Moving or New Home: What to Check About Your Water Before Installing a Filter
You've just moved. There are boxes everywhere, you still can't find the coffee maker, and you're already thinking about which filter to buy.
That impulse is understandable, but it's worth flipping the order. The first few days in a new home are actually the best time to observe, and observing costs nothing.
Buying once you know works out much better than buying to find out.
The first few days: let the water run
If the home sat empty for weeks or months, the water has been sitting still in the indoor pipes.
Before using it for drinking or cooking, let each faucet run for a while. It's a reasonable, simple precaution.
While it runs, take the opportunity to observe:
- The color when it first comes out and after a couple of minutes.
- The smell, with both cold and hot water.
- The pressure, and whether it varies from faucet to faucet.
- Whether air or particles come out at first.
Write down what you notice. Two weeks from now, you won't remember it accurately.
Questions for the building manager or owner
This conversation usually clears up more questions than any online search:
- Where does the water come from: the public supply, a well, a tank?
- Is there a storage tank in the building? How often is it cleaned?
- What year was the building built, and have the pipes been replaced?
- Are there frequent service interruptions in the area?
- Does the home already have a filtration system installed?
That last question is more important than it seems. It's common to find filters installed by previous tenants with cartridges that expired years ago.
If you find a system already installed
Don't assume it works. A filter with an expired cartridge is no better than no filter at all.
Check it before you use it:
- Identify the brand and model, and look for the manual.
- Find out which cartridge it takes and whether you can get a replacement.
- Change the cartridge before relying on the system.
- Make sure there are no leaks or makeshift connections.
Filter media has a service life and needs to be replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions. An inherited system should always start with a new cartridge. Source: EPA
Find out what's already known
Check the current notices from your water provider and from the Ministry of Health (MINSA) for your new community. The information is free, and it often answers the underlying question.
If, after that, you want data specific to your home, ask a laboratory about the appropriate tests and how to collect the sample. A test only tells you about the parameters you requested. Source: EPA
Now you're ready: choosing a system
With all of the above in hand, the decision becomes much simpler, because you already know what you want to address.
Choosing a home treatment system means first identifying your goal and then looking for a system whose performance matches it. Source: CDC
And also consider the practical side: do you own your home or rent?
| Your situation | What usually fits best |
|---|---|
| You rent and might move soon | Pitcher or Dispenser: nothing to install |
| You're renting long-term | Faucet Filter: can be installed and removed |
| It's your own home | You can consider permanent options depending on what you need |
If you rent and plan to install something, check with the owner first about what modifications are allowed.
One detail before you buy a faucet filter
Compatibility with your faucet is not a minor detail, and it varies a lot from home to home.
Take a clear photo of the faucet spout, including the aerator thread, and make sure there's enough room underneath for the containers you use. With that photo, we can help you check compatibility before you buy.
While you settle in
If you need to store water during the first few days, use clean containers with lids that are suitable for that purpose, kept away from sunlight and chemicals. Source: CDC
And if there's a health advisory in effect in your new area, follow the official instructions even if you install a filter. Source: CDC
Just moved and not sure where to start? Explore PFC filters and tell us about your new home. We'll help you figure out what fits.
Free your water with PFC.
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