Types Of Water Filtration Systems And The Benefits Each One Can Provide To Your Home And Family | Oak Ridge, TN
Given the news in recent years, you may be wondering how safe the tap water of your Oak Ridge, TN home can actually be. Your main concern is possibly your family’s health, although there are many other reasons why people in Oak Ridge, TN choose to have water filtration systems installed in their homes, but their main goal in all cases is to have safe and clean water to drink. While there are many different types of water filtration systems to be found in Oak Ridge, TN, each one uses a different filtration system and offers different benefits, which is why this article aims to provide as much information as possible to help you choose the right one for your home. With this goal in mind, keep on reading to find out about the different types of water filtration systems and the benefits they can provide for your family.
1. Sediment
The most basic type of all water filtration systems is a sediment filter. This type of filter is based on the premise that certain materials, such as sand or brick grit can remove larger particles of dirt and other pollutants as water goes through the sediment. If your Oak Ridge, TN home gets its water supply from a well, this is the perfect way to ensure larger contaminants, such as leaves and dirt, are removed from the water before it goes through a second, more thorough water filter. While sediment-based filters are not the final solution, they are worth the investment as a first-step filter which, in combination with another system, helps keep your home’s water filtration systems from becoming clogged and or worn out from the larger contaminant particles.
2. Reverse Osmosis
These types of water filtration systems are one of the most thorough ways of removing minerals, chemicals, and other particulates from the water your family drinks. These water filtration systems use pressure to force the water through membranes that trap any pollutants and particulates in the water, producing purified and healthy drinking water on demand for your Oak Ridge, TN home. One of the greatest points in favor of reverse osmosis water filtration systems is that they are capable of removing at least 99 percent of undissolved solids in the water. Additionally, they can remove a wide range of chemicals from the water, including lead, pesticides, and nitrates, among others, together with bacteria and other organisms that could lead to severe illness if consumed. While there is a good amount of misinformation out there about reverse osmosis water filtration systems, the truth is that they can actually be good for your health, and are normally prescribed by doctors for people that require dialysis.
3. Activated Carbon
If you have ever owned a fish tank, you probably already know how good activated carbon water filtration systems are. These types of filters are great for removing chlorine from the water you drink, as well as heavy metals, pesticides, and other chemical and organic compounds. The principle behind activated carbon water filtration systems is how porous the carbon is, which is a good way to trap any pollutants in the water. There are two different types of activated carbon filters. The first one relies on the use of an activated carbon block, and the second one uses a granulated carbon cartridge. While both systems are equally effective at removing contaminant particles from your home’s water supply, the carbon block is much more expensive than the carbon cartridge. In addition, the flow rate of the water through the block is much slower than through the cartridge. Another major setback for the carbon block is that its life span is much shorter than that of the cartridge. Activated carbon block water filtration systems are great for homes that don’t have a high demand for fast-flowing water.
4. Distillation
Water filtration systems that use distillation as the method for purifying the water are another good way of removing the most dangerous chemical pollutants and microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, protozoa, and others. Distillation is the only process through which all bacteria are eliminated from water. The way it works is quite simple. The water is boiled by using heat, and as it evaporates, the steam is trapped and cooled, turning it back into its liquid state, leaving behind any pollutants, chemicals, and microorganisms that were originally in the water. This is the most effective of all water filtration systems, as it provides 100 percent pure water, but it can be expensive and energy consuming, which is why it is only rarely used in a home setting, and is normally reserved for industrial purposes.
5. Ion Exchange
These water filtration systems are normally used to remove a variety of chemicals, heavy metals, and organic compounds from the water you drink. The process is achieved through the exchange of positively charged hydrogen ions in a special resin which attracts similar ions in the contaminants in the water. Because of the way the ion exchange works, this is also a great way to remove any excess sodium in the water, which gets substituted by either hydrogen or potassium, helping turn the water you drink into a health-friendly option.
6. Ultraviolet Rays
While water filtration systems that use ultraviolet rays to remove a wide range of microorganisms from the water you drink are fairly new, this purification system has been used in the medical field for a very long time. With it ultraviolet rays are used to kill any bacteria or other microbes in the water, rendering it free from any potentially infectious pathogens. On the flip side, this is the only thing that UV rays can remove, as it is ineffective at the removal of chemicals and other pollutants.
7. Ionization or Electrolysis
This method for filtering water uses electricity to change the chemical makeup of a variety of pollutants normally found in the water supply of homes around the nation. They are normally used in conjunction with another type of filtration system, such as activated carbon or sediment filters, to produce highly purified water.
8. Ceramic
This method has been used by humans as a way to produce clean water for hundreds of years, and the principle behind them has remained unchanged in our times. Ceramic filters have the benefit of not requiring chemical processes, or the use of electricity, to produce clean drinking water, and only require gravity to function. Even so, some ceramic-based systems, especially those designed to provide filtered water to your entire home, may require an electrical pump to distribute the filtered water. Because they are porous, ceramic filters are an efficient and cost-effective way of removing bacteria, sediment, and other contaminants from your water supply. In some cases, they are coupled with carbon, which helps remove chlorine and other chemicals. These filters are very popular because of their affordability and lengthy life span. They only require a good scrubbing to be kept clean and can be used on your kitchen countertop without taking up too much space.
While these are not all the filtration systems available on the market, they are the most common and efficient. But this is not all you should know before choosing a method for filtering your home’s water supply, so let’s take a look at what kinds of systems are available.
Different Systems for Different Needs
As the technology used to purify a home’s drinking water has advanced, so have a homeowner’s options become more varied in respect to the amount of filtered water they want to produce. In this manner, today’s water filters can produce only enough water to drink at a single source or can purify your entire home’s water supply. Let’s take a look.
Whole House
These filters, as their name suggests, are used at the source of your home’s water supply, in order to purify all of the water flowing out of your home’s fixtures. In this manner, you will be able to take a shower with water that is clean enough to drink. Because of their size and the difficulty presented during their installation, these systems are usually recommended for homes in which the quality of the water is especially low. One of the great benefits of these types of filters is that, through their use, you can help your family avoid a series of health conditions they would otherwise develop from using low-quality water, including skin and digestive problems.
Inline Systems
These water filters are normally located under your kitchen sink, where they are placed in line with the cold water pipes. They are used for purifying the cold water that is connected to your refrigerator’s ice maker.
Under the Sink Systems
If you only want purified drinking water, these systems are the perfect way to produce it without investing too much money or taking up valuable space in your kitchen. As their name suggests, they are installed under your kitchen sink, and they deliver clean drinking water through an additional valve that is placed above the sink.
Countertop Systems
These filters are usually installed on top of your kitchen counter and can be used by your family to produce clean water for drinking, cooking, and other uses. They use methods such as ceramic cartridges, carbon blocks, and even reverse osmosis to filter the water, although there are some systems on the market that might use other methods. They are cost-effective and very efficient at producing healthy and pure water that will boost your health and allow you to feel refreshed without any of the residual taste left behind by other methods.
Portable Systems
These types of water filters are a popular option for people who enjoy camping and other outdoor activities and traveling. They are lightweight and easy to transport, and usually use ceramic or activated carbon filtration methods. While they are quite efficient at removing any unwanted tastes and odors from the water they filter, they are not convenient for constant use, as the cartridges will wear out after a few days and will require replacing. Even so, they are a great and mostly inexpensive option for producing clean water on the go.
Shower Systems
These types of filters are designed to remove chlorine and other harmful chemicals from the water you use to bathe. They are installed directly on your shower head and can help improve your health by removing any harsh elements that could damage your skin and hair.
Pitchers
These systems have become quite popular in recent years, as they are easy to use and quite efficient at removing any chemicals from your home’s tap water. You only have to fill the pitcher with water and it will be purified as you pour it through the use of a carbon or ceramic cartridge. This makes for an inexpensive way to produce clean water for your family to drink, although they are limited by the amount of water they can produce at one time. Even so, they are the preferred method of many families in areas where the quality of the water is not too low.
When your main goal is to keep your family healthy by providing a constant flow of clean drinking water into your home, water filtration systems are the best investment you can ever make. Designed to help you save money while keeping the environment free from the myriad of plastic bottles that get thrown into the trash, water filtration systems can also help you increase the value of your Oak Ridge, TN home at the same time. At My Professional Plumber, we are happy to help the families of Oak Ridge, TN achieve their goal of living a healthier and more fulfilling life through the consumption of clean water. So, when you are trying to decide which one of the many different water filtration systems on the market is the best for your needs, simply pick up your phone and give us a call today!
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