@@tylerhansen9135 Great question! No this is not a backwashing system. When looking for a plumber to install, I'd recommend verifying that they have experience installing tank based whole home water filtration systems. Make sure to hire a plumber that has both experience with these type of installations as well as positive customer reviews. Finally, I would recommend providing them with the installation instructions from the manufacturer to confirm they can complete the installation is is recommended. Specifically, make sure that they install a bypass so you can still have access to water when/ if you need to perform maintenance on the system (changing the sediment filter, replacing the media, etc.)
@@RossMalagarie It depends. If you only want a system to filter your drinking water, then a 5-stage RO system would be sufficient. However if you want clean, filtered water from every tap and faucet in your home (for brushing teeth, showering, etc.), then this system provides that benefit. Overall, a multistage RO system will reduce more contaminants than a system that only uses a few types of media.
I just had one of these systems installed in my house yesterday (along with a water softener). I wish I had done it sooner--after years of dry-skin, black manganese sludge on every faucet and our washing machine, I finally contacted a company to come out. When the rep tested our water he showed me that the chlorine level in our water (City of Atlanta) was extremely high (like swimming pool water). I expect the difference to be significant.
The main water line into my house is right next to the sewer line going out so with some minor PVC work, the installers joined the flush line right into the outgoing sewer line so it does not discharge into my grass at all--just goes out with the regular plumbing. My irrigation system is fed directly from the main line at the street so there is no salt in the irrigation system. If I wanted to pressure wash my house and use a faucet where water has gone through the filter, I can turn a couple of valves to bypass the system. Also, the gentler water on our laundry (and the elimination of the mineral deposits that would accumulate on the washing machine drum) is an added benefit (which was another reason we installed the system). So far we've noticed no real loss in pressure, the gunk on the faucets is pretty much gone (I cleaned them after installation and there hasn't been any noticeable buildup since). This was definitely not a cheap solution, rather an investment in the house and the quality of our water. I'd drink the water out of the tap without hesitation now, whereas for 10 years I would absolutely avoid it. The only thing I did not install is a reverse osmosis system which, from my understanding, is a highly inefficient system (uses like 3 gallons of water for every gallon it filters), and would not really improve the water quality any more than I could justify--I'm honestly not sure why I would have considered it and the sales rep didn't think it was a good idea either). Hope that helps.
I don't know what kind it is--it is part of a whole house system. The softening part has a large tank full of resin beads which is attached to a large, garbage can type container full of softening salt (I have to add more from time to time). @@trailboss78
Would be great to see you revisit the testing after a certain number of gallons has passed through the system to gauge the degradation of the filter medium
obviously the claims are BS. Depending on water going into the filter and usage there is super heigh chance of the amount of impurities taking way more space within 10 years than this filter therefore physically impossible
@@waterfilterguru are you able to briefly comment on how the system is performing thus far? I think that the lack of response from you takes away your validity as a reviewer. Perhaps they sponsored your review .
I have a water hardness of 21; these systems are capable up to 81 (per the manufacturer). I'm SO THANKFUL that I don't have to have a system that relies on me adding salt every month and have a water filter on every faucet. This is one of those "cost be damned" things as it'll save me money in the long run AND save me monthly maintenance fees. I have the system with the two large tanks and the smaller particulate filter (I don't have a well).
Sounds like you have the CF (carbon filter reviewed in this video) and the Futuresoft (salt-free conditioner) - thanks for sharing your feedback with the system, this is great to hear!
Just as an alternative possibility - check into the HydroFlow Pearl Plus - chemical free, no tanks, and implodes bacteria!. No, not affiliated, just getting rid of my old salt softener and discovered it. Def my way to go re softener/conditioner. I'm looking at Radient Life's all in one whole house, does Chlorines, VOCs, etc and flouride! @@2uplifestyle
You said you thought most of the lead was coming from plumbing within your house, yet the point of entry filter removed most of it, which would mean it's not coming from your pipes, but from the city water supply. This would make sense, as lead pipes were often used to connect houses to mains. The problem they had in Flint MI was the PH of the water changed when they changed the source, and the old lead pipes, which had a protective layer of oxidation, began dissolving into the water.
I'm in an apartment so I can't do what you did but what I am doing is I have filters on all the shower heads and sink faucets and for are drinking water I first filter the tap water through my 4 black heavy metal filter Berky then from there I filter with one of those ionic water filter the one that looks like sand but it's ion exchange resin stuff (makes the water taste like real water again) then I have 2 1.5" n52 magnets by the water outlet on said ion exchange resin filter container with a gauss strength of about 2 Tesla so that it will restructure the water molecules which when tested it showed to be effective at changing the characteristics of the water molecules so that's good. I still want to do better but for now this will do
@@waterfilterguru no but I need to because the water has been so bad ever since COVID hit idk why but a few months after the lockdown started the water started to smell like bleach so strong the house would smell like a pool just from washing the dishes by hand in the kitchen sink! The water still smells like bleach and chemicals that's why I got the black heave metals filters for my Berky because it seems to be their best filter it's even silver impregnated to help with viruses and by the end of my 3 stage filtering prose's the water doesn't smell at all and actually taste good but I still miss my water from my home town (the Ozarks water bottleing company was the next town over we lived on top of that aquaphor that runs from Canada to the coast so I literally grew up taking baths and showers with ozarka bottled straight from are well but now that I'm in the city I complain daily lol. Have you ever tried restructured water? I was a sceptic at first until I talked to a guy that told me that all of the filter kits you can get online don't work you have to .make your own because the magnet strength needed is way more then what your going to get from some Walmart magnets you need a n52 neo that's a minimum of 2.5 or 3 Tesla which would be a n52 neo magnet that's around 1.75 to 2" square which can be expensive and dangerous if you let your kids play with it I mean you really have to make sure that you have it in a good safe holding arrangement so that you don't accidentally get metal close to it seeing as it could hold a small person up lol But it's crazy dude I've done tests where I set a cup of water on top of the neo magnet for about 1 minutes and light string so that all the water passes close to the magnetic fealed and water is slightly magnetic hints why the magnet has to be so strong Then I take the cup off and set it over by the controll water cup which is same exact kind of cup and the water is from the same exact filtered water jug and if you take a taste the one that was on the magnet tastes way smother and more hydrating on your throat if that makes any sense? And if you take both cups mark which one is which and put them in the freezer what I found was that the one that had been subjected to the magnet takes about 30% longer to freeze all the way through and has deep big cracks through it unlike the regular cup that looks like it just has regular frozen water in it And I got the same results every time I did the test which was 8 times!
It all depends on your unique situation and what contaminants, and concentrations of those contaminants, are present. I wouldn't say it's necessary to performance test after just one year in most cases - the media should last multiple years. Again, the decision to add additional filtration downstream, such as a point of use filter (like an RO system) for your drinking water all depends on what contaminants are present. If the contaminants you have are reduced by the Springwell CF then additional filtration downstream would be redundant and unnecessary. However there are more difficult to remove contaminants present (uranium as an example), that the CF can't remove, then yes, additional filtration would be necessary. So, it all depends on the specific water situation - and this is why testing is so vital!
It does not. You have a couple options to reduce fluoride: 1) Add an additional fluoride removal cartridge filter downstream of a tank based system (like the one in this video). Something like this geni.us/WJAFPBP OR 2) Install a different whole house tank based system, specific for fluoride removal like the US Water Systems BodyGuard fluoride specific system geni.us/N8diO6 OR 3) Use a point of use filter to remove the fluoride from your drinking water. I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system like the Cloud RO geni.us/9ClI8J3 or Waterdrop G3 geni.us/rQekgwp or even a water filter pitcher like the Clearly Filtered pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1
@@waterfilterguru thank you very much for the quick response. I do have a reverse osmosis system but it wastes so much water that my bill skyrocketed. So that's why I'm looking for another system. Filtering out fluoride is the most important thing for me as well as not wasting water like the RO does
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
I have hi nitrate levels. What would you suggest? I feel like local companies wanna sell me the Cadillac of water systems which just isn't in the budget. Thanks
Hey thanks for your comment - great question. Are you on well water? What other contaminants are present? Ion exchange or Reverse Osmosis are typically good options for nitrate reduction, but it also depends on the overall water quality and what else is present.
@waterfilterguru thank you for your time and response. I am on well water. My ph level is slightly elevated but the nitrate level is in need of attention.
I installed this filter without any difficulties. I installed a sediment filter before and after the springwell. The only issue is charcoal fine sediment getting through and coating the plumbing fixtures.
been thinking about doing this for a long time but never dig in and actually look into various models, pricing, etc. That being said, I feel like pricing should have been gone over more. Cost of system, rough estimate for hardware not included, and perhaps most importantly, the cost of replacement filters since that's a maintenance cost every 6-9 months. If the system is only $900 but, for instance, each filter costs $250 or whatever.... I just know a lot of times it's those replacement parts they get you on. Printers, air purifiers, I think the small water purifiers..... Otherwise, not a bad video. I'll keep this in mind whenever I do get around to actually purchasing a unit.
The only replacement filter cartridge is the micron filter (the cartridge in the little blue housing), replaced every 6-9 months and costs ~$20. Besides that, you'll eventually need to replace the media in the tank, but it should last you years before it will need to be replaced (depending on your water quality). This is the advantage of tank based systems like this one! As for extra installation components, because every install is different it's difficult to pinpoint a specific cost.
I have a home that was built in 1962 so the piping is likely copper so I would like need to have a separate filtration for drinking water on top of the whole house filter. Correct? Would it be worth it to get the RO and UV add ons as well?
As a first step, I'd recommend getting a lab test of your water so you can identify the exact contaminants and concentrations that are present which need to be treated. Then you can use the lab testing data to guide your purchase decision. Many folks do use a point of use treatment system like reverse osmosis for their drinking water. But again, it all depends on the contaminants present.
Kinetico has the best water treatment products…not a close second in the market….expensive but you get what you pay for. Non electric…dual tanks…cleans itself in soft water….best by far
Correct, the CF is intended for use with municipally treated tap water. Well water is an entirely different game! When was the last time you had your well tested? Do you know what contaminants you're dealing with? The Springwell WS bit.ly/3Ch1EWW is a solid choice for iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide removal - but again, it all depends on the specific situation.
The one thing I am EXTREMELY interested in, is can it filter out hormones and that level of chemical contamination... If you read the book "Estrogeneration" by Anthony Jay. He outlines that a lot of hormones that was in the city water supply really isn't something the standard filtration process can deal with. I have a RO system for drinking water, but would love another system for the rest of the house. @Water Filter Guru - Do you have any comment on that level of filtration if you are aware?
There are a number of studies that show activated carbon can reduce hormones such as estrogen in water (link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40710-014-0005-y), however this system hasn't specifically been tested to do so. Because activated carbon is one component of the mix media bed, you could assume there is some degree of reduction, but more testing to validate this would be necessary. It's great you already have an RO system in place - that would have been the next recommendation!
@@waterfilterguru Thanks for the response. I have it for drinking water, but we all know our skin still absorbs nutrients and particles during showering. so it would be nice to ensure everything is clean. :)
@@waterfilterguru Springwell is not doing good!! I've been using Aquasana like 8 years now...luckily I was looking around for the customer review...Springwell not very well! Thank you for the info!
It would depend on what contaminants in the water source are increased by the fracking activity. There are over 1,000 contaminants that can be imparted to a water source by shale gas exploration (source: www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/study-links-fracking-drinking-water-pollution-and-infant-heath)
@@turboparadise Tap Score by Simplelab (bit.ly/3OPs0Vd) - hands down the best testing I've come across and the company we use for all our testing projects
Hey Sam, I don't have any specific installer recommendations, but you can use Colorado's licensed plumber search tool to find a licensed professional in Erie apps.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx
Nope this one (the CF) is only for municipally treated city water. For well water, you'll want to check out the SpringWell WS: bit.ly/3BICCPF No matter what, make sure to test your well water before making any purchase. We use Tap Score for all our testing and I can't recommend them highly enough: bit.ly/3qJM9R4 Use the data to guide your decision. The SpringWell WS is the best all-round option for well water, but you may have additional contaminants and/or higher concentrations of contaminants it's not capable of dealing with
After 6 months pressure decreased substantially.Called dealer,they suggested I bleach their system to improve pressure.After 3 bleaching pressure improved,but also had to adjust regen cycle to every day..Iron bacteria in my well here in Florida was terrible,now we have no rust stains,just have less water pressure.
Hey Ed, thanks for your comment! Sounds like you are on well water and have the Springwell WS well water filter system installed? Do you have any other water treatment systems? Iron bacteria will surely clog water treatment devices and fixtures, causing reduced water pressure. In addition to shocking your well (bleaching it), you might want to consider installing a chemical feed system to chlorinate the well. This will keep the iron bacteria at bay all the time, rather than shocking it every so often as it starts to build up agian.
@@waterfilterguru While the interior growth in the well can be controlled this way, the majority of iron reducing bacteria are in the aquifer. It is unlikely any in-well system would have much effect on those growths in the aquifer, though some growth downgradient of the well screen would be diminished. Bringing the water to ground surface and dealing with it there allows easier maintenance. And yes, someday the aquifer immediately adjacent to the well screen may clog from the bacteria.
Seems like that Lifesource/Beotron system I had. Basically, it was a charcoal filter. Definitely not a water softener which is mandatory in my very hard water area. Ripped that crap out and put in a Kenetico system. Works perfectly since 2016.
Water softeners and water filters (like the one in this video) are completely different systems, using different technology to address different water issues. They are not interchangeable or comparable. Water softeners remove hardness minerals that cause issues with plumbing and appliances but don't pose any health risk Water filters reduce contaminants that pose potential health risk or affect taste or smell of the water You can read more about the differences in detail here: waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-vs-water-filter/ Hope this helps clarify things!
@@nancydrew8146 Yes, you would install the water softener downstream (after) the filter like this. That way, the filter removes the chlorine or other disinfectant chemical which can damage the resin in the softener
As a new homeowner, I'm just beginning my education journey about this stuff. Good intro. I hope you have a video on understanding PFOA levels in public drinking water. THat's what we are dealing with locally.
Hey Roger, thanks for your comment. Have you seen this video? th-cam.com/video/LjHc19Ou1Tg/w-d-xo.html it will give you a good understanding of the treatment technologies that can be used to reduce PFAs (including PFOA)
One advantage of tank-based systems is that the media lasts a while! Keep in mind though that media lifespan is dependent on the incoming water quality & contaminants present - so each situation will be different, and the media may or may not last as long for some folks as others, before it needs to be replaced
So here's the rub: you get what you pay for. This is a great system for the first year or so with one caveat. It like Culligan and other single tank systems constantly uses raw/dirty water to back wash itself so your tank and media are always working against itself. because of this, and depending on the amount of TDS (total dissolved solids) and iron, these will continue to build up in the tank, effectively reducing performance on a continual basis. I do appreciate it has an on demand design similar to a Kinetico system except the one main area . Kinetico kills all other systems and has for many decades. The kinetico has a twin tank design is always back washing with clean, treated water. This is why they have an effective life for 2-3 decades. Also, saltless systems do little to help with tannins and long term PH or hard water issues like the Springwell. Is the Springwell "affordable" ? yes, but only on a short term basis such a selling your home. A proper long term system like a Kinetico can be $6k and up....but you get what you pay for. Appreiciate the content though.
Thanks for the comment - but it will be a bit misleading when some folks read it. I want to clear this up. You are comparing 3 completely different types of systems, which can't actually be compared to one another. It sounds like you are comparing water softeners or AIO well water filters, whereas this video was looking at the filtration system for municipally (city) treated water specifically. Not an AIO well water system. Not a water softener. Not a salt-free conditioner. All three of these types of systems (softeners, well water AIO filters, and filters for municipally treated water) are designed to target completely different water issues so can't be compared to each other. A few of the contaminants of concern you mentioned shouldn't even be a problem with municipal water. It's my goal to help folks better understand their water quality at home, not make it more confusing for them.
@@coltonwashburn6556 Well...I hear you, but to be fair.....Salt free systems do nothing for hard water and TDS in the home nor do they deal with protecting your water heater and other places water sit. Because of this when you flush a toilet or take a bath/shower, and because of oxidation, the water in the pipes leading away also are impacted by calcium, magnesium, and lime build up. Depending what is in the water, certain bacteria can flourish without being killed off and maintained by a sodium additive. Lastly, salt free systems are NOT certified to meet industry standards. Salt free systems typically use potassium chloride (yes, just like what is used in city systems and pools) so they are not truly "Pure water" systems as the advertising suggests. STE's are not great though. The best for long term with minimal salt usage? KInetico hands down. I have access to all and install all types. You have to ask yourself, why do I want/need a water treatment system in the first place. But once a person is fully educated...it is still their choice what goes into their home. Thanks for your response!
Another one fell for advertising hype and is simply parroting it. They are definitely not the only ones! I have a dual chamber softener that trades off chambers, replenishing the spent one with replenished one. Fleck controller. Fully programmable. Going on two decades now and good as ever. The *only* advantage of Kinetico is it works where electricity is unavailable. But you pay dearly for that feature, not only in initial cost but you don't get to customize it to your conditions and modify it if conditions change. It's all mechanical, there's no programming the cycle details. They also call for more maintenance of the water driven drive mechanism, which of course is recommended by only their approved service personnel so recurring costs are much greater as well. There's a massive profit to Kinetico so naturally it's going to be pushed hard, mostly to people who don't know how anything works. There might be somewhere hard well water under pressure is available but no full time electricity, in order to justify Kinetico. But typically electricity pumps the water up from the depths of the well and pressurizes it, so unless that's from a generator that only runs as needed or on an alternate energy system that runs out of power often, the electric controller saves big bucks. An off grid system could be used to keep a small battery charged and a tiny inverter power the softener. It used milliwatts to monitor and a couple watts when replenishing. So, getting what you pay for? In general true. In this case though you really have to pay for what you're getting!
First and foremost, thank you for this amazing info! Secondly, who would we hire to install this system? and also, could we move the system if we moved houses? Thank you so much!
Thanks for the feedback, glad it was helpful. 1. Hire a local, licensed plumber who has experience with water treatment systems, ideally 2. Yes it can be removed and taken with you, but of course this would require more plumbing work. Great questions!
We saw your video on the spring well purifying system and we’re very interested in it. However it can’t be used in a crawl space (which is what we have). Do you have any other suggestions for a whole house filtration system that could be used in a crawl space?
Hey Lacy, great question! Assuming you are on City Water & depending on how much space you have available, you may be able to get away with a cartridge based whole house filter, like one of these: - Evo E-1000 bit.ly/3SwKURB (evowatersystems.com) - Home Master HMF3SdgFeC bit.ly/3dWxbo8 (homemaster.com) Keep in mind that you'll need a bit more room below the filter housing so that you can remove them to replace the filter cartridges.
Possibly create a loop. Bring the water supply line out of the crawl space into a nearby room. Filter the water in that room and send it back into the crawl space.
Thank you for the great review. I was looking at CF4 and AquaOX, Culligan, and Aquasanna. I'm more tempted to go for CF4 after this review. Although it does eliminate more contaminants and double the lifetime, AuqaOX is still very expensive. One question, do you still recommend an under-sink water filter or an RO filter for drinking? I know it varies greatly based on locations, but any suggestion for municipal water in most big cities (New neighborhood in Dallas to be particular). Thank you so much!
Great question! It really depends on what contaminants are present in your water - Have you tested your water? This is always the first step I recommend. Use the data from a laboratory test to guide your purchase decision. An additional point of use system for drinking way may or may not be needed. It all depends on if the whole home system you choose is capable of removing all the contaminants or not. Check out Tap Score for water testing - this is the company we use for all our testing purposes and and hands down the very best: bit.ly/3OPs0Vd
@meowmi1130 Which one did you go with? I've had a whole house aquasana for 10 years and researching change...I recall Aquasana's checked boxes for contaminants removal 10 years ago was thorough but now they tell me today it ONLY takes out chlorine and chloramine!
@@kdp8275 I ended up getting the CF4 following a friend's recommendation and he loved it. I also got the waterdrop RO with the instant water heater faucet. I am not sure if it's the best RO option but I drank a lot of tea and the instant hot water feature makes my life so easy :-)
Have you had the water tested? If not, I suggest starting there. We use Tap Score for all our water testing and I can't recommend them highly enough. These are their well water tests: bit.ly/3kJcnnp Without looking at the data, it's really hard to provide any specific suggestion
You have a couple options to reduce fluoride: 1) Add an additional fluoride removal cartridge filter downstream of a tank based system (like the one in this video). Something like this geni.us/WJAFPBP OR 2) Install a different whole house tank based system, specific for fluoride removal like the US Water Systems BodyGuard fluoride specific system geni.us/N8diO6 OR 3) Use a point of use filter to remove the fluoride from your drinking water. I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system like the Cloud RO geni.us/9ClI8J3 or Waterdrop G3 geni.us/rQekgwp or even a water filter pitcher like the Clearly Filtered pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
I could not see to be sure, but the pure white PVC pipe used in the video is not for drinking water. you need CPVP, it has a yellow tint to it and a yellow stripe.
@@waterfilterguru upon further research not all water suppliers chlorinate their water, so if this is well water, regular PVC is fine. my lack of knowledge
@@OhioBahn440 No, thank you for the comment. Looking into this now. The home is on city water (the system in this video is intended for use with city water). Stay tuned. Much appreciated!
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
I'm new to this. Looks like this is designed for pre treated biologically safe water, right? What happens if there is a break in the water main and a boil water advisory due to water contamination? I guess my concern is that after they fix the break, any ecoli or other germs that make their way downstream will be captured by this filter and released after the boil water advisory is over. What are your thoughts?
The media in the filter will not capture bacteria or other microorganisms - they would flow through. If the possibility of this situation is a concern in your area, you could consider installing a UV system downstream of the tank based system. Then, if a boil water advisory did happen, you would be protected against any biologicals that might make their way though the system waterfilterguru.com/best-uv-water-purifier-systems/
Under no circumstances trust that the government is making things safe even under good circumstances. Just the past few years alone is proof of that. Get something to kill virus/germs/parasites.
It all depends on what contaminants/ water issues are present that need to be treated. When was the last time you had a lab test done? Do you know what contaminants are present?
I would love to put that system in hopefully the Price Is Right. I have a whole house filter system now but does not go after bad things just sediment.
Yep, a sediment filter will only remove particles suspended in the water like dirt, sand, grit, oxidized iron (rust), etc. They will not reduce any chemicals, metals, or other contaminants. I recommend testing your water first before deciding on a treatment system. Check out Tap Score by Simplelab for testing, hands down the best bit.ly/3OPs0Vd You can then use the test data to guide your purchasing decision to make sure you're getting something capable of removing the contaminants of concern!
Good catch! I just reached out to my contact at SpringWell about this. They've informed me that only ~5% of customers actually even do a return. This tells me the vast majority of folks are satisfied with their purchase so it won't even matter!
I live near a rocket facility that was testing some sort of nuclear work and had an explosion downward in the ground. They are in the mountain behind our house. Everyone claims the water is safe. Any suggestions on how to test and a filtration system that we could strive for?
For sure! Tap Score by Simplelab is hands down the best lab testing available and the company we use for all our testing bit.ly/3OPs0Vd We'd really have to take a look at the testing data to be able to provide any sort of recommendations or suggestions to consider
Hey again Tyler! We just announced a giveaway where we'll be giving out 5 Advanced Tap Score tests. It ends on March 31, but if you want to enter you could have a chance to get one for free! waterfilterguru.com/giveaway/
It depends on the particle size of the microplastics present, but the system should be able to reduce down to 5 microns. For even better microplastic reduction, I'd recommend a system that uses a carbon block filter, as opposed to GAC. Check out the new Springwell cartridge based system (bit.ly/3UXPkmR) or the Evo E-1000 (bit.ly/3mzsFQZ)
To stop bacteria, viruses, and cysts you need to filter down to .2 microns. This system will not stop these contaminants. You will need to add an additional filter inline and will need to change it more often because it filters so small but it will give you the "safe" water this system promises but cannot provide.
This system is intended for use with municipally treated water, which shouldn't have biological contaminants (bacteria, virus, cysts) due to disinfection at the treatment plant. If you are concerned with biologicals, possible due to a boil water advisory, you could install a UV system downstream.
@@bestyoutubernonegraternumber1 Not wrong, the only time biological contamination from municipally treated water should be a concern is in the event of a boil water advisory. If the system is functioning properly there will be enough residual disinfection chemical (chlorine or chloramine) to protect the water from biological contamination in the distribution system
Hi Brian, Wanted to know your thoughts on Springwell 2 in 1 Filter + Salt Softener combo system. Is it as efficient as combining the Whole House Filter and Salt Softener individually? Appreciate your work. Thanks in advance.
I find it's a little misleading when you leave out from the 'to be desired list' that it isn't designed to remove fluoride from the water. And this info is only included at the very end without much ado. :( A lot of people will have missed out on this and be continually contaminated by the awful byproduct of aluminum that we are being poisoned with.
Not all systems are capable of reducing fluoride - including the one reviewed in this video. In fact, most whole home systems are not capable of reducing fluoride. Fluoride is a difficult to remove contaminant, requiring specialized bone char carbon media, reverse osmosis, or activated alumina which are not commonly used in whole home POE systems. You might find this article helpful to learn all about it: waterfilterguru.com/how-to-remove-fluoride-from-water/ You have a couple options to reduce fluoride: 1) Add an additional fluoride removal cartridge filter downstream of a tank based system (like the one in this video). Something like this geni.us/WJAFPBP OR 2) Install a different whole house tank based system, specific for fluoride removal like the US Water Systems BodyGuard fluoride specific system geni.us/N8diO6 OR 3) Use a point of use filter to remove the fluoride from your drinking water. I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system like the Cloud RO geni.us/9ClI8J3 or Waterdrop G3 geni.us/rQekgwp or even a water filter pitcher like the Clearly Filtered pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
I am looking for a whole home system for my off grid system, rain water catchment and a natural spring, would you recommend this or something differently?
It depends. This could be _part_ of the system design which would target organic chemicals. So if you plan to disinfect the water with chlorine, this system would address the residual disinfectant and any byproducts. It would also be a good option to target any pesticides, herbicides or PFAs chemicals that may be in your water sources. That said, this system alone would not be sufficient. You'll need additional pieces of equipment to treat other potential water issues.
This one does reduce the chlorine. For fluoride you can filter it at the point of use for your drinking water, I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system. But if you want to address fluoride with a whole house filter, you might want to consider this one instead th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
This system does not reduce fluoride. You have a couple options to reduce fluoride: 1) Add an additional fluoride removal cartridge filter downstream of a tank based system (like the one in this video). Something like this geni.us/WJAFPBP OR 2) Install a different whole house tank based system, specific for fluoride removal like the US Water Systems BodyGuard fluoride specific system geni.us/N8diO6 OR 3) Use a point of use filter to remove the fluoride from your drinking water. I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system like the Cloud RO geni.us/9ClI8J3 or Waterdrop G3 geni.us/rQekgwp or even a water filter pitcher like the Clearly Filtered pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
I read that carbon filters that don't have a backwash system will grow bacteria over time. How does Springwell's system prevent this over the life of the system (10 years)?
Bacteria growth is a potential risk with any POE system due to the fact that these systems remove the residual disinfection chemicals. A post-filtration UV system can be used to inactivate any bacteria that might grow in the system. That said, it's best practice to monitor any POE system for bacteria growth and take appropriate action (replacing media, filters & sanitizing the system) if bacteria are detected.
@@waterfilterguru Thanks. How do you monitor the system for bacteria growth? Send a sample out every year? And, if that is the case, do you have a recommendation on where to send a sample?
Hey John, this depends on your water source and the contaminants you are trying to remove. Have you had your water tested? Do you know what contaminants are present?
@@johnknightiii1351 No video yet, but I highly recommend Tap Score by Simplelab - hands down the best and the company we use for all our testing bit.ly/3OPs0Vd As a side note, the softener only targets hard water so won't be reducing additional contaminants. Testing after the softener should be sufficient to find out what you're dealing with.
Regarding the Whole Home Water system and hard water. I currently have a Salt Water Softener with no filtration system. I was looking into the SpringWell system and they recommended that I get their Filtration System + their Salt Water Softener. Do you recommend that I get that as well? Or do you know if it is possible to hook it up with the current system I have already installed?
@@waterfilterguru Great thanks! Also, do you think any of the upgrades they provide like the UV purification system or a reverse osmosis system is necessary in addition to the Whole Home Water filter? Why wouldn't the Whole Filter already filter like the reverse osmosis system? What is the difference?
Yes this system is really geared towards folks who prefer to DIY install. It's easy, especially if you have a bit of plumbing experience It depends on what's in your water, but most contaminants do not come out of solution and build up in pipes - hardness being the most common exception
This looks like a good system, but it is not stand alone whole house as you imply for most water residential systems (including city). Most homes have water hardness way above 5, and this does nothing to deal with that calcium. For the whole house, that is best dealt with by installing a proper sized ion switched system (salt based softener). Perhaps the carbon in this system is adequate as a pre-stage for that. Note, I would place the 5um particulate filter before the filter in your video however, not after as you have shown. If one wants to drink the water in large quantities, they should filter at the end (under the sink), not the whole house alone, with a multistage filter system. Drink and cook water 95% from one faucet, and keep that facet clean (test regularly). Depending on the testing, that end system is likely to be best served by RO, with a dedicated carbon before and a 5um + second carbon after the pressure tank. If the testing shows only chlorine (used for bacteria at under 1.65 ppm), i would just use a final carbon +1um filter and call it good. People need to stop trying to achieve 100% removal of contaminates, especially without ongoing testing. Find the safe levels and then be well under them (ie 90% less), and test more often if you are worried. Don't replace filters that don't need replacing. Don't filter what doesn't need filtering. test, then replace. Don't drink hot water from your water heater, without further filtration (use filtered cold water only tap). If you want really clean water for your fish tank or car wash or window washing business, follow the above pre filter + ion switched filter + RO system with a DI filter and pressure boost.
Correct, to treat water hardness the best option is an ion exchange water softener which would be in addition to a filtration system like the CF in this video. Two separate technologies, targeting different water problems. The 5-mircon filter is installed post-filtration (as per the manufacturer instructions) to capture any of the media that might escape the tank, so it does not get into the home's plumbing system. Great to call out the importance of testing! It's a critical first step to take before investing in any water treatment equipment to ensure you are purchasing a system capable of addressing your needs!
While I don't have a video yet, you can check out this complete guide to rainwater catchment treatment waterfilterguru.com/how-to-filter-rain-water/ Essentially, you'll need a multi-stage system to both filter and disinfect before consumption.
That depends on a few factors such as what contaminants are in the water that need to be addressed and your daily water requirements, among other things. Distillation is one of the best methods of purifying water, and remineralizing is always recommended. That said, reverse osmosis would provide similar results, but with much less energy and time input required.
@@yeni_daughterOfGod Yes, if the water is hard it's absolutely worth it to install an ion exchange water softener which will serve to protect the home's plumbing system and water based appliances from limescale. If the water is not hard, it would not necessarily be beneficial to install a softener.
I'd recommend first testing the water. Rainwater collection can be tricky, and although you may think it's free of contaminate it's not. You'll definitely want to consider a disinfection system. Then use the lab data to determine what other treatment you might need
No we did not have any drop in pressure after installation. As long as the system is sized properly, it should not impact water pressure in most cases. Check out this article, you might find it helpful waterfilterguru.com/does-a-whole-house-water-filter-reduce-water-pressure/
Keep in mind it all depends on the specific water situation - an additional RO may or may not be necessary depending on what contaminants are present. That's why it's always so important to test first, so you know exactly what you're dealing with!
No it does not. You have a couple options to reduce fluoride: 1) Add an additional fluoride removal cartridge filter downstream of a tank based system (like the one in this video). Something like this geni.us/WJAFPBP OR 2) Install a different whole house tank based system, specific for fluoride removal like the US Water Systems BodyGuard fluoride specific system geni.us/N8diO6 OR 3) Use a point of use filter to remove the fluoride from your drinking water. I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system like the Cloud RO geni.us/9ClI8J3 or Waterdrop G3 geni.us/rQekgwp or even a water filter pitcher like the Clearly Filtered pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
No, this system will not replace a water softener nor RO. A water softener targets hard water minerals while a point of use RO provides the most thorough contaminant reduction for your drinking water. This system would remove contaminants to provide filtered water from every tap in the home, however it is not as effective as an RO.
Great Video! I have city water to my house and well water for my sprinkler system. i like to get a filter for the well water as back up for drinking water. is this possible?
Do you have room to install a point of entry (whole home) unit in your condo? Oftentimes this is not possible, so you may want to consider an alternative, like one of these waterfilterguru.com/best-water-filter-for-apartment/
Hey Chris, thanks for your comment and great question. This system is intended for use with municipally treated water, not well water. For well water with iron, you'd need to look at a water softener (like this one bit.ly/3xUMjJ1) or an oxidation/filtration iron specific filter (like this one bit.ly/3Ch1EWW). That being said, you'll need to make sure to take into account all the other contaminants that are present as well while identifying proper treatment for your well water. When was the last time you had it tested by a certified lab? Do you know what additional contaminants are present?
It all depends on the quality of the source water being filtered. This is why testing with a certified lab is always the first step to take. RO for the drinking water may, or may not be necessary but you won't know until you test. You can get a solid point of use RO for
No, tank based systems like this need to be installed vertically. You may want to consider Springwell's cartridge based system (tinyurl.com/28nh2mc9) for your specific application
Awesome video. I was wondering if you would be making a series with regards to other company's whole house water systems. I just bought an APEC Water WH-SOLUTION-MAX15-FG system which looks amazing, but we will see how well it works for us in the long term.
Yes, this system should work with treated community well water! That being said, have you tested the water? Do you know what contaminants are present, besides the disinfection chemicals (probably chlorine) that are used?
@@waterfilterguru I'm ahead of the choosing; my house and Well haven't even being done or dig. I will wait until then to have the Water checked. Thanks.
Happy to help! Lab testing is always the best first step to take before beginning to look for any water treatment equipment. Let the lab testing data guide your purchase decision
It sounds like you are looking for a point of use (POU) under the sink filter! I'd recommend checking out the Clearly Filtered Under Sink system geni.us/ijlrI6 (clearlyfiltered.com)
Great question! The best shower filers we've come accross are: Aquasana AQ-4100 (bit.ly/3rFRtp6) AquaBliss SF500 (bit.ly/3rWtUZD) Keep in mind most shower filters are really only designed to remove chlorine from water. Some like the Aquasana mentioned above also use a KDF media which reduces other chemicals and some heavy metals. Although some brands say their shower filters can reduce hard water minerals, the only way to actually "soften" water is with an ion exchange water softener system. No shower filter is truly capable of softening water.
Correct! It's recommended that well owners regularly test their well water, yearly at least. Testing is the first step you will need to take in order to identify the type of treatment equipment you may or may not need
We bought a house last summer and have been thinking about getting a whole-house water filter. However, we are very busy with work and might not have time to install it ourselves. I Have you heard of Eco Water treatment through Costco? They have bad reviews because the price is ridiculous, but not many people mention their quality. I would love to know your thoughts! Thanks!
We've not yet tested any ecowater products. If you don't want to deal with speccing and installing a system yourselves, I'd recommend working with a local water treatment company
It will not reduce contaminants that cause limescale (primarily calcium and magnesium). For that, I'd recommend an ion exchange water softener. Check out the Springwell SS bit.ly/3xUMjJ1 (springwellwater.com)
@@waterfilterguru you are amazing. You think this would be a better house filter system choice over the springwell system? My concern over Fluoride interested me in this whole topic, but ideally i would like other toxins filtered out as well
@@BaronUnderbite So the best place to start is with a professional laboratory test. Water quality varies from city to city, even neighborhood to neighborhood, so it's best to use test result data to guide your purchase decision (otherwise you might end up buying something that's not sufficient, or too much for what you need). That being said, if you have fluoride as well as additional city water contaminants, a combination of a carbon/ KDF system (like this Springwell CF) and a fluoride specific removal filter would be the way to go.
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
Hello, Brian, I just went to the website and noticed there are quite a few upgrades...softener combo, UV, reverse osmosis, and the install kit. Adding all of these more than doubles the cost. Which ones should I purchase, and which ones should I leave off?
It depends on your water situation. Have you had the water tested by a certified lab? Do you know what water issues are present that need to be addressed? - Water softener - treats hard water, protects plumbing and appliances, increases washing efficiency - UV - Protects the home's water system in the case of a boil water advisory. Destroys microorganisms that might grow after the disinfection residual is removed - Reverse osmosis - further, more broad contaminant reduction for drinking/ cooking water (there are many better options out there from other vendors, however) - Install kit - each install is unique, it would be good to determine all components you will need before purchasing to decide if this would be useful for you or not
If I were to get the CF4 for instance, I presume that we'd still need some way to keep scaling down, yes? We don't like soft water units due to the slimy feel, so what other inexpensive option would we have?
Correct, this system does not address hard water. The best and only way to completely eliminate hard water is with a water softener, but if the feel of soft water is a deal breaker you could consider a water conditioner that will still work to protect your plumbing and appliances. Check out the Springwell Futuresoft bit.ly/3P0WfIQ They also have a CF + Futuresoft combined system where you'd probably get a better deal than if you bought each individually: bit.ly/3KOIkFQ
I like everything Im hearing about this system, s thanks for the video. I have two questions, can we buy spring well systems in the EU? Does this system remove or leave in elements like Magnesium and Calcium?
1) I'm not sure if this system is sold in Europe yet or not - I'd recommend checking directly with the manufacturer 2) This system does not remove hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium). To address hardness, and remove those minerals you'd want to look at an ion exchange water softener, like the Springwell SS bit.ly/3xUMjJ1
No, for hard water your best bet is a water softener bit.ly/3xUMjJ1 You might also find this article helpful to learn about the difference between water filters and water softeners waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-vs-water-filter/
Hi, I really like & appreciate your videos I'm curious to know why at one point in the video it looked like you had not one but 2 of these filters in your home. I live in a roughly 2700 SF house with 2.5 bathes. I am renting but probably going to buy and I don't care I make enough money I'm happy to invest in my water. My question is would it be necessary for me to have 2 of these? ALSO do you think it would be possible for you to test the ProOne home filter set???? I have considered buying their biggest, most expensive home filtration system (it's like $2,500) but I just didn't have a good enough foundation (stable place of living) to do so, not did I make anywhere near as much money as I do now. Your response will be greatly appreciated Btw, why ProOne instead - I want the fluoride reduction
Hey thanks for your comment and request! To answer your first question, it's not two of the same system, although the tanks look similar. We installed the both the CF filter and the Futuresoft salt-free conditioner (this one bit.ly/3KOIkFQ). That said, before installing any water treatment equipment, we always recommend getting a sample of your water tested by a certified lab. That way you can use the testing data to guide your purchase decision.
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
Skin and hair irritation can be caused by a number of different water issues, but a lot of the time it has to do with hardness and/or chlorine. This system removes the chlorine, but we would need a water softener to get rid of the hardness minerals. Are you having issues with your skin and hair while showering in the water in your home? Have you had the water tested?
Hi - Thank you for making this video. Could you share your thoughts on when it is appropriate to get a salt based filtration system vs a salt free system?
Hi there, great question! So you are referring to salt-based ion exchange water softeners and salt-free water conditioners. Neither of these systems are filters, and they are intended to treat water hardness and not remove contaminants. A water softener or conditioner would be used in conjunction with a water filter (like the one in this video), if you need to treat a hard water issue. Check out this article to learn all about the differences between the two: waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-vs-water-conditioner/
I'm told it's best to have a filter system that has auto backwash to keep it clean. Does this system have that and what are your thoughts about this? Thanks!
This system does not backwash. The advantage of backwashing for a unit with adsorption media like this one would be to extend the lifespan of the media. Backwashing functionality increases the cost of a system
@@waterfilterguru do you have a favorite whole house system that includes backwashing? I'm worried about these systems losing contaminant removal efficiency and I don't like that the company doesn't have 3rd party testing over the 10 years/million gallons to show how the system performs over time and you've only got 6 months to judge how well it's filtering - who's to say the filters don't diminish in performance after 8 months, 1 year, etc.... I'm still considering this system but that's one of the red flags I feel there are
@@rawintuition All systems will diminish in performance over time as the media becomes used up and gets closer to reaching capacity. The rate at which this happens is directly correlated to what contaminants are present, and at what concentrations. What may last 8+ years for one situation may only last 3 years for another. I hope this helps explain. Here are a couple backwashing carbon POE systems you could look into: DROP Whole House Backwashing Filter tinyurl.com/34x38jun US Water Systems Matrixx Backwashing Filter tinyurl.com/mva9hcpp
This system does remove chlorine - but not fluoride. Are you looking for POE fluoride removal? Or would removing the fluoride from your drinking water be sufficient?
@@waterfilterguru not sure yet , I’m in phx and we have lots of fluoride and chlorine , I currently have a whole home softener ( salt ) and whole home prefilters ( charcoal and something else I can’t remember ) , I haven’t actually tested our water but I looked at city of Gilbert reports . I would like to be able to use my house water for plants and drinking without having to isolate the end point if that makes sense
@@BrandonMitchell84 It does make sense. It sounds like you already have a decent treatment system in place, but unless you actually test the water in your home, you won't know if the system is sufficient or not. I always recommend folks first start with a lab test, then use the data to guide their purchase decision. We use Tap Score for all our testing and can't recommend them highly enough bit.ly/3OPs0Vd
@@JS-vd7mz We no longer recommend Berkey for fluoride removal, as our lab test indicated the PF2 fluoride filters leach aluminum th-cam.com/video/AVZmZwTxnMc/w-d-xo.html
🔥 Check out the Springwell CF whole house water filter here ➡ bit.ly/3z1Y2GZ
Does this system back wash water? Any advice when looking for a plumber to install? Thanks for your videos and info! Much appreciated!
@@tylerhansen9135 Great question! No this is not a backwashing system.
When looking for a plumber to install, I'd recommend verifying that they have experience installing tank based whole home water filtration systems. Make sure to hire a plumber that has both experience with these type of installations as well as positive customer reviews. Finally, I would recommend providing them with the installation instructions from the manufacturer to confirm they can complete the installation is is recommended. Specifically, make sure that they install a bypass so you can still have access to water when/ if you need to perform maintenance on the system (changing the sediment filter, replacing the media, etc.)
@@waterfilterguru Thanks! Great advice! I will be purchasing this system soon. Will perform water testing first with simple lab.
is this filter better than a 5 stage Reverse osmosis water filter? Can it filter more than a 5 stage reverse osmosis system?
@@RossMalagarie It depends. If you only want a system to filter your drinking water, then a 5-stage RO system would be sufficient. However if you want clean, filtered water from every tap and faucet in your home (for brushing teeth, showering, etc.), then this system provides that benefit. Overall, a multistage RO system will reduce more contaminants than a system that only uses a few types of media.
I just had one of these systems installed in my house yesterday (along with a water softener). I wish I had done it sooner--after years of dry-skin, black manganese sludge on every faucet and our washing machine, I finally contacted a company to come out. When the rep tested our water he showed me that the chlorine level in our water (City of Atlanta) was extremely high (like swimming pool water). I expect the difference to be significant.
Congrats - I'm sure it will make a huge difference!
The main water line into my house is right next to the sewer line going out so with some minor PVC work, the installers joined the flush line right into the outgoing sewer line so it does not discharge into my grass at all--just goes out with the regular plumbing. My irrigation system is fed directly from the main line at the street so there is no salt in the irrigation system. If I wanted to pressure wash my house and use a faucet where water has gone through the filter, I can turn a couple of valves to bypass the system. Also, the gentler water on our laundry (and the elimination of the mineral deposits that would accumulate on the washing machine drum) is an added benefit (which was another reason we installed the system).
So far we've noticed no real loss in pressure, the gunk on the faucets is pretty much gone (I cleaned them after installation and there hasn't been any noticeable buildup since).
This was definitely not a cheap solution, rather an investment in the house and the quality of our water. I'd drink the water out of the tap without hesitation now, whereas for 10 years I would absolutely avoid it. The only thing I did not install is a reverse osmosis system which, from my understanding, is a highly inefficient system (uses like 3 gallons of water for every gallon it filters), and would not really improve the water quality any more than I could justify--I'm honestly not sure why I would have considered it and the sales rep didn't think it was a good idea either).
Hope that helps.
What kind of water softener did you install...?
I don't know what kind it is--it is part of a whole house system. The softening part has a large tank full of resin beads which is attached to a large, garbage can type container full of softening salt (I have to add more from time to time). @@trailboss78
@@trailboss78I applied for a solution that incorporates everything
This video and channel is a service to humanity. Thank you so much. I've wanted whole house water filtration but didn't want to pay 10 grand.
Thanks for your comment and kind words! So glad you found it helpful
Sure who's filtration cost 10 grand?
@@paulrod53 Many well water treatment systems can cost in the thousands, depending on the water problems present.
@@paulrod53the Halo is one many of them
Exactly
Would be great to see you revisit the testing after a certain number of gallons has passed through the system to gauge the degradation of the filter medium
Great idea, and thanks for the suggestion. We will be doing this!
obviously the claims are BS. Depending on water going into the filter and usage there is super heigh chance of the amount of impurities taking way more space within 10 years than this filter therefore physically impossible
So far so good? Any updates?
I agree. I want to see how a system performs over its life.
@@waterfilterguru are you able to briefly comment on how the system is performing thus far? I think that the lack of response from you takes away your validity as a reviewer. Perhaps they sponsored your review .
I have a water hardness of 21; these systems are capable up to 81 (per the manufacturer). I'm SO THANKFUL that I don't have to have a system that relies on me adding salt every month and have a water filter on every faucet. This is one of those "cost be damned" things as it'll save me money in the long run AND save me monthly maintenance fees. I have the system with the two large tanks and the smaller particulate filter (I don't have a well).
Sounds like you have the CF (carbon filter reviewed in this video) and the Futuresoft (salt-free conditioner) - thanks for sharing your feedback with the system, this is great to hear!
So did this take care of your hard water issues? We also have very hard water and the mineral buildup is killing our appliances.
Just as an alternative possibility - check into the HydroFlow Pearl Plus - chemical free, no tanks, and implodes bacteria!. No, not affiliated, just getting rid of my old salt softener and discovered it. Def my way to go re softener/conditioner. I'm looking at Radient Life's all in one whole house, does Chlorines, VOCs, etc and flouride! @@2uplifestyle
We’re super happy with our CF4 (and SS4 and UV filter) from Springwell!
Thanks for sharing your experience, glad to hear it's working well for you too
You said you thought most of the lead was coming from plumbing within your house, yet the point of entry filter removed most of it, which would mean it's not coming from your pipes, but from the city water supply. This would make sense, as lead pipes were often used to connect houses to mains. The problem they had in Flint MI was the PH of the water changed when they changed the source, and the old lead pipes, which had a protective layer of oxidation, began dissolving into the water.
Great point! It was reassuring to see how well the system did remove the lead that was present
I believe they stopped adding the additive that prevented the lead pipes from breaking down too.
It depends GREATLY on whether or not it is Ferous or Ferric iron. The difference is very important.
Wow, you nailed it! Thanks to giving us clarity on whole house water filtering!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and for your feedback
I'm in an apartment so I can't do what you did but what I am doing is I have filters on all the shower heads and sink faucets and for are drinking water I first filter the tap water through my 4 black heavy metal filter Berky then from there I filter with one of those ionic water filter the one that looks like sand but it's ion exchange resin stuff (makes the water taste like real water again) then I have 2 1.5" n52 magnets by the water outlet on said ion exchange resin filter container with a gauss strength of about 2 Tesla so that it will restructure the water molecules which when tested it showed to be effective at changing the characteristics of the water molecules so that's good. I still want to do better but for now this will do
Sounds like a great setup! Do you know what contaminants are in your water? Have you had it tested by a certified lab?
@@waterfilterguru no but I need to because the water has been so bad ever since COVID hit idk why but a few months after the lockdown started the water started to smell like bleach so strong the house would smell like a pool just from washing the dishes by hand in the kitchen sink! The water still smells like bleach and chemicals that's why I got the black heave metals filters for my Berky because it seems to be their best filter it's even silver impregnated to help with viruses and by the end of my 3 stage filtering prose's the water doesn't smell at all and actually taste good but I still miss my water from my home town (the Ozarks water bottleing company was the next town over we lived on top of that aquaphor that runs from Canada to the coast so I literally grew up taking baths and showers with ozarka bottled straight from are well but now that I'm in the city I complain daily lol.
Have you ever tried restructured water? I was a sceptic at first until I talked to a guy that told me that all of the filter kits you can get online don't work you have to .make your own because the magnet strength needed is way more then what your going to get from some Walmart magnets you need a n52 neo that's a minimum of 2.5 or 3 Tesla which would be a n52 neo magnet that's around 1.75 to 2" square which can be expensive and dangerous if you let your kids play with it I mean you really have to make sure that you have it in a good safe holding arrangement so that you don't accidentally get metal close to it seeing as it could hold a small person up lol
But it's crazy dude I've done tests where I set a cup of water on top of the neo magnet for about 1 minutes and light string so that all the water passes close to the magnetic fealed and water is slightly magnetic hints why the magnet has to be so strong
Then I take the cup off and set it over by the controll water cup which is same exact kind of cup and the water is from the same exact filtered water jug and if you take a taste the one that was on the magnet tastes way smother and more hydrating on your throat if that makes any sense?
And if you take both cups mark which one is which and put them in the freezer what I found was that the one that had been subjected to the magnet takes about 30% longer to freeze all the way through and has deep big cracks through it unlike the regular cup that looks like it just has regular frozen water in it
And I got the same results every time I did the test which was 8 times!
Should you do a 1 year water test update from using the system? And should you add smaller filters in the system to remove even small contaminates?
It all depends on your unique situation and what contaminants, and concentrations of those contaminants, are present. I wouldn't say it's necessary to performance test after just one year in most cases - the media should last multiple years.
Again, the decision to add additional filtration downstream, such as a point of use filter (like an RO system) for your drinking water all depends on what contaminants are present.
If the contaminants you have are reduced by the Springwell CF then additional filtration downstream would be redundant and unnecessary. However there are more difficult to remove contaminants present (uranium as an example), that the CF can't remove, then yes, additional filtration would be necessary.
So, it all depends on the specific water situation - and this is why testing is so vital!
Greetings! Do you know if this system filters out the fluoride? Thanks
It does not. You have a couple options to reduce fluoride:
1) Add an additional fluoride removal cartridge filter downstream of a tank based system (like the one in this video). Something like this geni.us/WJAFPBP
OR
2) Install a different whole house tank based system, specific for fluoride removal like the US Water Systems BodyGuard fluoride specific system geni.us/N8diO6
OR
3) Use a point of use filter to remove the fluoride from your drinking water. I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system like the Cloud RO geni.us/9ClI8J3 or Waterdrop G3 geni.us/rQekgwp or even a water filter pitcher like the Clearly Filtered pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1
@@waterfilterguru thank you very much for the quick response. I do have a reverse osmosis system but it wastes so much water that my bill skyrocketed. So that's why I'm looking for another system. Filtering out fluoride is the most important thing for me as well as not wasting water like the RO does
@@corvolio You might want to look for a system that uses bone charcoal media then!
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
OMG after this video I'm definitely testing my water before buying anything, thanks so much for the info.
I'm glad you found it helpful!
@@waterfilterguru Which Whole House Water Filter do you recommend that includes Fluoride Removal? Thanks!
@@TheOssia Hands down the BodyGuard Fluoride Removal Filter by US Water Systems! Check it out here bit.ly/3VRa4Mf
I have hi nitrate levels. What would you suggest? I feel like local companies wanna sell me the Cadillac of water systems which just isn't in the budget. Thanks
Hey thanks for your comment - great question. Are you on well water? What other contaminants are present?
Ion exchange or Reverse Osmosis are typically good options for nitrate reduction, but it also depends on the overall water quality and what else is present.
@waterfilterguru thank you for your time and response. I am on well water. My ph level is slightly elevated but the nitrate level is in need of attention.
Welcome to the Club ! Are you in Texas ? Home of high nitrates & high pH. Hopefully you don't have tropical fish 🐟 🐠 😭
Wow thinking about all the contaminants i consume just by drinking out of the sink... This would definitely bring me peace of mind!
Gross right? That's why a whole home system like this is the best option for safe water from every tap!
I installed this filter without any difficulties. I installed a sediment filter before and after the springwell. The only issue is charcoal fine sediment getting through and coating the plumbing fixtures.
This is why the included 5-micron sediment filter is installed after the tank. What micron rating is the sediment filter you installed after the tank?
been thinking about doing this for a long time but never dig in and actually look into various models, pricing, etc. That being said, I feel like pricing should have been gone over more. Cost of system, rough estimate for hardware not included, and perhaps most importantly, the cost of replacement filters since that's a maintenance cost every 6-9 months. If the system is only $900 but, for instance, each filter costs $250 or whatever.... I just know a lot of times it's those replacement parts they get you on. Printers, air purifiers, I think the small water purifiers..... Otherwise, not a bad video. I'll keep this in mind whenever I do get around to actually purchasing a unit.
The only replacement filter cartridge is the micron filter (the cartridge in the little blue housing), replaced every 6-9 months and costs ~$20.
Besides that, you'll eventually need to replace the media in the tank, but it should last you years before it will need to be replaced (depending on your water quality). This is the advantage of tank based systems like this one!
As for extra installation components, because every install is different it's difficult to pinpoint a specific cost.
I have a home that was built in 1962 so the piping is likely copper so I would like need to have a separate filtration for drinking water on top of the whole house filter. Correct? Would it be worth it to get the RO and UV add ons as well?
As a first step, I'd recommend getting a lab test of your water so you can identify the exact contaminants and concentrations that are present which need to be treated. Then you can use the lab testing data to guide your purchase decision.
Many folks do use a point of use treatment system like reverse osmosis for their drinking water. But again, it all depends on the contaminants present.
Kinetico has the best water treatment products…not a close second in the market….expensive but you get what you pay for. Non electric…dual tanks…cleans itself in soft water….best by far
Kinetico do offer solid products!
This seems like it's designed for City Water? What about someone that's on a well
Correct, the CF is intended for use with municipally treated tap water. Well water is an entirely different game! When was the last time you had your well tested? Do you know what contaminants you're dealing with? The Springwell WS bit.ly/3Ch1EWW is a solid choice for iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide removal - but again, it all depends on the specific situation.
The one thing I am EXTREMELY interested in, is can it filter out hormones and that level of chemical contamination...
If you read the book "Estrogeneration" by Anthony Jay. He outlines that a lot of hormones that was in the city water supply really isn't something the standard filtration process can deal with. I have a RO system for drinking water, but would love another system for the rest of the house.
@Water Filter Guru - Do you have any comment on that level of filtration if you are aware?
There are a number of studies that show activated carbon can reduce hormones such as estrogen in water (link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40710-014-0005-y), however this system hasn't specifically been tested to do so. Because activated carbon is one component of the mix media bed, you could assume there is some degree of reduction, but more testing to validate this would be necessary.
It's great you already have an RO system in place - that would have been the next recommendation!
@@waterfilterguru Thanks for the response. I have it for drinking water, but we all know our skin still absorbs nutrients and particles during showering. so it would be nice to ensure everything is clean. :)
great book
is the media replaceable by the user/homeowners? Any non-salt water softener from Spring Well?
Yes, the media is replaceable by the user! Check out the Futuresoft salt-free conditioner bit.ly/3P0WfIQ
@@waterfilterguru Springwell is not doing good!! I've been using Aquasana like 8 years now...luckily I was looking around for the customer review...Springwell not very well! Thank you for the info!
Excellent content. Thank you for the comprehensive and honest review.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for your feedback, it really helps!
What about fracking contaminants?
It would depend on what contaminants in the water source are increased by the fracking activity. There are over 1,000 contaminants that can be imparted to a water source by shale gas exploration (source: www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/study-links-fracking-drinking-water-pollution-and-infant-heath)
This looks like a great filtration system for the house, will definitely be considering adding one to my home!
Don't forget to test your water to find out what contaminants might be present first!
On top of this what reverse osmosis you recommend?
@@waterfilterguruwhat do you recommend to test my water
@@turboparadise Tap Score by Simplelab (bit.ly/3OPs0Vd) - hands down the best testing I've come across and the company we use for all our testing projects
@@617venkatesh Cloud RO! cloud-water-filters.sjv.io/jrOrdP
Hi Great Info. Sold! Im in Erie CO, any recommendation on an Installer for this system?
Hey Sam, I don't have any specific installer recommendations, but you can use Colorado's licensed plumber search tool to find a licensed professional in Erie
apps.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx
@@waterfilterguru Thank you. Will order through your affiliate link
Do you recommend this for well water as well? Or would you suggest another whole home water filtration system?
Nope this one (the CF) is only for municipally treated city water.
For well water, you'll want to check out the SpringWell WS: bit.ly/3BICCPF
No matter what, make sure to test your well water before making any purchase. We use Tap Score for all our testing and I can't recommend them highly enough: bit.ly/3qJM9R4
Use the data to guide your decision. The SpringWell WS is the best all-round option for well water, but you may have additional contaminants and/or higher concentrations of contaminants it's not capable of dealing with
Is this still your #1 choice for small 3 bathroom residential setting?
Yes, #1 choice for city water!
After 6 months pressure decreased substantially.Called dealer,they suggested I bleach their system to improve pressure.After 3 bleaching pressure improved,but also had to adjust regen cycle to every day..Iron bacteria in my well here in Florida was terrible,now we have no rust stains,just have less water pressure.
Hey Ed, thanks for your comment! Sounds like you are on well water and have the Springwell WS well water filter system installed? Do you have any other water treatment systems?
Iron bacteria will surely clog water treatment devices and fixtures, causing reduced water pressure.
In addition to shocking your well (bleaching it), you might want to consider installing a chemical feed system to chlorinate the well. This will keep the iron bacteria at bay all the time, rather than shocking it every so often as it starts to build up agian.
@@waterfilterguru While the interior growth in the well can be controlled this way, the majority of iron reducing bacteria are in the aquifer. It is unlikely any in-well system would have much effect on those growths in the aquifer, though some growth downgradient of the well screen would be diminished. Bringing the water to ground surface and dealing with it there allows easier maintenance. And yes, someday the aquifer immediately adjacent to the well screen may clog from the bacteria.
You‘re taking out all the flavor! Good video, thank you
You're welcome thanks for watching
Seems like that Lifesource/Beotron system I had. Basically, it was a charcoal filter. Definitely not a water softener which is mandatory in my very hard water area. Ripped that crap out and put in a Kenetico system. Works perfectly since 2016.
Water softeners and water filters (like the one in this video) are completely different systems, using different technology to address different water issues. They are not interchangeable or comparable.
Water softeners remove hardness minerals that cause issues with plumbing and appliances but don't pose any health risk
Water filters reduce contaminants that pose potential health risk or affect taste or smell of the water
You can read more about the differences in detail here: waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-vs-water-filter/
Hope this helps clarify things!
@@waterfiltergurucan you add a softener to this filter
@@nancydrew8146 Yes, you would install the water softener downstream (after) the filter like this. That way, the filter removes the chlorine or other disinfectant chemical which can damage the resin in the softener
As a new homeowner, I'm just beginning my education journey about this stuff. Good intro. I hope you have a video on understanding PFOA levels in public drinking water. THat's what we are dealing with locally.
Hey Roger, thanks for your comment. Have you seen this video? th-cam.com/video/LjHc19Ou1Tg/w-d-xo.html it will give you a good understanding of the treatment technologies that can be used to reduce PFAs (including PFOA)
@@waterfilterguru I will check it out now. Thank you!
Happy to help! Let me know if you have any questions
Love it, with my current system I have to replace the filters every 3 years and they cost over $300 for all the filters.
One advantage of tank-based systems is that the media lasts a while! Keep in mind though that media lifespan is dependent on the incoming water quality & contaminants present - so each situation will be different, and the media may or may not last as long for some folks as others, before it needs to be replaced
@@waterfilterguru hi, how to know when needs to be replaced?
So here's the rub: you get what you pay for. This is a great system for the first year or so with one caveat. It like Culligan and other single tank systems constantly uses raw/dirty water to back wash itself so your tank and media are always working against itself. because of this, and depending on the amount of TDS (total dissolved solids) and iron, these will continue to build up in the tank, effectively reducing performance on a continual basis. I do appreciate it has an on demand design similar to a Kinetico system except the one main area . Kinetico kills all other systems and has for many decades. The kinetico has a twin tank design is always back washing with clean, treated water. This is why they have an effective life for 2-3 decades. Also, saltless systems do little to help with tannins and long term PH or hard water issues like the Springwell. Is the Springwell "affordable" ? yes, but only on a short term basis such a selling your home. A proper long term system like a Kinetico can be $6k and up....but you get what you pay for. Appreiciate the content though.
Thanks for the comment - but it will be a bit misleading when some folks read it. I want to clear this up.
You are comparing 3 completely different types of systems, which can't actually be compared to one another.
It sounds like you are comparing water softeners or AIO well water filters, whereas this video was looking at the filtration system for municipally (city) treated water specifically.
Not an AIO well water system.
Not a water softener.
Not a salt-free conditioner.
All three of these types of systems (softeners, well water AIO filters, and filters for municipally treated water) are designed to target completely different water issues so can't be compared to each other.
A few of the contaminants of concern you mentioned shouldn't even be a problem with municipal water.
It's my goal to help folks better understand their water quality at home, not make it more confusing for them.
I would never consider any type of salt based filtration product. Pure water vs Soft water.... no contest.
@@coltonwashburn6556 Well...I hear you, but to be fair.....Salt free systems do nothing for hard water and TDS in the home nor do they deal with protecting your water heater and other places water sit. Because of this when you flush a toilet or take a bath/shower, and because of oxidation, the water in the pipes leading away also are impacted by calcium, magnesium, and lime build up. Depending what is in the water, certain bacteria can flourish without being killed off and maintained by a sodium additive. Lastly, salt free systems are NOT certified to meet industry standards. Salt free systems typically use potassium chloride (yes, just like what is used in city systems and pools) so they are not truly "Pure water" systems as the advertising suggests. STE's are not great though. The best for long term with minimal salt usage? KInetico hands down. I have access to all and install all types. You have to ask yourself, why do I want/need a water treatment system in the first place. But once a person is fully educated...it is still their choice what goes into their home.
Thanks for your response!
Another one fell for advertising hype and is simply parroting it.
They are definitely not the only ones! I have a dual chamber softener that trades off chambers, replenishing the spent one with replenished one. Fleck controller. Fully programmable. Going on two decades now and good as ever.
The *only* advantage of Kinetico is it works where electricity is unavailable. But you pay dearly for that feature, not only in initial cost but you don't get to customize it to your conditions and modify it if conditions change. It's all mechanical, there's no programming the cycle details. They also call for more maintenance of the water driven drive mechanism, which of course is recommended by only their approved service personnel so recurring costs are much greater as well.
There's a massive profit to Kinetico so naturally it's going to be pushed hard, mostly to people who don't know how anything works.
There might be somewhere hard well water under pressure is available but no full time electricity, in order to justify Kinetico. But typically electricity pumps the water up from the depths of the well and pressurizes it, so unless that's from a generator that only runs as needed or on an alternate energy system that runs out of power often, the electric controller saves big bucks. An off grid system could be used to keep a small battery charged and a tiny inverter power the softener. It used milliwatts to monitor and a couple watts when replenishing.
So, getting what you pay for? In general true. In this case though you really have to pay for what you're getting!
@@elgringoec "get what you pay for.. pay for what you're getting" 🤣🤣
Perfect assessment! 👍👍
First and foremost, thank you for this amazing info! Secondly, who would we hire to install this system? and also, could we move the system if we moved houses?
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the feedback, glad it was helpful.
1. Hire a local, licensed plumber who has experience with water treatment systems, ideally
2. Yes it can be removed and taken with you, but of course this would require more plumbing work.
Great questions!
We saw your video on the spring well purifying system and we’re very interested in it. However it can’t be used in a crawl space (which is what we have). Do you have any other suggestions for a whole house filtration system that could be used in a crawl space?
Hey Lacy, great question! Assuming you are on City Water & depending on how much space you have available, you may be able to get away with a cartridge based whole house filter, like one of these:
- Evo E-1000 bit.ly/3SwKURB (evowatersystems.com)
- Home Master HMF3SdgFeC bit.ly/3dWxbo8 (homemaster.com)
Keep in mind that you'll need a bit more room below the filter housing so that you can remove them to replace the filter cartridges.
Possibly create a loop. Bring the water supply line out of the crawl space into a nearby room. Filter the water in that room and send it back into the crawl space.
Thank you for the great review. I was looking at CF4 and AquaOX, Culligan, and Aquasanna. I'm more tempted to go for CF4 after this review. Although it does eliminate more contaminants and double the lifetime, AuqaOX is still very expensive.
One question, do you still recommend an under-sink water filter or an RO filter for drinking? I know it varies greatly based on locations, but any suggestion for municipal water in most big cities (New neighborhood in Dallas to be particular). Thank you so much!
Great question! It really depends on what contaminants are present in your water - Have you tested your water?
This is always the first step I recommend. Use the data from a laboratory test to guide your purchase decision. An additional point of use system for drinking way may or may not be needed. It all depends on if the whole home system you choose is capable of removing all the contaminants or not.
Check out Tap Score for water testing - this is the company we use for all our testing purposes and and hands down the very best: bit.ly/3OPs0Vd
@meowmi1130 Which one did you go with? I've had a whole house aquasana for 10 years and researching change...I recall Aquasana's checked boxes for contaminants removal 10 years ago was thorough but now they tell me today it ONLY takes out chlorine and chloramine!
@@kdp8275 I ended up getting the CF4 following a friend's recommendation and he loved it. I also got the waterdrop RO with the instant water heater faucet. I am not sure if it's the best RO option but I drank a lot of tea and the instant hot water feature makes my life so easy :-)
I’m on well water. 5 hardness. Not bad. No smells but have a lot of tannins. What do you suggest.
Have you had the water tested? If not, I suggest starting there. We use Tap Score for all our water testing and I can't recommend them highly enough. These are their well water tests: bit.ly/3kJcnnp
Without looking at the data, it's really hard to provide any specific suggestion
Thanks for this detailed video!
Glad it was helpful!
If I got this system, what would I have to add to also remove Flouride?
You have a couple options to reduce fluoride:
1) Add an additional fluoride removal cartridge filter downstream of a tank based system (like the one in this video). Something like this geni.us/WJAFPBP
OR
2) Install a different whole house tank based system, specific for fluoride removal like the US Water Systems BodyGuard fluoride specific system geni.us/N8diO6
OR
3) Use a point of use filter to remove the fluoride from your drinking water. I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system like the Cloud RO geni.us/9ClI8J3 or Waterdrop G3 geni.us/rQekgwp or even a water filter pitcher like the Clearly Filtered pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
I could not see to be sure, but the pure white PVC pipe used in the video is not for drinking water. you need CPVP, it has a yellow tint to it and a yellow stripe.
Hey thanks for your comment - we'll be following up with the company that installed this for us to check on this. Much appreciated!
@@waterfilterguru upon further research not all water suppliers chlorinate their water, so if this is well water, regular PVC is fine. my lack of knowledge
@@OhioBahn440 No, thank you for the comment. Looking into this now. The home is on city water (the system in this video is intended for use with city water). Stay tuned. Much appreciated!
@@waterfilterguru Any response from springwell regarding type of PVC that should be used with city water?
@@waterfilterguruaaaand ???
This is great but I would like something removes more flouride... or is there an additional piece like the lead removal we can buy?
Check out the video I uploaded today! th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
Great video, super informational 👍
Glad it was helpful!
What’s the best way to filter fluoride from drinking water?
We explain in this video! th-cam.com/video/HYvyQ0qU-nU/w-d-xo.html
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
I'm new to this. Looks like this is designed for pre treated biologically safe water, right? What happens if there is a break in the water main and a boil water advisory due to water contamination? I guess my concern is that after they fix the break, any ecoli or other germs that make their way downstream will be captured by this filter and released after the boil water advisory is over.
What are your thoughts?
The media in the filter will not capture bacteria or other microorganisms - they would flow through. If the possibility of this situation is a concern in your area, you could consider installing a UV system downstream of the tank based system. Then, if a boil water advisory did happen, you would be protected against any biologicals that might make their way though the system waterfilterguru.com/best-uv-water-purifier-systems/
Under no circumstances trust that the government is making things safe even under good circumstances. Just the past few years alone is proof of that. Get something to kill virus/germs/parasites.
What system would you recommend for well water? Thansk for your help in advance.
It all depends on what contaminants/ water issues are present that need to be treated. When was the last time you had a lab test done? Do you know what contaminants are present?
Great content , keep it coming
Glad you liked it!
I would love to put that system in hopefully the Price Is Right. I have a whole house filter system now but does not go after bad things just sediment.
Yep, a sediment filter will only remove particles suspended in the water like dirt, sand, grit, oxidized iron (rust), etc. They will not reduce any chemicals, metals, or other contaminants.
I recommend testing your water first before deciding on a treatment system. Check out Tap Score by Simplelab for testing, hands down the best bit.ly/3OPs0Vd
You can then use the test data to guide your purchasing decision to make sure you're getting something capable of removing the contaminants of concern!
Satisfaction guarantee but -25% when you return + cost of shipping.
Definitely not satisfying with that return policy.
Good catch! I just reached out to my contact at SpringWell about this. They've informed me that only ~5% of customers actually even do a return. This tells me the vast majority of folks are satisfied with their purchase so it won't even matter!
I live near a rocket facility that was testing some sort of nuclear work and had an explosion downward in the ground. They are in the mountain behind our house. Everyone claims the water is safe. Any suggestions on how to test and a filtration system that we could strive for?
For sure! Tap Score by Simplelab is hands down the best lab testing available and the company we use for all our testing bit.ly/3OPs0Vd
We'd really have to take a look at the testing data to be able to provide any sort of recommendations or suggestions to consider
@@waterfilterguru awesome thank you I’ll look into it.
Hey again Tyler! We just announced a giveaway where we'll be giving out 5 Advanced Tap Score tests. It ends on March 31, but if you want to enter you could have a chance to get one for free! waterfilterguru.com/giveaway/
How does this work in getting rid of micro plastics?
It depends on the particle size of the microplastics present, but the system should be able to reduce down to 5 microns. For even better microplastic reduction, I'd recommend a system that uses a carbon block filter, as opposed to GAC. Check out the new Springwell cartridge based system (bit.ly/3UXPkmR) or the Evo E-1000 (bit.ly/3mzsFQZ)
To stop bacteria, viruses, and cysts you need to filter down to .2 microns. This system will not stop these contaminants. You will need to add an additional filter inline and will need to change it more often because it filters so small but it will give you the "safe" water this system promises but cannot provide.
This system is intended for use with municipally treated water, which shouldn't have biological contaminants (bacteria, virus, cysts) due to disinfection at the treatment plant. If you are concerned with biologicals, possible due to a boil water advisory, you could install a UV system downstream.
@@waterfilterguruwrong, the pipes from the plant to your home are a major (THE major) factor.
What do you suggestible best?
@@bestyoutubernonegraternumber1 Not wrong, the only time biological contamination from municipally treated water should be a concern is in the event of a boil water advisory. If the system is functioning properly there will be enough residual disinfection chemical (chlorine or chloramine) to protect the water from biological contamination in the distribution system
@@keikelly8446 These are the top UV systems currently on the market waterfilterguru.com/best-uv-water-purifier-systems/
Hi Brian, Wanted to know your thoughts on Springwell 2 in 1 Filter + Salt Softener combo system. Is it as efficient as combining the Whole House Filter and Salt Softener individually? Appreciate your work. Thanks in advance.
I typically lean towards keeping the two systems separate
I find it's a little misleading when you leave out from the 'to be desired list' that it isn't designed to remove fluoride from the water. And this info is only included at the very end without much ado. :( A lot of people will have missed out on this and be continually contaminated by the awful byproduct of aluminum that we are being poisoned with.
Not all systems are capable of reducing fluoride - including the one reviewed in this video. In fact, most whole home systems are not capable of reducing fluoride. Fluoride is a difficult to remove contaminant, requiring specialized bone char carbon media, reverse osmosis, or activated alumina which are not commonly used in whole home POE systems. You might find this article helpful to learn all about it: waterfilterguru.com/how-to-remove-fluoride-from-water/
You have a couple options to reduce fluoride:
1) Add an additional fluoride removal cartridge filter downstream of a tank based system (like the one in this video). Something like this geni.us/WJAFPBP
OR
2) Install a different whole house tank based system, specific for fluoride removal like the US Water Systems BodyGuard fluoride specific system geni.us/N8diO6
OR
3) Use a point of use filter to remove the fluoride from your drinking water. I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system like the Cloud RO geni.us/9ClI8J3 or Waterdrop G3 geni.us/rQekgwp or even a water filter pitcher like the Clearly Filtered pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1
Use ozone,chlorine dioxide or h2o2..they burn fluoride
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
I am looking for a whole home system for my off grid system, rain water catchment and a natural spring, would you recommend this or something differently?
It depends. This could be _part_ of the system design which would target organic chemicals. So if you plan to disinfect the water with chlorine, this system would address the residual disinfectant and any byproducts. It would also be a good option to target any pesticides, herbicides or PFAs chemicals that may be in your water sources.
That said, this system alone would not be sufficient. You'll need additional pieces of equipment to treat other potential water issues.
Looking at this system for my home and also looking at Kinetico as well...
Let us know which you end up going with and what you think about it
Looks good, but what about getting rid of the chlorine and fluoride?
This one does reduce the chlorine. For fluoride you can filter it at the point of use for your drinking water, I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system. But if you want to address fluoride with a whole house filter, you might want to consider this one instead th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
What about fluoride filtration? Does this large system cover that?
This system does not reduce fluoride. You have a couple options to reduce fluoride:
1) Add an additional fluoride removal cartridge filter downstream of a tank based system (like the one in this video). Something like this geni.us/WJAFPBP
OR
2) Install a different whole house tank based system, specific for fluoride removal like the US Water Systems BodyGuard fluoride specific system geni.us/N8diO6
OR
3) Use a point of use filter to remove the fluoride from your drinking water. I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system like the Cloud RO geni.us/9ClI8J3 or Waterdrop G3 geni.us/rQekgwp or even a water filter pitcher like the Clearly Filtered pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
I read that carbon filters that don't have a backwash system will grow bacteria over time. How does Springwell's system prevent this over the life of the system (10 years)?
Bacteria growth is a potential risk with any POE system due to the fact that these systems remove the residual disinfection chemicals. A post-filtration UV system can be used to inactivate any bacteria that might grow in the system. That said, it's best practice to monitor any POE system for bacteria growth and take appropriate action (replacing media, filters & sanitizing the system) if bacteria are detected.
@@waterfilterguru Thanks. How do you monitor the system for bacteria growth? Send a sample out every year? And, if that is the case, do you have a recommendation on where to send a sample?
@@johnenloe4198 just a simple DIY test that detects the presence of bacteria should be sufficient
What's a good filter to put after the water softener?
Hey John, this depends on your water source and the contaminants you are trying to remove. Have you had your water tested? Do you know what contaminants are present?
@@waterfilterguru I have not, I should probably test before and after the softener. Do you have a video on how to get your water tested?
@@johnknightiii1351 No video yet, but I highly recommend Tap Score by Simplelab - hands down the best and the company we use for all our testing bit.ly/3OPs0Vd
As a side note, the softener only targets hard water so won't be reducing additional contaminants. Testing after the softener should be sufficient to find out what you're dealing with.
Regarding the Whole Home Water system and hard water. I currently have a Salt Water Softener with no filtration system. I was looking into the SpringWell system and they recommended that I get their Filtration System + their Salt Water Softener. Do you recommend that I get that as well? Or do you know if it is possible to hook it up with the current system I have already installed?
It's possible to hook it up with your current water softener. If it's working well, no reason to replace it!
@@waterfilterguru Great thanks! Also, do you think any of the upgrades they provide like the UV purification system or a reverse osmosis system is necessary in addition to the Whole Home Water filter? Why wouldn't the Whole Filter already filter like the reverse osmosis system? What is the difference?
How much is the installation? Is it DIY-able? How long before the whole houses pipes and faucets are cleared out - do they not collect these toxins?
Yes this system is really geared towards folks who prefer to DIY install. It's easy, especially if you have a bit of plumbing experience
It depends on what's in your water, but most contaminants do not come out of solution and build up in pipes - hardness being the most common exception
This looks like a good system, but it is not stand alone whole house as you imply for most water residential systems (including city). Most homes have water hardness way above 5, and this does nothing to deal with that calcium. For the whole house, that is best dealt with by installing a proper sized ion switched system (salt based softener). Perhaps the carbon in this system is adequate as a pre-stage for that. Note, I would place the 5um particulate filter before the filter in your video however, not after as you have shown.
If one wants to drink the water in large quantities, they should filter at the end (under the sink), not the whole house alone, with a multistage filter system. Drink and cook water 95% from one faucet, and keep that facet clean (test regularly). Depending on the testing, that end system is likely to be best served by RO, with a dedicated carbon before and a 5um + second carbon after the pressure tank. If the testing shows only chlorine (used for bacteria at under 1.65 ppm), i would just use a final carbon +1um filter and call it good. People need to stop trying to achieve 100% removal of contaminates, especially without ongoing testing. Find the safe levels and then be well under them (ie 90% less), and test more often if you are worried. Don't replace filters that don't need replacing. Don't filter what doesn't need filtering. test, then replace. Don't drink hot water from your water heater, without further filtration (use filtered cold water only tap).
If you want really clean water for your fish tank or car wash or window washing business, follow the above pre filter + ion switched filter + RO system with a DI filter and pressure boost.
Correct, to treat water hardness the best option is an ion exchange water softener which would be in addition to a filtration system like the CF in this video.
Two separate technologies, targeting different water problems.
The 5-mircon filter is installed post-filtration (as per the manufacturer instructions) to capture any of the media that might escape the tank, so it does not get into the home's plumbing system.
Great to call out the importance of testing! It's a critical first step to take before investing in any water treatment equipment to ensure you are purchasing a system capable of addressing your needs!
we are considering rainwater catchment... what filters or systems can you suggest?
While I don't have a video yet, you can check out this complete guide to rainwater catchment treatment waterfilterguru.com/how-to-filter-rain-water/
Essentially, you'll need a multi-stage system to both filter and disinfect before consumption.
Do you recommend distilling your drinking water and the adding back trace minerals?
That depends on a few factors such as what contaminants are in the water that need to be addressed and your daily water requirements, among other things. Distillation is one of the best methods of purifying water, and remineralizing is always recommended. That said, reverse osmosis would provide similar results, but with much less energy and time input required.
Thank you for this informative video. Would you recommend buying this filter and softer together?
How hard is your water?
@@waterfilterguru not sure. We are moving to central fl into a pre-construction home. But wanted to know if its worth it or not?
@@yeni_daughterOfGod Yes, if the water is hard it's absolutely worth it to install an ion exchange water softener which will serve to protect the home's plumbing system and water based appliances from limescale.
If the water is not hard, it would not necessarily be beneficial to install a softener.
@@waterfilterguruOk. Thank you!
@@yeni_daughterOfGod You're welcome, let me know if you have any other questions
Informative videos, thank you!
We are on a 15K gal water catchment system. Which filter would you recommend for filtering our water for drinking?
Thanks for watching!
It depends on what contaminants are present in the catchment system. Have you had the water test by a certified lab yet?
What is your recommendation for rain water collection filtration? Would this Springwell CF system be up to the task?
I'd recommend first testing the water. Rainwater collection can be tricky, and although you may think it's free of contaminate it's not. You'll definitely want to consider a disinfection system. Then use the lab data to determine what other treatment you might need
Did you add the reverse osmosis filter or is the existing filter enough?
I wouldn't recommend the reverse osmosis system Springwell sells. There are many better options which are more efficient
So I bought one...did you have any issues with your water pressure dropping?
No we did not have any drop in pressure after installation. As long as the system is sized properly, it should not impact water pressure in most cases. Check out this article, you might find it helpful waterfilterguru.com/does-a-whole-house-water-filter-reduce-water-pressure/
Usually buy an RO single faucet in our homes . We are building a new home next year and will consider this instead.
Keep in mind it all depends on the specific water situation - an additional RO may or may not be necessary depending on what contaminants are present. That's why it's always so important to test first, so you know exactly what you're dealing with!
Much better filtering the whole house so you aren't bathing in bad water
Does it remove fluoride?
No it does not. You have a couple options to reduce fluoride:
1) Add an additional fluoride removal cartridge filter downstream of a tank based system (like the one in this video). Something like this geni.us/WJAFPBP
OR
2) Install a different whole house tank based system, specific for fluoride removal like the US Water Systems BodyGuard fluoride specific system geni.us/N8diO6
OR
3) Use a point of use filter to remove the fluoride from your drinking water. I'd recommend a reverse osmosis system like the Cloud RO geni.us/9ClI8J3 or Waterdrop G3 geni.us/rQekgwp or even a water filter pitcher like the Clearly Filtered pitcher geni.us/VsUZHW1
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
So I have a water softener along with an RO tank… will your system replace both for my 2 bathroom house
No, this system will not replace a water softener nor RO. A water softener targets hard water minerals while a point of use RO provides the most thorough contaminant reduction for your drinking water. This system would remove contaminants to provide filtered water from every tap in the home, however it is not as effective as an RO.
Great video very informative. Love the information and love the fact that a test was done before and after I have subscribed you got me. 🎉❤
Glad you like it, thanks for the sub! Check out some of my newer videos, they're a lot better than these older ones 😉
Great Video! I have city water to my house and well water for my sprinkler system. i like to get a filter for the well water as back up for drinking water. is this possible?
Yes - have you had the well water tested? Do you know what contaminants you are dealing with?
Which one is a good one for a condominium? We have two bathrooms? Thanks!
Do you have room to install a point of entry (whole home) unit in your condo? Oftentimes this is not possible, so you may want to consider an alternative, like one of these waterfilterguru.com/best-water-filter-for-apartment/
Thanks Can you talk about how this filter deals with iron in well water. Or how I can filter out the iron. Keep up the great videos.
Hey Chris, thanks for your comment and great question. This system is intended for use with municipally treated water, not well water. For well water with iron, you'd need to look at a water softener (like this one bit.ly/3xUMjJ1) or an oxidation/filtration iron specific filter (like this one bit.ly/3Ch1EWW).
That being said, you'll need to make sure to take into account all the other contaminants that are present as well while identifying proper treatment for your well water. When was the last time you had it tested by a certified lab? Do you know what additional contaminants are present?
@@waterfilterguru Thank you. I’ll check them out.
So it's still recommended to get a reverse osmosis system? Some of the $5k+ systems don't but that might be in part why they are $5k+.
It all depends on the quality of the source water being filtered. This is why testing with a certified lab is always the first step to take. RO for the drinking water may, or may not be necessary but you won't know until you test. You can get a solid point of use RO for
Have you compared it to AquaOx? I believe AquaOx may remove more?
Check it out waterfilterguru.com/aquaox-vs-springwell/
Was wondering if anyone knows if this can be connected to a pex plumbed system, and how you would go about doing this? Pex to Pvc adapters maybe?
I'd look into a PEX/ corrugated stainless steel sharkbite connector
Being on a crawlspace, about 3-4’ at max height, are these systems able to be mounted horizontally?
No, tank based systems like this need to be installed vertically. You may want to consider Springwell's cartridge based system (tinyurl.com/28nh2mc9) for your specific application
Awesome video. I was wondering if you would be making a series with regards to other company's whole house water systems. I just bought an APEC Water WH-SOLUTION-MAX15-FG system which looks amazing, but we will see how well it works for us in the long term.
Yes we will. We have two projects currently in the works, testing two other brands!
We have a neighborhood well water system that is tested by our subdivision every month for bacteria. Would this system be good for us?
Yes, this system should work with treated community well water! That being said, have you tested the water? Do you know what contaminants are present, besides the disinfection chemicals (probably chlorine) that are used?
Which or what do you recommend for a Well supplied water. I will have three (3) bathrooms on a 3,200 sq.ft. home and a septic tank system as well.
First things first, have you had the water tested by a certified lab? What water problems need to be addressed?
@@waterfilterguru I'm ahead of the choosing; my house and Well haven't even being done or dig. I will wait until then to have the Water checked. Thanks.
Happy to help! Lab testing is always the best first step to take before beginning to look for any water treatment equipment. Let the lab testing data guide your purchase decision
Hi. Is it possible to use it only in the kitchen and not for everything?
It sounds like you are looking for a point of use (POU) under the sink filter! I'd recommend checking out the Clearly Filtered Under Sink system geni.us/ijlrI6 (clearlyfiltered.com)
What is the best shower filter? To soften water and to remove contamiments?
Great question!
The best shower filers we've come accross are:
Aquasana AQ-4100 (bit.ly/3rFRtp6)
AquaBliss SF500 (bit.ly/3rWtUZD)
Keep in mind most shower filters are really only designed to remove chlorine from water.
Some like the Aquasana mentioned above also use a KDF media which reduces other chemicals and some heavy metals.
Although some brands say their shower filters can reduce hard water minerals, the only way to actually "soften" water is with an ion exchange water softener system. No shower filter is truly capable of softening water.
@@waterfilterguru Do they remove Chloramine as well? And what about Vit C--- that doesn't soften water -- as many claim it does?
What would you recommend for a person using a personal well. Would I just need to take sample of well water and then go from there?
Correct! It's recommended that well owners regularly test their well water, yearly at least.
Testing is the first step you will need to take in order to identify the type of treatment equipment you may or may not need
We bought a house last summer and have been thinking about getting a whole-house water filter. However, we are very busy with work and might not have time to install it ourselves. I
Have you heard of Eco Water treatment through Costco? They have bad reviews because the price is ridiculous, but not many people mention their quality. I would love to know your thoughts! Thanks!
We've not yet tested any ecowater products. If you don't want to deal with speccing and installing a system yourselves, I'd recommend working with a local water treatment company
How would this product do with filtering stuff like lime, and calcium?
It will not reduce contaminants that cause limescale (primarily calcium and magnesium). For that, I'd recommend an ion exchange water softener. Check out the Springwell SS bit.ly/3xUMjJ1 (springwellwater.com)
Amazing video.... do you know a good home water filter that takes out fluoride? Thats my biggest concern.
Yep, for point of entry fluoride removal, check out this system from US Water Systems: bit.ly/3VRa4Mf
@@waterfilterguru you are amazing. You think this would be a better house filter system choice over the springwell system? My concern over Fluoride interested me in this whole topic, but ideally i would like other toxins filtered out as well
@@BaronUnderbite So the best place to start is with a professional laboratory test. Water quality varies from city to city, even neighborhood to neighborhood, so it's best to use test result data to guide your purchase decision (otherwise you might end up buying something that's not sufficient, or too much for what you need).
That being said, if you have fluoride as well as additional city water contaminants, a combination of a carbon/ KDF system (like this Springwell CF) and a fluoride specific removal filter would be the way to go.
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
Can this filter remove Fe2+/Fe3+ and can it be backflushed?
This filter is intended for use with municipally treated water. For iron removal, you'll want to check out the SpringWell WS system: bit.ly/3StiO9C
Hello, Brian, I just went to the website and noticed there are quite a few upgrades...softener combo, UV, reverse osmosis, and the install kit. Adding all of these more than doubles the cost. Which ones should I purchase, and which ones should I leave off?
It depends on your water situation. Have you had the water tested by a certified lab? Do you know what water issues are present that need to be addressed?
- Water softener - treats hard water, protects plumbing and appliances, increases washing efficiency
- UV - Protects the home's water system in the case of a boil water advisory. Destroys microorganisms that might grow after the disinfection residual is removed
- Reverse osmosis - further, more broad contaminant reduction for drinking/ cooking water (there are many better options out there from other vendors, however)
- Install kit - each install is unique, it would be good to determine all components you will need before purchasing to decide if this would be useful for you or not
Just got one (CF1) with tax it was just over $1200 with the set up kit
Thanks for the updated Intel 🤙
If I were to get the CF4 for instance, I presume that we'd still need some way to keep scaling down, yes? We don't like soft water units due to the slimy feel, so what other inexpensive option would we have?
Correct, this system does not address hard water. The best and only way to completely eliminate hard water is with a water softener, but if the feel of soft water is a deal breaker you could consider a water conditioner that will still work to protect your plumbing and appliances. Check out the Springwell Futuresoft bit.ly/3P0WfIQ
They also have a CF + Futuresoft combined system where you'd probably get a better deal than if you bought each individually: bit.ly/3KOIkFQ
I like everything Im hearing about this system, s thanks for the video. I have two questions, can we buy spring well systems in the EU? Does this system remove or leave in elements like Magnesium and Calcium?
1) I'm not sure if this system is sold in Europe yet or not - I'd recommend checking directly with the manufacturer
2) This system does not remove hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium). To address hardness, and remove those minerals you'd want to look at an ion exchange water softener, like the Springwell SS bit.ly/3xUMjJ1
Will this work for hard water ?
No, for hard water your best bet is a water softener bit.ly/3xUMjJ1
You might also find this article helpful to learn about the difference between water filters and water softeners waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-vs-water-filter/
Hi, I really like & appreciate your videos
I'm curious to know why at one point in the video it looked like you had not one but 2 of these filters in your home. I live in a roughly 2700 SF house with 2.5 bathes. I am renting but probably going to buy and I don't care I make enough money I'm happy to invest in my water. My question is would it be necessary for me to have 2 of these? ALSO do you think it would be possible for you to test the ProOne home filter set???? I have considered buying their biggest, most expensive home filtration system (it's like $2,500) but I just didn't have a good enough foundation (stable place of living) to do so, not did I make anywhere near as much money as I do now. Your response will be greatly appreciated
Btw, why ProOne instead - I want the fluoride reduction
Hey thanks for your comment and request! To answer your first question, it's not two of the same system, although the tanks look similar. We installed the both the CF filter and the Futuresoft salt-free conditioner (this one bit.ly/3KOIkFQ).
That said, before installing any water treatment equipment, we always recommend getting a sample of your water tested by a certified lab. That way you can use the testing data to guide your purchase decision.
We just installed and tested a whole house water filter that completely eliminated fluoride and PFAs. Check out the video here th-cam.com/video/TAE8YAzcar8/w-d-xo.html
is the water helping your skin and hair?
Skin and hair irritation can be caused by a number of different water issues, but a lot of the time it has to do with hardness and/or chlorine. This system removes the chlorine, but we would need a water softener to get rid of the hardness minerals.
Are you having issues with your skin and hair while showering in the water in your home? Have you had the water tested?
Hi - Thank you for making this video. Could you share your thoughts on when it is appropriate to get a salt based filtration system vs a salt free system?
Hi there, great question! So you are referring to salt-based ion exchange water softeners and salt-free water conditioners. Neither of these systems are filters, and they are intended to treat water hardness and not remove contaminants.
A water softener or conditioner would be used in conjunction with a water filter (like the one in this video), if you need to treat a hard water issue.
Check out this article to learn all about the differences between the two: waterfilterguru.com/water-softener-vs-water-conditioner/
I'm told it's best to have a filter system that has auto backwash to keep it clean. Does this system have that and what are your thoughts about this? Thanks!
This system does not backwash. The advantage of backwashing for a unit with adsorption media like this one would be to extend the lifespan of the media. Backwashing functionality increases the cost of a system
@@waterfilterguru do you have a favorite whole house system that includes backwashing? I'm worried about these systems losing contaminant removal efficiency and I don't like that the company doesn't have 3rd party testing over the 10 years/million gallons to show how the system performs over time and you've only got 6 months to judge how well it's filtering - who's to say the filters don't diminish in performance after 8 months, 1 year, etc.... I'm still considering this system but that's one of the red flags I feel there are
@@rawintuition All systems will diminish in performance over time as the media becomes used up and gets closer to reaching capacity. The rate at which this happens is directly correlated to what contaminants are present, and at what concentrations. What may last 8+ years for one situation may only last 3 years for another. I hope this helps explain.
Here are a couple backwashing carbon POE systems you could look into:
DROP Whole House Backwashing Filter tinyurl.com/34x38jun
US Water Systems Matrixx Backwashing Filter tinyurl.com/mva9hcpp
Thanks a lot!@@waterfilterguru
@@rawintuition happy to help! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Is there a good system that also removes fluoride and chlorine ?
This system does remove chlorine - but not fluoride. Are you looking for POE fluoride removal? Or would removing the fluoride from your drinking water be sufficient?
@@waterfilterguru not sure yet , I’m in phx and we have lots of fluoride and chlorine , I currently have a whole home softener ( salt ) and whole home prefilters ( charcoal and something else I can’t remember ) , I haven’t actually tested our water but I looked at city of Gilbert reports . I would like to be able to use my house water for plants and drinking without having to isolate the end point if that makes sense
Berkey filter does better with fluoride and chlorine
@@BrandonMitchell84 It does make sense. It sounds like you already have a decent treatment system in place, but unless you actually test the water in your home, you won't know if the system is sufficient or not. I always recommend folks first start with a lab test, then use the data to guide their purchase decision. We use Tap Score for all our testing and can't recommend them highly enough bit.ly/3OPs0Vd
@@JS-vd7mz We no longer recommend Berkey for fluoride removal, as our lab test indicated the PF2 fluoride filters leach aluminum th-cam.com/video/AVZmZwTxnMc/w-d-xo.html