Water Filtration Systems: P.O.E. and P.O.U. - Wisler Plumbing & Air

There are two main types of water filtration systems commonly installed in most homes: Point of Entry (P.O.E.) systems and Point of Use (P.O.U.) systems.

P.O.E. systems are best suited for the water flowing throughout your entire home as it increases the water’s quality from bad or okay to good. P.O.U. systems are best suited for specific parts of your home as they raise the water’s quality from good to great.

Where to Use These Systems

Each system has a practical use, but where to use which system is determined by the water grade level needed for specific tasks.

Utility Grade

Utility grade water is achieved with a P.O.E system and works best for utilitarian tasks as it contains no harsh chemicals or bacteria. It’s safe for washing clothes as it won’t cause water damage or water spots while doing laundry.

Laundry Grade

Laundry grade, or showering water, also achieved with a P.O.E. system, is softer than utility grade water as it isn’t harsh on the skin. This water is gentle enough for washing your hair or doing laundry.

Cooking Grade

Cooking grade, or drinking water, is achieved with a P.O.U. system. This water shouldn’t be filtered throughout the entire house as it will be expensive and difficult to maintain in the long run. If you were to run unfiltered water through a P.O.U system, the system wouldn’t last long.

Some Things to Keep in Mind

It takes good water to make great water–meaning you need a P.O.E system to clean up the water before running it through a P.O.U. system.

P.O.U. systems filter out particulates and anything that could have been dissolved in the water to make it safe for consumption. This, however, strips the water down to its purest form as a solvent. In this state, if water were to pump through your entire house, it would corrode the fittings in your home over time.

P.O.E. systems can be water softeners and water treatment/filtration systems. If we’re trying to filter something dissolved in the water or something we can’t see with the naked eye, we’ll need to perform water treatment. If we’re trying to filter a particulate or something we can see with the naked eye, we’ll need to perform water filtration.

If you have questions about your water and current water systems, call Wisler Plumbing and Air at 540-483-9382.