ServicesWhole-Home Filtration
Whole-Home Filtration in Muskego
A whole-home filter treats water where it comes into your home, so the kitchen, the showers and the laundry all get the same cleaner water. We look over your plumbing and talk through what bothers you first. Then you get a plain answer and a written quote.
How a filter on the main line works, and who it's for
A whole-home system goes on the main line, usually in the basement close to where water comes in. Most are a tank of carbon media, often with a sediment filter in front. Carbon pulls out chlorine taste and smell, plus some odors and organic compounds. The sediment filter stops sand, grit and rust flakes before they reach fixtures and appliances.
It fits when the complaint covers all of your water, not just a glass from the kitchen. If the shower smells like a pool or grit keeps plugging aerators, treating the water at the main line handles it. When all you want is better water to drink and cook with, a reverse osmosis unit at the kitchen sink is often the smarter spend. If the trouble is hardness, or iron and sulfur from a private well, see our water softeners and well water treatment pages.
We look before we recommend anything. You tell us what you notice. We check the plumbing, the space and the equipment you already have. Then we lay out what we found and whether this kind of filter will really help.
What the work includes
- A look at your setup
- We check where the main line comes in, the pipe size, the shutoff valves and the room around them. We also note any softener, pressure tank or old filter housing already in place.
- A system sized to your home
- We size the tank to your pipe and to how many bathrooms run at once. Too small and the shower pressure drops. Too big and you pay for capacity you won't use.
- Sediment prefilter when it helps
- If aerators or toilet tanks show grit or flakes, we put a sediment stage ahead of the carbon. It protects the carbon, and the cartridge is easy for you to change.
- Bypass valve and proper drain
- We plumb in a bypass valve on each system, so you can still run water to the house while the filter is being serviced. Filters that backwash get a drain line run to code with an air gap.
- Plumber-installed, with parts coverage
- A licensed Wisconsin plumber puts the system in, not a delivery crew. Tanks, valve ceramic discs and dry mechanical parts carry lifetime coverage, and labor on the original install is covered for 1 year.
Signs a whole-home filter may be worth it
Chlorine smell in the shower
City water is treated with chlorine so it stays safe in the pipes. Many people notice the smell most in a hot shower. Carbon at the main line takes it out.
Grit in aerators and showerheads
Sand or small flakes in the screens point to sediment. Left alone, it wears on valves, toilet fill valves and appliance inlets.
The same off taste at every faucet
When the upstairs bathroom tastes just like the kitchen, the issue is in the supply. A pitcher or faucet filter only fixes one spot.
Dry skin or faded laundry you blame on the water
Some people feel a difference once chlorine is out of the shower and wash water. If we don't think the water is the cause, we'll tell you.
An old filter nobody has serviced
Lots of basements have a housing with a cartridge that hasn't been changed in years. A clogged cartridge cuts pressure and can grow slime.
What moves the price
There is no one price for a whole-home filter because no two basements are the same. The cost comes down to what the water needs and how much plumbing work it takes to put the system in. You'll see each part listed on your written quote.
Type and size of system
A carbon tank sized for a busy family with three bathrooms costs more than a small unit for a two-person home. Adding a sediment stage adds to it too.
Plumbing changes
Tight spaces, old galvanized pipe or a line that needs rerouting add labor. Clean copper or PEX with room to work keeps it simpler.
Drain and power access
Backwashing filters need a drain nearby and often an outlet. If either is across the basement, we run it, and that shows on the quote.
Existing equipment
Working around a softener or pressure tank, or removing an old filter housing, can change the job. Financing is available through U.S. Bank Avvance, on approved credit.
How a job runs, from the call to the walkthrough
- 1
Phone call
You tell us what you're noticing and whether your water comes from the city or a well. We set a time to come take a look.
- 2
In-home inspection
We check the main line, the space, drain and power access, and any equipment already there. If you have a recent water report, we'll go over it with you.
- 3
Plain findings and a written quote
We explain what we saw and what we'd suggest, or tell you a filter isn't the fix. Your quote stays good for 30 days. Once you sign, you still get three business days to change your mind.
- 4
Install day
We close the main valve, cut the system in with a bypass, run the drain and rinse the new media until the water comes out clean. The water only stays off while we're working on the pipe, not the whole visit. Before we leave, we check every joint for drips and clean up the work area.
- 5
Walkthrough and payment
We show you the bypass, how the system works and what upkeep looks like. Full payment is due when the install is complete, not before.
Common questions about filtering the whole house
Is the shower going to feel weaker after the filter goes in?
It shouldn't if the tank is the right size. Weak flow after an install almost always traces back to a tank too small for the pipe, or a cartridge that has clogged. We match the system to your pipe size and bathrooms before we write the quote for that reason.
Does a carbon filter soften water or remove iron?
No. Carbon handles chlorine taste, smell and some organic compounds. Hardness calls for a softener, and iron or sulfur from a well needs its own treatment. If we spot signs of those during the visit, we'll point them out and explain the options.
Do I still need reverse osmosis for drinking water?
Not always. Plenty of people are happy drinking the filtered water from any tap. If you want an extra step for drinking and cooking, an under-sink reverse osmosis system at the kitchen adds that.
What upkeep does it need?
Backwashing carbon tanks rinse themselves on a timer. Sediment cartridges get swapped when they load up, and how often depends on your water. The carbon itself wears out over time, based on how much water you run through it and what it is pulling out.
What does the warranty cover?
Tanks, valve ceramic discs and dry mechanical parts have lifetime coverage. Labor on the original install is covered for 1 year.
Find out if a whole-home filter fits your home
We'll come out, look at your plumbing and tell you straight what we find. We serve Muskego and nearby towns like New Berlin, Franklin and Wind Lake.