Tips For Choosing Out Of The Many Water Filtration Systems Available For Your Home | Lenoir City, TN
Tuesday, October 25th, 2022
Drinking water in the United States is among the world’s safest and most reliable drinking water. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) passed in 1974 protects the public health by regulating public water systems. Additional regulations by the EPA further increase the safety of municipal water. Still, it’s a good idea to get a water filtration system.
Why Does Your Home Need a Water Filter?
If your home in Lenoir City, TN, relies on a private well for drinking water, getting a water filter is a good idea. The EPA does not regulate private wells, but it offers resources for testing private wells and information on water filtration systems.
Even though public water is relatively clean, it still has a few safety issues. A lot of the water lines contain lead. Rust, corrosion, and aging infrastructure are the most common sources of lead in drinking water. According to the CDC and EPA, no amount of lead is safe. Lead poisoning is especially harmful to children. It can damage the nervous system and lead to learning disabilities, impaired hearing, and stunted growth.
If you buy bottled drinking water, water filtration systems can help you reduce costs in the long run and help reduce plastic pollution in the environment.
Test Your Water
The first step in choosing water filtration systems for your home is to test your water. The type of water filter you will need primarily depends on the contaminants in your tap water.
While there are home water testing kits, you should use a state-certified laboratory if you want correct and detailed results. Many health departments, including your health department in Lenoir City, TN, offer private well testing.
Different Types of Water Filters/Purifiers
The main difference in the following water filtration systems is the types of contaminants they handle.
Sediment Filtration
This is the most basic form of water filtration. It removes sediments and large particles in water.
Simply put, a sediment water filter comprises sieves with tiny pores. When water passes through it, particles that are too big to pass through the pores accumulate on the surface of the filter. Once the filter is complete, you replace the cartridge.
Sediment filtration is usually used as a prefilter in other filtration systems. Sediment filters cost very little but can’t remove chemicals, bacteria, and most other contaminants. If you need safe drinking water, combine it with other filters.
Carbon Water Filters
Carbon water filtration systems eliminate contaminants like chlorine, pesticides, radon, and other chemicals. You might need this type of water filter if your water tastes, smells, or looks terrible. Some carbon water filters can also reduce the lead content in water. But you need to check for certification to make sure it does remove lead.
The positively charged activated carbon block attracts negatively charged chemicals like chlorine when water passes through a carbon water filter. In that way, it also gets rid of bad tastes and smells.
A standard carbon filter does not remove nitrates, salts, and certain metals. Contaminants removed from the water will accumulate in the filter, and if you do not regularly change the filter cartridge, bacteria can grow in it.
Carbon filters are available as whole-house systems, countertop, and faucet-mounted filters. Some faucets have an inbuilt carbon filter though they are not as effective.
Reverse Osmosis Water Filters
If your water contains salts, metals, minerals, asbestos, and certain organic chemicals, a reverse-osmosis water filtration system might be the answer. Most of these systems have carbon filters to remove other contaminants and improve the water’s taste.
Reverse osmosis water filters are located under the sink and are directly connected to the plumbing. The system consists of several filters and the reverse osmosis membrane. Once the water is filtered, clean drinking water is stored in a storage tank. The whole process takes a considerable amount of time. You will need a larger storage tank if you have a big household and use a lot of drinking water.
Reverse osmosis does not remove bacteria and viruses. It also wastes water by sending water containing filtered contaminants down the drain. RO water filters are usually installed under the kitchen or bathroom sink. They are not recommended for whole-house use.
Ultraviolet (UV) Water Purifiers
UV water filtration systems remove what carbon and reverse-osmosis systems cannot remove, bacteria and viruses. They deactivate living organisms that cause illnesses such as cholera, hepatitis, dysentery, and gastrointestinal problems. UV disinfection is also effective against chlorine-resistant microorganisms.
UV water filtration systems are point-of-entry systems. They purify the water before it enters your house. Water from your main line passes through the UV lamp section. The UV rays from the lamp damage the cells of microorganisms, thereby killing or deactivating them.
Although UV water purifiers eliminate many harmful contaminants, they do not remove inorganic substances and particles. You will need to install a water filter before the UV lamp section to eliminate particles that could block the UV rays from reaching bacteria.
Most probably, you will also need a carbon or reverse osmosis filter to make the water safe for drinking. UV water purification is also more costly than other forms of filtration.
Not Yet Sure Which System Is Best for You? Ask My Professional Plumber.
Clean drinking water is essential to keep you and your loved ones healthy. Our team at My Professional Plumber has years of experience with water filtration systems. We listen to the needs of our customers and give them solutions tailored to their specific needs.
Apart from water filtration systems, we offer plumbing repairs and installations, water heater service, drain cleaning, and garbage disposal maintenance, among other services. Our 24/7 emergency service takes care of any problem promptly and efficiently. My Professional Plumber in Lenoir City, TN, has the answer to any water problem you might have. Give us a call today.
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