Water Filtration

Why is it that the replacement water filter cartridge cost is never really mentioned when you initially buy a filtration system?  Because they probably don’t want you to know how much they cost!  Here’s a few tips that’ll save you some good money each year.

When most people browse around for a water filtration system, they often look for an inexpensive system- something they can pay a few bucks for TODAY and bring home to use.  Some go to their local department store, while others look online.

But I’m writing this article to inform you that it’s not always a good idea to buy the cheapest filtration system available (at least the cheapest one, initially).  And here’s why…

Let’s take Brita pitcher filters for example.  They are one of the cheapest units available on the market, which explains why they are the most popular.  There’s just something about a low price tags that gets everyone’s attention for some reason

Anyway, these pitcher filters are by far one of the cheapest systems to get, costing around $25.  But what most people don’t realize is that each replacement water filter cartridge needs to be replaced 2-3 times a month!  And at $20 for a 3-pack of filters, you’re talking paying over $240 a year plus the initial $25 it cost to get the pitcher in the first place (and these type of filters are the least effective kind!)

The point I’m trying to make is this:  In order to better see how much a water filtration system is going to cost, you HAVE TO factor in the costs of each replacement water filter cartridge.

An great way to find an accurate measurement of overall cost is figuring out how much it costs to filter a gallon of water.  So with the water pitcher example, each replacement water filter cartridge costs about $7.50 and it filters 30 gallons of water.  So along with the $25 it costs to get the system, you have to pay 25 cents for every gallon of water that’s filtered.

But let me just give you an idea as to how cheap it can really be to own a home filtration system.  I bought a quality home filtration system that removes over 99% of most contaminants in tap water for $100.  The filter it came with lasted for 6 months (filtering 500 gallons), and each replacement water filter cartridge costs $50.  So, by spending $100 a year to filter 1000 gallons of water, it only costs me about 10 cents to filter a whole gallon of water!

Now that’s cheap! So, needless to say, always remember to include the cost of the replacement water filter cartridges in your overall descision.

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The water filter installed in your home is supposed to help you by filtering and cleaning the water that reaches your faucet. Because today’s rivers and streams (even underground water supplies) are more and more polluted and the demand for fresh water in on the rise, water purifying plants cannot always offer you pure water.

To increase the level of protection for you and your family, you should install a cold water filter. But once you have installed such a water filter, it will not function forever. Water filter manufacturers specify that you should keep your filter in a good shape by avoiding damaging it and replacing it after its lifespan has ended.

Most people forget to replace the water filter and by doing so, they expose themselves and their family to more severe perils then by not having a water filter at all.

To understand why changing your water filter is vital, you should know how water filters work. Most modern water filters are based on the carbon’s property to absorb impurities from the water. The carbon filters are thicker then ordinary filters, taking the water longer to pass through all the filter’s layers, ending up with more pure and cleaner water.

The carbon water filter also absorbs bacteria and chemicals (such as pesticides) from the cold water in addition to the debris, but when the filter gets clogged, its purifying and cleaning properties will decrease. These sediments that gather in your water filter contain bacteria and other dangerous substances and if you do not change it at the recommended moment, you will end up with all these substances and debris in your cold water.

Replacing the water filter is fairly easy. Water filter manufacturers provide replacement filters at affordable prices, so buying them is not an issue. Changing the filter is also straightforward, as all you have to do is take the old filter out of its socket and put the new one in its place. Simply unlock the filter canister by turning its cap about one fourth turn to the left and redo the procedure, in the reverse order, to replace the water filter.

You can find the best prices for a replacement water filter either at online shops or in local hardware and plumbing stores. Just make sure you buy the exact replacement water filter for your particular type of cold water filter.

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The cost of water filter replacement cartridges is something you should consider before you buy a new system. If you review the company’s product performance data, the current price of their replacement water filter cartridges is a determining factor in the “cost of use”.

You may be surprised to learn that some of the cheaper systems have the most expensive water filter replacement cartridges, so the cost to use those products is quite a bit higher than their competitors’. Systems that cost less than 10 cents per day are easily affordable.

Some systems cost upwards of 25 cents per day, due to the higher price of their water filter cartridges or to the gallons of water that can be cleaned before the filters need to be replaced. It is reasonable to expect 500 gallons of water before you need to buy water filter replacement cartridges. 500 gallons is equivalent to about six months worth of drinking water for most families.

You should be wary of companies that claim their water filter cartridges are “maintenance free”. Usually, this means that instead of buying water filter replacement cartridges, you have to buy a whole new system every three months or so.

You should also pay attention to what contaminants the water filter cartridges can remove. Many systems only filter out chlorine taste and odor. While that’s important, there may be other things in your water.

One of the scariest contaminants is lead. You probably know that lead is a toxic metal that when ingested builds up in the body and causes brain damage, organ failure and a host of other health problems. Only the best water filter replacement cartridges block lead.

Another scary possibility is the parasite cryptosporidium. Treatment facilities use chlorine to kill most of the living things in the water supply, but cryptosporidium is resistant to chlorine, particularly during the microscopic “cyst” phase. Most water filter cartridges cannot protect you from cryptosporidium and other cysts.

Those are just two reasons that you need to read about the product’s certified performance before you buy. Sales pitches make all water filter replacement cartridges sound like the best thing ever, but you can’t fall for the hype. If you do, you are putting your health at risk.

Even if you buy a really good system, it becomes worthless if you do not replace the water filter cartridges regularly. Follow the manufacturer’s replacement schedule to the letter. It may seem like a hassle, but it’s the only way to guarantee the purity of your water.

One company is trying to take the hassle out of buying water filter replacement cartridges and others may follow suit, because it’s a good idea. As busy as people are these days and with all the things that they have to remember, the need to replace their water filter cartridges every 3-6 months (depending on the model and manufacturer) often takes a back seat to “more important” things.

What could really be more important than clean water is hard to say, but everyone has their own priorities. If replacing your water filter cartridges is not a priority in your life, or if you just have a hard time remembering, look for a company like Crystal Quest that offers automatic shipment. That way, you’ll get your water filter replacement cartridges on time, without any effort on your part.

An Ezine article

If, like many Americans, you have found yourself in a position where the water coming to your home is potentially harmful to you and your family, you have purchased a filtration system of some kind. There are many different types available and all work in a different way to help keep the water your family uses clean and safe. One thing most have in common, however, is they use water filter cartridges. With that comes, of course water filter replacement cartridges.

Ok, so you started to notice that your baby’s skin was much drier than a few months ago, or that your hair was just a little off-color, or the laundry wasn’t as white as you thought it should be. You did all of the right things. You got the water tested. You were able to find out exactly what was in your water that was making all of these things happen.

You searched for the right filter for your particular contaminants. You were thorough; you did research on the best filters available, you asked questions, and you got a good price. You carefully installed the filters, following the instructions to a tee. You even had the water tested after installation to ensure that the bad stuff was not there. You put your hand on your hips, smiled triumphantly and thought about how well you have protected your loved ones.

But beware. Your work is not yet done. Occasionally, you will need to order water filter replacement cartridges.
You have done a good thing, true, but these units are not “fire and forget”. They require a certain amount of care and maintenance. Most importantly, the water filter cartridges need to be replaced on a regular basis.

Instructions on replacing your water filter cartridges can most often be found in the owner’s manual you received when you purchased your water filter. If you have lost or misplaced the manual, most companies have websites that have any information you need. Be aware of the “shelf life” of your water filter cartridges and how often they should be changed, keeping in mind that certain environmental factors and frequency of use may affect the recommended replacement time frame. Also, be sure to get the right water filter replacement cartridges for your model.

When you bought your filter, you were smart enough to buy from a reliable manufacturer, so actually finding water filter replacement cartridges should be a snap, right? When you do buy the replacements, be sure to buy more than one per unit. It is definitely a good idea to order new water filter cartridges at the same time as when you install the last one. You do not want to wait until the cartridge in the filter is overdue before ordering new ones. After all of your hard work, you don’t want to expose you family to the harmful stuff you have been trying to protect them from, do you?

Excerpted from an Ezine article

A water filter cartridge is the most important part in a water purifier. While many people mistakenly take it as just another part in the purifier, the reality is that it is what really does all the purification and filtration the filter is responsible for.

A water filter cartridge is of different types. There are some which are designed to remove sediments from water, there are some for maintaining pH balance in water, and some for softening and hardening the water as well.

In essence, since a water filter cartridge is designed to do a specific task, it is not advised to replace one type of cartridge in another type of purifier. You have to ensure buying the replacement cartridges from the same manufacturer from whom you have selected your water purifier. This guarantees the correct and desired functioning of the purifier.

Ideally before selecting a purifier, it is imperative to check the cost and availability of the replacement cartridge that comes with it. Usually you need to replace the cartridge every 6 months. So you need to make sure the cartridge is readily available and that too at an economical price.

The cost of the cartridge is counted in the recurring cost for maintaining the purifier. So while buying one, you should check both - the one time cost of the purifier as well as the recurring cost that you will have to bear for replacing the cartridges.

There are a few purifiers which come at a low cost but their maintenance cost is high due to their heavily priced replacement cartridges. Steer clear from such systems. There are better ones already available in the market today.

One of them is the effective and efficient multi stage water purifier. These purifiers are based on the advanced filtration techniques - sub micron filtration, carbon filtration and ion exchange. Not only does this make them capable of removing all types of contaminants, it also provides the power to remove them with 99+% efficiency.

These purifiers come with easy to replace cartridges which too are reasonably priced. If you use these systems, it will cost you something less than 10 cents per gallon of fresh and clean water.

Replacing your water filter cartridges periodically is the only way to ensure the quality of the water produced by your trusted purification system. Do yourself a favor by not ignoring them and keeping them up and running month after month.

An Ezine article

There is a great focus in our world over the importance of clean water and because of this it is imperative that when you shop for a purification system, you find one that gives you the ability to purchase replacement water filters. When you have a water purification system, over time, the system can lose its ability to be effective and clean the water you drink; therefore when you are able to use a replacement water filter, you guarantee the freshness of the water you and your family consumes.

There are many types of water purification systems that give you the option of using a replacement filter. The most common is the carbon water filter and this device usually come with replacement water filters.

When you use a carbon water filter it is interesting to learn that the filter used is actually derived from the husk of a coconut. The derivative from the coconut husk will work to absorb any impurities in the drinking water as it passes through the filter. This is the most common water purifier used in most domestic situations as carbon and their replacement water filters are the easiest to install, are very affordable and are highly effective when filtering out contaminants from drinking water. Most charcoal filters only need replacement water filters every six to nine months.

There are many forms of carbon filters available on the market today. It is important to realize that the best type of carbon filter is one that comes as a solidified form or honeycombed carbon. Filters that come with loose charcoal or carbon are less effective.

Furthermore, you should pay attention to the micron rating in both the original carbon filter and the replacement filters. It is important to note that you should not use a filter that has a micron rate greater than 1. As long as the micron rating is one or under, the most harmful contaminants in water will not be able to pass through and the quality of your drinking water will be improved. However, realize that while the filter will be able to filter the water it will not be able to change the pH level of the water, so if you have water that tends to be acidic, you will still have acidic water with or without the filter.

Remember, the longer your filter has been used, the less effective is has become. Make sure you use replacement water filters regularly in order to ensure you are drinking the purest water possible.

An Ezine article