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In every household, water is considered to be highly essential and possesses a vital role in the basic functions of every human body. With that, it is only imperative to make sure that it is safe and clean for both consumption and daily use.
Sometimes, water can carry harmful compounds like PFCs, residues, industrial chemicals, pesticides, or even heavy metals. On the brighter side, removing these harmful contaminants does not require much since all you need to have is a reliable machine that can filter your water.
What is a Water Filter?
Water filtration involves the process of reducing, if not removing, the concentration of a particular matter such as parasites, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other unwanted chemicals, including biological and chemical contaminants found in water.
By using ultra-fine physical barriers combined with either a biological process or a chemical process, a water filter removes impurities by lowering water contamination. There are a lot of different types of water filters available, and it sometimes can be overwhelming to decide which kind is the best for your needs
What Do Water Filters Remove?
In today’s market, a lot of brands offer different types of water filters. Commonly, filters are specified to remove various types of contaminants. Furthermore, the water filters are also specially designed to eliminate or minimize chemicals that have contaminated the water too.
Consequently, filters that are designed to remove germs and bacteria are not very effective in removing chemicals. Water treatment devices such as ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and distillation systems are some of the types of filters that are effective in removing chemicals.
What Increases the Chances of Acquiring Harmful Contaminants in Your Water?
Living near industrial factories or sites such as sewage treatment plants, mining plants, manufacturing plants, oil facilities, factories, and nuclear facilities can affect the quality of water that you have in your home. It is because these types of structures heavily use chemicals and processes.
If you get your water from the city or well, there are also chances that your water might have contaminants. The type of pipes in your home can also play a role in the contamination of your water. The duration of use is also a factor for contamination.
Other factors and causes such as leaking septic systems, storm runoffs, and improper disposal of wastes and hazardous compounds can also contribute to unwanted water contamination.
How Do I Determine the Water Filter That I Need?
Choosing a water filter depends on the quality of the water supply that you already have, the specific health considerations in your household, and your personal preferences. To determine the best filter to install in your home, you first need to learn more about your existing water source. Knowing what kinds of contaminants are already in your water is necessary, considering that a lot of water filters are specifically designed to reduce and/or remove certain types of contaminants present in the water.
If your source of water is from a private well, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that you should get your water tested by a state-certified laboratory annually. Make sure that the person that you will hire is certified, and see to it that they will test for total coliform bacteria and dissolved solids, nitrates, and pH levels.
Additional precaution and tests should also be observed, especially when someone in your household is pregnant or has special medical conditions. Aside from that, if you notice changes in the taste, color, or odor in your water, you should immediately have it checked.
If your source of water is through collecting rainwater, you can visit the Rainwater Collection Page to know how to prevent illnesses. If you get your water from a public system, authorities most likely have an annual report about the contaminant levels, as well as the quality of the water. Once you know which type of contaminants are present in your water, the process of choosing the best water filter comes easier. Next, you have to know the reason why you are considering installing a water filter in your household.
From worrying about the different taste in your water to being concerned about the arsenic or lead levels to wanting to tweak to best fit the necessary needs that your health needs, the reasons can be very varied. Knowing the motivation behind it is equally important.
Now, many various types of water filters are available for the consumer. Recognizing which water filter best suits your lifestyle and the functions that you need it to perform is essential, considering there are several specialized water filtration systems in the market.
Water Softener versus Water Conditioner
Water softener turns “hard water” into “soft water” through a process that involves swapping mineral irons for sodium ones. As a result, it removes the damaging hard minerals that are present in your water and gives you “softer” water that doesn’t damage your skin and plumbing. Having a water softener installed in your household can give you many noticeable changes, such as cleaner and whiter clothes from the laundry. Moreover, you will also notice that your hair and skin no longer feels uncomfortable and itchy.
Water conditioners involve a process of binding the minerals present in your hard water instead of removing the hard minerals. As a result, water conditioners strip your water of scale, earning the name water “descaler”.
Having a water conditioner in your home earns you the benefits of having scaled water that will not stick or leave any residue on any surface, such as appliances, sinks, and bathroom corners. Water conditioners are best used and installed in homes that suffer from scale build-up.
Water softeners are best installed in homes that have concerning levels of contaminants in their homes, while water conditioners are commonly used in homes that tend to have scale build-ups.
How Much Does a Water Filter Cost?
The cost of water filtration systems can differ widely, starting from simple systems that go under $20 to expensive systems that cost hundreds of dollars. These complex systems often require professional installation.
Additionally, it is important to consider the cost of having the system installed, the schedule, maintenance costs such as changing the filter cartridges, and other factors that contribute to keeping a well-functioning water treatment system.
A good investment that is good for long-term use is whole house water filters. They can give you safe and clean water for both drinking and all-around use in your household. See more here https://aquaoxwaterfilters.com/whole-house-water-filter/.
