Why filter water?  Simple.  Water sources, even government-maintained systems, are not perfect.  There are certain materials and microorganisms that manage to pass through and enter the drinking water system.  Although this doesn’t automatically make drinking water straight from the tap dangerous, the amount of contaminants entering the body can cause some health problems in the future.  Is it time for your household to use whole house water filters?

What are whole house water filters?

Whole house water filters are full-sized filtration equipment designed to provide water filtering service for an entire household.  Compared to other types of water filters, whole house filters are capable of delivering purified water to every faucet or shower head in the house.  This greatly increases the protection of water users by eliminating any water-borne threat.What kind of filtering media are used in whole house water filters?That will depend on the brand and manufacturer of the system.  However, some common media used include copper-zinc alloys, coco shell carbon and bituminous carbon.  These often appear in combination for more efficient filtering.

What are the advantages of a whole house water filter system?

Because it is capable of filtering every drop of water that enters a home, there is no concern regarding the quality of the water that homeowners use.  If you use a single faucet-mounted filter in your kitchen sink but not in your bathroom, you will be able to use purified water if it comes from the kitchen sink.  If you use water coming from the bathroom, you could still expose yourself to contaminants in the water.

With a whole house water filter system, every faucet or tap water outlet in the house – from the kitchen sink to the shower to the one found in the laundry area – will be a source of purified water.  No longer will chlorine vapors in the shower water be a concern for you and your family.  You will also prevent the contamination of your clothing with chlorine or VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

Some considerations when using whole house water filters

Whole house water filters are very efficient in ensuring that water in your house – regardless of source and location – will be safe to use.  However, if you’re considering using this type of water purification system in your household, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Whole house water filters are considerably more expensive than the simpler single faucet-mounted types.  Depending on the number of filters you need, the units and installation can cost a few hundred dollars.  While there are filter replacement units that are quite affordable, there are also others that can cost from $300 to $650.

It’s also important to consider the capacity of the whole house water filter unit.  This is usually expressed in number of gallons against the output of gallon per minute.  Depending on the unit and brand, this could range from 100,000 to 300,000 gallons.  The larger capacity will require replacement of its main filter unit after about 3 years or so, depending on use and demand.

Whole house water filters also require professional installation.  Depending on the unit, this can take from one to two hours and fees can range from $115 to $180.  Make sure only a plumber who holds a license performs the installation because it is often a requirement of the unit’s warranty.

There’s no question you’ll need to use water filters if you live in an area where quality water is not always assured.  If there are especially sensitive members of your family, you’ll also find that water filters will significantly reduce problems with allergies.  A good water filter system to consider is an under sink water filter.  It purifies water without causing space or design concerns.

Under sink water filters are essentially water purification filters except that they are installed under the sink, where they cannot be seen.  They are usually connected to the cold water supply line.  They are as efficient as countertop and point-of-use filtration units but they provide homeowners the option to save kitchen space.

There are several excellent brands of under sink water filters.  Let’s compare a few:

Kenmore

Kenmore is a trusted brand in water purification.  Its most attractive feature is that for its low price (water filters cost around $50), it is capable of performing as well as other more expensive brands. 

Its under sink filtration system is capable of removing lead, chloroform and other contaminants.  It can also remove off-tastes in the water.  Its efficient filtering doesn’t affect its flow rate and it doesn’t require frequent filter replacement because it doesn’t get clogged too easily.

Omni

Omni’s CBF3, an under sink water filter, uses carbon blocks to adsorb unwanted elements such as lead, pesticides, herbicides, VOCs, Cryptosporidium cysts and Giardia.  It is also capable of eliminating any odors or off-tastes that may be present in the water. 

Regular use will require filter change at least thrice a year.  Omni is a bit expensive, with prices starting at around $115 but it’s highly efficient. 

Everpure

Everpure is a very popular brand in the food service industry, which means you’ll often find its under sink water filters in restaurants, cafeterias and bars.  Their home water filtration system also boasts of the same advanced technology. 

What sets Everpure under sink water filters apart is its capability to filter contaminants up to about 0.5 microns.  Excellent design means you get the largest surface area for filtering and can rely on it to perform consistently.

Aquasana

Aquasana under sink water filters hold the distinction of being the filtration system to be rated as the ‘Best Buy’ by Consumers Digest for five years in a row, starting in 2003.  The system uses a patented dual-filter device that delivers ultra-reliable filtering at very reasonable cost.  According to press releases, you only pay around 9 cents for every gallon.

Aquasana under sink water filters have very impressive filtering capabilities.  They remove chlorine (99%), lead (99%), cysts (99%), VOCs (99%), Benzene (98%) and THMs (99.99%), among others.  The set retails at around $180, with replacement filters costing around $48. 

Multi-pure

Multi-pure’s under sink water filters are some of the best, most efficient and durable systems currently available today.  The system uses a solid block of carbon to filter contaminants and reduce their presence in drinking water.  While effective for removing harmful organisms, the carbon block will not eliminate trace minerals that are essential to health. 

Its under sink water filters can remove turbidity and off-tastes in the water and is also efficient for eliminating lead (99%), mercury (96%), VOCs (99%), Cryptosporidium and Giardia (99.95%) and asbestos (99%).

Choosing under sink water filters

The most important thing to consider about under sink water filters is their capacity to filter unwanted substances and organisms in the water.  Always check manufacturer’s specifications or the unit’s Performance Data Sheet to determine which filter offers the best option.  Look for low-micron filtration to ensure that tiny bacteria, viruses and other organisms cannot pass through.  It’s also important to consider the kind of organic materials and chemicals that the filtration system can eliminate to yield purified and clean drinking water.

Make sure that your under sink water filter comes with a warranty.  It will require professional installation, however but that’s usually a given in order to qualify for the warranty in case of defect or damage.