Our house often has cloudy water, especially in the mornings. I'm thinking about installing a whole-house filter before the meter. Will this help protect the faucets and washing machine, or is it a waste of money?
If the water's cloudy in the morning, that's already a red flag - there's probably actually sediment and rust in there that clogs aerators on your faucets and damages the seals in your washing machine. A main line filter costs peanuts compared to fixing a washing machine or replacing a faucet, so I'd definitely recommend at least putting in a mechanical one rated for 100 microns.
Cloudy water in the mornings is often the result of water line flushing in your house, and that sediment can really clog aerators and damage seals. A whole-house filter pays for itself just by extending the life of your faucets and appliances, but keep in mind: you need to clean it regularly or replace the cartridge, otherwise a clogged filter will reduce water pressure. If the problem only happens in the mornings, you can try just turning on the tap for a few minutes in the morning to flush out the first batches, and then decide if you actually need a full-blown filter.
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