What Everyone Should Know About Different Kinds Of Water Filters

By Author: Ty Woods
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Water filters are designed to collect the pollutants that come from regular drinking water, making the water safer to drink. If you live in the U.S., the water that flows from your tap usually contains no truly harmful chemicals but iron, sulfur, manganese and chlorine are contained in some city water supplies. Some or all of these substances can contribute to color, odor and staining problems. Some city water has a lot of solid particles as well which settle at the bottom of drinking glasses and can often be seen by the human eye.
Well water can potentially be even more polluted, due to decomposing matter in the soil. Well water is often colored yellow or brown due to "leaching," a natural process in which both natural and unnatural ingredients in the soil make their way into the water. It can make the water taste musty, woody and/or earthy. Although these are only a few of the contaminants found in tap and well water supplies, they provide reason enough to purchase a water filter for the home.
Different Regions, Different Situations
There are certain parts of the country that are affected less by contaminants ...
... and leaching so the quality of your tap water depends on where you live; this will play a key role in whether or not you will need a water filter as well as what kind of water filter you might choose. A water filter is a great way to increase the quality and taste of water in your home. You can get different sizes, from large, outside setups to small, faucet-connected devices. The first thing to do, of course, is check with a local university or the public health department about what specific water problems you might be facing in your area and various ways to address them. Once you have done your homework and found out exactly what problems you need to solve, then you can begin the process of getting and installing a filter.
There are five different kinds of filters that you can choose from to suit your particular needs:
* Carbon Filter - The carbon filter is a great choice if it will be properly used and maintained, and can treat both organic and inorganic contamination. Low volume filters can be easily installed to cover a faucet or single water-using appliance, and if you need a high-volume filter, one can be installed directly into a supply line that can filter all the water on entry to the house. It is important to clean and change the filter according to its directions.
* Sediment Filter - A sediment filter will protect against excess sediment entering the water. These filters can also protect other appliances attached to the water line from extra cleanings. If you have a sediment problem in your local water, this filter might be a good choice. The quality of the filter components will determine how often you will need to replace them.
* Disinfection Filters - These filters are designed to kill many contaminants that come in city water which can typically contain iodine, bromine and chlorine. One possible downside to this type of unit is that the water that comes from it can sometimes carry a chemical taste. If you can afford the more expensive of these units, it is the best choice as they use ultraviolet light to disinfect the water without affecting the taste.
* Reverse Osmosis Units - This filter is typically used for targeting nitrates in water. They are not very efficient in areas where there is hard water or where the need to remove biological contaminants is needed, but they are great at filtering water for particulates. As reverse osmosis units can only process small amounts of water at a time, they are normally found under a sink. They are usually equipped with a five-gallon tank that can also be used with other filters (like a sediment or carbon model) and can provide you with clean, neutral tasting drinking water.
* Distillers - Distiller units are great if you want to remove most chemical and biological contaminants. They operate by evaporating water into a special chamber that allows it to be cooled, while all of the contaminants are left at the bottom of the chamber to be flushed from the system. Some of the problems with distillers are their high cost and low output. They also need a considerable amount of electricity to function. Many are available as countertop models but there are larger, home-sized units too; these might be ideal for places where there are ongoing water quality issues.
A water filter can be an excellent investment for the home when you want to be sure that the water you are drinking is good for you and contains no harmful contaminants. Be sure to keep in mind that all of your options need to be considered. Doing some research and asking for help from professionals when you are confused or uncertain are the best ways to ensure that you get the right water filter for your home and family.
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