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America has one of the finest water supply systems in the world. Water is supplied to farms, homes, schools, and factories through about a million miles of piping. The water is treated according to government specifications before being supplied to the public. Having said all that, even water that meets government standards may contain some contaminants.

The municipal water filtration system in Crowley, TX does not remove all the contaminants. Single-celled protozoa such as giardia and cryptosporidium can easily slip through the municipal water filtration system in Crowley, TX.

The solution to the problem is water filters. However, given the fact that there are so many water filtration systems in Crowley, TX, selecting the best one for the house can be a difficult task. In order to help in selecting the best water filtration system in Crowley, TX, we have listed the two most common types of filters, most suited for meeting needs of the residents, i.e., reverse osmosis filters and carbon filters. Once you know about the pros and cons of each water filter, the choice will be clear to you.

About Activated Carbon Water Filtration System in Crowley, TX

The use of carbon filters can be traced back to about 4000 years ago when the ancient Egyptians discovered that water stored in charcoal containers kept it fresh and improved the taste. Today the activated carbon filters are made by heating a carbonaceous material such as coal or coconut shells at a very high temperature in a chamber filled with nitrogen or argon.

Activated carbon filters have a porous surface. They remove pollutants by absorbing them in their pores. The contaminants are attracted at a molecular level and stick to the surface of the carbon filter. The more surface area of the activated carbon filter, the more effective will be the filter in removing the contaminants.

Pros of Activated Carbon Filter

Activated carbon filter are extremely effective at removing mercury, chlorine, volatile organic chemicals (VOC), synthetic organic chemicals (SOC), dioxin, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and formaldehyde. The water filter can also effectively remove herbicides, pesticides, and trihalomethanes—a group of harmful chemicals that are formed when water is mixed with chlorine.

The activated carbon filters are also somewhat effective in removing lead from the water. They are relatively inexpensive than most other types of water filtration system in Crowley, TX. Examples of activated carbon filter include pitcher water filters and water bottle filters.

Cons of Activated Carbon Filter

A risk with activated carbon water filtration systems in Crowley, TX is that over time water may cut through the granulated carbon, reducing its filtering capacity and efficiency. Furthermore, carbon filters are not effective in filtering heavy metals and inorganic solids. Their filters may also become contaminated with bacteria if not changed about every six months.

About RO Filtration System in Crowley, TX

Reverse osmosis (RO) filters remove contaminants from the water by passing them through a semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane is in the form of a pliable, thin sheet. RO membranes can eliminate all bacteria, particles, and organic matter that are more than 300 daltons molecular weight (Da). Keep in mind that 1 dalton equals about 1.6605×10^-24 grams.

Pros of RO Filters

RO filters can remove about 95 to 99 percent of bacteria, salts, and heavy metals found in the water supply. These filters are particularly good at removing mercury, lead, iron, calcium, and asbestos from the water. They can trap pollutants that are about 0.001 microns, which is 100,000 times smaller than a human hair’s width. Also, the RO filters are effective in removing microbial cysts including cryptosporidium, giardia, and cyclospora that can cause severe illness.

Cons of RO Filters

Only about 50 percent of the water processed by RO filters is filtered to potable drinking water. The rest is flushed out of the membranes. This results in wastage of water. Also, RO filters cannot completely remove VOCs, SOCs, and chlorine from the water. Chlorine in the water damages the membrane and must be removed with a carbon filter. Also, the semi-permeable membranes of the RO filters are susceptible to bacteria and sediment buildup. Lastly, the RO filters are more expensive as compared to most other water filtration system in Crowley, TX.

Bottom-Line

The conclusion from reading the pros and cons of different water filters is that no one filter can perfectly remove all the contaminants from the drinking water. If you want to ensure maximum safety against water pollutants, you can install both the types of filters in your home. However, the decision should be guided by the contaminants present in water. You should select the filter based on the water quality report.

The contaminants present in the water vary, depending on the area where you live. Generally, you need to buy a filter that removes metals, chemicals, and sediments that are normally present inside the water supplied by the local authorities. In this context, a simple carbon filter will fulfill the need of most households. They not only remove SOCs, chlorine, VOCs, and sediment from the water but are faster, cheaper, and efficient in filtering the water.

RO water filters should only be used if the water contains pathogens that cannot be removed by the carbon filters. In some cases, you may need to install both the types of filters to remove all the harmful contaminants found in the water.

In case you want installation of water filtration system in Crowley, TX, you can contact Benjamin Franklin. We serve several areas in Texas with complete dedication and sincerity. You will find that our expert plumbing service conform to the highest quality standards. Apart from the installation of water filters, our certified plumbers can carry on all types of plumbing repairs in your home. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is a member of the BBB with an A+ rating.