If you live in an area with hard water like Los Angeles County and own a tankless water heater, water treatment has likely popped into the conversation. While there are different types of water filtration, whole-house water treatment is the best way to protect your tankless water heater and home from the pitfalls of hard water. But how much does whole-house water treatment cost?
After 15 years of helping homeowners protect their tankless water heater investments, we know there are multiple options to choose from when deciding on a whole-house water treatment plan. Ultimately, the best choice is the one that suits your needs and, importantly, your budget.
This article will walk you through the cost of whole-house water treatment and give you a list of options to think about. For a more in-depth guide to water treatment costs, you can read up on every type of water treatment, including point-of-use filtration.
Ready to get a handle on how much whole-house water treatment is? Let’s check it out.
Cost of Whole-House Water Filtration
There are many types of water treatment available for tankless water heater treatments. Variety is generally a good thing for consumers since it gives you more options at various price ranges. In this case, it makes the price range for whole-house water treatment fairly wide.
Typically, you can expect to invest from $4,400 to $7,900 to integrate whole-house water treatment into your system. As mentioned before, this is a bit of a wider range, so let's break down each type of whole-house water treatment option.
Types of Whole-House Water Treatment and Their Costs
Whole-House Carbon Filter
A whole-house carbon filter costs $800 to $2,000 without installation and $4,800 to $7,200, including installation. This cost places it near the top of the range in terms of cost.
But what does a carbon filter provide you? Whole-house carbon filters guard your system by filtering out harsh chemicals like chlorine. They don’t provide the benefits of soft water like some other options, though, so you won’t get benefits like smoother hair and healthier nails.
Instead, whole-house carbon filters do a great job of protecting your system from corrosive damage caused by those previously mentioned harsh chemicals.
Whole-House Water Softener
If you choose to run a whole-house water softener, you can expect to invest $1,200 to $2,500 without installation and $5,200 to $7,600 after installation. Whole-house water softeners are somewhat the opposite of a whole-house carbon filter, so they won’t be for everyone.
This type of whole-house water treatment is best for those interested in netting the benefits of soft water. You won’t get the protection against corrosion caused by harsh chemicals since a whole-house water softener won’t filter them out. Instead, this type of water treatment will protect against scale build-up in your pipes.
You’ll reap the benefits associated with soft water, though. These highlights include healthier nails and smoother hair. It may sound small, but if you live in an area with hard water, making the switch could shave time off your morning routine.
Flow-Tech
Installing a Flow-Tech will cost you $2,800 to $3,200. You may notice that we didn’t provide a cost for the unit itself because you have to go through an authorized contractor to install Flow-Tech.
Flow-Tech operates drastically differently from other water treatment methods by sending out low-frequency electromagnetic signals thousands of times per second throughout your system. The signals make their way through the system while dissolving minerals in your water along the way.
There are two major positives to a Flow-Tech: smaller size than other options and no maintenance required. Considering that many Los Angeles County homeowners are tight on space and time, Flow-Tech is an appealing option for those in dense areas and busy lifestyles.
When Is Whole-House Water Treatment Worth It?
You’re probably wondering if you really need whole-house water treatment. Well, the answer for tankless water heater owners in areas with hard water is yes and no. You should heavily consider installing a whole-house water treatment since it prevents early breakdowns and increases the lifespan of your tankless water heater.
A major selling point of tankless water heaters is that they can often last up to 25 years, dwarfing the lifespan of a tank-style water heater. But you’ll only get that type of longevity in areas with hard water with proper water treatment and annual maintenance.
Whole-house water treatment isn’t necessarily the biggest concern if you don't have hard water. While water treatment does wonders for your entire plumbing system and is always recommended if it's within the budget, areas without hard water can get by a little better than those with it.
Additionally, if you’re someone who values the feeling of soft water and the benefits it provides, like cleaner dishes and healthier hair, skin, and nails, then whole-house water treatment is definitely worth exploring further.
Now You’re Up to Speed on the Cost of Whole-House Water Treatment
Now you know about the costs associated with whole-house water treatment, various types of water treatment, and when whole-house water treatment is worth it. You can now build a more realistic expectation of what to expect in terms of cost during your tankless water heater consultation and be able to make the best decision for your home and tankless water heater.
Water treatment isn’t for every home, but in Los Angeles County, almost every home can benefit from its advantages. Spending over two decades providing tankless water heaters to homeowners throughout the Los Angeles area, we provide water treatment options during every installation. If you’d like to talk about how to get whole-house water treatment in your home, call us at 310-853-8690 or visit our water filtration page to learn more about hard water and water treatment or to schedule a consultation.
If you need to know more about what hard water is, then go ahead and brush up so you’re on the same page when you call for a consultation. You might also be thinking that whole-house water treatment is too good to be true, and you’re partially right! It’s always wise to explore the problems associated with water treatment before committing to an installation.
