Do you have mold in the whole-house water filter? Many people find it more economical and convenient to drink tap water rather than rely on bottled water for their water consumption.
If you are one of these people, it is imperative that you filter your tap water to keep it as clean and healthy as possible. However, in some cases, the whole-house water filter will develop mold due to poor conditions and improper maintenance.
This article will cover the dangers of mold in a whole-house water filter and what solutions you can do to fix it.
The Dangers of Mold in the Whole-House Water Filter
The whole-house water filter is a popular tap water filtration system that can filter out many of the common contaminants found in your public-supplied tap water, such as sulfur, iron, and chlorine. Users have found it to be quite efficient in keeping their tap water clean.
However, you need to ensure that mold spores do not form within the water filter because they can cause you to develop significant health consequences if you inadvertently consume them in the water. Thousands of mold species could potentially get into your water filter and cause you or your loved ones to get sick.
These molds may include:
- Pathogenic Molds – They can cause disease in children, seniors, and those with weak immune systems.
- Allergenic Molds – Anyone with mold allergies could develop respiration symptoms from consuming the mold spores, including chronic headaches, shortness of breath, and wheezing. In some cases, allergenic molds can have life-threatening consequences for people.
- Toxic Molds – Often referred to as “black mold,” these toxic molds can potentially be poisonous to anyone who ingests them. The health consequences can include lung disease, respiratory illness, and skin irritation.
It is dangerous to continuously consume mold from the water in your whole-house water filter. That is why you need to get to the bottom of this problem by understanding how mold gets into the water filter and the best ways of getting rid of it.
Otherwise, you could be risking the health and safety of everyone who consumes water coming out of your water filtration system, including you, your friends, and family members.
Potential Reasons for Mold in a Whole-House Water Filter
Molds exist everywhere in our environment. They are microscopic fungi that thrive anywhere where oxygen and moisture are present. So, if you have mold inside your whole-house water filtration system, it must mean that oxygen or organic food substances exist within the system for fungi to thrive and grow.
Let’s take a look at some common causes of mold growth in whole-house water filters:
Leaky Water Pipes or Appliances
One tiny hole or crack in your water pipes can cause mold to form within them because air will make its way inside of them. A closed plumbing system must remain airtight to prevent leaks and mold growth.
The same goes for common plumbing appliances like water pressure tanks and water heaters because they can also attract mold if they have cracks or holes in them.
Poorly Maintained Water Treatment System
Do you use a water reservoir or well as the source of your tap water? If so, you don’t have the luxury of having a public utility company or water treatment plant to filter out contaminants from the water.
That means if you don’t properly maintain your water source to prevent contamination, then you can expect mold to get into your water filter each time you turn on the faucet. Therefore, you need to sufficiently protect, disinfect, and maintain your water source to prevent it from suffering mold contamination.
Unsealed or Cracked Well Cap
Having a strong well cap is essential for preventing mold and other contaminants from getting into your well water supply.
If your well cap has a crack or any other type of damage, it can easily allow outdoor contaminants to get into your well water supply. Once that happens, you can expect mold to accumulate in your water supply as well as your whole-house water filter.
Make sure you regularly monitor the condition of your well cap to ensure it doesn’t have any signs of damage. You may need to hire a professional plumber to occasionally inspect the well cap because they have the skills and experience to detect hairline cracks that you may not be able to see with the naked eye.
Paper Filters
Paper filters and cartridges may seem harmless to your filtration system, but they pose a higher risk of attracting mold. The reason is that the cellulose in paper is an organic substance that attracts microorganisms like fungi. So, if you use the same paper filter in your filtration system for too long, it is bound to attract mold growth.
Why Whole-House Water Filters Don’t Remove Mold
The only way a water filter can eliminate mold is if it uses sub-micron or UV lighting filtration. For example, a reverse osmosis water filtration system can remove mold contaminants from the water because it uses sub-micron filtration to remove fungi, parasites, bacteria, and other microorganisms from the water.
Unfortunately, whole-house water filters don’t remove mold because they use the carbon-based filtration method. Carbon filters are great at removing volatile organic compounds, sediment, chlorine, minerals, and salts from water, but they are not good at removing mold, bacteria, and other microorganisms. That is why people using whole-house water filters will sometimes see mold in their water filter system.
If you see mold in your whole-house water filtration system, you need to take the appropriate steps to eliminate it before it causes severe health problems for you or others.
Solutions for Preventing Mold in the Whole-House Water Filter
There are several possible solutions for preventing and reducing mold in your whole-house water filter. You can quickly identify the best solution by studying the location of the mold growth and how it started in the first place.
Here are some different potential solutions to consider for preventing mold growth in your whole-house water filtration system.
Use a Dehumidifier
Do you notice mold growth outside of your whole-house water filter? First, check the filter cartridges to see if they are clean. If they are, then it means that condensation has accumulated on the outside of your cartridge housing or water tanks and is causing the mold to grow there.
The best thing to do in this situation is to use a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in the air that surrounds the whole-house water filter. Less moisture will lead to less condensation and then less mold growth.
Fix Leaky Pipes and Appliances
Any professionally installed closed plumbing system should remain airtight and mold-resistant. The only thing that could jeopardize this is if you have leaky water pipes due to cracks or damage somewhere on the pipes. The smallest hairline crack is all it takes to invite air to seep through into the water and cause mold to form.
Hire a plumber to investigate the leaky water pipes to find the source of the leak. Then, the plumber can repair the cracks or damage in the pipes to stop any more leaks and mold growth.
In addition, you should also have the plumber inspect your water pressure tank and heater for leaks as well. If they spot any leaks or signs of damage, the plumber can repair the leaks and damage accordingly.
Replace the Damaged Well Cap
Most well caps are made of either thermoplastic or aluminum because they are corrosion-resistant. However, that doesn’t mean they cannot suffer damage and deterioration from remaining outside over time because they can. That is why it is imperative to have a professional plumber inspect your well cap to ensure it is intact.
Immediately replace your well cap if any signs of damage are present. Failure to do so will invite mold, insects, and other kinds of nasty organisms and contaminants into your well water supply.
Clean Your Pipes
Water pipes can develop mold even if there is no structural damage to them. Perhaps you let water remain stagnant in your system for too long, or there is an accumulation of organic materials in the pipes. Either scenario can attract mold growth inside your pipes.
For this reason, you need to periodically clean your water pipes by pouring baking soda down the drains of your home’s sinks. Let the baking soda settle in your pipes overnight. On the next day, pour white vinegar down the drain to create a foamy solution. After the foam settles, pour hot water down the drain to rinse it all out.
Contact Your Local Water Utility Company
Does a local water treatment facility clean and supply your tap water? If you still see mold in your whole-house water filter after fixing leaks, cleaning the pipes, and dehumidifying your environment, then the problem may have to do with the water itself.
Municipal water supplies are responsible for disinfecting city water in their water treatment plants before supplying it to consumers. So, if you see mold in your city-based drinking water, a professional from your local water utility company must investigate the problem to know why this is happening.
In most cases, the city utility worker will identify and fix the problem that’s causing your water to become susceptible to mold.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mold in your whole-house water filter is a serious issue that shouldn’t be ignored. It can stem from various factors, including high humidity, infrequent maintenance, or contaminated water sources. Regular inspections, timely filter replacements, and proper system maintenance are crucial to prevent mold growth.
If you discover mold, address it promptly by cleaning or replacing the affected components. Consider consulting a water treatment professional to ensure your system is functioning optimally.