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We regularly take our tap water
for granted. We think that it is free from pollutants just because it is
coming from a municipal water supply or deep artesian well. Unfortunately
this assumption is not always the case. Both municipal water supplies and
artesian well water are occasionally found to contain dangerous chemicals,
parasite cysts and coliform bacteria. In some cases the water may be safe to
drink, but have a funny taste or order. Other times the water may taste and
smell fine, however it may contain, iron, rust and sedimentary material. |
Besides looking bad at the bottom
of a glass of water these types of items may turn your dishwater a rust
color and clog your faucets.
Regardless of your tap water
situation it is wise to periodically have your water tested, even if you
think it looks and smells fine. Sometimes there can be harmful chemicals in
the water that are unnoticeable to the human eye or nose.
Fortunately there are a variety
of water filters that can address most of the issues found in tap water.
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Water Filter
Types
Water filters come in a variety
of types and styles to address different types of tap water issues. There
are faucet mounted water filters, undersink water filters, countertop water
filters, reverse-osmosis water filters, activated carbon filter water
filters, ultra-violet water filters, and whole house water filters. What you
choose to purchase depends on the results of your water tests and your
specific household needs. However, whole house water filters are probably
one of the best solutions as they address a wide array of water pollutants
and can support the load of an entire home.
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Whole-House
Water Filters
Again, the main advantage of
whole-house water filters is that they can support the higher flow rates
encountered in a home’s main incoming water line and thus can address the
needs of the entire home.
They are ideal for removing iron,
rust, dirt, sedimentary particles and some heavy metals.
They can also remove a wide range
of contaminants that cause the water to taste or smell bad. For example,
certain models can address hydrogen sulfide which causes the rotten egg
smell in water.
Some models can also support the
removal of chlorine, parasite cysts, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Whole hose filters are installed
in series with the main water supply line into the home, and can cost
between $40 and $1000. Smaller ones cost between $50 and $100. Typically a
plumber is required for the installation of whole house water filter due to
the fact that the main water supply line in the home needs to be cut. This
said, the above average do it yourself homeowner with a few basic plumbing
skills can also do the job.
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Whole House
Water Filter Maintenance
In regards to maintenance,
whole house water filter replacement cartridges are fairly inexpensive and
are easy to replace. To change out a whole house water filter cartridge, the
process basically involves shutting off the valve on the water filter
itself, twisting off the lower base unit, cleaning the base unit, swapping
in a new cartridge, reattaching the base unit to the top portion of the
filter, and turning the valve back on. It’s that simple.
Whole House
Water Filter Buying Considerations
When selecting a whole house
water filter, besides checking out what type of containments they can
remove, also check the maximum flow rate they can support. Keep in mind,
that the more water that can flow through them the less efficient they are
at removing pollutants. Smaller size whole house water filters also can
reduce the water pressure to your taps, particularly when they begin to get
dirty.
Again, before purchasing a water
filter, have your water tested first to see what water filter type is right
for your specific water needs.
For information on how to install a new
faucet, See HomeAdditionPlus.com's "Installing
a New Faucet Ebook". It provides in-depth, easy to
understand, step-by-step instructions and pictures, on how to install a new
Faucet.
Additional Home Plumbing Resources
Whole House Water Filters from
Amazon.com
