Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Whole house water filter  (Read 804 times)

Offline Visor

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 753
Whole house water filter
« on: April 18, 2022, 11:51:36 am »
   I'm planning on installing a whole house water filter and am leaning towards the Home Master 2 stage filter HMF2SDGC. Anyone have any experience with this unit, or suggestions for something different? Considering the plumbing that will be required, I want to get it right the 1st time. I don't want to spend more than I need to but am willing to spend as much as is necessary to get the quality I insist on. I'd do a hyperlink but am too much of a Luddite to know how.
I spent most of my money on beer, tools and guns, the rest I foolishly squandered on stupid stuff!

Online Megary

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1129
Re: Whole house water filter
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2022, 12:21:54 pm »
I'm not familiar with that filter, but I would definitely recommend you plumb in a by-pass around it...just in case.

Offline mabrungard

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2902
  • Water matters!
    • Bru'n Water
Re: Whole house water filter
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2022, 02:56:58 pm »
Filters like that don't do much for brewers and they can cause problems in your fixtures due to the lack of disinfectant in your water. 

So I imply that filters like that remove all the disinfectant (chlorine) from the water supply, but they need to have a low flow rate in order for that to happen.  Since most users don't run their water faucets at a near-trickle, you don't actually assure yourself that all the chlorine is removed.  So, its kind of a lose-lose situation with those filters.  The only thing that you can probably assure yourself about, is that the sediment will probably all be removed.  But that's rarely a problem anyhow. 

Sorry to be raining on the parade.
Martin B
Carmel, IN

BJCP National
Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI)

Brewing Water Information at:
https://www.brunwater.com/

Like Bru'n Water on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Brun-Water-464551136933908/?ref=bookmarks

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27093
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Whole house water filter
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2022, 03:54:54 pm »
Filters like that don't do much for brewers and they can cause problems in your fixtures due to the lack of disinfectant in your water. 

So I imply that filters like that remove all the disinfectant (chlorine) from the water supply, but they need to have a low flow rate in order for that to happen.  Since most users don't run their water faucets at a near-trickle, you don't actually assure yourself that all the chlorine is removed.  So, its kind of a lose-lose situation with those filters.  The only thing that you can probably assure yourself about, is that the sediment will probably all be removed.  But that's rarely a problem anyhow. 

Sorry to be raining on the parade.

Sometimes the truth hurts.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline MDL

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 170
Re: Whole house water filter
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2022, 03:37:16 pm »
Are you on well water or municipal?

Offline Visor

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 753
Re: Whole house water filter
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2022, 05:04:32 pm »
Filters like that don't do much for brewers and they can cause problems in your fixtures due to the lack of disinfectant in your water. 

So I imply that filters like that remove all the disinfectant (chlorine) from the water supply, but they need to have a low flow rate in order for that to happen.  Since most users don't run their water faucets at a near-trickle, you don't actually assure yourself that all the chlorine is removed.  So, its kind of a lose-lose situation with those filters.  The only thing that you can probably assure yourself about, is that the sediment will probably all be removed.  But that's rarely a problem anyhow. 

Sorry to be raining on the parade.

   No apology needed Martin, I'm looking for input, not affirmation. Just had chat with the mfr, they insist it will remove 95% of chlorine at a 20 gpm flow rate, which is probably 4 times what I can get from the hose bib out back, the kitchen faucet does less than 3 gpm.  The filters for this unit are 20" x 4 1/4" so they have 4 times the surface area of the little hardware store models. This model does not remove chloramine though, so I need to find out what the City uses. Thanks for the bypass suggestion Megary, I'm sure I would have thought of that, but probably only after I finished the install. Thanks for the feedback guys.
   V
I spent most of my money on beer, tools and guns, the rest I foolishly squandered on stupid stuff!

Offline MDL

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 170
Re: Whole house water filter
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2022, 08:19:04 pm »
4.5”x20” is the standard Pentair Big Blue.

Check out Enpress One if you really want to bump up surface area:

https://www.enpress.com/site/project/cartridge-tank-filtration-system/

Or Watts Big Bubba:
https://www.watts.com/products/water-quality-rainwater-harvesting-solutions/water-quality-parts-accessories/filter-housings/big-bubba


Or better yet, get a backfkushing media tank loaded with a few cubic feet of catalytic carbon. That’ll take care of the chloramine.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2022, 08:28:20 pm by MDL »