The information available to buyers is vast, and can be quite confusing. We have tried to narrow the decision process down for you as much as possible buy sticking to the following decision points:
- Point-of-entry vs. point-of-use filters
- Protecting your hair and skin
- Water toxin levels
- Remineralization
- Eco-friendly features
- Family size
- Space
- Cost
- Installation
- Maintenance
Before you start shopping, you’ll first need to find out what’s in your water.
“Hard” minerals, disinfectants, bacteria, dangerous toxins, or all of the above?
To get rid of chlorine and other disinfectants, a simple carbon filter should do the trick.
If hard water is gunking up your pipes, a whole-house filter may be in order.
And to remove every toxin known to man, a reverse osmosis (RO) filter is just the ticket.
To find out what’s in your tap water, request a report from your local treatment plant and conduct a home water test.
Once you know what you’re up against, let the shopping begin!
Here are the ten most important things to consider when buying a water filter for your home:
1. Filter Your Whole House or Just Your Drinking Water?
First off, you’ll have to decide if you want clean drinking water or clean “everything” water.
If you’re on a private well, you should consider a point-of-entry (POE) reverse osmosis system to purify the water before it enters your house.
Private wells are prone to bacterial overgrowth because they haven’t been treated with disinfectants like municipal water.
Aside from reverse osmosis, ultraviolet (UV) systems are another great way to kill bacteria.
POE systems can also protect your plumbing from mineral calcification due to hard water.
However, if all you need is clean drinking water, then a point-of-use (POU) filter that connects to the sink should be just fine.
2. Protect Your Hair & Skin from Hard Water
Is your hair and skin always dry after taking a shower?
Hard water doesn’t just mess up your pipes and appliances---it can also dry out your skin and hair.
It’s time to stop scratching, and start softening!
Shower water filters attach directly to the shower and remove the heavy metals, chlorine and excess minerals that can dry out skin.
But if you want softer, less irritating water for the whole house, you can always go with a POE water softening system instead.
3. Is Your Water Toxic AF?
Unfortunately, some municipal water supplies are highly toxic.
Texas and California are especially bad when it comes to nuclear waste.
At the same time, pipes installed before 1986 can cause lead exposure when they start to corrode---this is exactly what happened in the Flint Water Crisis.
Other dangerous contaminants that could be lurking in your tap include:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Herbicides
- Pesticides
- Fluoride
- Arsenic
When it comes to removing the worst contaminants, RO systems are trusted by the U.S. military and home owners around the world.
4. Does The Filter Remineralize Your Water
Some people don’t like RO systems because they strip away all the healthy minerals.
However, premium RO systems remineralize your water with the perfect amount of magnesium, calcium and other nutrients.
By first removing excess minerals and then reintroducing them in the final stage, you can protect your appliances and support your family’s health at the same time.
It’s the best of both worlds!
5. Eco-Friendly Filter Features
When it comes to the environment, water usage matters.
Cutting down on water usage keeps your utility bills low and the environmental impact to a minimum.
A downside of many RO systems is that they use a lot of water, but installing a permeate pump can reduce water waste by a whopping 85%.
Compared to RO systems, ultrafiltration systems are a more eco-friendly alternative because they produce significantly less waste water.
However, ultrafiltration does not remove dissolved particles or hard minerals, so if you want to give your water the royal treatment, it’s RO or bust!
Do you live with a small army of rugrats or is it just you and your partner?
If you don’t drink too much water and it’s relatively toxin-free, then a carbon pitcher may be all you need---it removes chlorine and improves the taste and smell of your drinking water.
But what if you have a big family and super-toxic water?
In that case, an under-sink RO system is right up your alley.
The average RO system can produce roughly 70 gallons a day, or a cup per minute, which is easily enough for a family of four to six people---they also store several gallons if you need a lot at once.
Whole-house water systems are typically installed on the outside of the building or in the garage, but what if you live in an apartment and don’t have very much space?
In that case, an under-the-sink RO filter is a convenient, compact solution.
It still treats your drinking water with a full arsenal of filtration technology, but as the name implies, it nestles nicely under the kitchen sink.
A countertop filter is another option, but you will lose some counter space.
Last but not least, the small but mighty carbon pitcher filter is always available as a last resort---just remember to test your water and make sure it doesn’t require more advanced toxin removal.
8. Water Filter Cost Considerations
Okay, it’s time to brace yourself for some sticker shock…
Whole-house systems can cost a pretty penny, up to $5,000 to be exact.
At the other end of the spectrum, simple carbon pitchers go for a cool $30.
Obviously, there’s a world of difference here in terms of water purity and performance.
Under-the-sink RO filters, on the other hand, fall somewhere in the middle, but even fancy ones shouldn’t run you more than $1,500 (installation included).
Faucet-mounted carbon filters are one of the easiest and most convenient ways to eliminate chlorine and get rid of that unpleasant smell.
With a few simple tools, even a newbie can fasten it to the kitchen sink in a matter of minutes.
Whole-house systems, on the other hand, should always be left to a plumber, and the same goes for most under-sink systems.
RO systems, in particular, tend to be more involved, and there’s always the risk of damaging your plumbing or the filter itself.
Instead, play it safe and leave it to the pros!
Whole-house filters and under-sink filters both require maintenance.
RO systems include several stages of filtration, including a sediment filter, carbon filter, ion exchange resins and reverse osmosis membrane.
Most membranes need to be changed about once a year, but this can vary quite a bit depending on how much you use it.
With that said, modern RO filters are getting pretty high-tech these days...
Cloud Water Filters connect to an app on your phone so you can monitor the system in real time---it even can tell when filters need to be replaced and automatically ships them right to your door.
Click here to learn more.
