Whole-house Carbon Filtration
Whole-house Carbon Filtration | Water Purification | Plumbing | Fountain City
Imagine turning on any tap in your Fountain City home and instantly tasting crisp, clean water—free from chlorine odor, sediment, and the lingering doubts that come with aging municipal lines. HEP’s whole-house carbon filtration system slips seamlessly into your existing plumbing, capturing contaminants at the point they enter so every shower, sip, and simmer is noticeably fresher. From the kitchen sink to the laundry room, you’ll feel the difference in your coffee, your skin, even your favorite cotton T-shirts.
Our licensed, local technicians size each filter to your household’s flow rate, install corrosion-resistant fittings, and back the work with the neighborly service Fountain City has trusted for decades. Because the carbon media is easy to maintain and long-lasting, you’ll spend more time enjoying pure hydration and less time worrying about upkeep or costly bottled alternatives. Discover true water purification and let HEP elevate every drop that runs through your home.
FAQs
What specific contaminants will a whole-house carbon filtration system remove from Fountain City’s municipal water?
Granular activated carbon (GAC) targets chlorine and its by-products (trihalomethanes), chloramine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), petroleum residues, many pesticides & herbicides, micro-plastics, unpleasant tastes/odors, and some PFAS compounds. Because Fountain City’s treatment plant relies on chlorination and draws from surface water sources that can pick up agricultural runoff, residents notice chlorine smell, earthy flavors, and seasonal organic pollutants—all of which carbon effectively adsorbs before the water reaches any tap in your home.
How does a whole-house carbon filter differ from a point-of-use faucet filter or a water softener?
A whole-house ("point-of-entry") carbon system is installed where the main water line enters your home, so every fixture—kitchen, showers, laundry, ice maker—receives filtered water. Point-of-use devices treat only one outlet. A carbon filter focuses on chemical and organic contaminants, while a water softener exchanges hardness minerals (calcium & magnesium) for sodium or potassium; it does not remove chlorine or VOCs. Many Fountain City homeowners pair a softener with a carbon unit to achieve both hardness reduction and chemical purification throughout the building.
Will installing a whole-house carbon filter reduce my water pressure or flow?
Properly sized systems are engineered to match Fountain City’s typical residential line pressure (45-70 psi) and handle peak flow rates of 10–15 gallons per minute. Our plumbers calculate demand based on number of bathrooms and fixtures, then specify a tank diameter and media volume that keeps pressure loss below 3-4 psi—usually imperceptible to occupants. If your household has unusually high demand (multiple rain showers, irrigation, etc.), we can install parallel tanks to maintain full performance.
What maintenance does the system require and how often do I need to replace the carbon media?
Granular activated carbon gradually becomes saturated. In average Fountain City conditions, media replacement is recommended every 5–7 years, or after treating about 750,000–1,000,000 gallons. The process involves shutting off the bypass valves, purging the tank, vacuuming out spent carbon, refilling with fresh NSF-certified GAC, and re-pressurizing—typically a 60-90-minute service call. No salt, electricity, or backwashing is needed unless the unit includes an automatic rinse feature. We provide an annual checkup (at no charge for the first year) to verify flow, pressure, and chlorine breakthrough levels.
How long does installation take and will it disrupt my plumbing or landscaping?
Most Fountain City homes require 3–4 hours for a standard single-tank installation. Our licensed plumbers cut into the main line (usually in the garage, basement, or a crawl space), mount the filtration tank on a drip tray, connect with PEX or copper, and install isolation/bypass valves and a pressure gauge. Water is off for roughly 30 minutes. No exterior digging is needed unless the main line enters at the curb, in which case we trench a short run to an interior wall sleeve and restore landscaping the same day.
What is the cost of a whole-house carbon filtration system and what savings can I expect?
Turn-key pricing—including NSF-certified media tank, valves, fittings, and professional installation—runs from $1,100 to $1,800 for most Fountain City residences. Media replacement every 5–7 years averages $350–$450. Savings come from eliminating bottled water (about $300 per year for a family of four), extending the life of water heaters & appliances (reduced scale and corrosion), and protecting plumbing fixtures from chlorine degradation. Many homeowners recoup initial costs within three years while gaining healthier water for cooking, bathing, and laundry.