Many homeowners are concerned about the quality of the water their family drinks. This concern is as prevalent among households with municipal water as those with well systems. Water filtration is a practical way to ensure you enjoy clean and healthy water. Different systems allow you to eliminate smells, filter minerals, soften water and eliminate microbes. Here are some benefits of installing a whole-house water filter in your home.
Clean Water and Lower Total Costs
Homeowners have the choice of either point-of-use or point-of-entry water filtration. Point-of-use systems, such as under-sink canister filters, are often less expensive initially. The downside is that they deliver a limited volume of clean water from a single tap. A whole-house water filter will cost more initially but save most households money over time. These systems can provide enough water to meet the daily needs of the largest households. You’ll also enjoy cleaner water from and for fixtures and appliances like:
- Showerheads
- Outdoor spigots
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Kitchen and bathroom faucets
- Coffee machines and drink makers
- Dishwashers and washing machines
- Water heaters and hot water boilers
Reduced Reliance on Bottled Water
If you drink four bottles of water a day, you may spend over $1,000 a year by switching to filtered tap water. A family of four can easily spend over $4,000 annually. Your household may be able to afford your new water filter simply by cutting your bottled water usage in half. Doing so will lower trash accumulation in your home and be more environmentally friendly. You can even curb bottled water usage while away from the house. Invest in stainless steel water containers for the entire family. Fill them up at night so that they’re nice and cold the next day.
Drinking Water That Smells and Tastes Great
Even when tap water is perfectly safe to drink, it can be unpleasant. The chemicals used to clean it can give the water a bad smell, taste, or texture. The most basic water purifiers have activated charcoal, which is a manufactured form of carbon. It’s a highly adsorptive material. Adsorption is different than absorption, which is like a sponge. This material works like a magnet to attract odor- and taste-causing substances as they flow over the surface. The charcoal also has many pores, which gives it extensive surface area. That allows it to work like this for a long time.
Prefiltration for Well Systems
Most whole-home water purifiers have a prefilter. Its job is to act as a first line of defense and trap the largest particulates. This preserves the downstream filters in the system, including the activated carbon and primary mechanical filter. There usually isn’t much large particulate matter in municipal water because the water treatment plant filters it out. This isn’t the case with well water. Large particles may be suspended in the water, like clay, sand and dirt.
Enhanced Shower Experiences
Substances in your water can directly affect how enjoyable your showers are. Chlorides, which are present in municipal water, can irritate your skin and eyes. Water hardness can coat your skin and make you feel less clean than you otherwise would. Chemicals and minerals can cause bad hair days and result in hair that’s more brittle. These substances can even clog the pores of your skin and exacerbate common skin issues, such as eczema.
Improved Water for Cooking
Chemicals, gases, and minerals in water can lead to unexpected reactions when mixing drinks and cooking. These reactions can change flavor or solubility. This is why many restaurants invest in water treatment systems. After installing a water filter, you’ll likely find that your meal and drink recipes are much more consistent.
Lower the Presence of Chemicals
Activated carbon is very effective at removing chemicals from water. This includes the chlorine and chloramine that many water treatment plants use for sanitization. Water purifiers can even remove excess fluoride.
Remove Toxic Waterborne Gases
Activated charcoal is also effective at adsorbing gases in the water, including radon, methane, and hydrogen sulfide. These gases can sometimes cause minor adverse health effects, such as digestive distress. In other cases, they can lead to serious illnesses and even death.
Eliminate Parasites
Filtered drinking water offers additional protection against parasites. Giardia and cryptosporidium are among the most common. What’s problematic about them is that they resist chlorine. This is why water utilities often recommend boiling water during an outbreak. Sediment filters can trap parasites if the minimum pore size is small enough. An even more effective way to deal with parasites is ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI).
Neutralize Bacteria and Viruses
Bacteria and viruses can also be present in water, and these microorganisms are too small for sediment filters to trap. Not all of these microbes can harm the human body, but some may do so. One effective approach is to have a water purifier with an ultraviolet (UV) lamp. These lamps give off a germicidal light and provide UVGI. You can opt for a reverse osmosis (RO) system, which can remove most viruses and bacteria. Still, RO brands often offer a UV lamp as an option for that extra layer of protection.
Avoid Overly Acidic or Alkaline Water
Water with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH is typically recommended. Many water purifiers offer the option of adding one or more conditioning stages. A conditioner can increase the pH if you have acidic water, which is common with wells. Likewise, if tap water is too alkaline, you can opt for a conditioner that decreases the pH.
Improve Appliance Efficiency
If you have moderately hard water, you can opt for a conditioner that softens it. If you have hard water, you can install a water softener alongside your water purifier. It will remove most of the calcium and magnesium from your water. Both approaches can significantly improve the energy efficiency of water heaters and other water-using appliances.
Enjoy Cleaner Laundry and Kitchenware
Filtered water has fewer minerals that lower your laundry’s color vibrancy and freshness. Detergents become more effective. This can save you money over time as your clothing looks better and lasts longer.
Reduce Plumbing Maintenance and Extend Product Lifespans
Quality water can extend the lifespan of your pipes, valves, and other plumbing components by removing corrosive solutes and preventing hard water buildup on the inside of pipes and heating elements. This will keep appliances like your dishwasher, washing machine and water heater running efficiently for extended periods.
Whole-Home Water Filter Installation in Greater Indianapolis
Hope Plumbing is a residential plumbing contractor located in Indianapolis, IN. We employ licensed plumbers who travel to homes throughout Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. Our company is proud to be a Rheem Pro Plumber and installs and services other water filter brands and models. The technologies we offer and install include point-of-use water filters, whole-home water purifiers, RO systems, water softening, and much more. To learn more about these products and services, call or contact us online at your earliest convenience.
