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Home Water Filtration Systems

Water filtration is the process by which water for domestic use is cleaned and impurities removed. Filtration can be done at different stages of the water purification process depending on how much impurities are contained in the water. Home water filter systems could rage from simple physical barriers that are attached to the water faucets to complex processes that involve the use of chemicals and biological processes to filtrate the water. The granular activated carbon filter is usually attached to domestic faucets and cleans the water by absorbing chlorine and chloramines from water. It also removes other contaminants, and also removes or reduces odor and bad tastes. Another common home water filtration system is the metallic alloy filter. They are also attached to domestic water outlets. They are made from copper-zinc alloy that react with chlorine present in water therefore filtering it. There are two main ways of installing home water filtration systems. They can either be mounted on the faucet or the plumbing system. Mounting on the faucet is much easier and it costs less money. However, it requires constant filter cleaning and changing. Having a filter system installed in the plumbing is more expensive but it does not require much cleaning and maintenance. Before deciding on what water filtration system to purchase for your home, it is advisable to have your water tested for impurities in order to determine which type of filtration system to purchase. According to the impurities contained in the water, consumers have the option of buying an in-line reverse-osmosis system or a carbon filter. Carbon filters are mainly used to filter water that contains organic chemicals, chlorine, pesticides or chloroform. Reverse-osmosis on the other hand is used to filter water that has organic contaminants, sodium, nitrates, ferrous iron, lead or fluoride. Most home water filtration systems come with a meter that indicates when the user needs to change the filter. This ensures that they do not drink unfiltered water because there is no chance of forgetting to replace the filter. Another advantage is the cost effectiveness of home water filtration systems. After installation, not much maintenance and upgrading is required. Users may however need to change the filter once in a while. Water filters are specialized sieves used to ensure that water is clean and safe for drinking. With water being vital to the survival of humanity, the use of water filtration systems is of great importance. Unfiltered water carries with it sediment and microorganisms that may be harmful to ones health. This makes the addition of a filtration system in the home of great value. Reverse osmosis is a more complicated process. The water molecules, which are under great pressure force their way through a thin film or membrane. The membrane blocks substances in the water from seeping through. Reverse osmosis has proven effective in removing heavy metals such as lead and aluminum from water as well as microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. In Chemical Bonding, an activated piece of black charcoal, which is hydrophorbic, is used. The black charcoal has an electro-positive charge that makes it a more attractive bonding agent to chemicals and other impurities. As water forces its way through the carbon, it passes slowly to allow sufficient contact time. This enables sediment in the water to attach to the carbon. The second method of water purification using carbon is mechanical straining; carbon compressed into a solid block is used. Water molecules strain through the carbon blocks microscopic pores and effectively eliminate any particles. This method is more effective in removing a larger number of contaminants than chemical bonding because it has larger surface area of carbon. The degree of effectiveness will depend on the flow rate of water and the contact time with the carbon. If the flow rate is too high, the filtration could have zero efficiency. These carbon filtration methods are more efficient in removing sediment, chlorine, and organic compounds from water. They are not as effective in removing dissolved inorganic compounds, minerals or salts.

Source: Home Water Filtration Systems

Choosing a Water Filtration System: Where to start?

So you have decided that you want a water filter to improve your drinking waters taste and get rid of the vast array of contaminants that can be present?

Water filter systems come in a vast array of styles and specifications, from really simple pitchers costing very little or a counter top, faucet mount unit which can be very easy to install. These don’t usually need any special tools and are relatively cheap to install.

The top of the range units which will cope with whole house filtration and can be upgraded to suite specific requirements can cost from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.

There are lots of models available from different manufacturers to suite most budgets and requirements, but basically you get what you pay for.

Countertop units are good because of their ease of installation, whereas the undersink versions are good if you don’t want to see the unit, both are pretty straight forward to install with the countertop being the easiest.

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