Building a new home is one of the most exciting milestones in life. As you make plans for your dream home, you’ll want to consider features that enhance comfort, convenience and the health of you and your family. While choices like energy-efficient appliances and interconnected smart home technology often come to mind, one feature that is frequently overlooked is a water filtration system.
Despite the commonly held perception that new builds have pristine water quality, issues can arise from new plumbing and chlorinated mains water. Investing in a water filtration system during the construction phase not only addresses these concerns, but also adds value to your home in the long run. In this article we’ll explore why investing in a water filter system is a smart addition to your new home, offering long term health benefits, cost savings, environmental advantages and an improved quality of life.
Understanding Water Quality in New Build Homes
You may expect the water quality in a newly built home to be pristine, but unfortunately that’s not always the case. Even with brand new plumbing, there are a range of factors impacting the quality of your water.
New pipework can often release both sediments and heavy metals into the water supply to your home, particularly during the initial stages of use. As water passes through these pipes, it can collect particles from the materials used throughout the construction process, including copper, lead and other metals. This can result in discoloured or metallic tasting water, and in the worst cases potential health risks for people who have compromised immune systems.
Additionally, most new builds rely on mains water, which is generally treated with chlorine and may contain fluoride. While chlorine ensures there is no bacteria in the water supply and fluoride is added for dental health, they can have adverse effects on the taste and may pose concerns for those who are sensitive to additives.
Finally, the source of your water – be it bore, mains or rainwater – plays a crucial role in determining its quality. Bore water may contain higher levels of minerals, while rainwater can pick up pollutants from the roof or water tank. All of these factors can impact the smell, taste and safety of your new home’s water supply – highlighting the important role that water filtration systems play.
The Benefits of Installing A Water Filter System in Your New Home
Opting to install a water filtration system during the construction phase of your new home offers a range of benefits, from saving money to improved health.
Cost Savings
Installing a water filtration system when your home is being built is not only convenient, but cost-effective. Integrating the system while the plumbing is being set up eliminates the need for disruptive renovations later, which can be expensive and complex. By planning ahead, you can avoid additional labour costs and potential damage to finished floors, walls and landscaping.
In addition, a whole house water filtration system helps to prevent the accumulation of sediment and scale in your plumbing. This reduces the wear and tear on your pipes and plumbing fixtures, saving you money on future maintenance, repair and replacement costs. By protecting your home’s infrastructure from the beginning, you’re making a wise financial investment that easily pays for itself over time.
Health Benefits
A water filter system provides a significant boost to your health by removing contaminants which impact the smell, taste and safety of your home’s drinking water. Substances including chlorine, heavy metals, sediment, PFAs and pesticides can be present, even in treated mains water. By removing these impurities with a water filter, you reduce the risk of exposure to these substances – a particularly important consideration for families with small children, elderly individuals or those with compromised immune systems.
Filtered water isn’t just the preferred choice for drinking. It’s also better to bathe in, as well as cook with, reducing the risks of skin irritations and improving the quality of the dishes you prepare. Imagine having peace of mind knowing the water you use every day is as clean and contaminant-free as possible.
Protects Appliances
Hard water and the buildup of sediment can prove to be detrimental to your home’s appliances, leading to costly damage. When minerals like calcium and magnesium are present in high concentrations, they create scale deposits that clog pipes and reduce the efficiencies of your hot water system, coffee machine, dishwasher and washing machine. Additionally, your brand new taps may only last six months before corroding and needing to be replaced.
A whole house water filtration system acts as a protective barrier, filtering out these minerals before they reach your appliances and begin to do damage. This not only extends the lifespan of your appliances but also ensures they operate more efficiently, saving you money on your utility bills. By maintaining your appliances in peak condition, you avoid frequent repairs or replacements, making your home more efficient and cost effective.
Environmental Benefits
Incorporating a water filtration system into your home is a smart, eco-friendly choice. You will significantly cut down on your household’s plastic waste by reducing the need to purchase bottled water. The average household consumes hundreds of plastic bottles each year, many of which end up in landfill or polluting waterways. Choosing filtered tap water over bottled drinking water is a simple yet impactful method to support the environment – and over time, you’ll save your hard earned!
Additionally, the energy required to produce, transport and dispose of bottled water is considerable. By switching your bottled water consumption to filtered tap water, you help reduce the carbon footprint associated with the bottled water industry. It’s a choice benefitting your family, your home and the environment, aligning with a sustainable lifestyle.
Types of Water Filter Systems To Consider
When selecting a water filter system for your new home, it’s important to select a suitable system fitting the requirements of your household. Here’s an insight into some of the primary options available to you:
- Whole House Filtration: Whole house water filter systems filter all water entering your home, ensuring every tap provides filtered, clean water. They are ideal for families who want a comprehensive solution, offering protection against a wide range of contaminants, from chlorine to heavy metals and calcium / lime scale. Your whole house filter is only as good as the cartridges that are in it. At WestOz Water Filters, we use top grade cartridges addressing large particles, rust, calcium/limescale, heavy metals, chlorine, weedicides, pesticides, PFA’s, chlorine resistant cysts and more.
- Under Sink Filters: Under sink water filter systems are installed directly under your kitchen sink, providing filtered water at the point of use. A cost effective choice, these systems are great for those who primarily want clean drinking water without the need for whole house filtration. This option is also easy to upgrade at a later stage if your needs change.
- Reverse Osmosis Systems: This type of filtration offers the highest level of water purity, removing up to 99% of contaminants. Reverse osmosis, or RO, systems are perfect for those concerned with the quality of their drinking water, particularly if the mains water has a noticeable odour or taste.
- Caravan / RV Systems: For those who have caravans and want to take their filtered water wherever they travel, a caravan or RV system is an excellent choice. They’re simple to install and provide reliable filtration no matter where you are.
When Is The Best Time To Install A Water Filter System in Your New Build?
The best time to install a water filtration system is during the plumbing stage of your new home’s build process. At this point, the walls are open and the plumbing is being set up, making it easier and more cost effective to integrate a whole house system. Installing early avoids the disruption and higher costs of retrofitting a system later, ensuring filtered, clean water is available as soon as you get the keys.
If a whole house filter isn’t chosen from the outset, starting with an under sink system offers flexibility and can be upgraded in the future when your needs change. By planning ahead, you ensure clean, healthy water throughout your home from day one – without the hassle of invasive post-construction work.
Addressing Common Questions About Water Filtration Systems For New Builds
Many new homeowners have questions about water filtration systems. Here are some of the most common water filter queries we are asked:
- How Does A Water Filter Affect Water Pressure?
High-quality water filtration systems are designed to ensure that the water pressure entering the system is the same as the pressure dispensed. These systems effectively filter out contaminants from your home’s supply without compromising the flow, so you can enjoy clean, filtered water without any loss in pressure. - Will A Filtration System Work With Rainwater Tanks or Bore Water?
Yes, a well-chosen filtration system can be tailored to work with different water sources, including rainwater and bore water, addressing specific contaminants common in these supplies. We take the time to understand your situation and position the most suitable and effective solutions. - What Are The Maintenance Requirements?
Regular filter replacements are necessary to keep the system working effectively. WestOz Water Filters provides after-sales support and reminders for filter replacements. - Can The System Be Upgraded In The Future?
Absolutely! Many homeowners start with an under sink or benchtop filter and later upgrade to a whole house system as their needs grow.
Why Choose WestOz Water Filters For Your New Home?
WestOz Water Filters is a WA-based, family business that has built a strong reputation through extensive experience in water filtration and an unwavering commitment to customer service. Here’s why we’re the right choice for all your water filtration needs:
- We understand the unique water quality challenges in Western Australia.
- We offer personalised service and competitive pricing, ensuring you get the best solution for your family’s requirements.
- Our high quality products come with excellent after-sales support, including timely reminders for filter replacement.
Choosing WestOz Water Filters means investing in reliable, effective filtration that enhances your home’s water quality.
Make Clean Water A Priority In Your New Home
Building a new home is the perfect opportunity to prioritise features that enhance your family’s wellbeing for years to come. By opting for a water filtration system, you’re investing in improved health, longer lasting appliances and a greener future. It’s a home upgrade offering both immediate and long term benefits, ensuring your new home is equipped for modern living.
At WestOz Water Filters, we specialise in delivering high quality, reliable water filtration solutions, tailored to the needs of WA homes. Contact us today for expert advice and a customised quote. Start your journey to clean, healthy water with WestOz – your trusted partner in water quality.