Why You Need a Water Filter in Your Home ASAP (+What to Consider)
With no doubt, water plays a vital role in all of our lives. I mean, we cook with it, bathe in it, drink it and so much more. Therefore, it is obvious that we all would like to use water that is free from harmful contaminants such as fluorine, pesticides, chlorine and even the smallest traces of prescription drugs. In a bid to avoid these contaminants, many people have resulted to bottled water. The problem is, this water not only contains contaminants but also is a hazard to our environment. Fortunately, that’s where water filtration comes in.
To be honest, installing a water filtration system is the ideal way to ensure a never-ending flow of safe drinking, bathing and cooking water. These systems have the capacity to get rid of 97 percent of chlorine as well other toxic impurities found in regular tap water. If you are still not convinced, here are five reasons why you need a water filter in your home as soon as possible.
1. An endless supply of safe water for all your household needs
Unfiltered water, even when it comes from water treatment facilities contains toxic impurities such as lead and other heavy metals. To make the matters worse, these plants use potentially harmful chemicals such as chlorine and fluorine in their treatment process. However, when you have installed a water filtration system in your house, most of these chemicals and impurities are eliminated leaving you with an endless supply of safe water for all of your household needs at no extra cost.
This means that you no longer have to incur costs buying bottled water even when going out for sporting activities, trips or even camping. All you have to do is fill a few bottles with your already filtered water experience the freedom and safety of home filtered water
2. Eliminate skin conditions
To some people, contaminants such as chlorine, fluorine and heavy metals can cause serious skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis more so in children. However, using a water filter gets rids of all these impurities keeping all the members of your family free from aggravating skin conditions.
3. Cost Savings
If you are the type that is hooked to bottled water, you will realize significant savings after installing a water filter in your house. Take for instance that you have a household of 4 members who consume at least 17 ounces of bottled water on a daily basis. Assuming that you buy a normal priced 24 pack of water bottles going for 5 dollars, you will have to spend at least 700 dollars annually.
However, if you install a reverse osmosis water filter, it will only cost you a one-time investment of between 300 and 500 dollars plus a meager annual maintenance cost of 80 dollars.
4. Reduce plumbing repair bills
Minerals, heavy metals and chemicals found in unfiltered water can potentially damage your expensive plumbing system. Speaking of which, it is not just water pipes that can be damaged. Your refrigerator ice maker, water dispenser, dishwasher, garbage disposal system and washing machine can also be victims of these contaminants. However, by eliminating them through water filtration, you can minimize plumbing repairs and significantly cut plumbing repair costs.
5. Minimize the risk of contracting gastrointestinal diseases
Several microscopic organisms and parasites thrive in water sources that don’t get proper treatment. Fortunately, these parasites that cause digestive and intestinal complications can be removed through the simple process of filtering your water.
What to consider when buying a water filtration system
Now that you are aware of the benefits of using a water filtration system in your house, go ahead and have a look at some of the best systems available in the market today on this site https://www.best-osmosis-systems.com/whole-house-water-filter-reviews. But before going there, you could be wondering what should I take into consideration when making a choice?
Well, there is a lot that goes into making an informed decision. Fortunately, the information in this section is dedicated to putting you in a position to make the right choice to satisfy your specific water needs. Read on!
1. The contaminants you want to get rid off
The type of water filter to install in your house depends on the contaminants you would like to get rid of. For instance, if your water lined is serviced and maintained by a city authority, you may want to remove chemicals, sediments, minerals, and compounds like chlorine and fluorine. In other words, every system is designed to handle specific needs. To get a deeper understanding of this, let’s have a look at each.
• Activated carbon filters
This is the most common and least expensive types of filters typically installed under a sink. They are very effective in getting rid of heavy metals, parasites, and chemicals.
• Cation exchange water filter systems
These are also known as water softeners or ion exchange filters. They are very effective in removing metals such as barium and calcium whose prolonged exposure can damage your internal organs. Calcium and magnesium are also notorious for damaging pipes and compromising water taste but these filters eliminate them from your water before getting there.
• Reverse osmosis
This is perhaps the most effective system you can have in your house. It has the capacity to remove virtually all water contaminants since water is passed through a semipermeable membrane for 5, 6 or 7 stages.
2. The Flow Rate of Your appliances and Dispensers
Water flow rate is measured in gallons per minute. Therefore, when buying a water filtration system, ensure that you know the demand specifications of your dispensers and water-based appliances as provided by the manufacturer. This will ensure that all of your appliances such as dishwashers, heaters, and showers receive enough water flow so that they can operate seamlessly. The size of your household will also help you determine the ideal water flow rate for the dispenser you should buy.
If you install a filtration system with a low flow rate, it is going to interrupt water flow precisely water pressure more so during peak use.
3. The size of the filter
Ideally, the bigger the filtration system the better since the size of a filter’s port determines the pressure and amount of water to flows into your house. However, this boils down to your needs. For an average sized home, a 4.5″x 20″ will perform meticulously while a larger home will require a higher flow rate of at least 25 gpm and 1 1/2 inch ports.
Bottom line
Regardless of the choice, you decide to settle on, you can rest assured that investing in a water filtration system will go a long way to protect your household from toxic contaminants and deadly parasites. Though it might seem like a big or expensive investment, you will surely benefit in the long run.