The water we use every day is an essential part of our lives. Drinking water, cooking, washing and cleaning can all be made safer and cleaner with a quality water filter.
Choosing the right filter can be daunting. Filters vary in terms of cost, capacity, quality and performance. They can be designed for hard or soft water, for whole house or individual systems.
Before you purchase a filter, you should consider several things: how much water you need filtered, the type of contaminates in your water, where you live and your budget.
First, decide what kind of contaminants you want to remove from your water and how high they should be. You can find out the contaminants in your water by making a test using a specialized laboratory or by taking samples of your tap water and having them tested.
You should also ask yourself if you have any allergies or medical conditions that could be impacted by specific types of toxins in your water. If you do, the filters you choose must be able to remove these chemicals at a high enough concentration.
Some common toxins include chlorine, lead and pesticides. These chemicals can cause illness, skin and eye irritation, and even cancer.
A water filtration system should remove these toxins, as well as other harmful materials like industrial chemicals, pharmaceutical residues and pesticides. Fortunately, the amount of these toxins that we encounter is very small, and a quality water filter can reduce them to an acceptable level.
It’s important to remember that not all filters will remove all the toxins at the same time, so you should always read the manufacturer’s recommendations.
You can also look for water filters that have been certified by an independent third-party certifying agency to ensure they are effective at reducing the presence of a particular contaminant in your water.
One of the most important criteria to consider when buying a water filter is its maximum daily filtration rate. This is the maximum gallons of filtered water that the filter can produce each day, and it should be close to your actual usage.
There are many different types of water filtration systems on the market, from pitchers that you pour water into and let sit to more advanced systems that are installed beneath your sink. These filters can also be used to treat drinking and cooking water in addition to bathing and laundry water.
The best filters will be able to remove at least some of the most dangerous pollutants in your water, including lead, chlorine and pesticides. These filtration systems are also great for eliminating sediment and other particles that may be floating in your tap water.
If you are interested in finding out more about water filtration, check out EWG’s Water Filter Guide. This site will help you decide what water filter is right for you and how to properly install it.
It’s important to know that water filtration is an investment, and it’s important to consider how you’ll maintain and use the water filter before purchasing. The right filter will last for years and provide you with clean, healthy water.