Pharmaceutical residues, pesticides, heavy metals and industrial chemicals such as PFCs can be found in water supplies across the world. Luckily, having access to safer Water Filter only requires a fairly small investment in a quality filter. Below is important information that can assist you in making informed decisions and boost the quality of your water:
Choosing the Best Water Filter For You
The most essential thing to determine before selecting the best water filter for your property is what you are trying to get rid of. This information can be discovered via reports from environmental groups, water quality reports from utility companies and from conducting home water tests.
When you become aware of what is in your water, you should be aware of which contaminants are removed by which filters. While most vary based on the make and model, some general guidelines are there to consider says QualityWaterLab.
Faucet-mount Filter
Some of these filters eliminate a relatively good number of contaminants. However, it is vital that the fine print is read to determine whether they are removing the contaminants you want to get rid of. This is important because filter performance widely varies.
Faucet-mount filters are inexpensive and can be easily replaced without any special skill. However, the filters do not last for long and the costs for replacement filters add up fast. As such, you might find that more effective filters, although they may initially be somewhat more costly, do not ultimately cost a lot more.
Pitcher Filter
If you have been using a pitcher filter to purify your water, you might not have read the fine print. Even the best filter pitcher typically only reduces a few contaminants like chlorine. In addition, the water just sits in the plastic container for a long period of time, which means harmful chemicals could be picked up from the pitcher itself.
Even though they are inexpensive, these pitchers are mainly effective at enhancing the odor and taste of your water; a number of contaminants of concern will be left behind. Similarly, the filters found in water-dispensing fridges, only eliminate a fairly small number of contaminants and waste electricity.
Countertop Water Filter
Countertop filters do not take up any space underneath your sink and they can either be gravity-fed, freestanding filters or be hooked up to the faucet. Neither version needs a plumber for installation. The benefit of having a filter hooked up to the waterline is that you will not have to constantly refill the filter container.
As it relates to a gravity-fed filter, this is a smart investment since it has the capacity to purify water in emergency situations, even if the power goes out or there are issues with the water supply. In a power outage, municipal water supplies become incapable of maintaining water pressure and without a backup source of energy, well pumps will quit working.
The best countertop filter makes maintenance easy and no special tool is usually required. Maintenance typically takes under ten minutes and is usually only required after several months of use or even years of use, based on the volume of sediment in your water.
The cost of replacement filters is roughly $100 and each filters approximately 3000 gallons of water. There are water filters that are BPA free and portable, which makes them easy to place on the deck during the summer or take on camping trips.
Undersink Filter
When counter space is limited, an undersink filter provides an ideal solution. Similar to plumbed-in, countertop filters, undersink filters do not need refilling. However, similar the countertop version, undersink filters may not function in emergency situations.
Reverse Osmosis
While extremely effective at eliminating contaminants, reverse osmosis filters are costly and a great deal of water is wasted – 3 or more gallons is wasted for every gallon you receive. Additionally, they rely on electricity and as such, they are unable to filter water when no power is on the property. Furthermore, this method removes beneficial minerals that could possibly result in health issues when reverse osmosis water is consumed for extended periods.
Some concerned consumers misguidedly believe they are choosing safer drinking water when they purchase bottles rather than drinking tap water. However, apart from the enormous ecological impact of consuming bottled water on a consistent basis, a large number of bottled water is actually filled with municipal tap water and actually contains the same contaminants you are aiming to escape.
In addition, the water indefinitely sits in the plastic bottle, absorbing compounds that are poorly understood and could be harmful to human health. Not only is the best water filter far less harmful ecologically, but it is healthier as well. Be knowledgeable about what is in your water and take the necessary steps to make your water healthier for you and the ones you love.