Picking out Home Water Filtration Systems

It’s true that there would’ve been a time where getting home water filtration systems would be considered an indulgence. After all, you would be drinking water that is different from what everyone else was drinking. These days though, having a water filter is more of a necessity, what with drinking water becoming more and more unreliable as the time passes. Water is important for your health and so you’re going to want to have the best water filtrationsystem at home.

What to consider

Homes are supplied with water from different sources so it would be best to have your drinking water tested first to see what sort of contaminants are present. Knowing which contaminants are present will help you in choosing home water filtration systems because you already know what a filtration system should be able to remove. Some of the contaminants that home water filters will have to deal with include lead, rust or sediment, bacteria and parasites, and odor- and taste-causing contaminants. Here are some things to take note of:

• If you’re living in a house that was built 1985 and earlier, then you may be using pipes that use lead solders. You can’t normally detect lead in the water you’re drinking because it is odorless and tasteless but it is bad for you so it must be removed from your drinking water as much as possible. If you do live in an old house or you suspect that you are part of a municipality that used lead solders in its pipe system, then do get water filters that are fitted to remove lead from your drinking water.

• If you’re dealing with particles you can clearly see in water, then go for a home water filter that has a physical filter. Since particulates will eventually collect everywhere, you might want to consider getting a filtration system with a whole-house particulate filter to protect your drinking water along with your home appliances like your ice maker and dishwasher.

• Bacteria and parasites naturally occur in water and are acceptable under certain levels. When the water you are drinking gets contaminated by waste and sewage though, these levels balloon and become harmful to your health. Some bacteria and parasites cause water to smell and taste funny. Some don’t. Some even survive the chlorine added to water systems for disinfection. To protect your family from illnesses, get home water filtration systems that are particularly suited for removing bacteria and parasites.

• If you’re having problems with water that smells and tastes funny, look for a home water filtration system that features granular activated carbon as carbon is excellent for removing odor- and taste-causing contaminants.

 

Your options

There are a lot of water filters out there so there should be enough home water filtration systems around to let you pick out what you need for your home. When choosing home water filtration systems, take note as well of what you can conveniently use in your home. Do some research. Manufacturer’s manuals should give you the details as to how a particular water filter works to help you understand how to filter water  using your chosen unit. Apart from the exact filters within home water filtration systems, you can also choose based on type. Some of the options available to you include whole-house filters, undersink filters, faucet-mounted filters, and canister or countertop filters. Weigh out the pros and cons of each to help you sift through all the home water filtration systems available and pick out the best home water filtration systems for you to use. Don’t forget to factor in maintenance costs in your decision.