Is salt-free conditioning as effective as softening?

Salt-free systems prevent scale and are ideal when you want less maintenance and no added sodium. If you need hardness reduced to a specific number for a specialty appliance, ion-exchange softening may be a better fit.

Home Filtration System: Simple 5‑Step Buying Guide

Q: What is a home filtration system?

A setup that treats incoming water at the main line (whole-home) or at a specific tap (point-of-use) to improve taste, odor, and safety while reducing scale and protecting plumbing.

Q: Do I need whole-home if I only care about drinking water?

If taste and a single faucet are your only goals, a point-of-use RO can be enough. Choose whole-home when you also want better showers, softer laundry, and scale protection for pipes and appliances.

Q: Will a whole-home filter reduce my water pressure?

Not when it’s sized correctly. The right valve size and media volume maintain typical household flow even during peak use.

Q: How often will I service it?

Under-sink cartridges change every 6–12 months depending on use. Salt-based softeners need salt and periodic service. ECO-X is maintenance-free for up to 10 years; the Platinum option is up to 20 years.

Picking a home filtration system shouldn’t take weeks. Use this quick guide to match your water issues to the right setup, size it correctly, and avoid maintenance headaches. If you get stuck, our team can help you choose in one call.

Step 1: Know your water (city vs well)

Start with the basics. City water already goes through treatment, so most homeowners target chlorine, chloramines, taste/odor, and chemicals like PFAS. Well water can add iron, manganese, sulfur odor, turbidity, or bacteria to the list. Check your city’s Consumer Confidence Report or a recent lab test for your well. Note everyday clues too: odor, taste, staining, scale, dry skin, or dull hair.

Tip: The ECO‑X and Platinum Systems are designed for municipal water. Well owners should request a tailored configuration.

Step 2: Choose your coverage (whole‑home or point‑of‑use)

Whole‑home (point‑of‑entry) treats every tap—great for cooking, bathing, laundry, and protecting pipes and appliances. Point‑of‑use (under‑sink or fridge) focuses on drinking and cooking only. Many homes combine them: whole‑home filtration plus an RO faucet at the kitchen sink.

Step 3: Match the technology to your goals

Catalytic/activated carbon: targets chlorine/chloramines, VOCs, and many chemicals for better taste and odor.
Conditioning/softening: helps with hard‑water scale that can dry skin and dull hair and fixtures. Choose salt‑free conditioning for low maintenance and no sodium; choose ion‑exchange softening if you need hardness reduced to a specific number.
Reverse osmosis (RO): strong at a single faucet for drinking/cooking; reduces dissolved solids, lead, PFAS, and more.
UV add‑on (for wells): disinfection when lab results call for it.

Step 4: Size for flow and family

Your system should keep up with real life—showers, laundry, and the dishwasher at once. As a rule of thumb, match capacity to bathroom count and peak demand. Properly sized whole‑home systems maintain normal household flow; undersized systems cause pressure dips.

Reference points: ECO‑X models are offered for typical 3–5‑bath homes with service flow around 12–18 gpm. The Platinum Series serves larger homes (4–6 baths) at roughly 23–28 gpm.

Step 5: Plan maintenance and lifetime cost

Under-sink cartridges are replaced at least once per year. Water softeners need salt and occasional service. Some softeners need salt and occasional service. If you prefer a low‑touch option, consider a cartridge‑free, salt‑free whole‑home system with long media life—no drainline or electricity required. That lowers ongoing costs and keeps plastic out of landfills.

✓ Why many homeowners pick ECO‑X (and when to choose Platinum)

ECO‑X: whole‑home filtration and salt‑free scale control in one unit—no filters to change, no salt, no electricity, no drainline; backed by a 10‑year warranty.
ECO‑X media stack targets chlorine/chloramines, THMs, VOCs, heavy metals, and difficult chemicals such as PFAS/PFOA.
Platinum: premium, salt-free 6-stage system for larger homes with higher flow, increased contaminant reduction and a comprehensive 20-year warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a home filtration system?

A setup that treats incoming water at the main line (whole‑home) or at a specific tap (point‑of‑use) to improve taste, odor, and safety while reducing scale and protecting plumbing.

Do I need whole‑home if I only care about drinking water?

If taste and a single faucet are your only goals, a point‑of‑use RO can be enough. Choose whole‑home when you also want better showers, softer laundry, and scale protection for pipes and appliances.

Will a whole‑home filter reduce my water pressure?

Not when it’s sized correctly. ECO‑X is offered around 12–18 gpm for typical 3–5‑bath homes; Platinum is about 23–28 gpm for 4–6‑bath homes.

How often will I service it?

Under‑sink cartridges change every 6–12 months depending on use. Salt‑based softeners need salt and periodic service. ECO‑X has no filters to change and no salt, and includes a 10‑year warranty; the Platinum Series includes a 20‑year warranty.

What about PFAS or lead?

Targeted media and RO address difficult contaminants like PFAS and lead. Share your water report and we’ll confirm the right configuration for your home.