It keeps you healthy, energized, alert, hydrated and looking good: It's water, and experts recommend that you drink at least eight eight-ounce servings a day -- and even more when you are physically active, have an illness, are pregnant or live in a hot environment. With all of the reasons you have to drink plenty of water, a home water filtration system can be a sound investment. Read on to discover tips on how to buy water filters and explore the choices you have in this water filter buying guide.
The best water filter will depend on your needs. One of the main things to consider is the number of people living in your house and how much water they need to drink, and you'll also want to consider what your budget will allow.
Of course, you'll want to make sure that your water filter gives you clean, pure water to drink. Common water contaminants include chemicals used to treat drinking water, the byproducts of those chemicals, parasites from animal waste that may have come in contact with a reservoir or other water supply and a number of contaminants that may have seeped into water supplies from industries and household chemicals. You can contact your local water supplier to find out about any known contaminants or treatments that may be done to your water. You may also want to test your tap water to see what needs to be removed from it and choose a water filtration system designed to accommodate those needs. Be sure to read the product description for the water filter you are considering to make sure it will remove what you need it to.
Water filter pitchers
The most common type of water filter is the water filter pitcher that you fill with tap water and keep in the refrigerator or on the countertop, depending on the temperature you prefer. Water filter pitchers use replaceable carbon filters which trap sediment and reduce levels of chemicals, chlorine and industrial byproducts.
Pros: Because they can be put in the fridge, you can always have access to cold filtered water. Some water filter pitchers are small enough to be portable, and you can drink right out of them. Water filter pitchers and replacement filters are both very inexpensive.
Cons: The pitcher needs to be refilled frequently, and most water filter pitchers only hold enough water for two or three people.
Faucet water filters
Faucet water filters fit right onto the faucet and filter water with a carbon filter as it pours from the tap, reducing chlorine, sediment and a variety of minerals that can affect the pure taste. Many faucet-mounted water filters also reduce bacteria and lead. Most faucet filters let you choose between filtered and unfiltered water, so you can preserve the life of the filtration cartridge.
Pros: Faucet water filters give you a continuous flow of drinking water for everyone your home. They attach easily to the faucet, most without using any tools. Water is instantly filtered, making it convenient to have filtered water for drinking as well as cooking. The filter will last for a long time, and only the replacement cartridge needs to be replaced.
Cons: You can only use the filter with cold water because hot water will deteriorate the cartridge prematurely. Refill cartridges can be more expensive for faucet water filters than they are for water filter pitchers.
Under-counter filters
Under-counter water filters are attached to the cold water line underneath the sink. The filtered water is dispensed through a separate above-sink faucet.
Pros: Under-counter water filters give you plenty of water for your whole family to drink and to use when cooking. These water filters stay out of sight to keep your kitchen tidy. Generally, their cartridges need only to be changed twice a year. If you don't have a refrigerator with a water-dispenser, this will allow you the same type of convenience without replacing your fridge.
Cons: You will need to know something about plumbing to install an under-sink water filter. Because you will be installing an additional faucet by your sink, this type of water filter is only for homeowners, not renters.
Whole house water filter systems
These are "point-of-entry" filters that filter the water as it comes into your home. This means that all of your water is filtered, including the water in your dishwasher and washing machine, as well as bath water. When choosing a whole house water filtration system, you will need to determine your family's water usage; most households need about 10 to 40 gallons per minute.
Pros: Whole house water filters are available with different types of filtration, so you can choose one that is right for your water. With all of your home's water being filtered, you will have pure water for drinking and cooking. Filtered water in your clothes washer washes your clothes better, especially if you have had a problem with rusty water discoloring your clothes. In your shower, filtered water can lead to healthier hair.
Cons: While whole house filters are excellent at removing sediment and rust, most do not remove parasites, possibly requiring the use of a second type of filter for your drinking water. You'll need to have a strong understanding of plumbing to install one of these systems; you may want to consider hiring a plumber. Total home water filtration systems will have a higher price tag up front; you'll want to have your water tested first before you spend the money on one of these systems to make sure you get just what you need. Like under-counter water filters, these are not appropriate for renters.
Activated carbon (AC) filters: Carbon water filters attract and trap carbon-based impurities which give water a bad taste, such as chlorine. This type of water filtration is the most common and usually the least expensive.
Distillers: The distillation process is fairly simple: The dirty water is heated to the boiling point until it vaporizes. The steam is directed into a cooler, the other substances remain in solid state and they remain behind. The steam cools down in the cooler, changing back to liquid water. The end result is purified water, free of any of the additional substances found in it before distillation.
Ultraviolet (UV) disinfecting devices: Ultraviolet light is capable of stopping all types of bacteria and viruses. (UV light doesn't actually destroy bacteria but inactivates it.) In addition, ultraviolet disinfection works quickly without using heat or chemical additives which may alter the composition of water (perhaps undesirably).
Reverse-osmosis (RO) filters: Reverse osmosis is a method of producing pure water by forcing impure water through a semi-permeable membrane. Salts or impurities cannot pass through this membrane. This process removes most contaminants, including parasites.
Ionic exchange water filters: Using a process that percolates water through special resins, ion exchange water filters soften hard water and deionize water, which many people believe has health benefits. This method does not remove organic contaminants, however.
Is a water filter system really better than buying bottled water?
A water filtration system may be more expensive up front, but over time, you will save money when you aren't buying expensive, imported bottled water every time you go to the grocery store. Consider this: If you are a person of average height and weight, you should be drinking about two liters of water a day. If bottled water is one dollar a liter (and that's a sale price for many brands), then you would spend $728 a year on water! Plus, consider how convenient it would be to just drink water from home instead of having to go to the store for water. And if you are environmentally conscious, you'll be glad that you won't have to deal with all off those plastic bottles and that your water hasn't used fossil fuels to travel to you.
How often should I change my water filter cartridges?
Most water filters specify when their filters need to be changed; often this information will be displayed directly on the unit. The best way to know, however, is by the taste: As soon as your filtered water loses that crisp, clean, odorless taste, it's time to replace your cartridges.
Clean air
Water isn't the only thing you'll want to have filtered in your home. Clean air can also contribute a great deal to the health of your family. Overstock.com is the place to shop for air and water filters for your home, so you can keep your environment clean and your family feeling good.
Housekeeping made easy
Overstock.com makes it easy to keep your whole house looking and feeling good. With our discount prices on housewares, you can save money while you stock up on the products you need, from water filters to vacuum cleaners.
Enjoy your pure water in style
Are you looking for the perfect glasses to drink your filtered water out of? Overstock.com has a wide selection of casual drinking glasses as well as water goblets for formal dining. Drinking your eight glasses a day will be a pleasure when you have stylish glasses to drink from. Have your new glasses shipped with your water filter and replacement water filters and save on shipping -- it's never more than $2.95, no matter how much you add to your shopping cart.
