Whole home water filtration. Encino done right.

Why pre-1990 Encino homes have a specific chloramine concern

Encino was developed heavily in the 1950s through the 1980s, and a significant share of its housing stock was built before modern plumbing fixture standards were set. The rubber gaskets, o-rings, and elastomers used in fittings from that era were specified for free-chlorine water supply. When LADWP switched to chloramine across the San Fernando Valley in 2014, those components began exposure to a different chemistry than they were manufactured for.

Chloramine degrades certain rubber compounds more aggressively than free chlorine does, particularly in fittings that see repeated thermal cycling near a water heater or dishwasher connection. The practical result in older homes is accelerated gasket wear, small fixture leaks at aged compression fittings, and softened rubber in supply hoses. None of this is a health issue. LADWP water meets all EPA and California regulatory standards at the meter. The concern is material compatibility with older plumbing hardware.

A whole home catalytic carbon filter at the main line removes chloramine before it reaches any fitting or fixture in the house. This is the practical fix for an older Encino home. When we install a filtration system in a pre-1990 property, we also inspect visible plumbing connections at the install location to identify any fittings that are showing wear and should be replaced before they become a leak.

Source: EPA: Chloramines in Drinking Water · LADWP switched to chloramine in 2014 per the LADWP 2024 Drinking Water Quality Report

The four-stage system we install across Encino

Every system installs at the point where water enters the house, treating all taps, showers, appliances, and ice makers from the first drop. We size to your home's actual flow rate, not a standard package.

1. 01

   Sediment pre-filter

   Captures sand, rust, pipe debris, and particulate above 5 microns before it reaches active carbon media. Protects every downstream stage and extends media life. In older Encino homes, this stage often captures more particulate than in newer construction due to pipe interior oxidation over decades. Replace every 3 to 6 months depending on local sediment load.

2. 02

   KDF and catalytic carbon stage

   KDF media removes heavy metals, hydrogen sulfide, and chlorine compounds. The catalytic carbon stage handles chloramine, which standard activated carbon cannot remove. This is the stage that addresses the pre-1990 Encino copper pipe concern by removing chloramine at the main line before it contacts any fixture or fitting. Any filter installed in the LADWP service area since 2014 without a catalytic carbon stage is the wrong spec.

3. 03

   Coconut-shell activated carbon polishing

   Second-pass carbon stage captures residual taste, odor, organic compounds, herbicides, pesticides, and pharmaceutical trace residues. Coconut-shell substrate provides higher surface area than coal-based carbon and performs better on the dissolved organics carried in the MWD surface-water blend from Northern California State Water Project deliveries that form a larger share of Encino supply.

4. 04

   Descaler or kation-resin softener for hardness

   For Encino's 6 GPG hardness load, we pair the filter with either a kation-resin softener that removes calcium and magnesium through ion exchange, or a salt-free descaler that changes mineral crystalline structure so they do not adhere to surfaces. The two-system bundle saves $350 at install. We recommend based on your actual meter reading and household sodium preference, not a blanket assumption.

What a licensed general contractor brings to a water filtration install in Encino

Most water filtration companies in the San Fernando Valley are specialty retailers. They sell equipment and send a technician to connect it. When the installation requires cutting into a wall, routing through a utility chase, or addressing plumbing around the install location, a specialty retailer typically subcontracts that work or asks you to hire a separate contractor. Noohi Construction is a licensed general contractor with construction and plumbing capability in-house. The same crew that installs the filter handles any pipe work, wall penetration, and finish work required.

For older Encino homes specifically, this matters because a chloramine-related gasket inspection or a corroded compression fitting replacement falls within our scope on install day. A specialty retailer would quote that as a separate job. We include it under the same licensed contractor scope, with permit procurement where Los Angeles County requires it for main-line connections.

• ·Licensed general contractor, bonded and insured, operating since 2020
• ·5-year parts and labor warranty in writing on every install
• ·Same-hour emergency dispatch for active leaks tied to installed systems
• ·On-time delivery or we eat the day rate
• ·Pre-1990 plumbing inspection included at install appointment
• ·Free in-home water test before any equipment is specified

Frequently asked questions

Why does chloramine matter more for older Encino homes?

LADWP switched from free chlorine to chloramine in 2014. Chloramine is more chemically aggressive on rubber gaskets, o-rings, and elastomers specified for pre-2010 plumbing. In pre-1990 Encino homes, this means accelerated gasket wear at aged fittings. A catalytic carbon whole home filter removes chloramine at the main line before it contacts any fixture. LADWP water meets all EPA and California regulatory standards; the concern is material compatibility, not a health violation.

How hard is the water in Encino, CA?

Encino is on LADWP supply at approximately 6 grains per gallon (GPG), consistent with the MWD Jensen supply share average in the 2024 CCR. Encino draws more MWD surface water relative to groundwater than Northridge, so hardness in Encino is more stable across seasons. At 6 GPG, scale accumulation in water heaters and dishwashers is measurable. Verify your specific address at ladwp.com.

What type of filter is right for Encino tap water?

LADWP uses chloramine, which requires a catalytic carbon stage. We install a four-stage system: sediment pre-filter, KDF plus catalytic carbon, coconut-shell carbon polishing, and optional descaler or kation-resin softener for hardness. For pre-1990 homes, we also inspect visible plumbing fittings at the install appointment.

How long does a whole home water filter installation take in Encino?

Most installs complete in a single day. We schedule in advance, pull any required permit, and the licensed crew handles the main-line connection, housing mount, media stages, and tap test in one visit. Same-day scheduling is available for homes booked before noon.

What warranty covers a whole home water filter in Encino?

A 5-year parts and labor warranty in writing covers every system we install. Equipment, connection, and media failures are all covered within the window. As a licensed general contractor, incidental plumbing and wall work is under the same scope rather than excluded.