Whole House Water Filter Big Blue Installation: Simple Steps for DIY Beginners

Alright, so the water at my place was tasting a bit off, and I started noticing some weird sediment. Figured it was time to do something about it, so I went for a whole house water filter – the big blue kind. Here’s how it went down.

First off, I did a bit of digging around to figure out what kind of filter I needed. I mean, there are tons of options out there, right? Ended up settling on the big blue because it seemed like it could handle a decent amount of water without slowing things down too much. Plus, it looked pretty straightforward to install.

Getting Ready

Before I got my hands dirty, I gathered all the stuff I needed. Besides the filter housing itself, I picked up a couple of those big blue filter cartridges. Make sure to check the size of the filter before you buy. I grabbed a few brass fittings too, to connect it to my existing pipes. One thing I almost forgot was a mounting bracket – you definitely need that to keep the whole thing stable. Oh, and some Teflon tape for the threads to prevent leaks, can’t forget that.

The Install

Okay, so the first thing I did was shut off the main water supply. Don’t want any surprise showers. Then, I found a good spot on the main water line, right after the shut-off valve, to install the filter. This way, it filters all the water coming into the house.

I used a pipe cutter to make a section in the main line. Then, with the Teflon tape wrapped around the threads, I screwed in the brass fittings to both ends of the cut pipe. Next, I attached the filter housing to the mounting bracket and secured it to the wall. It’s pretty heavy, so make sure it’s really solid.

After that, I connected the housing to the pipes using the fittings. It was a bit tricky to get everything lined up and tightened, but I took my time and made sure there were no cross-threads. Once everything was in place, I popped in the filter cartridge into the housing and screwed it shut. It was pretty satisfying, to be honest.

Testing It Out

With everything hooked up, I slowly turned the main water supply back on. I was holding my breath, hoping I wouldn’t see any leaks. Luckily, everything held up! I let the water run for a few minutes to flush out any air and debris from the installation.

I checked the water pressure at a few faucets, and it seemed pretty much the same as before. Maybe a tiny bit lower, but nothing noticeable. One website said the pressure would drop to 60psi, but it was not too bad for my house.

The Results

• Taste: The water tasted way better. No more weird metallic taste or smell.
• Sediment: Haven’t seen any sediment since installing the filter. Dishes and clothes seem cleaner too.
• Peace of Mind: It’s just nice knowing that the water I’m using for everything is filtered.

It’s been a few weeks now, and I’m really happy with the big blue filter. It wasn’t too hard to install, and it’s made a big difference in the water quality. If you’re thinking about getting a whole house filter, I’d say go for it. Just do your research, get the right parts, and take your time with the installation. You won’t regret it!

One more thing, my bathroom sometimes has a bad smell. I thought it was from the toilet, but after the filter installed, it did not change too much. I think I need to call a plumber to check it.

Anyway, the filter is a nice thing to have at home. I feel much better now.