Water Filtration

When you compare shower filters, you need to look at a number of different things. Perhaps most important is it’s capability. What contaminants are removed, and to what degree? Are the important minerals filtered as well? These are the questions you have to ask yourself when choosing a shower water filter for your home.

The purpose of a filter for your home shower is to improve the quality of the water, taking out toxins that are bad for your skin and hair and leaving clean, fresh water as close to what you will find in nature as possible. One of the other main benefits that many people overlook is the fact that by filtering out chlorine, among other chemicals, you are significantly reducing chloroform vapors from the air, which can be very detrimental to your health over time.

So when comparing shower filters, you want to be sure that the unit is able to remove the maximum amount of contaminants from the water, including chlorine, lead, volatile organics, and chemical byproducts. A quick way to find this important information is to check out a product’s Performance Data sheet, which should be clearly presented on the company web site.

Another thing to consider when you compare shower filters is the type of water filtration method, as not all methods are equally effective in filtering out harmful contaminants. According to the latest research, of the shower filters reviewed it was revealed that multi-stage units appear to be the best as far as number/percentage of harmful elements removed and total efficiency.

Some of the other methods such as distillation and reverse osmosis, which were once popular, have been shown to de-mineralize water, removing natural trace elements which actually negates the therapeutic value of water. These types of filters also tend to waste 2-3 gallons for every gallon they produce, which makes them very costly to operate.

Look for units with separate chambers performing specific filtration tasks when comparing shower filters. Of the shower filters reviewed by us, the most effective were the ones that removed chlorine and balanced pH in one stage then removed synthetic chemicals in another. This combination yields the best results.

It is sometimes difficult to compare shower filters, as some manufacturers do not have a Performance Data Sheet or make claims that they don’t back up. That’s why it’s important to find a reputable company that employs independent third party testing and has the documentation to back up performance claims. Also look for a satisfaction guarantee of some sort…a reputable company will proudly stand behind their products.

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Man’s best friend can share more than the good things in life. Dogs can also share a pesky parasite. The parasite Giardia is contracted by dogs that drink contaminated water, such as that found in puddles or lakes or even on wet kennel floors. Symptoms include diarrhea, weight loss, and hair loss, and puppies are at highest risk. Keep your dog away from water sources that may be contaminated and from wildlife fecal matter, and make sure to wash your hands after playing with pets. To be sure that the water your dog drinks at home is as healthy as possible, there are a number of quality water filters on the market today that remove not only the Giardia parasite, but also many other contaminants that can harm pets as well as other family members. It is advisable of course that even after taking every forseeable safeguard including fitering your home’s drinking water, should you suspect that your dog has been infected with Giardia be sure to see your vet immediately .Excerpted from a Dogage.com article ( 3-26-09 )

Are you frustrated with the quality of your drinking water? If you’re like me, then answer would be a resounding yes. Fortunately, a few years ago, I began experimenting with water filtration systems, bottled water, and even distilled water. What I found most effective and convenient was my countertop water filtration system.

Countertop water filtration systems are the most convenient, economical method for obtaining quality good tasting drinking water. Unlike bottled water which does not face as much scrutiny, home water filtration systems are heavily regulated in the United States, as well as many other countries abroad. Distilled water, while an effective method for removing contaminants in our water, also removes many nutrients in water such as calcium that is needed by the human body. Countertop purification systems combine quality with price, since they tend to be less expensive than stand alone pitcher systems.

Many countertop water filtration systems come with their own faucet fixture (with the actual filtration process taking place under the sink); however, there are those that attach directly to your existing faucet and require the user to flip a lever to obtain filtered water. From my experience, I would highly recommend using a separate faucet for your filtration purposes. Having separate spouts for drinking purposes and other kitchen uses (i.e. cleaning dishes) allows for easier use and a better overall appearance. For instance, while cooking, I find turning on my separate filtered faucet easier rather than turning on the main faucet and struggling to switch the lever to obtain filtered water. These separate faucets are often taller than the traditional kitchen faucet, allowing for easy access when trying to fill large pots or bowls with water. It might seem like a minor detail, but this can be a major inconvenience in everyday use.

Separate faucet systems also tend to have easier to replace cartridges than their “attached” counterparts. Replacing an “attached” water filter usually involves a relative amount of strength (to unscrew the system off of your primary faucet) and some tools. The separated faucet system, however, performs its filtration task under the counter, meaning that filtration replacement is performed quite simply by opening a box without much manual labor. Installation of these under counter systems, however, can be a bit more tricky, but not impossible.

Whatever countertop water filter you use, it’s important to keep it regularly maintained by replacing its filter every 3-6 months. This seemingly minor detail is crucial to the performance of your water filtration system and can lead to overall better health, including improved skin tone.

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Dean Kamen, probably best-known to the public for the product that eventually became known as the Segway PT, an electric, self-balancing human transporter, has done it again. Kamen’s latest creation promises to do nothing short of producing clean water from virtually any liquid source (without filters) and generate enough electricity to power about 70 energy efficient light bulbs. What’s more, Kamen estimates that the machines would cost between $1,000 and $2,000 which, given the number of people a single one is likely to help, is certainly quite the bargain.

Unfortunately, as of this writing however, the units are not yet ready for mass production according to Jim Scott of Deka Research. Needless to say, when they do become available to the general public it could revolutionize the entire water filtration industry. In the meantime, there are several very good alternative disaster relief water filtration units on the market right now. Some of the most efficient and user-friendly disaster relief water filters  are made by a Colorado-based company called Living Waters.

Click here to see Dean Kamen explain his invention on “The Colbert Report”  http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/164485/march-20-2008/dean-kamen

Let’s face it; there are a variety of portable water filters to choose from on the market today. In order to choose the best portable water filters for your own personal use, it helps to know a little about what the different products can do. Here are some things to consider.

First things first, where are you planning to travel? There are filters for practically any condition that you might come up against.

For example, if you are a hiker, drinking water straight from a spring or stream is unsafe. Ask any nurse working in an emergency room near the Appalachian Trail. Hikers come in all the time with a condition known as Giardiasis.

Hikers sometimes just call it giardia, the name of the single-celled parasite that causes the infection. So, if you expect to be in a situation where you will need to drink from a spring or stream, the safest filters to carry with you will kill or remove giardia.

If you were traveling to Africa or other countries where the water source is particularly unreliable, the best portable water filters to choose will effectively eliminate water-borne diseases such as cholera. There are some excellent water filters on the market that are credited with reducing cases of potentially fatal diarrhea in Zimbabwe. Caused by drinking water contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and cysts, the condition is a common problem in Africa.

But, let’s face it. Most of us are not planning to take a missionary post, and vacationing in a third world country is not particularly popular, but all of us have to go to work, school, on vacation or somewhere with unfiltered tap water. While drinking it probably won’t make us deathly ill, it could endanger our future health and it just doesn’t taste good.

So, the best portable filters for the majority of people usually fall under the heading of sport bottle filters or water filter bottles. Different companies rearrange the words, but they all work similarly.

Typically, you will find plastic bottles shaped like any other sports bottle, but with a specially designed lid or spout that holds a filter. Some of these devices block only odor and chlorine. Others can remove giardia.

A few of the best portable water filters block lead, which is particularly important if you work or live in some of the major cities around the country. Recent reports have determined that the tap water in a large number of city structures is contaminated with lead, because of deteriorating pipes that carry water into the buildings. In other words, don’t drink from the water fountain.

Make no mistake about it, portable water filters are a good alternative to buying bottled water. Not only will it save you money, but the quality and taste of the water will likely be better, particularly if you choose the best portable water filters. Plus, you’ll be doing your part to help protect the environment from those ever growing piles of plastic bottles.

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If the quality of your skin and hair is preventing you from having fun outdoors, the odds are you may be experiencing these health problems due to chlorinated water. Why chlorinated water?

Showering in hot chlorinated water can affect two very important parts of your body…namely, skin and hair. In fact, many research studies have found that chlorine is not at all safe for drinking and showering even though it is being used to disinfect water for drinking. The worst part is that most people don’t know about the harmful effects of chlorine. If an asthmatic patient showers in chlorinated water regularly, it can make his or her case acute. In the long run, it can also affect the eyes, lungs, kidneys and weight as well. Science tells us that gases as a rule are less soluble in hot water and when chlorine gets heated along with water, it can affect all vital signs of life in the human body. Studies in animals have shown that chlorine adversely affects the body’s disease fighting abilities. Research has also shown that chlorine attacks the airways of children more than of an adult. Chlorine can also make you look older by increasing the signs of aging on your body.

Those individuals who understand the magnitude of this problem have started using shower filters, but unfortunately this group is a minority. There is need to create awareness among all people about the adverse affects of chlorinated water. There is also need to highlight the benefits of good shower filters which are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and types. The main concern when deciding on which shower filter to purchase is to be sure it does the best job possible of removing chlorine from water and making your water safe for showering.

When it comes to a countertop water filter, you’ll want to know what to look for and what to avoid. A countertop water filter system may or may not be the right choice for your family, but first let’s look at what a complete countertop water filter system should include.

As you probably realize, a countertop water filter system sits on top of the counter, rather than under the sink. It attaches to the faucet, but unlike a lot of the products that you see in stores, the better unit do not attach to the faucet. So, there is no interference with dish washing or other chores and filling bowls or large pots is not a problem.

In the best countertop water filter designs, the adaptor fits onto the faucet and a switch allows water to either run straight through the tap or into the countertop water filter system and back out, typically through a spout located behind the regular faucet. This allows you to prolong the filter life by only filtering water needed for cooking or drinking. Of course, if you wash dishes by hand, you still want to use water that has run through your countertop water filter, in order to protect your hands from the drying affects of chlorine.

There are numerous styles on the market. Be sure that the company you choose offers multiple adaptors, to ease installation and prevent leakage. Hardware supply stores rarely have the proper attachments for a countertop water filter system. If the company you choose does not supply them, you could end up having to return the product.

Most countertop water filter designs are intended to be installed by the consumer. It is not supposed to be necessary to call a plumber, but depending on your skill level, it may be easier and probably wouldn’t cost too much. The countertop water filter system that we like comes with an installation video that you can view online, before you buy. That way, you can make the decision about whether or not you can “do-it-yourself”.

Countertop water filters vary in price greatly. The one that we like is less than a hundred dollars. The replacement cartridges last for about 6 months or 500 gallons and the company offers a replacement plan, so that you don’t have to remember to buy them. They ship them automatically when you are approaching your scheduled replacement. It’s the easiest way that we have seen to insure that our water is always pure, clean and chemical free.

Now, in order to decide if a countertop water filter system is the right choice for your family, here’s what you need to consider.

Reports show that showering in chlorinated water is just as bad (if not worse) for your health than drinking chlorinated water. If you own your own home, you may want to consider a whole house system, as opposed to a countertop water filter system.

Shower head filters are available, but it may be just as economical to let one filter do the whole job, rather than having multiple filters and replacement cartridges around the house. Of course, if you live in an apartment or rent, then the countertop water filter is the right choice. Remember to compare product performance data, before you buy. Not every countertop water filter does every thing that it should.

In conclusion, don’t forget to check out customer reviews. They may give you an idea of the accuracy of the claims made by the manufacturer, as well as the ease of installation. Check the performance data sheets too, to make sure the unit will produce the amount of filtered water that you household needs.

Now that you know what to look for, and what to consider - go forth and compare countertop water filter units and choose the best one for your needs!

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Chlorine, microorganisms and other chemicals have been found to cause a variety of diseases and problems in the short and long term. There is even a significant relationship between the development of cancer with water that has already been treated in plants spurring individuals and homes to invest in water purification products. Find out which processes and devices work best.

POE and POU

There are do-it-yourself whole house and under-the-sink water filters that can be installed quickly and easily. Faucet mounts and countertop models are also ideal if you cannot directly access the pipes. POE or point of entry whole house water purification products are ideal for the water line to come straight to your home. Rust and sediments can significantly be reduced from the pipes protecting other appliances like clothes washers, toilets, showers, dishwashers and humidifiers. Chlorine is also controlled well which tends to damage clothes and cause itching.

POU or point of use water purification systems for home provide clean and safe water on demand by removing contaminants and other impurities. There are filters that effectively remove contaminants in very small sizes and high concentrations to provide you with pure water for drinking, washing and bathing.

Under the Sink and Mounted Models

Water purification products render a polishing effect which takes away substances like chlorine, lead, bacteria, rust, sediments, VOCs or volatile organic compounds, pesticides like lindane, herbicides like atrazine as well as certain odors and tastes. Under-the-sink filters come in a variety of models and mechanisms depending on the current quality of water you have as well as the present contaminants. These are effective in removing Giardia, Cryptosporidium and more.

Faucet mounts are convenient and affordable usually used by homeowners who are still understanding the more important benefits of cleansing treated water. Tap water is improved in taste, appearance and odor by taking out known contaminants. Countertop water filters are very easy to install and affordable. These also remove cysts and Cryptospordium well.

For Travel and Emergency

Emergency water filters have the advantage of ease of operation as well as effectiveness in getting rid of several waterborne diseases like typhoid and cholera. These are usually used by emergency relief organizations although models are also available as water purification systems for home. Bacterial growth is controlled by impregnating the structure with silver thereby preventing mitosis or growth in any way.

Portable water filters allow you to filter water from any type of water source like tap, waterfalls, rivers, fountains, heaters and pools. You get to have safe and clean drinking water in a matter of several minutes. There are different models and types available which may incorporate one or more processes for thorough cleansing.

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Everyone needs water in order to survive, but it must be clean. When we want a drink of water, we typically get a glass and take water right from the kitchen faucet. However, even city water is likely to contain impurities. These impurities are so small we cannot see them and they’re so slight that we cannot taste them. Nevertheless, they are present. One way to rid ourselves of these impurities in our water is by installing a countertop water filter.

Countertop water filters actually go on the side of your sink and attach to the kitchen faucet. They are installed in minutes and there are no special tools required. With the flip of a switch, one can have clean, fresh water poured into his glass. It doesn’t get any easier than that.

Countertop water filters work by running the water through a series of filters before returning to the faucet. Because of the amount of time the water is in the filter, a greater amount of contaminants are removed.

The filters remove chemicals like chlorine, lead, organic chemicals, but leave minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium that add taste to the water. These filters also remove algae by-products and other sources of bad taste or odor sometimes found in well or municipal water.

Some countertop water filters require that you change the filters every so often. This is because the filters, after removing so many impurities, can become clogged. When that happens, the filters aren’t working as well. The result is impure water, which defeats the purpose of having a countertop water filter. So check the filter’s documentation to see when to change the filters. Some models come with an extra change of filters but others require one to buy them so check to make sure an extra set is always on hand.

Countertop water filters have several advantages. In spite of the cost of replacement filter(s), the overall savings over bottled water is significant. Also, the convenience is a great selling point. Flip a lever and fresh filtered water for cooking or drinking pours from the faucet. Flip it back, and unfiltered water is available for washing.

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Shower filters may seem like something you could live without, but often many important things are hidden in the smallest of details. One of the main purposes of the filters is to remove as much of the chlorine used to disinfect water as possible. Together with other disinfecting agents, chlorine can be dangerous to our organisms even if it is not ingested. The vapors that are formed during a shower have certain amounts of the disinfectant which have easy access to our lung tissues through vapor inhalation. This unseen enemy may lead to several health problems and you won’t even realize that the triggering elements are there when taking your shower. The most common problems caused by the lack of a good shower filter are skin irritations and rashes. A good shower filter will help reduce the negative effects of disinfectants by over 90%. By cleaning the vapors that are formed during a shower, the filter stops chlorine from getting into your system, thus improving your condition especially if your body is sensitive to disinfectants.

Other benefits to consider are:

Allergies or sensitive skin often cause problems when faced with chlorine. During the cold season, this is a serious issue, especially as far as the condition of the skin is concerned. Because of extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations, our skin tends to crack and become more irritable. Skin rashes are other facial skin problems, such as acne, can also become aggravated. Chlorine does not help with such problems – in fact, it worsens them. The shower filter makes sure you are protected from the added damage of receiving chemical bombardment on your skin. Several cancer causing chemical compounds that are created in the presence of disinfectants are also stopped by the filter. As chlorine is a bleaching agent, this may also have effects on the health of your hair and skin. Dyed hair can keep its color for a longer period of time when a shower filter is used. And for people suffering from different allergies or asthma, showers are now safer and chances of irritation are minimum. Another benefit of shower filters is that they also stop poisonous metals, such as lead, from entering your lungs through breathing or through your mouth through accidental water ingestion. By stopping minerals from reaching out in the shower water, you will also feel a smoother skin sensation.

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