Water Filtration

If you think that all whole house water filtration systems are the same, you need some more information. There are companies that have been in business for 15 years, long before the idea of home purification became popular. There are also a lot of newcomers.

The industry is not very well regulated in most of the United States. Only California requires that companies provide complete information concerning contaminant reduction and the on-going cost of replacement cartridges. Some of those newcomers that I mentioned avoid doing business in the state because of that requirement.

It’s one thing to “say” that your whole house water filtration systems are effective. It’s another thing to prove it. Companies can have their products tested by independent laboratories “if” they choose to. They are not required to and the ones that are trying to rip you off don’t have the testing done.

If a company’s performance claims are valid, they should have certification by Underwriter’s (UL) or the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). The trade group WQA (Water Quality Authority) allows manufacturers to claim certification without requiring sufficient data and without full compliance with industry standards. So, look for UL or NSF certifications. If a company only has a WQA certification, you cannot be sure that you are getting an effective product.

Although they are not as popular as they once were, for many reasons, there are still a number of whole house water filtration systems that include a reverse osmosis step. That step really drives the price up, but it also de-mineralizes the water and health experts say that drinking de-mineralized waters leads to mineral deficiencies. It creates an acid pH level in the mouth and stomach, aggravating conditions like acid reflux disease.

When you think about it, there is no naturally occurring water in the world that is “mineral-free”. So, obviously, humans were not meant to drink water with a trace mineral content. Even the World Health Organization says that drinking-water should have a trace mineral-content. If you are not concerned about your health, you might be concerned about the taste, which is stale unless minerals are present.

People who have effective and affordable whole house water filtration systems are very happy with them. Maintenance requirements are few. Cost of use is low. Showering “feels” better and many skin conditions start to improve. People with allergies and asthma feel better. It’s a win for everyone.

People who buy reverse osmosis units are often unhappy. Lots of maintenance is required and the systems break down easily. The cost of use is high and the systems require electricity to operate. So, electric bills go up. Gallons of wastewater are created. So, those of us that are trying to go “green” avoid these products.

So, it should be easy to see that all whole house water filtration systems are not the same. Now, you can make an informed selection.

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Have you looked at those whole house water filtration systems that are available to you?  If high levels of chlorine are a big problem where you live then you may want to consider buying one.  A lot of people have been switching to this kind of unit because it leaves them with only one filter that they have to change.

The problem with having individual point of use countertop and showerhead units is that you may have to remember when to change a half dozen or more filters twice per year.  These point of use filters only have a 500 gallon capacity at best, while a whole house filter has a life of 300,000 gallons.

The one thing that you have to be careful about when buying whole house water filtration systems is that as with every other kind of filter quality varies greatly and that quality is not denoted by price.  There are filters that cost $3,000 that don’t do nearly as much as the $1,000 model does.

Here is an example of what I mean the replacement filter for the more expensive model costs $1,789, and only has a life of 225,000.  The replacement filter for the $1,000 model costs only $639.20, and has a life of 300,000 gallons.  That makes you the annual cost of use three times as much for the already overpriced system.

The more expensive whole house water filtration systems boast that they remove just as much chlorine from your drinking water, but can only remove particulate only down to 10 microns, whereas the lower priced unit reduces particulate all of the way down to 5 microns.

Of course there is really no way for you to know if the numbers that the more expensive unit claims is accurate, because the unit is not UL or NSF certified while the lower priced one is.  Without a UL or NSF certification the unit’s actual performance claims cannot be verified.

Another thing that bothers me about the more expensive whole house water filtration systems is that they require back flushing, which means that they produce wastewater.  The less expensive model does not require back flushing therefore none of your water is lost.  This is good from a conservation standpoint.

So there you have it so far as what I said about quality variances.  The $1,000 model won out over the model costing three times as much, and it is the only UL and NSF certified model on the market at such a low price range.  Considering that prices on models equal to this one can cost you up to $5000, it’s quite a bargain.

Whole house water filtration systems are seen as the perfect answer for many people simply because they are more convenient to use and maintain.  Unlike the point of use models that you can install yourself, these do require about 30 minutes of a plumber’s time, but it is money well spent.  You will make that cost back up simply by not having to worry so much.

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If you are like me, you are probably aware how contaminated tap water can be. Drinking this water as it is, is a sure way to invite a host of diseases. This is the reason more and more people today are looking for water purifiers and that too whole house water filtration systems.

But are whole house water filtration systems really useful? What benefit do you get from them? Let’s find out.

One thing is certain. Drinking unfiltered water is out of the question. Tap water contains a ton of impurities inside - Chlorine, pesticides, prescription drugs, heavy metals and bacteria too.

So if you install a simple faucet water filter, it should be able to take care of this problem.

But have you thought what happens when you shower with this contaminated water?

When we shower, the pores in our skin open up and absorb the water inside. This is an easy route for the chemicals present in the water to get inside our body and cause health problems later.

Chemicals like chlorine, evaporate easily and then form other deadly compounds which we inhale while showering.

So it becomes essential to install a shower filter too to get complete protection from contaminated tap water.

If you have more than one bathroom, then it begins to get complicated. You then have to install a faucet water filter in your kitchen, and a shower filter in each bathroom.

An easier way out is to setup a whole house water filtration unit. This unit is installed at the point where your home connects to the water supply. The water is filtered there only at the point of entrance to your home, and then all the taps in your home - be it the kitchen or the bathroom - get clean and pure water.

The hassles of separate installation and maintenance are avoided this way.

The only catch is - you have to use a good water purifier like those that use a combination of new technologies like Sub Micron filtration, Carbon filtration and Ion Exchange mechanism, otherwise all your efforts will come to naught. These filters can take care of all the contaminants of the water and can give you pure water that is safe for consumption.

So there you have it. Whole house water filtration systems are an easy way to get pure water in your home easily. Just do some research and choose the right one.

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Recent scientific reports have revealed that hormones are present in our water supplies, really I hear you ask? Think about it, chemicals and drugs are disposed all to easily and when you think that most water is recycled at some point is there any wonder that traces of hormones will be found?

If you and your family are concerned about the unwanted chemicals, minerals and bacteria in your family’s drinking and cooking water or if you are interested in just better tasting water, whole house water filtration systems are an excellent idea.

Since water is an essential part of good health, you must be sure that your drinking water source provides the healthiest water possible.

Filtration systems, purifiers and whole house UV systems can really increase the quality of not only the water you drink but the water used throughout the whole of your house.

There are several different types of whole house water filtration systems, some types use a single water filter, and some can be used in whole house auto flush water filtration systems as well.

Whole house water filtration systems are beneficial in the following ways:

This system provides almost 99 % pure drinking water for a lifetime depending on system design. It removes the bacteria, chemicals and salts that a comparable reverse osmosis system would allow to pass through and its purity is reliable.

These systems do not waste any water during the process of water purification. These can be easily moved from one place to the next, unlike reverse osmosis filter which is permanently attached to the waterline and drain under the sink.

This system helps in the removal of chlorine, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, dirt, sediment, parasites, bacteria and much more, and softens the water thereby eliminating odor from it. Thus safe drinking, cooking, washing, cleaning and bathing water is obtained from every tap in the house.

No matter what your whole house filtration needs are there are a number of companies which provide entire systems. It is recommended that if you are going to choose a whole house water filtration system that you should consider your sanitation needs as well. This is the only beneficial water treatment system that is complete in its package as it provides water of your choice from every tap of the house.

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Whole house water filtration systems can be a waste of money if you install the wrong system, or a real health boost to you and your family if you get it right.

If you’ve ever had to limit the amount of water you use in a day you’ll know how much we take water for granted and how much we need. It’s water we reach for when we’re cooking, drinking, washing, cooling down, bathing and cleaning up.

Good quality water is something we need through the day and not just when we reach for a cool drink or brush our teeth. So whole house water filtration systems make a lot of sense if your local water authorities are doing a poor job of getting clean water to your home.

And many municipal and rural water officials are delivering unhealthy water to their communities. It’s not all their fault, but tiny traces of pharmaceutical drugs, chemicals and other harmful contaminants are regularly found in tap water.

For example, official testing in Philadelphia has found 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts in drinking water there, including drugs for mental illness, high cholesterol, pain, heart problems, asthma and even epilepsy. This is treated water that has been through the city’s water purification plant. It’s the water that has passed federal government regulations and is legally permitted to go to your tap. (Even worse, out in the water catchment areas of that city an alarming 63 of these pharmaceuticals and byproducts have been found.)

Officials defend their water quality by saying minute amounts of these things are not harmful. Well, is that correct? Male fish living in water with parts per trillion of pharmaceuticals become feminine — remarkable as it sounds, they begin creating egg yolk proteins, something only females do naturally. Why would this not be happening to people drinking contaminated water in the so-called safety of their own homes?

It is remarkable that complex, modern water purification equipment is not able to stop these dangerous contaminants. But this is a fact. And if you live in a community where chlorine is regularly added to the water after it has been treated you will know this is correct. Because chlorine is a last-ditch attempt to kill whatever got through the municipal filters.

Equally alarming is the fact that of the dozens and dozens of common pharmaceuticals found in treated water, officials will almost never test for more than five or six because this is all that federal government requires them to look for.

So, it is likely that your household is being drenched in contaminated water. Whole house water filtration systems suddenly become good investments.

Actually, decent whole house water filtration systems can be a rather small investment because you don’t need to go high-tech, rather you just need to install equipment that will do two things: first catch the drugs and chemicals, and second keep the natural essential minerals like calcium that are removed by some systems like reverse osmosis. You can do all this for a modest price with a small collection of different filters, each doing a different job.

Let me recommend you look around on the Internet and find the whole house water filtration systems that will remove chemicals and retain healthy minerals as I’ve just described. But whatever you do, seriously consider investing in a set of filters that, together will give you one of the whole house water filtration systems that can truly protect your and your family from the harmful contaminants your water authorities turn a blind eye to.

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With all of the systems available today to purify your drinking water, have you ever considered the advantages of whole house water filtration systems? These units make it possible to block contaminants from every possible access point in your house while using a single filter.

Point of use countertop filters are wonderful tools for keeping your drinking water free of contaminants because they typically remove a higher percentage of impurities than most whole house systems do, but with their use comes the disadvantage of also having to buy showerhead filters for your home.

Purchasing these multiple units can easily add up to or exceed the price of whole house water filtration systems. Plus there is the disadvantage of still coming into contact with chemical contaminants through brushing your teeth, or through the ice from your icemaker.

Then there is the chloroform gas that is the natural form of THMs in your water. These are natural byproducts produced by the chlorine disinfection process. Chloroform is released into the air of your home by the steam that is produced by your washing machine and dishwasher.

Good whole house water filtration systems will reduce THMs, and a whole lot more. The systems are capable of reducing chlorine, lead, synthetic chemicals VOCs, MTBE, Turbidity, and removes odors from your water. They will do this in most cases as well as any of the point of use models by blocking contaminants up to 99.99%.

The best way that these systems can manage to be so efficient in blocking out these contaminants is through the use of a four stage filtering process. The pre-filter removes contaminants down to five microns, then a zinc and copper mineral media removes chlorine, the taste and odor are improved through a bituminous activated charcoal media, and finally a high grade coconut shell based activated carbon media removes the rest.

These whole house water filtration systems have a high water capacity of about eight gallons per minute, so you will never have a drop off in pressure, they are virtually maintenance free, and they require no back flushing. Also, as I pointed out earlier there are fewer filters to worry about changing with these models.

The main filter has a 300,000 gallon capacity, and only needs to be replaced on average once every three years. The pre-filters should be replaced every three to six months. This is certainly a lot easier to remember than if you had various filters spread out all over the house.

So you can see how many advantages whole house water filtration systems offer over the popular point of use systems can’t you? Now that you know a little bit more about these systems you can make a decision for yourself as to which kind of set-up you want to have in your home.

No matter whether you choose to go with whole house water filtration systems or if you want to purchase point of use models, the important thing is that your family is protected from the impurities found in our water supply. But for the best bang for your buck, and your health, follow my advice and go with a whole house water filtration system.

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Let’s face it. There are an overwhelmingly large number of home water filters to choose from on the market. For that reason it’s important to shop wisely and carefully. You can get a shower filter, an under the sink filter, a counter top filter, or a whole house filter. You might be wondering why anyone would want whole house water filtration systems.

The dangers of drinking tap water are well known to the majority of people. It is contaminated with chemicals such as chlorine, lead, pesticides, and prescription drugs and drinking it can cause a number of health problems. What many people don’t realize is that bathing in it, cooking with it, and doing laundry with it is also dangerous and for that reason whole house water filtration is making waves.

When you bathe in tap water, chlorine and other chemicals are released in the shower steam. Breathing those chemicals can cause respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis. When you bathe, your pores also open up so your skin absorbs the chemicals which then enter your bloodstream. In sum, showering in tap water is actually more dangerous than drinking it because you both breathe the chemicals and absorb them through your skin. With whole house water filtration systems, you can have peace of mind when you shower.

In addition to being a health hazard, showering in tap water is very bad for your hair and skin. It can lead to severely dry skin, hair loss, and skin irritation. Just after days of using a whole house water filtration device, you will notice that your hair and skin feel much softer and look more beautiful than ever.

Whole house water filtration systems are also necessary in order to stay completely safe from ingesting the contaminants in tap water. Drinking water filters may prevent you from ingesting a lot of chemicals and they are better than nothing but when you think about, you actually consume a lot of contaminants just by cooking with tap water. Boiling water does not get rid of all the chemicals it contains.

Having a whole house filtration system also means that you can wash your clothes and dishes in filtered water. When you do laundry with tap water, the chemicals get embedded in your clothing and it is dangerous. When you wash your dishes with tap water the residue from the chemicals is left on your dishes and the chemicals are released in the steam. Having a whole house treatment system alleviates these problems.

Another huge perk of having whole house water filtration systems is the fact that contaminated tap water will never enter your home’s plumbing system. That means you will be 100% safe from the dangers of tap water and no other water filtration system can guarantee that. Lastly, your only line of defense against a breakdown in the municipal water treatment system is a whole house filter.

Your goal? Take this information and decide whether whole house water filtration systems are right for you. There are many obvious perks to having a whole house water filtration device. If you are concerned about your health and that of your family, getting a whole house water filter is one of the biggest steps you can take towards protecting yourself and your loved ones.

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You may think that the initial price of a whole house water filtration system is too costly, or that the replacement cartridges need to be replaced too often, but when you look at the benefits, you begin to realize how whole house water filtration can actually save you money.

One of the “hidden” advantages of having a whole house water filtration system is it helps prevent your pipes from getting clogged or corroded, by removing the crud that causes the clogging and the corrosive contaminants from your water.

Replacing pipes and fixtures in your home can be rather costly, and certainly a lot more than whole house water filter replacement cartridges, or the entire system. Since, the water running through your plumbing is clean, there is hardly any chance of sediments building up in them.

Whole house water filter replacement cartridges generally need to be changed every 4 months or so, depending upon the quality of your water. Often, remembering to buy whole house water filter replacement cartridges can be troublesome. To solve this issue, one company offers automatic shipment direct to your home and they offer a discount on the price when you sign up for the program.

The best whole house water filter replacement cartridges cost only about 50 cents a day. Which is a pittance to pay to have clean, safe and filtered water in every tap in your house. If you’re using bottled water for drinking, that cost alone, is more than the 50 cents per day!

On a side note, if you’re using bottled water and paying less than 50 cents per day, you may want to find out where that bottled water is coming from!

In addition, if you have whole house water filtration, you won’t have the hassle of having to buy individual filters for the kitchen tap or the shower. When you combine the dollars saved and the reduced hassle of keeping track of individual filters throughout your home, you can see how whole house water filter replacement cartridges are not really expensive at all.

Then, of course, there are the health benefits of having whole house water filtration. Whole house water filter replacement cartridges protect you and your family from the harmful effects of chlorine, which the FDA says is high in every home. Chlorine in the water releases chloroform gas every time you shower, flush the toilet or wash dishes.

Just having a drinking water filter does not reduce the risk. It’s becoming more and more apparent, that the whole house should be protected.

In the best systems, there are several stages that your water passes through. The pre-filter reduces the levels of contaminants so that the main filter does not get clogged. A clogged main filter would result in loss of a pressure and reduce the life of the filter.

The main filter usually lasts about 3 years, if the pre-filters are replaced regularly. It is the pre-filters of the whole house water filter replacement cartridges that you have to change about every 4 months, depending on the quality of the water coming in. Luckily, the pre-filters are relatively inexpensive.

The main filter of the whole house water filter replacement cartridges is a marvel of technology. In layman’s terms it changes the chlorine into a harmless form. The granules of carbon used within it are considered by the EPA as the “Best Technology” that has ever been used in water filtration.

A research team from the College of Wisconsin Medical School has said that, in their opinion there is a link between household chlorine and cancer. Other chlorine related health problems include, skin irritations, asthma and headaches. The whole house water filter replacement cartridges, not only remove the risk of all those contaminants and more, but help provide your home with healthy, tasteful water.

Just in case you didn’t know, chlorine is bleach that is poured into most municipal water systems as a means of sanitizing the water. It’s used because it is the cheapest way to save our water from bacterial contamination. And, it kind of works. But what we have learned is, chlorine itself poses a threat to our health in many ways.

Other countries are using safer, more advanced technologies. Yet, here in the states, we continue to use chlorine, because, well, that’s what we have always done. The safest and possibly the most economical way to deal with chlorine may be a whole house water filtration system.

The best whole house water filter replacement cartridges are reasonably priced and easy to install. With automatic shipment, you will get fresh whole house water filter replacement cartridges when you need them, without even having to think about it. So, what are you waiting for?!

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Treating All The Water In Your Home

Whole house water filtration systems treat all of the water in your home by connecting to your main water line. Thus your faucets, toilets, showers, baths, kitchen, laundry provide purified water. Usually, the whole house water filtration system connects to your main line before getting to the hot water heater. If a homeowner would like to purify the water for their yard or garden the situation gets a little complicated. The yard water line and house water line are many times separated. The yard line may be in the slab or in the ground. The city or the house blueprint will help determine how yours is done.

The type of filter or system needed for a home depends on whether you have a city water supply or a well. The contaminants for them are usually different. The water from a city supply normally contains chemicals, sediment, and hardness minerals. A well or other private supply will normally have sediment, iron, and hardness minerals. There are other toxins in some water supplies like residue from prescription drugs, microorganisms, and synthetic chemicals. The various types of filters available are drinking water filters, shower filters, and whole house water filters.

The Flow Rate

The main thing to consider when buying a system is the flow rate. Systems are made to handle the larger amount of water flowing in through the main line. The faster the flow rate the less purification. Systems are designed for maximum flow rates. To get the best results from a system for your home, compare flow rates of different systems and buy one that matches the highest flow rate for your home.

How To Find The Best Systems And Prices

You can get the best deals on home water filters and whole house water filtration systems by a simple Internet search.

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Whole house water filtration systems are necessary no matter how good you think your local water system is. Fact is, even in areas known for having clean H2O, there are still thousands of harmful toxins making their way into your body through the water you drink, cook and shower with.

Water is a fact of life. Proper hydration is the key to keeping our bodies working and looking as healthy as possible. Just about every one of our internal systems relies on it to function properly. Everything from headaches to asthma to arthritis can be controlled with proper hydration. Whole home water filtration systems ensure that all the water we use each day is clean and pure. No other option can offer complete coverage for every sink and shower in your home with one easy installation, providing pure water throughout your house.

While bottled water looks like an attractive choice, there are actually no government standards regulating its production, so most bottled H2O is no cleaner than ordinary tap water. And no matter how thorough your local water company may claim to be, most ordinary tap water is laced with thousands of minerals and VOCs (volatile organic chemicals). Only whole house water filtration systems can completely remove toxins from your water while leaving behind minerals like calcium and magnesium which we need.

And as important as your drinking water is, it is even more important to be sure that the water in your shower is as clean as possible. A whole home water filtration system will ensure that you are showering in purified water, free of excess chlorine which can not only dry out hair and skin but also drastically affect the respiratory system. You want to be sure that when your family uses the shower, they aren’t washing their health down the drain.

Whole house water filtration systems are available from several manufacturers, either through your local home improvement store or directly through the manufacturers’ websites. Before buying a system, you’ll want to consider all the options and make sure to choose the one that best suits your needs. While many different filtration techniques are used, a multi-stage system which uses a carbon filter will generally give you the best results for your money.

When choosing a system for your home, being an educated consumer will give you the best advantage. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s information for each product, paying particular attention to the Performance Data Sheet, which should give you a clear idea of just which contaminants a particular product addresses and how thoroughly it eliminates them. Whole home water filtration systems are the best insurance you can give your family when it comes to good health, so you want to be sure to choose wisely.

Another important guideline is state regulation. California has some of the strictest water regulations in the country, so any product with California Certification is sure to do an excellent job. When it comes to buying whole house water filtration systems, the more documentation the better. You want to be sure to get a product that not only does a thorough job, but gives you the most quality for your money.

Protecting your family is important to you, and that protection starts at home. You want to know that every time you turn on the tap or step into the shower, your water is as clean as possible. Long life and good health are as close as your taps. Home water filters can help your water help you.

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