Water is life. Not only do you need a reliable water supply for your home, but it’s gotta be sparkling clean too; free of contaminants that could pose a threat to your health and your home’s subsystems. That can be made possible by investing in a whole house water filter.
Now, of course, choosing the right system for your home is much easier said than done. Water filtration systems come in all manner of shapes, sizes and configurations, whole house vs under Sink water filter, etc. Finding a unit that will ensure your water supply is properly purified — and without getting in the way of reliability — will be difficult if you don’t know what to look out for. Read on to find out which factors matter the most as far as water filtration mechanisms are concerned.
Understand POE and POU
These two acronyms refer to the 2 main types of water filters available for domestic use. ‘POE’ stands for point of entry; a filter of this kind will usually be installed along the main supply line at the point where it enters the home. These systems are capable of filtering thousands of gallons of water per day.
On the other hand, POU or Point-of-Use filters are low-capacity systems that are installed on sub-lines. The unit will usually serve a single point of use; this could be a kitchen sink, faucet or bathroom shower.
So, which of these two systems will best serve your needs? If you want a complete filtration solution, go for a combination of both. POU units are very effective at refining water for specific applications, and your POE system will act as the gatekeeper.
Where Does Your Water Come From?
Though heavily regulated, public water supplies are far from safe. Hundreds of boil water notices — alerts notifying of burst piping and adulteration — are issued country
wide every day. Not to forget that there’s a whole bunch of contaminants that regulatory bodies don’t take into account.
Private wells aren’t any safer. Groundwater is prone to be contaminated with coliform bacteria and other microorganisms, plus chemical substances that filter through from surrounding terrain. In all, research has established that close to half of private wells don’t meet federal thresholds for drinking water.
Know What is in Your Water
You now an idea of the kind of contaminants you’ll need to take into account when shopping for a whole house water filter. But that’s not enough. If want a system that will effectively purify your water supply, you will need to obtain a clearer picture.
The good thing here is that all communal water systems are required by the EPA to publish quality reports and make them readily available to the public. As such, knowing what’s in your water supply should be as simple as visiting your supplier’s website and getting a copy of the said report. This will be titled ‘Annual Water Quality Report’ or ‘Consumer Confidence Report.’
If rely on a private well, you have no option but to use your own means. Specifically, you should take a sample of your water to a local lab for a thorough analysis. This will indicate what substances and foreign matter will need filtration. You may then consult a specialist for advice and assistance in choosing the right water filtration system for your home.
How Large is Your Household?
As suggested earlier, a filtration setup that cannot provide enough water for your needs will be pretty much useless. So be sure to calculate your household’s daily requirements for filtered water. Take into account the number of people living in your home on average, and use that to figure out what size of unit will comfortably get the job done.
Don’t Forget About Bathrooms
Well, not just bathrooms… It’s very important that you account for all your dispensers when sizing the equipment. Such include water heaters, toilets, showers, dishwashers, washing machines, and other similar installations. These will give you an idea of how much water your household will require at peak usage times.
Ideally, you want a whole house water filtration system that won’t interfere with your household’s daily patterns. Taking into account your peak usage requirements will help you calculate the most suitable flow rate for the system.
Wrapping up
Ready to start searching for the best whole house water filtration system for your home? That shouldn’t be much of a problem as long as you keep these considerations in mind. Do your homework properly, making sure to go through the report provided by your supplier, and get your water tested if necessary.
Once again, there’s no harm in seeking help if you get stuck somewhere along the shopping process. Feel free to get in touch with us via phone — or even pay us a visit in person — for any assistance you need; our specialists will be more than happy to lend a hand. And with a wide range of top-rated filtration systems readily available at our location, you trust us to provide as solution that perfectly meet your needs.
