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The water running out of your faucet might be colorless, tasteless, and odorless. However, those traits alone do not guarantee that your tap water is safe. Having a water filter can be a good idea to help your family avoid harmful water contaminants. But you need to find the right water filtration system for your home because different situations require different types of water filters.
So, how do you determine the best filtration system for your family?
Know the Contaminants in Your Water
Many kinds of contaminants can be in your water. Unfortunately, not every water filtration system can neutralize all kinds of contaminants. Therefore, it is vital to know what contaminants your water contains so you can find an effective filter for it.
Your water supplier company might release information about the water conditions regularly. It can be helpful to know what problems you have to deal with. But remember that the water may pick up other contaminants from the city tank to your faucet.
Your water might be hard. This means it has high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals can build up on fixtures and make them less effective. Water softeners can remove these minerals from the water before they cause any damage.
If you have a private well, you are responsible for ensuring the water is safe to drink. Bacteria and other contaminants can get into well water more easily than city water. Therefore, you should have your well water regularly tested to ensure it is safe to drink.
Also, some chemicals can get into your water even if the treatment plant removes them. For example, chemicals like pesticides and herbicides can runoff from lawns and gardens into the groundwater. If you use a private well, have your water tested for these chemicals.
Even if the water in your area is safe to drink, you might not want to drink it all the time. Some people don’t like the taste of city water or well water. You can buy a water filter to improve the taste of your water.
We suggest you take water directly from your faucet and send it to a lab for testing. That way, you will receive the most specific list of contaminants in your water, including the quantity and harm level. Then, ensure the water filtration system you buy can deal with all those contaminants.
Choose the Right Type of Water Filtration System
Besides contaminant coverage, you must choose your water filter based on the system it uses to purify your water. Here are some options to consider:
Pitcher
If your budget is low, you can consider a water filter pitcher. This is effective for filtering simple and common contaminants like chlorine. It can also improve the taste and odor of your water.
Faucet Mount
A water filter you need to mount on your faucet mouth can generally remove more contaminants than a filter pitcher. However, this might slow down your faucet flow.
Countertop
A countertop water filter is also easy to install, but it may take up space on your counter. This technology allows you to filter more water at a time. Some units don’t even need electrical power to run.
Reverse Osmosis
This system can filter the largest types of water contaminants. Yet unfortunately, that may include removing beneficial minerals from your water. It is also expensive, hard to maintain, and results in a lot of wastewater.
Reverse osmosis forces water through a very tight filter to remove contaminants. Unfortunately, the filter is so tight that it removes many of the beneficial minerals found in water. This system is expensive, hard to maintain, and results in a lot of wastewater.
Some believe reverse osmosis systems are the best way to filter water. However, there are some downsides to using this type of system.
One downside is that reverse osmosis systems remove many of the beneficial minerals that are found in water. These minerals include calcium, magnesium, and potassium. While these minerals are not necessary for life, they can have health benefits. For example, calcium helps strengthen bones and teeth, and magnesium helps with muscle function.
Another downside to reverse osmosis is that it is an expensive system. The initial cost of the system can be several thousand dollars. Additionally, the filters must be replaced regularly, which can add up over time.
Finally, reverse osmosis systems produce a lot of wastewater. For every gallon of filtered water, there are two or three gallons of wastewater produced. Wastewater contains all the contaminants removed, and the minerals stripped out. This wastewater then needs to be disposed of properly.
Overall, reverse osmosis systems are effective at filtering water, but they have some downsides.
Search and Compare
Now you have a better idea of which system might be the best for you and what contaminants you need to neutralize. It is time to browse the market and see what choices are available to you in these particular categories. Compare the specifications, brand, and special qualities they deliver to learn which one is the best for you.
Contaminated water might pose various health risks in the short term and long term. Having the best water filtration system can be a crucial investment for your family’s health and longevity. Make sure to choose wisely!
ECM Air Conditioning, with its headquarters located in Boynton Beach, FL, provides air conditioning services within Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and St. Lucie County. If you’re looking to have a new HVAC system installed, we’re on-call and ready to assist you. So if you’re in need of an HVAC installation, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule an inspection! Our HVAC installation experts will check your ductwork, measure, check wire sizes, and more before making recommendations to ensure maximum efficiency and comfort. Call us at 561-295-1763 or contact our HVAC installation team online by clicking here.
