Problem water can result in many different issues affecting homes in northern Wisconsin and central Minnesota. Signs that you may need a whole home water filter include:

• A rotten egg smell
• Streaks on your dishes
• Deposits on plumbing fixtures
• Dry hair or skin after showering
• Bad flavors in your drinking water
• Rust stains on your appliances
• Difficulty cleaning
• Corroded pipes

However, your water may also contain impurities that you can't see, taste or smell. Ultimately, testing your water is the only way to know if and what contaminants are present.

Depending on the specific whole home filter you choose, these systems can reduce a wide variety of contaminants, including:

• Calcium and magnesium (hard water)
• Chlorine
• Iron
• Sulfur
• Carbon dioxide
• Total dissolved solids

Choosing the right whole home water filter will depend on the contaminants present in your water, which is typically a result of where the water in northern Wisconsin and central Minnesota is sourced.

Therefore, discovering what's in your water is the first step to finding the best solution for your home. Culligan water offers several testing options. In addition to the free water test, Culligan provides more advanced testing that can detect issues such as arsenic, lead, E. coli, nitrates, copper, radon, PFOA/PFOS, bacteria, manganese and dozens more.

Once you know the contaminants present in your water, your local Culligan water expert will work with you to find a custom solution. They will consider factors such as water quality, the size of your household and even your home's plumbing before recommending a filter that fits your home and budget.

In general, whole home filtration systems work to filter more specific contaminants from the entire home while reverse osmosis systems specialize in reducing a broad range of contaminants from drinking water.

Typically, a reverse osmosis system works at the point of use (like under your kitchen sink) to provide safer, fresh-tasting drinking water. Meanwhile, a whole home filter is usually installed at the point of entry (such as the main water line) and filters contaminants from your home's entire water supply, including showers, appliances, faucets and more.

The key difference between reverse osmosis and whole home filtration is the presence of the high-quality reverse osmosis membrane. This membrane reduces a wider variety of contaminants when compared to whole home filters, including those smaller in size.

Just like changing oil in your car, whole home water filtration products require maintenance so you can continue enjoying their full benefits. Culligan recommends the following preventative measures to keep your whole home filtration system working properly:

• Filter replacement: Filters should be replaced regularly, based on how long they've been in use or how many gallons of water they've treated. The specific time frame will depend on the filters your system uses, but generally each filter should be replaced within the year.
• Cleaning and sanitizing the system: It's always a good idea to do a full system sanitization when you do a filter change.
• Look out for any issues: Changes in flow rate or lingering tastes and odors are two signs that your filtration system may not be operating efficiently. Parts may need to be replaced or your system may need some additional upkeep. It's best to call your local Culligan water expert in these instances.
• Conduct regular system checks: For the best results, schedule regular maintenance with your local Culligan dealer. Culligan's service visits typically include:
  • Filter changes
  • System sanitization
  • Verification of TDS (total dissolved solids) reduction performance
  • Flow rate check
  • Drain tubing check for back-up
  • Fittings inspection for any wear or damage

The best place to install a whole home water filter is usually near your main water shut-off valve. Most often, this is located in a basement or on the perimeter of the house.

The filtration system should connect with the existing plumbing line in a horizontal run after the main water shut-off valve. But it must be attached before the plumbing line branches out to other parts of the house.

If an appropriate area can't be located, your local Culligan water expert can "tee off" a small section of vertical pipe to create a horizontal section where your whole home water filter can be installed.