Access to sanitary water is fundamental to all humans. Unfortunately, your tap water may contain harmful bacteria and contaminants like E. coli, Salmonella, and heavy metals. Consuming such pollutants can cause respiratory illnesses, cancer, reproduction challenges, and kidney problems. This is why water filtration systems have become popular among most homeowners in Benbrook, TX. They remove harmful impurities from the water to prevent illnesses. With so many water filter types in the market today, it can be challenging to pick a suitable option. Here are a few tips to guide you through.
Decide on the Type of Filtration You Want
There are two types of water filtration systems you can use in your Benbrook, TX home. The first option is the whole house point of entry filtration systems or the POE. This system can treat gallons of water in a day. You install it on the home water main supply to filter the water as it comes into your house. This system ensures you have clean water in all the sinks, tubs, or faucets.
Alternatively, you can opt for the point-of-use system, POU, which allows you to treat water at a single connection, like under a kitchen sink or a tub. These systems are significantly smaller and best suit light applications. You can use POR to purify water and protect appliances like a tankless water heater or drinking water in a specific ice machine.
Small POU water filtration systems are a perfect choice for small families, but if you don’t like seeing filters attached to your countertops or faucets, you can opt for POE filters.
Consider the Contaminants in Your Water
The best way to determine the suitable water filtration system for your house is by knowing the types of contaminants in your water. Check your water company reports on water quality on the local government website. If you have a private well, your water might have coliform bacteria, iron, and other heavy metal sediments. The only way to be sure of the type of contaminants in your water is by having it tested by a professional.
Choose a filtration system that tackles the exact contamination in your water. If your water contains a lot of impurities like dirt, scales, and sand, use whole-house POE filtration systems with sediment filters. You also need a POE system if your water quality report indicates the presence of hard minerals or metals. These minerals can harm your skin, hair, and appliances.
On the other hand, if you want to filter your water for chlorine taste and odor, use POU carbon water filtration systems.
Determine Your Faucets and Appliance Flow Rate
Before buying water filtration systems, check their service flow rate. This is the amount of water that gets through the filters at a specific time. It should match your faucets, shower, toilet, and dispenser’s flow rate to ensure that you have enough water pressure for your house needs. Buying a water filtration system with a lower flow rate than required will disrupt the flow.
Determine how much your toilets use per flush, your dishwasher or washing machine utilizes per load, and the amount of water your bathtub, shower head, or water dispensers run per minute. Your ideal water filtration system should fulfill your demands. If you have a small family, you can opt for an 8 to 12 GPM flow rate but for a big family, opt for a system with 15 GPM and above.
Pick the Right Size Water Filter System
The type of water filtration systems you choose will depend on the space available and the water supply demand. If your family consumes a lot of water, opt for a large filter with a longer service interval. Large whole-house filtration systems require larger installation and maintenance space than the POU systems. You can install it outdoors or indoors, close to the main water lines.
Check for Certifications
Another important consideration when choosing water filtration systems in Benbrook, TX is NSF certification. Only use filters approved by accredited certification bodies since they offer faster and quality filtration. You can confirm this through the NSF or WQA database. You only need to provide brand name and manufacturer information to access such details.
Consider the Required Maintenance
You will need to change the water filters after some time to keep the water filtration system working efficiently. Choose a brand with readily available filters when shopping for a filtration system. Remember that big filters will be a bit expensive to replace but will serve you longer than the smaller ones. On the other hand, small POU filters will cost you less upfront, but they require regular replacements. So, pick a filtration system that you can afford to maintain.
Shop Around
Different water filtration systems have varying capabilities and perks, so compare a few options to get the best possible deal. Confirm a seller’s credibility before purchase. Read online reviews to know other people’s experiences with the filtration system. You may also want to purchase from a company that offers an extended warranty and extra filters.
Trust Us with Your Water Filtration Needs
If you want to buy a water filtration system or upgrade your current one, use the tips above to guide you in choosing the most suitable option. For a water filtration system to operate efficiently, you must install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The installation process can be confusing, especially when dealing with a whole house filtration system. If you don’t have the proper skills and experience, hire a professional to handle the task. A well-trained specialist knows all the intricacies of filtration systems and can advise you on the best product for your house. They will also use the industry’s best equipment to install the system, which prevents mistakes. After installation, they will assess and fix any issue that may affect its functionality. Do you have any questions about water filtration systems? Talk to our professionals at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth.