A Tutorial on House Water Filters

When you start shopping for house water filters, you may be overwhelmed at the sheer number of treatment systems on the market. The source of your supply and potential contaminants that it harbors are the two main considerations in choosing the right system. A good place to start is to have your water tested by an independent laboratory to determine what is lurking in your faucets. In general, a whole house system is better than an under sink water filter because it provides clean drinking water to every spigot in your house.

A drinking water treatment system for the whole house is preferable in homes with wells and municipal supplies from a questionable source. Many municipal supplies are so dirty that excessive quantities of chlorine are needed to kill the microorganisms and contaminants that live in your drinking water. Exposure to chlorine whether you drink or bathe in it can be hazardous to your health. Years of chlorine exposure can lead to cancer. Fumes released in your shower can cause respiratory problems and asthma attacks in susceptible individuals. It’s ironic that these treatment systems used to “clean” can actually cause so much harm.

A filtration system that treats your drinking water by removing iron and sulfur is needed in many houses serviced by a private well. Iron causes discoloration to sinks, toilets, appliances and high levels can damage your pipes over a period of time. Sulfur makes water smell and taste bad. It is responsible for the rotten egg smell in some homes.

Sediment is a general term referring to suspended particles in your water. It can exist in a municipal supply and is present in most houses with a well. Sediment filters are often used with other whole house treatment systems to remove larger particles. A variety of filter sizes are available, depending on the amount of dirt you need to strain. You will need to change them regularly to prevent clogging. The frequency will depend on the amount of particles in your supply. Drinking water filters for wells producing heavy sediment will need to be changed more often, sometimes once a month.

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