How Much Does it Cost to Install a Water Filter in a Home?

The cost of a whole house water filter installation in Boise ranges from $750 to $3,000+ on average, with most homeowners paying around $1,875.

However, your particular bill depends on the following factors:

1. The type of water filter you need
2. Whether your home is already plumbed for the equipment
3. The plumber you choose to install the water purification system

Let’s go into more detail about each of these cost factors…

Want a quote to install a whole house water filter today?

OR get more details about our plumbing installations.

Water filters are categorized according to what contaminants they remove from the water.

Below are the most common water filtration systems we install here in Boise:

Note: Some of these systems can also be sold and installed as point-of-use units rather than whole house units. Point-of-use water filtration systems typically only service 1–2 plumbing appliances or one area of your home. As such, they’re usually cheaper than whole house units. The plumber you hire will help you determine if a point-of-use unit is an option for you.

Bottom line: Get a carbon filter if you want to reduce chlorine levels in your home’s water.

Activated carbon filters use small pieces of carbon to absorb contaminants and remove odor and bad taste from your home’s water.

Carbon filters are a great option for reducing the strong taste of chlorine, which the chemical water treatment plants use to disinfect water.

Bottom line: Get a water softener if you want to reduce hard water in your home.

Water softeners are not the same as water “filters,” but they are often lumped in the same broad category because they treat water to get rid of contaminants.

Water softeners are mainly used to combat hard water. Hard water refers to water with lots of minerals in it, usually high levels of calcium and magnesium carbonates. Hard water can be a problem for your home’s plumbing system, causing sediment buildup in pipes and plumbing fixtures.

Water softeners combat hard water by using salt and ion-exchange resins to remove calcium and magnesium from the hard water.

Water softeners can vary in quality, and therefore price. High-end water softeners with purifiers and Wi-Fi controls cost more than traditional water softeners.

Note: We offer a water softener/carbon filter combo unit so you can get the benefits of both a carbon filter and water softener. Contact us to learn more about this option.

Bottom line: Get a Flow-Tech if you want to reduce hard water in your home. A plumbing professional can help you choose between a water softener or a Flow-Tech system.

Flow-Tech systems send a low-frequency electromagnetic signal throughout your plumbing system to reverse the charges of the minerals in the water, which essentially neutralizes them.

Flow-Tech systems accomplish the same goal as a water softener—to eliminate scale and sediment buildup in your plumbing system. Flow-Tech systems typically require less maintenance than traditional water softeners.

Bottom line: Get a R.O. system if you have found high levels of arsenic, nitrate or iron.

R.O. systems use a high-pressure pump to remove contaminants and toxins from your home’s water.

R.O. systems are the least common of the water filters we’ve mentioned. Only certain homes need this type of water filter, as it treats the more severe contaminants typically found in private wells.

“Severe” contaminants found in Boise private wells include…

• Iron—This chemical element doesn’t cause health issues, but it can cause yellow or orange stains on laundry and plumbing fixtures.
• Arsenic—This naturally-occurring semimetal is harmful to human health. Unfortunately, it’s tasteless and colorless, which means it can only be detected with a water quality test.
• Nitrate—This chemical compound is one of the most widespread groundwater contaminants in Idaho that poses health risks to infants, pregnant women and the elderly.

Follow these steps to determine what contaminants are found in your Boise water supply:

• If your home is served by a community water system, obtain a copy of your annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to see what contaminants (if any) are present and at what levels. If you are concerned about the level of a particular contaminant, you can search for a state-certified laboratory to test your home’s water for you (visit the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories website to search for a directory of laboratories to find one near you).

Keep in mind that a single water quality test can’t test for every possible contaminant all at once—one test usually checks for one contaminant only. Water quality  tests can range from $15 to $100+ per individual test.

• If your home is served by a private well, you can pay to have your water tested for contaminants by Central District Public Health Department (click on “Fees for Environmental Laboratory Tests” under the “Additional Resources” section.)

Note: You can purchase DIY water quality test kits, but these are less accurate at measuring what contaminants are found in your water, so it’s best to let a state-certified laboratory or professional perform the water quality test.

If the plumber needs to add or modify your home’s existing plumbing to accommodate your water filter, then the total cost to install your water filter will increase.

The cost to add plumbing varies per home, but can add anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500+ to the total price.

Once you choose a whole house filter or water softener, you’ll need to also choose a plumber to install the filter/softener system for you.

Not all plumbers charge the same for their services—more experienced, top-quality plumbers will typically charge more than inexperienced plumbers.

But don’t be scared by a higher price tag. When in comes to installing a whole house water filter, you get what you pay for. So if you opt for an experienced plumber, you’ll get professional service and a high-quality install that will save you money and hassle down the road.

Below are some tips to determine if a plumber is top-quality:

• Ensure that the plumber is licensed and insured (Tip: If the plumbing company is recognized by the Better Business Bureau, they are licensed, bonded and insured).

• Check for good online client reviews (on sites like Google and Facebook)

• Make sure the plumber can provide upfront pricing in writing (instead of bill AFTER the install job)

We offer…

• Precise, upfront pricing
• Precise written agreements (BEFORE the install project starts)
• Precise client guarantees

Visit our plumbing services page to learn about other installations we offer.