Water Filtration

Don’t buy water filters for shower heads until you know the facts. We all need shower filters for copper and chlorine, but there are some products on the market that are a real waste of money.

I don’t mean to sound cheap. But, why pay more, when you can get something effective for a fraction of the cost? We are on a budget. So, I always shop around, comparing quality and performance. If I have to pay more to get better quality, then I will. But, when I began to compare water filters for shower heads, I realized that some of these companies are trying to rip us off.

“Wellness”, for example, is the most expensive brand on the market. They make unsubstantiated claims about the performance of their products. They have not had their products evaluated by independent laboratories, health departments or other regulating agencies.

On the flip side of the coin, there are water filters for shower heads that do not remove copper or lead. They do not reduce hazardous chemicals that become airborne in the shower. Yet, they cost more than the most effective systems on the market.

When it comes to shower filters for copper and chlorine, there are only three products on the market with effective chemical reduction. The prices range from $67.99 to $249.00 for the Wellness brand.

Companies like “Paragon” and “Shower-wise” do not provide effective chemical removal, but there prices are about the same as the more effective shower filters for copper and chlorine. I’ve already mentioned that Wellness is a waste of money.

But, a $70 system that does not remove chlorine by-products or metallic traces is also a waste of money. The Paragon and Shower-wise systems only reduce chlorine by 50% and do nothing to reduce chlorination by-products. Those byproducts have been shown to increase your cancer-risk. The threat in the shower is believed to be greater than the threat in the kitchen. In other words, inhaling the fumes and allowing the chemical to soak into your skin is worse than consuming them in a glass of water.

So, you need shower filters for copper and chlorine that also remove trihalomethanes (THMs). The most effective systems remove more than 90% of those chemicals and about 70% of the lead and copper.

If you’re tall, you might want to rule out water filters for shower heads that reduce the shower head height. If you like an invigorating massage, you need to look for one with a flow-rate around 2.5 Gallons per minute.

If you have kids or if you like a tub-bath, you want to look for shower filters for copper and chlorine that have a removable wand. That way you can fill up the tub, too.

Once you find the right system, you will never go back to showering in chlorinated water. Showering in unchlorinated water is almost like showering in spring-water. It feels that good. Hopefully, the information here will help you find one of the right shower filters as well as save some money.

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Chances are if you’re reading this article you’re in the market for a water filtration system. You don’t need to be convinced that your tap water is not as safe as many people believe or for that matter neither is bottled water. In this article, we’re going to cover the 4 main tap water filtration systems, from the basic, less expensive system to the more expensive whole house system.

These systems can be purchased locally in most parts of the country as well as online for big savings if you shop smart. After having done extensive research, the following 4 systems appear to meet the needs of most everyone.

System #1 - Sports Bottle Filters - If you want something fast and easy a sport bottle filter is the way to go. This type of product takes the place of bottled water. This is basically a sporty-looking bottle that contains an internal filter cartridge that filters out chlorine, lead, and chemical pollutants. The average cost is $25-$45 and will filter about 40 gallons of water. Compare that to 40 gallons of bottled water and it’s a real deal.

System #2 -Countertop Water Filter Systems - These tap water filtration systems sit on your counter top and attach directly to your kitchen faucet. They are very easy to use, as you simply need to push a button to turn it on. You can spend under $100 on a quality unit, and at that price you are still getting the safest possible water for pennies a gallon.

System #3 - Under Sink Filtration Systems - These tap water filtration systems perform the same functions as the system mentioned above, however, you have the added convenience of it being installed under your kitchen sink. Some people prefer this system because it leaves them more room on their kitchen counter top. The units also run from just under $100 to approximately $300. Both systems #2 & #3 above can be easily installed by most people in a few minutes.

System #4 - Whole House Water Filtration Systems - These tap water filtration systems connect directly to where your water enters your home. They filter all the water that enters your home including all taps, faucets, showers, etc. They are out of sight and out of mind, however, you’ll notice the difference in the quality of the water you drink, cook, bathe, and wash your clothes in. The cost for this type of system runs from about $1,000 to $3,000, and you will need to hire a plumber to install this type of system.

Important Points - The absolute best tap water filtration systems use a dual filter system which is a combination of carbon filtration ion exchange and sub-micron filtration. Write that down or copy this article, and make sure the system you purchase uses that technology. Price is not necessarily an indication of performance. There are cheap filtration systems but they are cheap for a reason (they don’t use the technology mentioned).

By the same token, there are tap water filtration systems that are quite expensive but don’t get the job done for the very same reason mentioned above. Then, there are systems that use the right technology but cost you the high end of the price range due to dealer mark ups. It is relatively easy to buy a high quality water filtration system if you just do a little homework.

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The Clean & Pure countertop water filter is one brand that is highly advertised. It is supposed to be a maintenance free countertop water filter. But, you can’t believe everything you read. Here’s what we’ve learned.

The Clean & Pure countertop water filter is available via the Home Shopping Network for $34.95. It promises to be a maintenance free countertop water filter, because it has a “built-in carbon granule filter that never needs adjusting or cartridges”.

The Clean & Pure countertop water filter also promises that installation is “astonishingly simple.” Or not… Read the customer reviews, they seem to tell a different story.

Apparently quality control is an issue for the Clean & Pure countertop water filter. The majority of the complaints concerning this “maintenance free countertop water filter” have to do with leakage, installation problems and missing parts. The adaptors that the company provides appear to be “adaptor challenged,” in that they fit sometimes and sometimes, not so much.

It also seems that sometimes the adaptor fits the faucet, but then will not attach to the unit itself. Hm…? Homeowners have complained that they could not find an appropriate adaptor, even at the local hardware store, and that the parent company (Paragon) could not provide replacement parts or working adaptors, either. That can’t be good!

Many hardware stores are aware of the problems with these units. One employee told a customer who had purchased the Clean & Pure countertop water filter that he had “seen units like this before, all with the same problem.” Considering the thousands of people who order products from HSN, he was likely telling the truth.

The biggest problem with the system though is something completely different. The Clean & Pure countertop water filter promises to provide “15,000 gallons of clean-tasting, odor free water”. Some ads say that the unit provides “pure water, the way it was meant to be”.

The truth is that this supposedly maintenance free countertop water filter does nothing to “purify” water. It is certified by the National Sanitary Foundation (whatever that is) to reduce chlorine taste and odor. And Paragon itself says that it only filters out chlorine and odor. This filtration system does nothing to purify the water.

There are thousands of chemicals in tap water. Many of them are known carcinogens. Chlorine is just one of them.

There are wonderful in home water filtration systems on the market. The best ones remove chlorine and nearly all of the other possible contaminants, including lead, parasites, gases, hormones, drugs and other pollutants.

They best unit may not be a maintenance free countertop water filter, because in order to effectively block all of these contaminants, the filtering cartridges have to be replaced occasionally. The Clean & Pure countertop water filter advertises that you will never have to replace the cartridges and that’s the truth. What they forgot to mention was, you will have to replace the entire unit, though.

Some customers have said that the unit only worked long enough to make it past the 30 day return period. If you had to replace the Clean & Pure countertop water filter every thirty days, you could easily afford a better product that only requires cartridge replacement every six months.

At a cost similar to the cost of really good replacement filters and cartridges, you get a unit that may not fit your faucets. If it does fit, it may leak everywhere. And, it only filters chlorine taste and odor, leaving all those other contaminants in there for you to enjoy! One final complaint filed by one customer was that she ended up with a black substance in the bottom of her glass, probably from a defective charcoal filter.

The real maintenance free countertop water filter is one that is well made, attaches to any faucet and provides contaminant free, healthy water for a reasonable period of time. The Clean & Pure countertop water filter does not fall into that category.

Now that you know this, which do you prefer? A not so maintenance free, maintenance free water filter, or a countertop water filter system that will actually remove the contaminants in your water and provide your family with quality, healthy water?

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When you consume water, there are minerals and bacteria that can be harmful to your body in the long term (or even short term), which can be avoided by using a simple water filter. Many people have taken to using a water filter in their homes, but few realize there are portable water filters for taking on camping trips, easily transferring for offices, or other scenarios including disasters.

Many people often have trouble deciding which type of water filter is the best, and they are often told to buy the one that is most affordable. There are, however, other things to consider such as the particular application for which the water filter is to be used, as well as who will be using it that will also influence the choice of a water filter.

Some Portable Water Filters Last a Few Days, Others Can Last Years

In the case of the portable water filter, as opposed to a permanently attached water filter, there are two main categories: emergency-use portable water filters, and those that are used for survival purposes. The emergency situation requires using a portable water filter for a short term before normalcy returns (typically within 72 hours). The survival situation is a long term condition that may last for anywhere between a few months to a couple years.

You can choose between many different models of portable water filters, though Katadyn and LivingWaters are the most well-known. Katadyn is used by the Red Cross, Peace Corps, the United Nations and the World Health Organization. On the other hand, LivingWaters RV and disaster relief products are relatively inexpensive and mostly designed to be used by campers and other outdoor enthusiasts, although they are also excellent for use when folks find themselves in dire straits following an emergency situation.

The Katadyn Pocket Filter is probably the best available that does not allow harmful bacteria in your body and it eliminates harmful microorganisms. Though this model of portable water filter is pretty expensive, it still does an effective job.

LivingWaters, an innovative company, makes high-quality, economical portable water filters, and it tries to set high standards for water filters and purifiers. It can totally purify disease-ridden waterborne bacteria from the water, and helps in guarding against cryptosporidium bacteria as well as giardia…all without the use of electricity.

The full flow RV and Disaster Relief water filter system from LivingWaters is a relatively inexpensive system that has good filtering capabilities, and is great for short term emergencies and regular outdoor usage.

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I don’t know a thing about you, but I bet after reading this you will be more concerned about the water filtering system that you have at home and you may probably disregard the thought that you will be able to obtain good health through reverse osmosis. You’re probably aware of the term reverse osmosis because this is actually a popular term when it comes to water filtering systems. Water filter providers whom you have encountered before may have claimed that you can actually drink safer water because of the contaminants that will be filtered, but the truth is, home reverse osmosis systems are not capable of performing such an activity.

Home reverse osmosis systems are most likely able to filter out those particles that are heavier than that of water, so those chemicals and other contaminants that have smaller molecular structures compared to that of H2O would not be filtered and would still be present in the water that comes out from your faucet.

So if this is the case, what can reverse osmosis do for your water? Actually dirt particles are the main thing that this system can filter out. But if you are not getting your water from a body of water like a stream or a river, it is not that necessary for you to have such a system in your home.

We are somehow very much concerned about purifying the water that we take in but we are not that sure of its effects. We’re thinking that we would be able to achieve good health through reverse osmosis although we really have to go through a realization that it’s not that different from the water that comes directly from your faucet.

There are a lot of disadvantages in using reverse osmosis to filter out your tap water. These systems require a lot of water and are very expensive. This is not a system that can be installed instantly; it would need the expertise of electricians as well as plumbers in order that it is installed correctly.

Do yourself a favor by choosing what’s best for your water system at home. Do not just settle for what is popular because it might not help at all. What’s important is that you know a little more about reverse osmosis, and that actually the solution for your every day home is a whole house water system.

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The life of refrigerator water filters is dependent upon the volume of contaminants in the water as well as the amount of use of the filter. Well water is more likely to contain contaminants not found in publicly treated water and may need more frequent filter changes. As a rule of thumb, the filter should be changed as specified by the manufacturer or at least every six months.

Carbon is the primary substance used in water filtration methods because carbon has the potential to absorb many of the chemicals found in water. Most refrigerator water filters, which meet NSF/ANSI 42 certification standards, use granular activated carbon (GAC) to attract chemicals and impurities responsible for bad taste and odor, such as those that are a by-product of chlorine. These filters are not capable, however, to rid water of more dangerous, health-threatening contaminants. The method by which water is channeled through GAC filters does not allow sufficient time to complete the absorption of such substances. Various bacteria are formed, trapped and allowed to multiply, which further contaminates water processed by the filters. Carbon is not capable to absorb heavy metals, such as lead. GAC filters may trap some heavy metals and sediments, but allow others to filter through to the output water. Failure to change the water filter, every six months, allows unabsorbed water contaminants and newly formed bacteria to saturate the filter, forcing the filter to leak contaminants back into processed water. The water output may contain more contaminants than the filter was intended to remove in the first place.

Technology has lead to the development of more absorbent carbon-based filters, solid carbon block filters. These filters include solid blocks of carbon to absorb contaminants from water. Water takes longer to strain through carbon blocks than it does carbon granules, so that carbon blocks provide sufficient time for the absorption of more health-threatening containments. While carbon block filters are capable to absorb toxics, pesticides, TTHM’s and other contaminants, they cannot absorb heavy metals or contaminants that are by-products of agricultural fertilization, such as nitrates or sulfides. The composition of carbon blocks allows them to restrain heavy metals and bacteria away from output water, however, nitrates and sulfides are not filtered. Even so, carbon block filters are sufficient to meet NSF/ANSI 53 certification standards. Failure to change carbon block filters, every six months, allows contaminants to saturate the filter, forcing the filter to leak contaminants into the processed water. When sediments are not removed from water, those sediments buildup and corrode filter fittings and water fixtures, causing them to leak. This type of damage to filters and fixtures may cause the output water to contain more contaminants than the water input to the filter. Failure to change the filters might also reduce the water pressure, within the filtering system, forcing it to be ineffective.

Some refrigerator water filters may include fiber water filters. These filters are made of tightly wrapped fibers of rayon or spun cellulose, which trap rust, lead and other sediments found in water. When used alone, these filters are ineffective in reducing any chemical or health-threatening contaminants. Fiber filters are best suited for use with other types of filters to reduce the concentration of sediments. They should be replaced, every six months, to avoid a build-up of sediments that would force the filter to leak the contaminants back into the processed water.

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After doing a little research, I’ve come to the inescapable conclusion that countertop water filters are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to maintain the integrity of your drinking water. The best countertop water filter will remove any contaminants that could be in your tap water. They are not particularly large and come in an enormous variety of styles.

Many people wonder if they really need countertop water filters or any in-home water purifier. Some people think that companies that make countertop water filters are overstating the need for them, trying to create fear in the public’s mind.

There certainly is plenty of fear in today’s society. Just watch the local evening news on any given day for a litany of dangers and threats to your family’s well being. It can be overwhelming, and separating the credible risks from the more incredible might drive you mad.

Let’s face it. The culture of fear aside, there ARE some aspects of modern life that can adversely affect us. It is a fact that the water that is entering our homes is quite often laced with any number of contaminants. If you choose the best countertop water filter, you’ll have less to worry about.

Testing water for chemical contamination is simple and 100% accurate in most cases. Some of the things that have been found in tap water include lead, MTBE, cryptosporidum cysts, THMs, VOCs, TCE, lindane, alachlor, atrazine, benzene, prescription drugs and hormones. Only the best countertop water filter can block all of these things. If you look up the individual contaminants listed here, you will see that all of them are toxic and potentially deadly.

Some might opt for purchasing bottled water. Countertop water filters are a less expensive and safer choice. You can bottle your own water at home for a fraction of the cost. The FDA has this to say. “Companies that market bottled water as being safer than tap water are defrauding the American public.”

You see, as the water sits in the plastic bottle, chemicals used to create the bottle seep into the water itself. The best countertop water filter manufacturers certify that your water will be clean and chemical free.

The chemicals and other contaminants that are in your water may vary, depending on where you live. Learning what’s in your water can help you choose the best countertop water filter. The safest choice is always choosing the countertop water filters that block most anything.

A lot of the inexpensive countertop water filters only remove chlorine and odor. Incredibly, reverse osmosis filters, which are the most expensive, do nothing to remove chlorine or any other chemicals. Obviously the best countertop water filter is not a reverse osmosis unit.

Everything in the environment eventually ends up in the water supply. Treatment facilities can do very little about chemical contamination. It’s a relatively “new” problem. High quality countertop water filters use the latest technology, so they CAN do something about chemicals.

The long-term effects of chemical contaminants in drinking water are still not completely understood. Help yourself make the right choice for your family by taking the time to search out the best countertop water filter system for your home.

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Tap water - what exactly do we know about it? Because of the numerous reports and discussions we have heard about lately relating to tap water, we simply have no idea what to believe.

The FDA states that tap water purity is between normal parameters and it is not a threat for our health while most studies have shown otherwise. Frankly, after I read those studies and reports that show what types of chemicals exist in our drinking water, I became a bit skeptical about the FDA’s statement - I mean, after you read reports of chemical drugs in drinking water, along with traces of viruses, and things that may cause cancer, how can you trust the FDA’s report any longer?

Leaving any traces of paranoia behind, what do we know about a household water filter? Well, we know that they are used to remove harmful elements from our drinking water. Household water filters vary based on their specifications - in other words, some of them may be useful when you want to remove excess chlorine for water, while others leave you with 99.9 percent purified water.

In this article, I will explain a little about one certain type of household water filter - under sink water filters and their benefits.

• Economical way to get filtered water - An under sink water filter can be the cheapest yet most effective option you will find on the market when it comes to water filtering systems. You see, using a carbon block is known as being the best type of water filter, and it is the most economical - in fact, it will not cost you more than 10 cents per each gallon of water.

• Practical and effective - Aside from the fact that under sink water filters are some of the most effective on the market, they are also very practical. Being masked under the sink, you will not always bump into them - this becomes extremely helpful if you have a small kitchen since it saves useful space.

• Easy to Install and Easy To Use - Any under sink water filter is very easy to install if you are even a bit handy. If screwing a bulb into its socket seems too hard for you, then you might consider hiring a plumber, but aside from that, the whole process takes a few minutes and almost no effort.

• Healthy and Clean - Since most under sink water filters use carbon filters, then you can be rest assured  your water will be nearly 100 percent clean, and it will also retain the healthy minerals and salts you need.

Needless to say, filtered tap water is essential for a healthy life and one of the best ways to make your tap water healthy is with an under sink water filter.

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When you go shopping for the best countertop water filter, it is easy to get confused and even easier to be mislead by advertising hype. There are a large number of countertop water filters on the market, mainly because they have become a necessity for most homes.

Studies show that America’s tap water is contaminated with heavy metals, synthetic and organic compounds, as well as biological parasites. E.P.A. reports show our water supply is contaminated with over 2300 known cancer-causing chemicals. The best countertop water filter will protect you from all of them, but not all countertop water filters are the same.

Studies show that bottled water isn’t, for the most part any purer than tap water it just costs more. In fact some bottled water comes from various municipal water systems - so read the label before you buy. The best countertop water filter that we have found also sells glass and plastic bottles, so that you can “bottle your own”. You’ll save money and the water will likely be safer.

In our highly industrialized society, we use 80,000 different toxic chemicals every day. 1000 new ones are developed each year. Despite popular beliefs, municipal water treatment facilities were not designed to filter out synthetic organic chemicals. Even toxic heavy metals like lead is found in tap water, in many cities around the country. Some countertop water filters do not remove lead. Again, it is necessary to read the label.

In-home water purification is the most effective way to provide cleaner drinking water for your family. You can choose from countertop water filters, under the counter systems, whole house systems and additional choices, such as shower filters that are becoming increasingly popular.

For a moment, let’s just focus on countertop water filters. Performance claims can easily be verified by reviewing the Performance Data Sheet. In some states, countertop water filters and other purification systems are required to supply performance data along with the product brochures.

The performance data sheet will list all of the contaminants that the countertop water filters have been certified to remove. The best countertop water filter that we have found removes practically anything contaminant that could be in municipally supplied tap water. By reviewing the performance data sheets, you can easily compare systems and choose the best countertop water filter for your family.

In addition you should look closely at the replacement cartridge cost as well as the number of gallons a cartridge will filter before replacement is needed. A filter, which is fairly low in cost, but only filters a few hundred gallons, is not necessarily a bargain when compared to a higher priced cartridge that lasts longer.

The best countertop water filter for home use would be one that offers selective filtration - which means it removes contaminants while leaving the naturally occurring minerals, that your body needs.

You’ll want to consider the quantity of water you need to filter, too. A large family will and should consume a lot of drinking water. Therefore, a higher capacity filter may be a better choice. Normally these are under the countertop water filters or whole house systems.

Then, of course, there’s the initial cost of the unit. The more costly units don’t necessarily work any better than those in the mid range. Compare the performance data sheets and then look at the replacement cartridge cost and volume of water the system will process.

Water is essential to healthy living. Clean water should not be a luxury, it’s a necessity. Shop around. The best countertop water filters for your family do not have to come with a luxury price tag.

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The earliest recorded method of water filtration dates back to 2000 B.C. where hieroglyphics depict methods of boiling water, placing hot metal instruments in water and filtering water through charcoal and sand. These early methods are thought to have been instituted to make water taste better, thus, cleaning it. Water filtration was further developed with the advent of the microscope, which made it possible to see foreign particles and contaminants in water that would have otherwise been considered to be pure and clean. Most notably, the microscope was responsible to identify cholera bacteria in drinking water during a disease outbreak in 19th century London. The outbreak was rampart in all areas except those areas where drinking water was filtered through sand. Chlorine was also discovered to be an effective, chemical disinfectant capable to rid the infectious water of cholera. It was further discovered that the chemical, chlorine, when used in combination with sand filtering, was effective in combating cholera as well the water borne diseases, typhoid and dysentery.

In an effort to achieve drinking water purity, chlorine disinfection and sand filtering became prominent methods of municipal water treatment throughout Europe, and then, the US. These primitive methods of disinfecting and filtering water to achieve purity have been studied and evaluated with the use of technology. Chlorine, despite its history of ridding water of contaminants, is a poison. It has since been found to exhibit side effects that aggravate and induce respiratory complications, such as asthma. The poisonous chemical vaporizes at a faster rate than water, making it dangerously harmful when inhaled, especially during showering. Fluoride has since been added as an additional chemical disinfecting agent, but also has side effects of dental damage and other health complications in young children. Lead and other chemical contaminants and by-products further compromise drinking water during the piping and delivery of treated water.

Business and industry have been instrumental in the disposal of waste materials into our fresh water supply sources. This inhabitation has directly contaminated the water supply and also upset the balance of water flow and creation established by nature. The US Clean Water Act, legislated in 1972, was intended to restore the physical, chemical and biological balance of water that had been disturbed by contamination. The Act specified that all natural water supplies would, at least, be safe for fishing and swimming by 1985. This specification led to the development of some form of water filtration and disinfection in every US city as well as advanced technological innovations in the filtering of water used in industry. Even so, the severity of past and continued damage has left more than 1/3 of all water supplies still polluted with contaminants.

In an effort to reduce the contaminants in drinking water and also to comply with national efforts to make drinking water safe, water-filtering systems have been developed to filter water within individual homes. Systems exist to filter incoming water for the entire house and also systems are designed to filter water inline at various points of water distribution within the house, such as at faucets and refrigerators or in water pitchers. The US based company, Omnipure Filter Company, credits itself with developing the first small, disposable, inline water filter in the world. The Omnipure CL Series of water filters, developed in 1970, were carbon-based, inline filtering systems designed for water coolers and ice machines. This benchmark water filtering system used granular activated carbon (GAC) to create cost effective methods of filtering water inline. Advances in the functionality, using the same basic design, have since led to the development of whole-house filters, faucet filters, countertop filters, pitcher filters, refrigerator filters and portable filters for camping.

In 1996, KX Industries developed and supplied the first refrigerator water filter for ice cube and cold water dispensing. KXI is credited with developing the initial end of tap filter for the Proctor and Gamble/PUR and the Clorox/Brita water filters. The new technology has been adopted and revised to suit a number of refrigerator models, creating a $200 million refrigerator water filter market.

Today,  there are a number of leading online retailers of refrigerator water filters that carry filters for every major brand of refrigerator that will filter out anything from chlorine to lead to pesticides. All of these filters come with a manufacturer’s recommendation that the filter be changed at least every 6 months to keep your water at it’s best quality.

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