The need for a water filter depends on the quality of your tap water, your specific concerns or preferences, and your intended use of the water. While many municipal water supplies meet safety standards, they can still contain trace amounts of contaminants, such as chlorine, chloramines, heavy metals (e.g., lead or copper), sediment, pesticides, and industrial chemicals. Water filters can help reduce or eliminate these contaminants to provide cleaner and safer drinking water. There are so many different reasons you may need a filter and that combined with the many ways you can filter the water out as well as the different brands/products on the market, we thought it might be a good idea to help break it down a bit for you.
Let’s start with the actual units and where they are installed:
IN-LINE FILTERS are used with refrigerators, ice makers, and water dispensers to provide filtered water directly to these appliances.
UNDER-SINK filters provide filtered water through a separate faucet. They can use various filtration technologies, including carbon, RO, and more. Faucet-mounted filters attach directly to the faucet and provide filtered water for drinking and cooking. They are easy to install and do not require a separate filtration system (keep in mind that these typically add weight to your actual faucet and can often lead to your faucet becoming loose after a while).
WHOLE-HOUSE filters are installed at the point where water enters a house, providing filtered water to all faucets and appliances. They can use various filtration methods depending on the specific needs.
Now let’s focus on the different reasons you would need a filter and what treatments are common for that issue:
- WELL WATER at the very least needs a sediment filter to remove visible particles, such as sand, silt, and debris and the results of a water test will determine any additional contaminants and water quality issues that need to be addressed.
It’s crucial to have your well water tested by a certified water testing laboratory to identify the specific contaminants present. This will help you determine the most appropriate combination of filters and treatment systems for your well water beyond removing the sediment.
- HARD WATER can cause excessive scale buildup or deposits in pipes and appliances, which may reduce the life of your dishwasher, washing machine, or other appliances that regularly use water. Common systems to treat hard water at a whole house level are:
Salt-based softeners are highly effective but because they do add sodium to your water, they require periodic maintenance and may not remove other contaminants.
Salt-Free Conditioners & Template-Assisted Crystallization (TAC) Systems do not actually remove the hardness minerals but use various technologies to alter the structure of the minerals which in turn, prevents them from adhering to surfaces. They may not be as effective as salt-based systems for very hard water and effectiveness can vary based on water quality.
- TASTE AND/OR ODOR of tap water is something that some people find unpleasant due to the presence of chlorine, sulfur compounds, or other naturally occurring substances. If you are not ready to take the step of having a whole-house water filer installed and just want better-tasting water, a great option is an under-sink Reverse Osmosis system. This process typically involves four stages of filtration: a sediment filter, pre-carbon block, reverse osmosis membrane, and post-carbon filter.
Lastly, let’s talk about a whole house water filtration system and the different filters you can have within it to focus on any or all the issues we have discussed.
We have recently been installing lots of the Smart Water systems E Series because they offer 4 types of filtration systems:
The 1000 offers a sediment and carbon filter.
The 2000 offers a sediment filter and a water conditioner.
The 3000 offers a sediment filter, a carbon filter, and a water conditioner.
The 3000 UV offers all 3 PLUS a UV filter.
For ease of mind, they have an annual membership program that will automatically ship you the necessary replacement cartridges when it is time.
AS ALWAYS, IF YOU NEED OUR HELP OR JUST A LITTLE GUIDANCE, FEEL FREE TO CALL US AT 781-326-6004 OR SEND US A MESSAGE FROM THE MAIN PAGE.
