create your own break in the water line to install a system. Just need to get a mock set up built to show a full walkthrough
I would love to purchase the system I just don't have a drain in my garage
Good video bro !
Thank you! I appreciate that!
Truly a great video. Will use links when I move forward on this. Could you please suggest how one could implement a spigot to provide soft water for car washing?
You could install an inline T that has threads or your preferred method of connecting a spigot. Just branch off anywhere after the outlet side obviously. But depending on how much room you have and the area your setting things up in you can get creative with it.
Hey Brian thanks for the great step by steps and I have a question about the filters. In some video's I have seen two styles of filters inside Culligan WH-HD200-C Whole House Water Filter System 1” Inlet/Outlet which hold the following Sediment filter into a activated Carbon water filter before water goes into the softner system. Most of the videos have them before and not at the end oif line before sending water back into the house.
There’s different set up but they still accomplish the same thing.
The idea behind having the sediment filter before your system is to keep any larger particles from entering your system from the water supply.
The idea behind having it placed after your system and before the house is that you let your system catch and filter your water and then the sediment filter will catch anything that possible makes its way through & it will protect your home from anything that’s inside your filtration system from getting out. So if the large matter or resin beads inside your filter tanks for some reason makes its way out the sediment filter will catch all that before it get inside your house pipes. It’s more of a protection for the home in a sense. I had a buddy who’s filter system broke on him randomly and all the matter inside his filter tanks blew through his whole home, clogged all his shower heads, sink faucets and dunked up his tankless water heater. Not to mention if that gets into any of your other appliances. So if he would have had a sediment filter after his system it would have clogged the filter and not gotten past not the house.
Either way they help. Some manufacturers suggest putting it before , some after.
@@FortKnoxCo thanks that does make sense and will design the layout with one sediment filter before the softener system and then place the activated Carbon after the system and before it goes into the house. Thinking of adding some presure gauges from the city line and one from the line into the house. Thinking that it will let me catch any presure dropping before things get stopped or cause any issues with the devices in the house.
Curious. Why didn’t you run the water through the sediment filter before it goes to the filtration/softner?
You can install it before or after the system. Honestly, it’s whatever your preference is. There’s two different trains of thought behind it. The manufacturer in this situation recommended it be installed afterwards, I believe the idea was if anything made it through the system or out of the system, it would catch it before it goes into the house. Obviously, the other way of looking at it when installing before the system, would be to catch anything from your Supply line and not let it get into your system.
The only thing I’ll add is, I’ve seen a couple situations where a water softener has malfunctioned, and it allowed the particle matter out of the tank to get into the pipes of the house, this caused a lot of problems for the water heater and all of the appliances and fixtures. If the sediment filter is installed after your softener, it could have prevented this. So in general, I like installing it after the system.
Hey. Nice video. Shouldn't the particle filer go before the filter tanks? To protect them?
You have the filtered tanks out puting to the sediment filter..
They said it was usually installed after, to catch anything that may make its way through the tank or out of the tanks. I’ve looked it up and different system show it installed both ways. It seems to come down to preference it seems. Either way before it gets to the house it should be in line.
I had a friend who’s old water softener took a dump and the filter caught all the particles from the filter tank and kept it from getting into the house pipes/appliances/fixtures, etc. so I see the plus in having it after the system in that situation worst case.
Hi thank you for the video, where can I purchase all system? And how much does it cost including shipping to Florida?
Thank you
I have the website for this specific system in the video description
Thanks for the comprehensive video. 2 questions: 1. Will the tank and sediment filters pair with a standard water softener/brine tank system (I already have an existing system)? 2. I'm hoping the whole house filter will eliminate the need for an under-sink R/O system - will it?
If you want to use the carbon tank with your already installed water softener I’m sure it would work but I’d recommend just installing the whole new system while you’re at it. And test a pre or post partial filter can be added to any filtration system.
As far as the whole water system being filtered and softened it technically is drinkable filtered water throughout the house…. But in most cases the cold water at the kitchen sink is a dedicated hard water line. It is bypassed usually to be hard water for watering plants and such. Just the way things are commonly plumed. So depending on your specific set up in your home the water at the cold sink might still be hard, just like the water spigots for the hoses on the outside of your home. They are all hard water, unfiltered. That is why most people still use a reverse osmosis system in the kitchen to filter their cold water line for drinking.
You could install the whole home system and then do a harness test on the cold water at your kitchen sink. If it’s showing that it’s softened water then that means it’s going through your filtration system. If the cold water is still hard water then I’d say you need a reverse osmosis there for that drinking quality source.
I hope that all makes sense.
enjoyed your video very helpful I installed my softener and was concerned about adding a fiiter to my system, it states to add filter before softener on your video you added after softener which will be best before or after softener thanks Al
Thank you so much I appreciate that. Yes you are right some systems ask you to place the filter before and then some do it after. Either way you’re good and it’s another added benefit. The idea of doing it after is to catch anything that may make its way through the filters and through the softener to catch it before it goes into your house, by placing it before the system you’re doing just that Which is catching any large particles before they go into your system and then into your house. I believe the only reason to do it after is to prevent anything from the system, such as the carbon or resin from the two tanks, making its way out and into your house. But the theory of putting it before is to catch any those large particles coming from the city water supply. So if I had to put money on it, I would say you could do it after and let your system catch any of those large particles, and obviously protect your house from having anything coming out of your system and into your water. I hope that all makes sense. Either way a pre-or post filter is a great addition.
Thank you for the fast reply it liked the way you installed your filter assembly this did not occur to me about adding a board to studs for filter mounting thanks again. Am waiting for next info video
@@alfonsocruz4945 of course. Happy to be of help.
Great video!
I noticed you didn’t install the brine tank drain line. Is that optional?
Yes. That little elbow that they give you to attach. The drain line is just in case that brine tank were to malfunction and it overflowed. In most cases I haven’t seen anyone install that. But it’s just there as an option. If you have the space or a drain nearby, you can go ahead and just attach it would run that line somewhere you’re OK with the water draining. But I believe most people don’t install that because it never gets any use.
Thank you for watching and commenting
On hot water systems they install check valves, do we need one for this unit, great video
If you already have a water loop set up for a water softener I’d assume the house was built to code and has the proper check valves and anti siphons in place. I haven’t seen a check valve connected to the water softener system itself but I doesn’t hurt having one before the hot water. Usually that’s installed at or near the water heater plumbing. I have one in line on my tankless water heater for the inlet side of the water heater.
Amazing response time! Please suggest benefit of this product over your previous reviewed aquasure softener at 1/3 the price aside from Bluetooth app control. I see whole house filter with that line as well. Thanks!
I would say the aquasure works Amazing. Zero complaints with that and would highly recommend it. Value and function 100%.
This whole home filtration just goes the extra stem and filters the water not just for hardness but all the other bad stuff, similar to making it drinking quality like a reverse osmosis. The reason people put a reverse osmosis at their kitchen sink still, which I did, is due to the way the houses are usually plumbed. The kitchen sink specifically has a hard water line, bypasses from the water loop that your softer er/filtration would be on, just like exterior hose spigots. This is because people will fill water from the kitchen sink to water house plants and you don’t want to use filtered/softened water for that. So the kitchen area may still need a drinking quality water source.
But with the whole home filtration you are adding in that second tank that has an activated carbon matter and other filtration components sometimes and you are getting soft water and filtered water. So you do pay more for that combination. The bluetooth and all that jazz is nice but I don’t use it much. I just add salt to my brine tank when needed and move on. The pre/post filter you seek is an added bonus to most systole in general, good to keep large partials out of you home water lines and appliances.
I’d say both have their value, soft water is my first priority, whole home filtration is the just the next level up.
Is there a difference when installing the Sediment particle filter last to the house, to where some house install the Sediment Filter 1st, to collect the street water and then transfer to the filtration tank.
I read a few comments below, and that answer my question.
Yep you beat me to it. That gets asked often. It’s mostly preference and manufacture suggestions. But both ways is okay. Shell water systems said they always say to do it after the filtration system
I have a question. I found an online document and some other videos for the filtration tank with that same head unit and bypass valve and the document and other video shows to install the water coming from street to the upflow inlet from the tank which is the left inlet. On your video you are installing the street water to the down flow inlet. Those upflow and downflow letters are engraved in the head unit . Is that correct? Or does not matter? Thanks
Yes, it does matter which way you connect it. It will have them marked on the head unit. I believe when I received this unit they had not been marking the valves yet and used to allow the unit to run the other way. But I believe since then they have it marked the way they want you to connect the until. Should be inlet and outlet
Thank you!!
Do have a video that shows how to install with softener on a home that doesn’t have pre water line setup?
Unfortunately I haven’t made that video yet. But I have been asked a couple times to show the method of installing or creating your own water loop. So I may be doing that in the future.
But in short, if you have your main water like in the wall that supplies the house you would cut about a 12” section out somewhere between where it comes into the home and before it splits to the water heater and house cold lines, you would install two 90 degree elbows to bring the line ends out from the wall, have male threaded ends on those and that would essentially be where you install your water softener. You’re just creating a break in the continuous line to make it first go through your softener and then continue on.
The one important thing when cutting that line other than making sure the water is turned off, is securing those pipe ends or stabilizing the line in the wall so it has some support. You don’t want the water line to me moving around a lot especially since you’ll be connecting stuff to the ends and they could be bumped around
Ok thanks I appreciate ur feed back.
Hi. I have questions?
Do you install before or after hot/cold water system
Before. That way your hot water is filtered and softened. As well as your cold lines.
I see that you have only 1 value with the backwash feature. Does that 1 valve backwash both tanks, or would you need 2 valves with backwash to backwash both tanks? Thanks!
Are you referring to back wash feature as the portion of the process where the resin tank/water softener flushes itself with the salt water during its regeneration cycle?
The system doesn’t need two head units with a backwash feature, I believe it only needs to be done on the softener tank which is why it comes with a head unit that incorporates that all in the top of the softener tank, the other tank just acts like a giant carbon filter which brings your water to a drinking quality, the softener tank has the resin beads in it that needs “scrubbing” to clean off the minerals/hardness periodically and that’s done by flushing itself with the salt water during regeneration cycle.
Does it needs to drain out into the sewer system?
The small flush line needs to get to a drain. If your house is not plumbed for a flush like that already goes to a drain line the washer machine drain then you’ll need to run it to something similar.
I guess technically it doesn’t need to be a sewer system, but the water needs to go somewhere it won’t cause a problem for you. 🤙🏼
Could it drain to a sump pump ?
@@Good_Things_To_Know I believe so, if the sump pump usually handles the plumbing/toilets/sinks etc. then it should be fine. I believe the sump pumps are meant to handle regular plumbing needs. when it flushes out it's just water and medium to hight flow for a short time.
The carbon filter is the activated carbon, right?
Yes. It has the carbon matter inside and you fill it with water and let it sit for a day. Then you flush that tank before hooking everything up.
Great video. Would it be the same set up for well water?
Should be, yes. I’m assuming your well water eventually makes it way to a single line of water coming in, and that line can have the softener installed in line before the water runs to the house and splits to the water heater
How often do you replace the filter
The post filter, every 9-12 months.
For the carbon filter is it fine to just use a manual head valve? And is there any maintenance you need to do with the carbon filter?
I’m not sure what you mean by that. I would use the valves the unit comes with. The carbon tank has a head valve that is very simple, in and out. The resin tank has the big head unit with the plug in regulator and all. I wouldn’t use any other valves that didn’t come with the unit.
How good are the products from shell water systems? I am thinking to get from them but not sure. Any feedback?
I don’t have any complaints. Haven’t had any problems with the system after installing it. Only had to add the salt to the brine tank. Other than that it’s been set it and forget it.
As far as quality of the material the system is made out of they are on par with any other system I’ve installed. The head unit being able to connect to your phone is more advanced than some other cheaper systems. Others are all programmed at the head unit. This one you can view some stats and usage numbers from your phone when your near the system.
Was the PEX-A you used all 1 inch?
Yes. I used 1” for all the connections since my softener I ordered was 1” connections. Depending on the brand you go with they may offer 3/4” or 1” system options.
Does A Water filtration system need to be near the pump?
No. It just needs to be inline on your water supply and installed before the water splits to your water heater and cold lines. It’s just the first thing in the system to filter everything down the line
Will this filter the hard water from my sprinkler system? It’s gets on my car and is a pain to remove the hard water spots.
99% sure it won’t because the water line coming into your home has a split off to a couple water sources in your home avoiding the water loop. One of them being the hose spigots around of the outside the house and the sprinkler system. Another is usually the cold water that goes to the kitchen sink. All this is usually a common practice because you don’t want filtered water for plants usually. So the water on the outside of the house is obvious but the cold water source at the kitchen sink specifically is done assuming you might be watering plants in your home. So this was a standard way of plumbing homes for ages. This is also why people usually install a reverse osmosis system at their kitchen sink so it can filter that cold water which is hard water from the street so you can have a drinking source in your kitchen.
What are your thoughts on their Consolidator system? About to order it but wanted to seek some advice.
Their consolidator system should perform just as their other, just with the space saving benefits. They have it described as being able to filter exact way as the other two tank system. It looks like the benefits of it are really just the space saving. As far as the ability or the amount that it can filter before regeneration would be the only difference I would expect. Because you’re not having as much filtration between two tanks and it’s consolidated into one I would assume that it might regenerate more often than a system that has two tanks, but that would only be if you have very large house or lot of water usage. I think your budget or maybe the space that you’re working with it would be a good option.
Perfect, space is what I am after and the cost as well. Is frequency of regeneration a concert. This is my first time doing this so I have no idea.
@@NoShredDad no the frequency of its regeneration cycle is not really a worry. I’m just saying if you were to compare it to a split tank my guess is that it wouldn’t have to regenerate as often, but even like most systems they have some type of combination tank and it does well withlarge homes. So to have everything condensed into one tank is not going to be a problem.
Do you have a link for the tanks.
I have their website listed in the description. It should take you to the exact products or where you can see all the models they offer
NOPE! Not ANOTHER app on the phone! Not another app that needs to update or simply be abandoned. The UI only needs to be on the unit. If one is too lazy to to the unit really needs to rethink a lot of things. Not aware of any water softener not made in the USA. We agree, a whole house filter is good. Wish more RO systems for the kitchen and ice maker were out in the utility room rather than having a leak potential under the kitchen sink.,
Yeah I see what you’re saying. Luckily there’s many different units to suit everyone’s specific needs or price ranges.
How would you handle installing this system on a slab house? I'm in S.E. Alabama, but it still freezes sometimes.
Our home is on a slab. All utilities and water are underground but we don’t freeze much out here If you have water lines in your home you would just create a loop to tap into the main water line before it splits to your water heater and cold water. Put the softener in and have it in a location that can stay warm enough to not freeze. Not sure if there is anything special you’d need other than that. I don’t know if there is already something in line to help with preventing damage to the water lines when they freeze.
Is USA made better? Or just more expensive for American cost of labor?
I would like to think it’s a little bit of both. Obviously labor seems to cost more in the US. But I’d like to believe the product you’re getting has a bit more care and quality in the whole process. I haven’t had any problems to report with the systems I’ve installed or use myself.
This video is 7 months old. As far as the reliability of this system. What do you think? Impartial opinion. I am looking for a system, but i am not sure how much of your review was influenced by the company. No disrespect to you. Many people from other parts of the internet complain about other companies' customer service and system longevity and reliability.
Understandable. We haven’t had any problems since installing. No leaks and not function problems. All I’ve had to do is add salt to the brine tank as usually expected. The water is still soft, I recently checked it again to see how it was operating. We have no complaints.
I think it really just comes down to what you want, a full home filtration system or just a water softener. I think that is what your main choice is on system/$$. I gave the manufacturer my honest opinion when they sent it and I installed. They took a couple ideas with the hose hook ups and clarifying the set up process to be more diy or understandable. They seemed very genuine and had good communication & customer service
I just bought a very similar system from Softpro but I am having difficulty and they dont seem to have the same requirement for a sediment filter after the whole house filter and softner. I have tried looking up whole house sediment filters to buy but almost all of them have low flow rates and I dont want to drop my water pressure after buying a whole house filter rated for 14 gpm. Any recommendations?
I would recommend the Aquasure High Flow Filter and housing, I just put a link at the bottom of this video for it. Should take you directly to the item I’m talking about. I haven’t had any problem with this filter and it’s a 5 micron filter so it should restrict too much at all.
Larger pre filter next time (4.5x20).
That would be nice. I just installed what came with the system they have. Not sure if they offer an upgraded pre filter but could be a suggestion
Thank you so much for the information videos. You have saved me a whole lot on installation. I just purchased the whole system with the uv light. Can you please tell me where the uv light goes. For example. Should the uv light be the first then the filter canister on the wall.
Thank you, I’m happy you found it helpful.
It’s preferred and highly recommended to install the UV after the softener. This is because the UV works better on water that’s clean and clear of the minerals or anything else that could be in the water.
@@FortKnoxCo thank you so much
@@robertchen9686 your very welcome
What type of maintenance do the tanks need?
None. The only maintenance is adding more salt to the brine tank and about once a year changing out your small pre filter.
@@FortKnoxCo nice! So I’m trying to decide between this one and aquasure, in your honest opinion which one do you recommend?
@@robertkifan4376 honestly they both work great. The aquasure is a bit more affordable but the shell water system offers the whole home filtration aspect. So you do pay more but you are also getting more. It really depends on what you want. Do you just want water softening or water softening and house water filtration. They are both great systems
@@FortKnoxCo I want the whole house water filtration system and softener! Thx again for the help and great video you made, I will be ordering the shell water system
@@robertkifan4376 awesome. I’m
Happy I could be of help
What is the price of this system?
I have the links to the system on their website. Should show you the process and different options they have. Some systems come with more depending on what you need
Both tanks they need to be flush?
Just the carbon (black material ) tank because it activates the new material inside. The other tank gets flushed with the salt water when you actually run the start up cycle on the system
Once it’s all assembled.
Thank you
@@camilodiaz1290 your very welcome
Ha ha, best bang for the buck is pure BS. Way over priced. Please folks, shop around and compare these systems because you can get much more for much less money.
Always good to do your own research. Biggest cost savings I’ve seen is installing a system yourself rather than buying from a company who’s at your door with a pamphlet and offering install with it. I’ve seen some crazy prices for units. I like shell water systems also because they are a US company based in TX. Thank you for the comment. All feedback is appreciated
They system is so expensive because it supports jobs in Ohio where the valves are Built and Wisconsin where brine tank was made and back in Ohio where the media tanks were made and all the truckers in between
I'm 75 years old and in need of a whole house system, which would you recommend that will last longer then me?😅 Thanks 👍