Water Filters

Water Filters Articles

Water Filters: Essential for a Healthy Home

Introduction to Water Filters

Water filters are a simple and affordable way to improve water quality in the home, and in many places with a poor water supply, are more than just a luxury.  Clean water is essential to health, and a water filter can ensure there is a source of pure, clean water in your household. are relatively inexpensive and will not only protect you and your family from potential hazards in the water supply, but will improve the smell and taste of your water as well. Bath and shower water that is filtered will have the added benefit of providing your skin -- your body's largest organ and a natural detoxifier -- with a clear alternative to the chemically-laden water that is pumped into your house.

Health Benefits of Water Filters

Our health is directly affected by the water we drink. Most city water supplies do an adequate job of eliminating harmful bacteria, however, they do it by adding powerful chemicals to the water which can have an adverse affect on our bodies. Many people now drink bottled water, and are aware of the potential health benefits of doing so. But how many people are aware that hot shower steam can carry dangerous chlorine directly into your lungs? The average city water supply carries a host of chemicals, including chlorine, fluoride, lead, copper, mercury and cadmium. A quality water filter can eliminate most of these, as well as filter out bacteria and parasites. With all of these potential threats lurking in our water supplies, it is no wonder that many homeowners have turned to a relatively inexpensive alternative as a solution: the home water filter.

Types of Water Filter

There are several different types of available to home owners. The most comprehensive of these is known as the Whole House Water Filter. Though it is the most expensive system, it has the advantage of filtering all the water directly at the source of where it enters the house. This provides the maximum benefit by filtering drinking, cooking and washing water.

Another popular type of water filter is attached directly to the sink, usually in a kitchen, and can be installed directly into the faucet or below counter in the water line. Below counter filters tend to be larger and more efficient than faucet filters, but they require a fair amount of space and may need to be professionally installed.

There is also a water filter for shower heads, which filters the water as it passes through the shower head, as well as a refrigerator water filter, for refrigerators that are connected to the water supply.

Most of these use some variation of a charcoal filter, which is highly effective at removing metals, chlorine, as well as bacteria, protozoa and cysts. A less popular home water filter system is the reverse osmosis filter, which is used commercially for the production of bottled water. However as a home system it is more complicated than a simple charcoal filter, and can be problematic.

Cost of Water Filters

The cost of a home water filter system can vary greatly depending on the type of filter, and the brand. A whole house water filter is the most expensive option; however, it is also the most cost-effective in that it is filtering your entire water supply. The least expensive option would be to install a small charcoal filter into the faucet itself. These filters are small, however, and will require more frequent replacement, thus increasing overall cost. Perhaps the best option is the under-counter water filter system, which has a reasonably sized filter chamber, requiring less maintenance and replacement, as well as being well-priced to start with. The one drawback to this system is that there must be enough space beneath the sink or in an adjacent cupboard to install the water filter.

A Water Filter in Your Home

For the health conscious, are a household essential. The health benefits of drinking pure, clean filtered water are excellent, and many city water supplies are either not clean enough or so heavily polluted with chemicals that a filtration system is imperative. Whole house are the most cost effective, but the upfront cost is higher. The benefit is that the entire water supply is filtered. Under-counter filters are the most popular, as they are easily installed and have a large filtering capacity. For the relatively inexpensive cost, using a water filter in your home is certainly worth the extra benefit to you and your family's health.

At HealthyHomeFacts.com we are committed to helping consumers make choices about Healthy Home products and services.
All information provided is for educational purposes only. Please seek the advice of professionals before installing or servicing any components in your home.