Buying a Home Whole House Water Filter

Water is not something people should take for granted and yet we do it on a regular basis.  Most of the time we seemingly get away with abusing our various water sources around the world.  But Mother Nature has a consistent way of letting people know who’s boss, and our bad habits have been catching up with us.  Water is vital to our existence, and yet it is dirtier than at any point in history.  If you knew what was being deposited in certain lakes, rivers, and oceans you might wonder how the Earth is even capable of continually renewing our water supply.  The fact is that it can’t do the job as efficiently as it once did and therefore we pay the price in terms of drinking water.  In general, there are many households across North America who enjoy perfectly decent drinking water that comes out of their faucets.  But the problem of increasingly polluted water makes it difficult for people to feel safe all the time.  A whole house water filter can go a long way to improving the drinkability and cleanliness of the water that comes out of every tap in your house.

The premise behind a whole house water filter is not all that different than a regular water filter except that you will be filtering your main water line. A whole house water filter is usually attached to a house’s main line before it gets to the water heater. Installation is usually done by a professional, and the water filter might require maintenance from time to time. Keep in mind that a good whole house water filter can be quite costly, especially if you end up needing repairs. The benefit of such a system is that all of the water entering your house will be filtered. So that means everything that comes out of your shower, faucets, and dishwasher will have passed through the whole house water filter first. Most of these filters have several stages in their filtration process. You can find general water filters that take action on everything found in your water, or if you know of a specific problem in your water source then you can buy a more specialized whole house water filter that will concentrate on that situation.

Why do I need a Whole House Water Filter?

The water in North America is among the safest in the world. And yet it is not entirely free of contaminants that can render its unsafe to drink. The occasional bug that can make a person sick right away is bad enough, but the main concern is various micro-substances but that can build up in a person’s body over time. The types of illnesses that can come from long-term drinking of unsuitable water are much more frightening and hard to deal with. You also use water for more purposes than you might realize. You may put it in a clothes steamer or Shark steamer where clean water is essential to keep these devices working properly.

You save time and money by having one device do the job of potentially many other individual water filters.  Or you can also double the filtering action by having a whole house water filter in addition to a faucet water filter.  Whole house water filters concentrate on getting rid of chlorine, sediment, and rust but aren’t always able to catch everything else.  One type of water filter will never be able to do the job that both can because each specializes in one area.  So some people find it comforting to double up there filters to insure that they have clean drinking water. 

Sometimes the problem can be more surprising than people think.  Most people concentrate on the issue of drinking water, but there is also the problem of harmful chemicals being released into the air of your house through the water supply.  Chemical and water contaminants can be released from your toilet, shower, and dishwasher, and lead to respiratory problems in the long run.

Using a whole house water filter is usually the only way to ensure that your shower water is clean.  Most individual shower filters have a hard time removing all contaminants because they’re dealing with such high temperatures.  Remember the contaminants can also be absorbed through the skin.  In the overall picture, it’s important to keep in mind that dirty water can affect a person when they drink it, breathe in its vapours, or are exposed to it directly.

Don’t forget about the water that enters your house and is used in clothes washers.  There has been an increasing problem with chlorine and other chemicals that are left imbedded in “washed” clothing that can lead to skin conditions and rashes.

In the end, a whole house water filter can seem like an expensive purchase.  But it is important to look at it from a long-term perspective.  While it is a heavy initial investment indeed, you are essentially paying for limitless supply of clean drinking water.  It is also a way to help the environment by limiting consumption of bottled water, in addition to controlling the chemicals that are released into the atmosphere.  A portion of that cost also covers the peace of mind that goes along with that.

You will of course find many different types of filters to choose from.  Always look for something with a good warranty from a brand that you trust. Aquasana is a company that produces quality water filters and their products get good reviews from many people. The Aquasana is renowned for making water taste a lot better, and you are likely to see results immediately. Ecowater produces a good filter system that deals with all three problems of mineral deposits, sediments, and chlorine.  Their product will also work to soften your water and make it taste better and more usable around the house. Wellness is a third company that produces good quality whole house water filters, also offering anti oxidant affects while reducing bacteria and fungus. When choosing the right filter for your home, take into account the cost and how long it will last. Some filters also need replacement filters or maintenance from time to time.