Finding the best whole house water filters for your home can be a daunting task, so it helps to know exactly what you should be looking for when it comes to water filtration. There are many different types to choose from, but not all are created equal. Here’s a quick primer so you can make a smart decision.
Your first consideration is probably if you even need one of these systems. The answer is an absolute “yes”. Although a glass freshly filled from your tap may look like it contains clear, safe H20, there are an abundance of unwanted substances lurking in it. Chlorine, lead, pesticides, agricultural waste, and contaminated sediment are all substances that the best whole house water cartridges remove from your H20.
This is not just a concern for what you drink. In the bathroom, water causes further problems since it contains chlorine. Vaporized chlorine produces chlorine gas. Your body absorbs twice as much chlorine through bathing as it does through drinking.
In addition, chlorine dries out hair and skin and visibly ages you. The best whole house water filters remove this dangerous chemical from everything that flows from your faucets so what you drink, bathe in, and cook with is completely safe and beneficial.
However, not all systems are the same; many H20 treatment systems such as reverse osmosis or distillation do not remove all negative elements and actually take out important minerals.
Generally, the the best whole house water cartridges are carbon-based as carbon is the most efficient at removing unwanted elements and processing H20 quickly enough that you have the full supply you need.
However, just because a unit contains carbon does not mean that it is the one you should buy. The best whole house water filters exist in a multi-step, multi-processing form. A one-shot system is not a good option for many reasons. First of all, strainers naturally become clogged over time. As the strainer does fill up, chemicals and contaminants can slip past. Having more than one strainer ensures that there is an additional one to catch any the first one missed.
Public water contains molecularly larger and smaller elements that need to be blocked. Because of this, the best whole house water cartridges are generally set up so that H20 first passes over a strainer that catches larger elements. Additional strainers catch molecularly smaller particles and chemicals and provide further blockage for any larger elements that might have gotten past the first strainer.
Generally, the best whole house water filters contain several different elements that all work to remove impurities from the water. As stated previously, carbon is generally the main element because of its filtration and absorption ability. However, the best whole house water cartridges often contain a metallic strainer such as zinc and a sediment strainer to remove bits of rock and dirt.
Finally, the best whole house water filters are designed so that the homeowner can perform some of the maintenance. While these units do need to be installed by a professional plumber and need professional maintenance every few years or so, in general, the homeowner should be able to change the strainers every few months and keep the unit running smoothly. Once the unit is purchased and installed, maintenance should be relatively inexpensive and easy.
So if you’re in the market for a filtration system for your home, remember that the best whole house water cartridges are multi-step units with various filtering methods employed. This ensures maximum contaminant removal and clean, healthy water for you and your family.
Martin Spencer is a health researcher who has been studying water filtration for over 25 years. He is a regular contributor to Water Filtering Guide, a site dedicated to various methods of treating and purifying water. Learn about the best whole house water cartridges and systems on our site.
