Think of it this way: You don’t want water that contains potentially harmful contaminants in your drinking water or water that you cook with so… why would you want it in your bath/shower water or water used to clean your dishes?

At this time we’d like to point out that installing the correct whole house water filter system at the point of entry into one’s home — and therefore before the hot water tank — could certainly eliminate the need for a hot water filter.

Having said that, we’d also like to point out that some older hot water heaters may contribute to the contamination of the water they heat as their internal parts get older and begin to break down and/or corrode.

Types of filters for hot water lines?

For industrial applications where any number of potential water-based liquids need filtering companies make all sorts of highly specialized filters but for the average homeowner we have seen two basic types of hot water filters available: Carbon Block Filters remove chlorine, bad tastes, unpleasant odors and organic chemicals while Sediment filter out dissolved solids and other unwanted particulates.

How do I know if I should install a water filter?

You will never know for sure that you need a water filter, or what filter you should choose, until you have your water tested by a certified drinking water testing laboratory in your area or by a qualified mail-in water testing service such as National Testing Labs.

Hi, I hope you can help me with a problem I’m having in my restaurant. I’m getting ridiculous amounts of buildup clogging the prefilter things on the hot water line of my dishwasher and tell the truth I’m sick of replacing the d#amn things. Not that they cost a lot, but it’s a pain in the #ass to get to them and one day I’m afraid I might strip the fittings and then I’ll REALLY have a problem. So do they make filters for hot water lines? All the filters I’ve seen in stores work for cold water lines only. Thanks. ErnieB_121

Thank you very much, Ernie, for a colorful email. Ha ha. We can totally understand your frustration with having to replace hard-to-reach inline filters.

We believe you may find a filter housing and filter for your application at WaterFilters.Net, an online retailer of commercial and residential water filtration products. When last we checked they carried three different styles of housings for hot water filters and a good assortment of filters to go in them.

One thing you failed to mention Ernie… Where does the residue clogging your lines come from? What does it consist of? Calcium? Iron? Manganese? Radioactive sludge from the planet Mars? Not poking fun at you, just trying to make a point: you need to test your hot water — after it cools — and find out what sort of deposits you have so you can purchase the correct filter for your needs.

The links below will take you to products you may find useful when attempting to determine what contaminant(s) you have in your hot water line:

As with any water quality investigation, if you have reason to suspect contamination of your water supply with potentially harmful compounds and/or chemicals, we highly recommend having your water tested by a certified water testing laboratory such as National Testing Laboratories.

We spend the majority of our time talking about water quality issues affecting drinking water and sometimes we get sidetracked and discuss water quality issues pertaining to swimming pools. Today we would like to discuss a water quality issue dealing with… washing machines.

Believe it or not, a water quality issue, in this case sediment in the water, can cause some serious washing machine woes.

Sediment in Water Lines Can Cost You Money

The point of entry on most washing machines comes equipped with an ‘inlet valve screen’ which filters out any sediment and solids carried in the water going into the machine. Over time these screens can get clogged and when they do, the flow of water gets impeded causing slower than normal fill times for the machine. Slower fill times mean the washing machine will run longer and use more electricity.

Clogged inlet valve filters on a washing machine can also result in unwanted temperature variances during the wash load… meaning that although the machine received instructions from its user to wash with ‘warm’ water, a blocked water line on either side will prevent the machine from granting that request. Shrinkage of clothing and/or ruining of colors may result.

Sediment in Water Lines Can Cause You Headaches

In some cases sediment can make its way into places it ought not go and result in flooding. Example: Sediment getting lodged between the solenoid responsible for shutting off water flow can cause the solenoid to not operate correctly… so the water never shuts off. Have fun mopping.

Once the inlet valve filters become clogged, which some washing machine manufacturers say can happen every 3 to 12 months for people on well water, the homeowner must pull the machine out from the wall, disconnect the hoses, carefully remove the screen, clean the screen, carefully install the screen, reconnect all the hoses, and push the washing machine back into place — all the while taking great care not to unseat various washers and not spill too much water along the way.

With the Washing Machine Inline Water Filter, changing the filter will not require disconnecting of hoses or risking damage to the delicate screen. Simply unscrew the middle of the filter housing, remove the old filter, replace with a new filter, and tighten the screw in the middle of the filter housing.

Can’t Use Inline Filters on Hot Water Lines?

While some inline filter manufacturers may caution against using their products on hot water lines, the Washing Machine Inline Water Filter pictured above has the ability to operate properly with water temperatures up to as high as 320 degrees Fahrenheit, or 160 degrees Celsius.

Who Should Use an Inline Washing Machine Filter?

In theory pretty much anyone with a washing machine could potentially get value from a unit like the Washing Machine Inline Water Filter, but well owners stand to gain the most since their water comes from an unfiltered source.