Water Filtration Systems in Philadelphia
E&L Material Wholesale supplies Novo water filtration systems and water softeners from our warehouse in Northeast Philadelphia. Our catalog covers the Novo 489 and 485 series, including combination softener and filter units, sediment filtration, and ultrafiltration. Stop by the counter or call ahead and we will pull the unit for you.
Buying Water Filtration Equipment in Philadelphia
Philadelphia tap water is treated and monitored to meet federal drinking water standards.The EPA sets those standards under the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, which cap the contaminant levels that public water systems may deliver.
Hardness is a different category. The EPA handles minerals like calcium and magnesium under its secondary drinking water standards, which are non enforceable guidelines covering taste, odor, appearance, and scale rather than health risk.
The Philadelphia Water Department reports in its annual Drinking Water Quality Report that city water is considered moderately hard or hard depending on which treatment plant serves your neighborhood.
That gap is why water filtration equipment Philadelphia buyers ask for is usually about scale, taste, and appliance protection. This page is where you source that water treatment equipment Philadelphia contractors and homeowners actually install. We supply the hardware. Your licensed plumber handles the tie in.
Shop Novo Water Filtration Systems
We stock Novo because the line covers both sides of the problem. Softening and filtration are available as separate units or combined in a single tank, which matters when basement or utility room space is tight.
If you want to buy a Novo water filtration system today, call the counter first so we can confirm the model and arrange pickup.
Novo 489 Serioes and 485 Series
Choosing a Novo filtration system starts with knowing which of the two series fits the property. The 489 platform is built around softening and combination treatment. The 485 platform is built around particulate and sediment.
HTO is the designation Novo uses for its combination configuration. An HTO unit handles hardness and taste and odor in a single tank rather than requiring a separate softener and filter in series. Buyers searching for a Novo 485 HTO are usually looking for that combination function, which in this catalog lives in the 489 series. The 485 units handle filtration on their own.
Novo describes the 489 HTO as reducing hardness along with taste and odor caused by chlorine, chloramines, or organic matter. Its reverse flow regeneration preserves the unused portion of the softening bed, which lowers salt consumption over the life of the unit.
| Feature | Novo 489 Series | Novo 485 Series |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Softening and combination treatment | Sediment and ultrafiltration |
| Targets | Hardness, taste, odor, chlorine, chloramines, organic matter | Sediment, dirt, particulate |
| Configuration | Single tank combination available | Dedicated filtration |
| Regeneration | Reverse flow, salt saving | Not applicable to filter only models |
| Common use | Whole home hardness and taste complaints | Well water, older service lines, appliance protection |
| Models we carry | NVO489UFHTO-150, NVO489UFHTO-100, 489DF-150TOC | NOV485DFNEX, NVO485DFNUCALC-150 |
Types of Whole House Filtration
Whole house water filtration systems Philadelphia properties use fall into a few categories. Most installations combine two or more.
Sediment Filtration
Removes dirt, rust, sand, and suspended particulate before it reaches fixtures and appliances. This is the first stage in most systems and the most common need in homes on well water or older service lines.
Carbon and Catalytic Carbon
Reduces chlorine, chloramines, and the taste and odor issues that come with disinfection or organic matter in the source water. Catalytic carbon is the media typically specified when chloramines are the concern, since standard carbon is less effective against them.
Ultrafiltration
Uses a membrane to capture finer particulate than a standard sediment cartridge. The 485UF sits in this category.
Ion Exchange Softening
The core technology in a Novo water softener Philadelphia buyers install for scale control. It protects water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, and it is the only approach that actually removes hardness minerals rather than conditioning them.
Combination Systems
One tank, two functions. Worth specifying when mechanical room space is limited or when you want fewer connections and less maintenance on a single property.
Why Contractors Source Water Filtration Systems from E&L
Plumbing and HVAC contractors across Philadelphia, South Jersey, and the wider tri state corridor buy from our counter for one reason: the units are here.
We hold inventory in Northeast Philadelphia, so counter orders do not wait on freight from a regional distribution center. Pickup is available during counter hours, and delivery can be arranged by phone. Call before you drive out so we can confirm logistics.
Our staff knows the Novo model lines. Tell us the property, the hardness number, and the flow requirement, and we will point you to the right unit instead of the biggest one. That matters on jobs where you are quoting tight and cannot absorb a return.
Homeowners buy here too, at the same pricing as the trade. There is no minimum order and no account requirement for water softeners for sale Philadelphia residents come in looking for.
What To Know Before Your Buy
Know Your Water First
Do not size a system on a guess. If you are on city water, pull the current Philadelphia Water Department annual report for your service area. If you are on a private well, get a lab test. Hardness, iron, sediment load, and disinfectant type all change which unit is correct.
Sizing and Flow Rate
Match the system to household demand, not to square footage. Count fixtures, check simultaneous use, and confirm your service line diameter. An undersized unit causes pressure complaints. An oversized softener wastes salt and regenerates inefficiently.
Certification
Look for the NSF/ANSI mark that matches the claim being made. NSF/ANSI 44 for softening performance, NSF/ANSI 42 for aesthetic reduction, NSF/ANSI 53 for health related contaminant reduction. A softening claim without 44 certification has not been independently verified.
Permits and Licensed Installation
Tying a filtration system or softener into a potable water supply is plumbing work, and the requirements vary by jurisdiction.
In Philadelphia, the Department of Licenses and Inspections requires a plumbing permit, and the work must be overseen by a licensed master plumber in good standing with the city.
In New Jersey, plumbing work falls under the Uniform Construction Code administered by the Department of Community Affairs Division of Codes and Standards, with the plumbing subcode adopted under N.J.A.C. 5:23. Permits are issued through your local enforcing agency.
In New York City, the Department of Buildings issues plumbing permits only to Licensed Master Plumbers, and filings are submitted through DOB NOW.
E&L supplies the equipment. Installation is handled by your licensed plumber.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Philadelphia water hard enough to need a softener?
The Philadelphia Water Department classifies city water as moderately hard to hard depending on which treatment plant serves your neighborhood. Whether that justifies a softener depends on your tolerance for scale and how much appliance protection you want. Check your service area’s number in the annual report first.
What is the difference between the Novo 489 and Novo 485 series?
The 489 series centers on softening and combination treatment, including the HTO configuration that handles hardness plus taste and odor in one tank. The 485 series focuses on sediment reduction and ultrafiltration.
Do I need a permit to install a whole house water filtration system?
In most cases yes, because the installation involves work on the potable water supply. Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York City all require permitted plumbing work performed or supervised by a licensed plumber. Confirm with your local authority before the job starts.
What does HTO mean on a Novo unit?
HTO refers to Novo’s combination configuration that addresses hardness together with taste and odor. It lets one tank do the work that would otherwise require a softener and a filter plumbed in series.
Can homeowners buy from E&L, or is it contractors only?
Homeowners are welcome. We sell to the trade and the public at the same pricing, with no account or minimum order required.
Does E&L provide bulk orders for water filtration systems?
Yes. Call the counter with your model and quantity and we will quote it and confirm logistics.
Ready to Order? We Are Here.
Water filtration systems Philadelphia buyers need are on the shelf at our Northeast Philadelphia warehouse, and our team can walk you through the options before you commit.
For current Novo water filtration system price and Novo water softener price information, call the counter. Pricing moves with the market, so we quote live rather than publishing figures that go stale.