To ensure that they always have clean drinking water, you will find many homeowners who will stock up on bottled water.
Considering what we know about plastic bottles and their impact on the environment though, continuing to purchase them in high numbers can be deemed irresponsible.
In lieu of having refrigerators full of bottled water, you can now find homeowners who are leaning on water filters to meet their hydration needs.
Water filters are way better for the environment when compared to bottled water because they don’t lead to plastic bottles ending up in the garbage.
Furthermore, you don’t have to get in your car whenever you need to restock as you can just let the filter do its thing.
Making the change to using water filters inside your home is a wise move. To help you figure out which specific water filter you should purchase, we have taken the time to highlight 5 important factors for you to consider.
Check them out below.
Water Filter Type
The first thing you need to consider when trying to decide which water filter to buy is how it fits inside your home. There are different types of water filters available and they work best for varied home environments.
For those who don’t have plenty of space to spare, faucet-mounted and refrigerator filters are ideal solutions. Do note that you will need compatible faucets or refrigerators to make those work.
A water filter pitcher is another solid, space-saving option. You won’t be able to filter a lot of water with it, however.
You also have the under-sink and countertop models.
As long as you have a spare cabinet available under your sink, you should have no trouble hosting an under-sink model. They are difficult to install though because they affect your plumbing.
The countertop water filters are easy to install, but they can get in your way as you work inside your kitchen.
If you want a more comprehensive system, you can opt for a whole house water filter. These systems give you drinking water as well as filtered water for cleaning and showering. Make sure you save up though as that kind of system has to be professionally installed, according to Lowe’s.
Filtration Capabilities
Different technologies can be utilized for the purposes of cleaning water and that is reflected in the variety of water filters currently available.
Activated carbon filters work pretty well in terms of removing many of the pollutants typically found in the water supply. These filters are also easy to find.
Reverse osmosis filters are great for removing minerals from the water. If your home has a bad case of hard water, this is probably your best bet. The downside to reverse osmosis filters is that they leave a lot of water waste behind.
Homeowners who are most concerned with bacteria and viruses possibly getting into their supply will want to look at the water filters that make use of ultraviolet rays. The only drawback to them is that they don’t work as well on chemicals.
NSF Certification
Water filter manufacturers will hype up their products as much as they can to improve sales. You’ll hear many of them states that their water filters can remove just about every contaminant present in the water.
But how can you be certain that a particular water filter is actually capable of getting the job done? One thing you can do is to look for the presence of the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certification on the filter’s label.
The NSF label will often detail which specific contaminants the water filter you’re eyeing can remove. The CDC also notes that products with the NSF have their capabilities listed in great detail on the foundation’s database.
Think of the NSF certification as a seal of approval bestowed only upon the water filters that actually back up their claims with their level of performance.
Filtration Rate
This one is relatively straightforward. Many water filters indicate how much water they can clean up over the course of a single day. That is usually expressed as the maximum filtration rate.
Upon seeing what the maximum filtration rate is, you can now determine if that will be enough for your family’s daily needs. Purchase a water filter that can process just a bit more water than what your family requires every day so you have some wiggle room.
Cartridge Characteristics
There are two things to consider.
First, you must find out how many cartridges your water filter uses. Some only need one, but others have pre and post-filters.
Second, you have to take into consideration how long the cartridge is designed to last. Granted, your usage patterns will heavily impact the longevity of the cartridge, but most of them should still remain functional for 6 months at the very least.
Avoid those replacement cartridges that are not designed to last for at least 6 months.
In order to find the best water filter for your home, you have to be a more discerning shopper. Refer to the factors mentioned in this article and use them to decide if a certain item will work for you and your family.
