Not All Water Is Created Equally

A high-quality water filter is an important part of a healthy home. If you happen to be using a filter in your household, kudos to you! We don’t mean to seem inquisitive but are you one hundred per cent sure that your filter is effectively removing dangerous contaminants from your water supply? Think about it for a second.

Here’s the sad truth: some water filters are designed to only remove certain types of contaminants and are ineffective at eliminating others. For this reason, it’s important to install a filtration system that is capable of safeguarding you and your family from all toxic substances that may be present in your drinking water.

In this guide, you’ll learn all you need to know about water filtration, specifically the benefits of using a water filter, the different technologies used in water filtration, and how to choose the best water filter for your home.

10 Reasons Why You Should Filter Your Water

Before we jump into the more technical aspects of water filters, let’s kick things off by briefly discussing why you should filter your water before drinking it.

1. Better Taste and Smell – There are several reasons why water can have a bad taste, whether it comes from a well or the municipality. The good news is that most of the water filters we will present in this guide are capable of removing chlorine, chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals and bacterial contaminants; thus, providing better-tasting and better-smelling drinking water.
2. Healthier Water – Drinking and using filtered water for cooking will improve the health of you and your family. Water filters help remove all the chemicals, bacteria and other unwanted substances from your drinking water, so you can prepare healthier meals. Yum!
3. Great for Children – Children are especially susceptible to nitrate/nitrite poisoning. These compounds can leach into the municipal water source, then right into your home. A total nightmare, indeed.
4. Environmentally Friendly – Filtering your water is more environmentally friendly than buying bottled water. Bottled water comes in plastic containers that might end up polluting the environment in the long run.
5. Plastic-Free – Another major concern about drinking bottled water is the quality of the plastic. Some bottled are made from plastic that contains bisphenol A (BPA), a component that can cause a host of health problems.
6. Economical – While you may consider buying a water filter as a big investment, you will actually end up saving money over time. You can quote us on that.
7. Bye, Bye Toxins – According to some experts, there may be more than 2100 known toxins in a water source. But thankfully, using a water filter can reduce the risk of ingesting these harmful substances.
8. No Chlorine – Chlorine is widely used to disinfect water, even though drinking it is linked to several illnesses. Water filters help block out this chemical, providing better-tasting, salt-free water.
9. Better-Looking Skin and Hair – Filtered water can cause your hair and skin to look and feel better and healthier than ever before.
10. No Chemical – Believe it or not, there might be many different chemicals in your drinking water. But with the help of a water filter, you can remove these harmful chemicals and protect yourself from any danger they might cause.

The Hard Facts About Your Water Sources and How a Water Filter Can Help

Water is supplied to your home from a municipal feed after being treated at a purification facility on the outskirts of town. Chances are, you pass by this station while traveling from work every day, thinking about the clean, fresh water flowing gracefully from your tap. Well, not to spoil your moment, but… the water coming through your faucet might not be as clean as you may think.

The truth is, even though your tap water is often filtered at a water treatment station, it may contain certain unwanted chemicals and particles when it reaches your home. This happens in every city, both large and small.

As a general rule, the authorities check the water quality as soon as it is filtered, and before it enters the municipal service lines. The test results are usually satisfying and well above standard, but one important thing that the authorities fail to consider is the aging, corrosive pipes that the water passes through before reaching your household.

In many cases, water treatment facilities are located in the outlying areas of your town or city. Because of this, the water must be transported over long distances, through municipal pipes, to get to your home. Since these pipes are normally decades old, the filtered water traveling through them becomes contaminated with almost everything it comes in contact with – from rust particles to dust, dirt, and debris. These old service lines then make it easier to transport these unhealthy pollutants along with certain destructive microorganisms. When the water reaches your faucet, it may have an unusual color or taste, and might be contaminated.

Another major reason why a water filter is important is the process that the municipal authorities uses to treat the water. Chlorination is a commonly used method of water purification. While the chemical certainly destroys some harmful microorganisms found, it often gives the water a different taste. Beyond that, at times chlorine can react to the organic matter in the water, which then forms unhealthy carcinogenic compounds, according to recent studies.

That’s not all. Filtering water is probably the most effective way to repel pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, parasites, fungi, etc. In fact, the most threatening parasite that can be found in any water supply is Cryptosporidium. Not only can this pathogen withstand the effects of chlorine, but if it enters your body, it can cause dehydration, weight loss, and severe diarrhea. Affected persons can show signs of sickness, lasting as long as six weeks.

Lastly, your water supply can be exposed to pesticides, heavy metals, and chemicals. Before the 1940s and the 1950s, almost every pesticide consisted of heavy metals. Worst of all, these pesticides normally take a long time to break down. They can often be found in soil, particularly in areas through which the municipal service lines run. Once these pesticides seep into the service lines, they can easily enter your home.

Lead can also be found in distribution systems and household plumbing, and can easily make its way into your home. While lead and any other chemicals in your water source can be destructive to your health, a water filter can remove these toxic agents and protect you and your family from any dangers they might pose.

How Water Filters Work

There are four types of water filters that are used in most households across the United States, each of which works in a specific manner. Let’s find out how these popular filtration systems actually work.

• Activated Carbon
  Activated carbon water filters are the most popular water filters in the US, thanks to their low cost, small size, and ease of use. They operate using adsorption, which is a process in which a gas, liquid, or solid adheres to the surface of another solid or a liquid, but does not penetrate it. As soon as the water flows through the filter, the contaminants drift towards to the spongy surface on the carbon, filling up the deep pores on the filter.Although the charcoal filter surely does a great job of blocking out most pollutants, it cannot remove limescale. Also, charcoal does not attract some other contaminants like sodium, nitrates, fluoride, and microbes. Hence, they might still be present in the water. Another drawback of an activated carbon filter is that over time the pores in the charcoal will become clogged, preventing the filter from working at its peak performance. For this reason, the filter will need to be changed occasionally.

How to Find the Right Water Filter for Your Home

There is a number of different filters to choose from, each of which can get rid of many of the contaminants plaguing your water. But please note that most types of filters are good at blocking out specific categories of contaminants but are somewhat ineffective at eliminating others.

In order to determine if your existing filter is providing the best water quality, you can either do it yourself or hire an expert. Assuming that you’re willing to give it a shot, we’ve prepared a quick guide to teach you how to achieve the desired results.

Use a Water Quality Test Kit

• Figure Out What You’re Looking For
  Our definition of water quality is basically the concentration levels of the various contaminants present in your water. These substances and objects may include heavy metals, chlorine, bacteria, pesticides, viruses, nitrates/nitrites, and hardness – just to name a few. Also note that the pH of the water also affects its quality. Therefore, you should also try to determine its numerical value. Chlorine is ideal for disinfecting water. However, it can change its taste. Additionally, hard water might cause scale buildup, and nitrites/nitrates and pesticides can be harmful to you and your family’s health. Acidic water carries a dreadful taste and can also increase the rate at which your pipes and fixtures corrode.
• Buy a Premium Water Test Kit
  These days, you can find a variety of test kits on the market, both online and at a local retailer. Inside these test kits are small strips that change in color depending on the contaminant level of the water you’re testing. It’s a good idea to stick to those kits that come with individual strips for bacteria, pesticides, chlorine, hardness, nitrites/nitrates, heavy metals (lead, in particular), and pH. Avoid those test kits that contain only one strip since they won’t be able determine anything except the pH.
• Read the Instructions on the Test Kit Carefully
  All test kits come with a step-by-step instruction manual, but will vary based on the type of kit and the manufacturer. The guide will teach you how to expose the strips to the water before taking a reading, how warm the water should be, and understanding what the colors mean.
• Determine the Water’s Quality
  Next, check the color chart to see what the changes (if any) on the test strips indicate. Each strip will have different indicators, so ensure that you compare the correct ones to the chart. Also, the color will determine if the concentration of a particular substance in the water is acceptable or dangerous. If any of the results are at the hazardous levels, don’t fret. Just perform the test once more to reduce the chance of misjudgment by the tester.

Use Your Senses…Literally

Here’s a quick and easy method you can use to get a better idea about the quality of your water: use your senses. Believe it or not, even professional engineers will taste, smell, and visually inspect the water before drawing a conclusion. However, we don’t recommend using this method of testing. Reason being, a test kit will provide more accurate results than simply using your senses – even though it can still provide valuable information.

• Use Your Sense of Smell
  Smelling the water can be an effective way to detect different types of contamination. If the water smells like bleach, there’s a high chance that chlorine was used to purify the water at your regional water treatment plant. If it smells like rotten eggs, then there’s likely a strong presence of bacteria in the water. To confirm this, pour water from the tap into a glass and take it to a different room. Wait for about five minutes, then smell it again. If the foul odor is gone, then it’s probably an issue with your drain. In this case, your drain definitely needs cleaning. But if both your hot and cold water have that bad smell, even in different rooms, that means that the contamination may have occurred somewhere along the municipal service line.If the water has a dirt-like or funky smell, it’s likely that an organic matter has decomposed or decayed in your plumbing. Like the situation with rotten-egg scent, pour another glass of water and take it to another room. This will determine if the smell is coming from the water itself or the drain.
• Use Your Sense of Taste
  Please read this carefully: If the water tastes foul, don’t swallow it. If it tastes like metal, it can be a result of being expose to too many unwanted minerals or it simply has a low pH level. If it has a strong bleach taste, it’s likely been treated with chlorine. And if it has a salty taste, it could mean that sulfates or chlorine ions are present.
• Use Your Sense of Sight
  Visually inspecting the water is also another effective way to detect physical impurities. To do this, fill a glass of tap water and hold it up to a bright light. Observe the liquid carefully and look for any cloudiness or floating particles. If your pipes or fixtures have started to rust, you might see brown, orange, or red particles floating or settled at the bottom of the glass. Black particles can come from your water hoses. Chlorine is powerful enough to weaken and gradually damage the hoses, causing those small black particles to pop up in your drinking water.In general, white particles or cloudiness may indicate an excessive hardness level. This hardness often comes about due to too much calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate in your water.You should also observe the color of the water. Turn on the tap and let it run for about two minutes. This will extract and dispose of any buildup in your fixtures. After that, fill a glass with water. Again, hold the glass up to the light. If the water looks discolored (has a brownish color), it’s probably polluted. Possible reasons for this could include upstream pollution or rusty pipes.You can even check the working status of your pipes and fixtures by using your sense of sight. Once there is a massive build-up of toxic minerals or rust in your pipes, it may leach into your water supply and pollute it. If your water lines are above ground, look for any possible leakages. Also, pay close attention to regions with blue or white sediments. Alternatively, you can observe the water inside the toilet bowl and check for blue stains or rust. If you see any white or blue stains as well as rust particles, there could be a buildup, which can cause your water to become polluted. A temporary fix is to give the pipes a proper cleaning. If that’s not enough, perhaps you’ll have to change them.

Obtain a Water Quality Report

Request a copy of a recent water quality report from your local municipality. These authorities are required to carry out regular water quality tests, so it should be fairly easy for them to provide a copy of the report.

Nevertheless, it’s not a good idea to use this method since the document might not account for the same pipes that the water passes through to get to your home.

Figure Out What You Really Want

Since you now know how polluted your water source is, it’s time to figure out how to address the issues at hand. After seeing the results from the water quality test, do you only want to soften the water? Or do you want to remove all the contaminants that may be present? Or both?

Below, we’ll go through the different types of filters to help you decide on a water filter, specifically one that fits your situation and matches your budget.

And Finally, Making Your Decision

As we stated earlier, some water filters are effective at removing certain types of pollutants, and are ineffective at blocking out others. With that in mind, you’ll have more or fewer options, depending on your water test(s) results, what you’re looking to accomplish, and your budget.

Bad Taste or Odor

Any bad taste or odors present in your water can be difficult to cope with. To solve this problem, there are several solutions you can choose from, no matter how small or large your budget is.

You can choose from the systems below:

• Low-Budget Option – The Activated Carbon Filters
  The activated carbon filter was widely used among people living in ancient days. But as time went by, the filter has been improved to solve various water problems existing today. The size and capacity of most modern activated carbon filters varies by model. If your primary aim is to remove bad tastes or odors, this type of filter is an effective and affordable option.

Key Considerations Before Purchasing

Size and Location

By this time, you must be able to tell how clean or how polluted your water is, your reasons for purchasing water filtering system, and which types are ideal for different situations. The first thing to consider before making your purchasing is how much space is required for the system and where you’d want to install it.

Water filters often come in three different sizes. Here’s a brief run-down of each category:

• Small (Under Counter Water Filter Systems)
  These filters normally require a small space and won’t affect your daily routines. Among the small-sized filters are: ion exchange filters, some RO systems, electronic water filters, and activated carbon filters.

• Medium Size Water Filter Systems
  Medium-sized filters will occupy a moderate amount of storage space, so you should definitely keep that in mind before making your purchase. You may need to shift some things around or from one area to another to create ample space for the device to fit comfortably. Here’s a list of filters belonging to this category: ozone filters, some ion exchange filters, most reverse osmosis systems, and some higher-capacity distillation filters.

• Large (Whole House Systems & Water Softeners)
  As expected, these filters require a large amount of space. Hence, there should be enough room in (or outside) of your home to accommodate them. Some units are too large to fit in close spaces inside your home, and will therefore require you to place them in an outdoor shed or a basement. Included in this size category are: de ionization units, whole-house water softening systems, and multi-layer whole-house filters.

Congrats for making it this far! You now have most of the information you need to make an informed buying decision. There are still some things that you should consider before purchasing a water filter for your home or workplace. Another important thing to point out is that oftentimes most people won’t have only one complaint about their water. That is why it’s vital to learn the basics of how water filters work, so you can determine whether or not a certain system is the right one for you.

Filter Types and Technologies

Another key consideration is the type of filter and the technologies behind them. Having an idea of the type of filter you need and the technologies they use gives you a clearer picture of what you’ll be purchasing.

Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon filters go way back to ancient Egyptian days. This filtration system uses adsorption, which is a process in which contaminants adhere to the surface of these carbon granules or get caught in the small pores of the activated carbon. Carbon filters are used everywhere, simply because of their low cost and high efficiency. These filters can effectively remove chlorine, sediment, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), as well as bad odors and tastes.

Granulated activated (GAC) filters and powdered block filters are two different types of carbon filters used for water filtration. Normally, carbon block filters are more effective, thanks to their wider adsorption surfaces. Some variants also have extra layers in between the carbon, which improve the overall filtration process. Other models have layers of silver that prevent the growth of bacteria. Some manufacturers even add silver to the carbon to give it bacteriostatic qualities.

GAC filters usually come in different sizes – for different purposes. This type of filter contains loose granules of charcoal, while carbon block activated carbon filters use solid blocks of compressed carbon. What gives the carbon block filters an edge over the GAC filters is their larger surface area, which helps to remove more contaminants.

All carbon filters have similar features. But over time, they become less efficient. Changing them will be necessary for keeping them in tip-top shape. Well, you’ll have to replace them even if they’re not used for a long while.

Colonies of bacteria can start growing in the filter if it’s not used occasionally, and even if it’s infused with silver. All things considered, always be mindful of the lifespan of the filter and change them regularly.

Pros

• Affordable
• Effective at removing awful tastes and smells, chlorine, and sediment

Cons

• No water softening
• Bacteria may develop and accumulate over time

How To Maintain Your Water Filter

So, you’ve finally explored your options and purchased your own water filter. So, what now? Well, you need to keep it in good condition, if you want it to last longer. But how can you achieve this?

• Replace the filters – Regardless of the type of filter you purchase, it will need to be replaced sooner or later. Most manufacturers make a note of their filters’ expected life span in the product description and in the instruction guide.

Verdict

Water filters are undoubtedly an essential requirement in society today. Whether your drinking water comes from a municipal feed, a river, or a well, there’s always a way to improve its quality. At first, purchasing a water filter might seem like you’re spending a small fortune. But when all’s said and done, using these systems will prove to be cost-effective. For one, buying bottled water will be a thing of the past. Secondly, you’ll save big bucks after cutting back on those regular (and expensive) doctor visits. All you have to do is make sure you change the filters every now and then.

In addition to providing clean, fresh water for you and your family, water filters soften your water so your skin and hair look and feel healthier and more radiant.

Water filters are also important especially if you have children. Kids are more likely to be affected by health-related threats like bacteria, viruses, nitrate/nitrate poisoning. But thank heavens, a good water filtration system will help protect them from all those evil culprits.