Why do you need a whole house water filter?

Nowadays, almost all new buildings in Germany are equipped with domestic water filters. These filters are usually located directly after the water meter. This type of filter is generally a mechanical filter. This means that all particles above a certain size are trapped in the filter mesh. These particles can include sand, pebbles, or similar contaminants. Such particles can enter the tap water supply, for example, through construction work on the pipes.

What does backwashable filter or backwash filter mean?

Many household water filters are backwashable. This means it's possible to backwash the filter against the "normal" flow direction. The previously collected dirt is then removed and flushed into the wastewater or a collection container. Some models can be equipped with an automatic backwashing system. With this system, the filter is backwashed automatically at regular intervals.

Cartridge filters are rather impractical in the home.

Occasionally, filters with replaceable cartridges are installed instead of backwashable filters. Unlike backwashable filters, these require regular cartridge changes. Besides the ongoing costs associated with the filter cartridges, these filters pose a risk of pressure loss if the cartridges are not replaced. Cartridge filters are more commonly used for well water or in industrial applications, where a finer filtration rating is required.