Things to Have in Mind Before Investing in a Whole-House Water Filtration System
All sources of water, whether it be the municipal council or a well in your backyard, contain some levels of contaminants. Common contaminants in the water include iron, sediment, bacteria, chlorine, minerals and harsh chemicals. This is why you should invest in a whole-house water filter. This is a system that filters the water coming to your home through the main pipe. Thus, the water in your shower, faucets, toilets, kitchen and other systems is clean and safe. Before you invest in a whole-house water filtration system, have the following things in mind.
Know the Contaminants in Your Water
Before buying a water filter, you need to know the contaminants in your water. The contaminants in well water may not be the same as those in municipal council water. For example, water from a bore may contain minerals, while water from the city may have high levels of chlorine. If you use well water, you should hire an expert to take samples of the water and provide a detailed report of the elements present in the water. On the other hand, if you consume water from the local authorities, you can get a report from your water company.
Choose the Right Filter for Your Needs
Once you establish what's in your water, the next step is to find the right water filtration system for your needs. For example, if using hard well water, you may want a filtration system that's paired with a softener to remove hard minerals and provide soft water for domestic consumption. If your water has iron or sulphide, you need a system that can eliminate them. For homes that receive water with high levels of sediment, you need a filter that's specially designed for heavy sediment removal.
Determine If the Water Is Safe for Drinking
When investing in a whole-house filtration system, you need to determine whether the water is safe for drinking. Ideally, the longer the time water spends in the filtration system, the safer it will be. However, when water spends more time in the filtration system, it means there will be little of it in circulation throughout the house. This can lower the water pressure and cause inconveniences.
There are two ways of addressing the safety of your drinking water. If you have a regular filter and don't want to compromise on water pressure, you can invest in a separate filter for your drinking water. Alternatively, use a reverse osmosis (RO) filtration system as your whole-house filter. RO systems eliminate virtually all contaminants in the water. It may be costlier than other options, but it offers you safe drinking water without affecting the water pressure in your home.
Have these important issues in mind when shopping for a home water filter.