We like the taste of filtered water.  It’s healthier, tastes better, and is much cleaner than what normally comes out of the pipe (even though municipal water is already very clean).

But there are so many options already.  Do you buy bottled water and use the tap for cleaning?  Do you install a water filter at the faucet for instant filtering as you need it?  Or do you purchase a pitcher filter that filters water as you pour it from the pitcher itself?

While we can’t really condone the use of bottled water (the plastics aren’t exactly healthy for you or the environment), we can offer advice on filter systems and whole-home filtering.

Should You Use a Whole-Home Filtration System?

A home-filtration system allows you to use a filter with a much higher rating than the standard faucet filters we see on store shelves.  These filters use a variety of systems for different volumes of water and filtration qualities.Home filters remove minerals, contaminants, and pollutants before they even enter your home.  In addition to giving you cleaner water at the faucet, they also help to protect the plumbing in your home.  With fewer minerals running free, hard water buildup on fixtures, appliances, and pipes is virtually non-existent (especially when paired with a water softener).

If you aren’t satisfied with the taste of your water, have issues with hard water stains, or have water that’s been tested and is not fit for human consumption due to aging water pipes, then you should consider a whole-home filtration system.

Types of Filters

Carbon filters are common in multiple applications.  Activated carbon and charcoal are used for cleaning odors from the air, cleaning water, and even filtering blood of contaminants.  These filters can be fairly small since they use a bed of carbon granules to absorb pollutants out of your water.  In fact, most faucet filters are carbon filters.

Ultraviolet filters are used to kill bacteria and living organisms in your water.  While nothing is ever 100% free of microbes, UV filters bathe your water in UV-C light, which kills microorganisms that are hazardous to your family’s health.  The drawback of a UV filter is that it will not block particulates and has no effect on minerals.  UV filters are often most effective when paired with another filter such as a reverse osmosis filter, for removing silt, debris, and minerals.

Pairing a water filter with a water softener will ensure plumbing and family health for the lifetime of your home.  With fewer contaminants in your water, plumbing will last longer and fixtures are less likely to develop calcification that requires cleaning or replacement.Reverse osmosis filters are extremely popular as a method of cleaning up water.  They offer some of the highest purity water available and give the cleanest tasting water on the market.  RO water filters are large and expensive but well worth it if you’re concerned about water quality.  Using a series of semi-permeable membranes, water filters through the membrane, leaving particulates, pollutants, and microorganisms behind in waste water.  The one disadvantage to RO filters is the amount of waste water used to carry away the concentrated wastage, but for whole-home filters, RO systems cannot be beat.

Metro Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning is the service company you want!  Call us today at (423) 616-1025!