Whole-house water filtration
A softener deals with hardness. Whole-house filters deal with other things. Here's how to tell which one you need.
Whole-house filtration treats the water as it enters the home, so every faucet and fixture gets it. The right equipment depends on what's in your water, which is why a test comes before a sales pitch. On treated city or district water, people often add carbon for taste and odor. On a well or a property with unusual water, the list can be longer.
What kinds of whole-house filters are there?
- Sediment filters catch sand and grit and protect a softener and fixtures downstream.
- Carbon filters reduce chlorine taste and odor and some organic compounds.
- Iron and manganese filters for water that stains fixtures, since those metals foul softener resin.
- Specialty media for specific problems a lab test turns up.
Does Grand Valley tap water need filtering?
Not necessarily. The public systems here test their water and publish an annual report. The City of Grand Junction's report for 2025 shows arsenic at 0.44 parts per billion and nitrate at 0.06 ppm, both far below federal limits. Filtration is often about taste, chlorine odor or protecting equipment, not about meeting a standard. Read your provider's latest report before deciding.
What about private wells and unusual sources?
No utility tests a private well for you. USGS research in the irrigated Grand and Uncompahgre valleys found that shallow groundwater over Mancos Shale can carry high levels of dissolved selenium. If your home relies on a well, get a lab test before choosing equipment, and pick a system certified for whatever the test finds.
In what order does the equipment go?
When several pieces are used, a sediment filter usually comes first, specialty filters next, then the softener. The company should explain why its layout fits your test results.
What upkeep should I expect?
Cartridge changes, backwashing or media replacement, depending on the filter. Ask how often and what it involves before you buy.
The water treatment company sets its price once it knows your water, your plumbing and which equipment fits. We don't quote prices, and any figure given over the phone before someone has tested your water or seen where the unit will go is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Does a softener filter my water?
No. A softener removes hardness minerals. It doesn't remove chlorine taste or sediment and isn't designed to treat contaminants.
Should I test before buying a whole-house filter?
Yes. A test shows what's actually in the water so the equipment matches the problem instead of a guess.
Related services
- Water softener installation
- Water softener repair
- Water softener replacement
- Reverse osmosis drinking water
More background: Grand Junction hard water guide.
Scale on the faucets or a softener that stopped working?
Call and we'll connect you with a water treatment company that works in your part of the Grand Valley.