The inner workings that run our homes behind the scenes are something that we rarely think about… until we absolutely have to. Say a water main breaks and suddenly we are boiling water. Or we come home to a massive leak and we don’t know what might have seeped inside.
And then? It can sure feel like a daunting task.
Today, we wanted to take a few minutes to help you find the best whole house water filter in five simple steps. Ready?
…Here goes
What Type of Water Filtration System: point of use or whole house filtration?
There are two types of water filtration:
- Point of Entry, or POE, systems filter ALL water coming into your home
- Point of Use, or POU, systems filter water beneath your sink
1. Decide how you want to filter your home water.
While it seems to be best to filter with both a POE and a POU, the choice on filtration depends on your needs as a family. Deciding this may take some research and discussion in the home – but you once you reach a conclusion, the other steps are easy.
2. Ask yourself if you are on city water or well water.
While the city water has regulations for safety and can be much safer than well water, there are still some contaminants that are not regulated by the EPA. There are also typically several boil water advisories throughout the year in various counties. While it doesn’t always happen, it can and this can be a very daunting task when you need water for cooking and drinking. It can turn a simple few days of water consumption into a real hassle and a stressful experience.
As for well water, studies suggest that 40% of wells contain the containment E.coli. (It’s just as gross as it sounds.) Depending on what containments are found, there are a variety of options for treatment. However, a filtration system can make all the difference in filtering out microorganisms that can be harmful to your families health. UV purification systems are a great start for those with well water consumption.
3. Think about the number of bathrooms in your home.
To determine the water output and size of filtration system you might need, it is a good start to think about the amount of bathrooms in your home. Think of it like this, while someone is showering, maybe someone else is washing their hands and flushing the toilet. Meanwhile, the dishwasher may be going. The garden hose may be in full force in the backyard watering your prize-winning roses. Water consumption size and the amount of flow that is going into the home can help you decide what size of system you need to keep your water clean and healthy at all times no matter how much flow is entering your home.
4. How many members of your household are you accommodating?
Some filtration methods are based on the amount of water flow that goes into the home on a 24 hour basis. This tells you almost exactly how much water is leaving into your home on consistent time line. Generally, the number of people in your home can help you to consider the right filtration system for the size of your family, ensuring that your entire family is covered with healthy drinking water.
5. Learn what is in your water.
Wherever your water is supplied, there should be a place on their website for you to learn what is exactly in the water. For instance, some city water systems may have found a little lead through the year and they will publish a general report called an “annual water quality report” that will tell you what microorganisms and other containments may have been found throughout the year. This will help you to pinpoint what filtration systems you need to rid your home of the EXACT containment in your water.
Every city is required to put out this report yearly. While not many know about it, knowledge is power and it can be the difference in overspending and/or simply finding a filter that takes care of everything that you need for your family to be healthier.
These five basic questions can really give you a great jumping off point to discovering what filtering system might work best for your family and your home. While these simple starts are a great way to get going, not every filtration process is so cut and dry. Having an expert to help you find exactly what you need can make all the difference in the guess work and being certain that your family is covered at all times – no matter what.
From UV filtering systems to RO systems, an expert will help you to decide exactly what you need both for your price range and your family. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your local water filter experts who can help you to navigate the sometimes simple… and sometimes tricky… world of keeping your family safe every single day and providing the healthiest water possible for the people that you love the most.