Although the drinking water in your home is treated by the town prior to entering your residence (unless you’re on a well), it can pick up trace elements and bacterial pollutants on its way typically via toxic water runoff from industries and farms, which leads to contaminated water. Therefore, many individuals opt to install a water filtration system in their home to help remove possible impurities for healthier drinking water. Some systems can also remove chlorine for improved taste and odor, and some also even remove lead, which can be especially harmful to developing children.
Overall, water filtration systems help ensure a healthy mineral balance, which in turn helps to maintain a healthy pH in the water, which improves the quality of water used throughout your home. There are various types of water filtration systems, for instance, some use a physical barrier, while others use a biological process, and then there are ones that use a chemical process to remove impurities. Some things you should know to help select the correct water filtration system for your home include:
Know What Contaminants are in Your Water
First, take a water sample to the nearest state certified laboratory to help determine the exact impurities that are present in your water. Once the laboratory confirms the impurities in your water, it will then give you an idea of the type of filter you need based on testing.
Resilient pollutants, such as ions, metals, lead, and aqueous salts, can only be removed using a reverse osmosis filter, which drives polluted water through a lining at high force so that the water is able to permeate through; however, the impurities in the water remain behind.
Meanwhile, most basic pollutants, such as chlorine and sediment residue, can be removed using an Active Carbon Filter, which utilizes a layer of activated carbon to remove pollutants via chemical absorption. Active Carbon Filters are also useful for removing bad taste and smell from water. However, they are not recommended for dissolving inorganic substances, salts, or minerals. Carbon filters vary in effectiveness, so be sure to select one based on your particular needs.
There are also ion exchange filters that soften hard water. They operate by removing limescale, which in turn makes the water more digestible. There are also faucet and pitcher filtration systems.
Understand the Filter’s Purification Rating
The filter’s purification rating is often indicated in gallons per day. Therefore, if you plan to use large amounts of water, such as for cooking, showering, and doing laundry, you must select a filter that is effective at treating numerous gallons of water daily. Selecting a filter that is not effective at treating large amounts of water per day means that you will not have sufficient water for your household’s needs.
Filters that Remove Pollutants and Improve Taste are Best
Bad odors found in water that is untreated can also pose a threat to your health; therefore, aim for a filter that not only removes pollutants but that also neutralizes bad smells for all-around safe drinking water that is refreshing and crisp to the taste.
Inquire About the Maintenance
There are less costly filtration systems, such as faucets and pitchers, which require little maintenance because they do not include additional features. Meanwhile, more advanced systems can require more maintenance due to their features, such as built-in indicators that alert you when the filter needs to be replaced. More advanced filtration systems can also be laborious to install, which means you may need to call a professional, so keep this in mind when selecting a system.
Compare Costs
When selecting a home water filtration system, you should select a system based on what you can afford because, keep in mind, you will still be responsible for your monthly utility bill in addition to purchasing the system. Advanced filter systems, though more costly, are more powerful at eliminating contaminates because they are equipped with more advanced techniques to purify water. However, less costly filters, such as faucet filtration systems, may prove more costly over time because they require filter changes more frequently, so do the math.
Ultimately, drinking purified water can help reduce the risk of pollutants which have been linked to gastrointestinal disease, a weak immune system in developing children as well as an increased risk of colon cancer, bladder cancer, and rectal cancer from chlorine and its products. Home filtration water systems provide a convenient way to enjoy purified water and without the cost of purchasing bottled water.
Ben was born and raised in Bend, Oregon. Because of that, he is really enthusiastic about the outdoors and just loves every activity associated such as rock climbing, rafting, and skiing.
