A whole-house water filtration system is an excellent option if you want to ensure all the water in your home is completely free from toxic contaminants and impurities. However, the problem is that there is a huge variety of whole-house filters available on the internet, and all of them claim to be the best in the business.
But let me tell you, not all of them are reliable and effective at filtering water. This is why you have to make your choice wisely.
In this blog post, I am going to discuss the ultimate guide that will help you pick the perfect whole-house filtration system. So, without discussing any other thing, let’s get into the details.
Guide for Choosing the Perfect Whole House Water Filter
There are multiple factors that you need to consider multiple factors. But first of all, you have to determine the water quality of your home so that you can pick the perfect whole house filter accordingly.
1. Check water quality:
This is the very first factor that you should consider. It will involve determining what type of contaminants are present in your home’s water. There are multiple ways through which you can determine the quality of water.
The first one is through water testing kits. You can easily get these from the nearby market at an affordable price. After purchasing, all you have to do is just dip the strip in the water and check the color of the strip by looking at the contaminant chart (that comes with testing kits).
However, it is important to note that the results these kits will provide will be 100% accurate. This is so because these can only detect basic contaminants in the water.
Another way to check water quality is by testing it from a laboratory or from a professional, this is more accurate than the above one. All you have to do is just take your water samples to the nearest certified laboratory, and they will provide you with a detailed report about what kind and levels of contaminants your water has.
2. Different Types of Whole house filters:
Once you have checked the water quality, you then have to decide which type of whole-house filter will be suitable for your home’s water. For this, you have to get yourself familiar with its different types of whole-house filters.
Sediment filters:
As the name indicates, these filters are specifically designed to remove both small and large particles of sand or dust from the water. Sediment filters are the most basic type of whole-house filters. These can be an excellent option if the water in your area is dusty.
Activated carbon filters:
This is another type of whole-house filter and considered highly effective at removing a wide range of contaminants from the water. The contaminants usually include:
- Chlorine
- Volatile organic compounds (VOC)
- Pesticides
- Heavy metals
However, it is important to note that these are more expensive than sediment filters and require regular maintenance.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) filters:
Most of the readers out there will be aware of what actually RO filters. These filters make use of a special membrane known as “semi-permeable” that efficiently captures all the contaminants from the water that is passing from it, and remove 99% of toxic contaminants from the water.
However, these are also more expensive than other filters and require professional installation, which increases the overall cost more.
Ultra-violet filters:
This is the final type of whole-house water filter that makes use of ultra-violet light in order to kill bacteria and other toxic microorganisms from the water.
For maximum effectiveness, these filters are often used in combination with other filters. This is so because, if used alone, these will not be able to remove chemicals and sediment from the water.
These are some of the common types of whole-house filters; each type has its benefits and downsides. So, it is necessary to choose the one that is according to your needs.
3. Determine the flow rate & home’s water pressure:
You should also consider the flow rate of the whole house filter you are planning to choose. Basically, flow rate refers to the amount of water that can pass through the filter at once.
So, you have to determine whether the whole house filter offers the flow rate that is according to your home water demands or not.
Along with this, also check the pressure of your home’s water. This is so because some filters may require a good amount of water pressure to operate effectively.
4. Consider the Life span and replacement cost of the filter:
The life span of whole-house filters varies depending on the type and model. However, generally, water filters can last for years.
When it comes to replacement cost, how often the filter you are going with needs to be maintained. Generally, whole house filters need replacement every few months. This is essential because the frequent replacement of water filters will increase the overall cost.
In fact, some filters may require professional both professional installation and maintenance, which will increase the overall cost.
5. Budget:
This will be the deciding factor for most of the buyers out there reading this. The price of whole-house filters vary from $100-$1000. So, it is essential for you to first determine your budget and then look for a filtration system within that price range.
Keep in mind that going with an expensive will be more worthwhile as compared to less-expensive filters. This is so because expensive filters usually offer more advanced features and also have a longer life span.
Note: While determining the budget, you also have to add installation and replacement costs as well.
So, these are some factors that you need to consider in order to pick the perfect whole-house filtration system.
Wrapping up:
Whole house water filters are an excellent option if you want safe and clean water throughout your home. However, there is a wide range of whole house filters available in the market, making it difficult for buyers to figure out the perfect one. In this guide, I have explained some essential factors that will definitely ease the selection process for you.