Water Filtration Systems: What Every Homeowner Needs To Know Before Purchasing A Water Filter | Knoxville, TN
Sunday, November 13th, 2022
Water contamination is a severe concern that leads to various health problems, including life-threatening illnesses like waterborne diseases. Lucky for you, nowadays, there are water filters. Water filtration systems are essential in every home to protect you and your family from diseases. Based on recent studies, 77 percent of individuals in the United States filter drinking water in their homes, reducing waterborne diseases.
Choosing a water filter for your home can be a bit overwhelming. There are various models of water filters from multiple brands today, each with different features and technologies. Keep reading to learn about the crucial factors to consider when purchasing a water filter for your home.
Electricity
When it comes to water filtration systems, electricity is one significant factor you can’t ignore. Do you want one that uses electricity or a non-electric one? Most water purifiers use electricity; some use gravity, while others use water pressure.
For instance, an ultraviolet filter cannot work without electricity since it needs energy to produce radiation, which removes bacteria. If you want an option that doesn’t require electricity, go for activated carbon purifiers and sediment filters.
While the RO and UV systems, i.e., the electric water filters, can eliminate bacteria and total dissolved solids (TDS) in your water that cause waterborne diseases, the non-electric ones can only remove some chemicals dissolved in your water. Therefore, it is wise to use water filtration systems that use electricity.
Water Quality
When choosing a water filtration system, you should know the quality of the water supplied to your home; this will significantly determine the type of water filter you need. It’s wise you seek help from a professional to test the water quality. Most of the water supplied in most homes is hard water, which implies your water has a high level of TDS.
TDS describes the organic salts and the trim levels of organic matter in water solutions. Common TSDs include sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulfate, hydrogen carbonates, and nitrate anions. Homeowners in Knoxville, TN, whose water has high levels of TDS, can opt for the reverse osmosis system known as the RO. The RO has a membrane pore size of .0005 microns, making it impossible for the dissolved solids to survive in drinking water.
Water Pressure
The water pressure of your incoming water also determines the kind of water filtration systems you choose for your home. Some factors that determine your home’s water pressure include the elevation of your building, bogged pipes, and clogged filters. The RO system can operate well in homes in Knoxville, TN, with high water pressure.
You can attach a booster to your RO system if your home’s water supply has low water pressure. Also, if it has high levels of TDS, you can opt for an activated water purifier. Most water filtration systems need a water pressure of 5 to 40 pounds per square inch.
Contamination
The main reason homeowners install water filtration systems is to eliminate contaminants in their water. Water filtration systems use various technologies to remove heavy metals such as copper, lead, magnesium, iron, and arsenic.
If you and your family consume these contaminants in high amounts, they tend to be very toxic. Factors such as the growth of factories and the rise in the number of industries have contributed significantly to these contaminants’ increase.
When dealing with contaminants, you should go for the RO system. The RO system minimizes the dissolved and suspended impurities in your water. You can opt for the UV system that significantly disinfects water because of the radiation in the UV lamp, which prevents harmful microorganisms in the water from multiplying. Also, a combined UV and RV system exists, which is best for homes with water with less TDS.
Ease of Maintenance
Just like any other machine, water filtration systems also require maintenance. Various water filters require different levels of care. Every water filter needs some monitoring but depending on the design’s complexity. Some more complex ones require more of your expenses and time. For example, the A 6 phase Reverse Osmosis may need changing several cartridges at different intervals.
Typically water filter cartridges require replacing after some time. Before buying a water filter, it’s wise to consult with a water filter expert on how many times your cartridges need to be replaced. You might decide to avoid water filters that require frequent cartridge changes.
Installation and Operation Costs
Your budget will significantly determine the water filtration system you choose for your home. Several factors determine the cost of a water filter, such as storage capacity, filtration rate, and the number of stages applied to process water. If you choose a water filter with a remineralization cartridge, it is more expensive.
Apart from the initial cost of a water filter, there are other additional costs that you need to put into consideration. How much electricity does the water filtration system consume? Also, the cartridges are often changed in water filters, so you should consider their cost. Remember that some water filters may be expensive to purchase initially but might prove cheaper in the long run.
Source of Water
When choosing water filtration systems, homeowners must consider the water source supplied to their homes. Your water source determines the level of TDS in your water; hence, the type of water filtration system is favorable in your space.
For instance, water from lakes and rivers has a TDS of 1 to 200 ppm, while groundwater TDS ranges between 200 to 2000 ppm. Also, some homes may be using municipal water supplied from multiple sources; thus, the level of TDS in these cases varies daily.
Water Purifiers Storage Capacity
Before choosing a water filtration system, you should consider the size of your family. Water filters come in various capacities. You can find one that meets your needs based on how much water your family consumes.
For instance, if you are a family of two, you can opt for a storage capacity of about 6 to 8 liters and over 10 liters if you are more than five. If you have a large family, opting for under-the-counter or countertop water purifiers is wise.
Clean the Water in Your Home Today!
Are you worried about the quality of water in your home? If yes. Contact us at My Professional Plumber. We are staffed with certified plumbers who offer quality water purification system services, including softeners and filtration services, throughout Knoxville, TN.
My Professional Plumber also provides plumbing repairs and installations, garbage disposal installation and repairs, drain cleaning, and water heater services. We are here for all your plumbing needs. Call us today!
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