As you get the next glass of water from your tap, ask yourself just how clean that water is. Most people believe that the water provided by the water company is safe to drink, and for the most part, it is. That does not mean it is clean though. In many situations, investing in water filtration systems makes sense for your home. It can significantly enhance your quality of water and provide you with some of the best hydration for your body. Not everyone needs to invest in this type of system. How do you know it is right for you?
What Can a Filtration System Mean for You?
The investment in water filtration systems can be a wise decision for anyone looking for a way to improve the quality of water in their home. You don’t have to have a problem with your water system to invest in one – it can benefit just about any property in the region. However, there are a few key benefits to investing in water filtration systems. Consider these reasons to do so.
Remove Chemicals from Your Water
One of the most important reasons to invest in these systems is because you want to remove the chemicals that are commonly found in the water supply. To treat water supplies, city plants, and water providers must incorporate a significant number of chemicals to remove bacteria and hard minerals from the water. While those chemicals may make the water safe for you, they do not necessarily make the water completely clean. For some people, especially those sensitive to what is in their water supply, it can be critical to consider water filtration systems.
Municipal water sources typically have chlorine in them. This is a toxic additive, though the water department will tell you that the low levels are safe. It works as a way to get rid of bacteria. Chlorine levels are mandated to be within a very specific range, which is considered safer. However, that may not be enough for you.
If you have well water that may contain additional chemicals, you should be concerned about it. Some of the highest risks here include lead and arsenic. Though most homes do not have well water, any that do should recognize the risks associated with it. Drinking untreated groundwater like this can put you and your health at risk.
Keep in mind that it is more than just your drinking water, too. If you are washing your clothes in unfiltered water, that could mean that it is passing from the water onto the clothes. Then, when you wear those clothes, those chemicals come in contact with your skin. That means the sheets that you are using and the towels you wrap your family in are all at risk for contaminants.
Removing Other Contaminants
Water filtration systems can also be helpful in removing other contaminants from your water source. Though every area is different, and for the most part, the water is safe, there are risks associated with it. For example, there are many situations in which bacteria are present in the water supply. That bacteria can occur in your water supply after it is treated by the water provider, which means that it could be in your water lines. Without any type of water filtration systems in place, those bacteria make it into every glass of water you drink. That can be worrisome for many people, especially those who may have a compromised immune system.
The investment in water filtration systems can help to remove this. It will strip out the harmful bacteria that are building in your drinking water. It helps to ensure that when you run a bath, the water there is clean, too. When cooking for your family, you can trust that the water supply is clean and free from bacteria as well.
Improving the Overall Taste
Using water filtration systems is one of the best ways for you to improve the overall taste of your water as well. While you may not notice it initially, especially if you have been drinking water from home for years, there is often a faint difference in the taste of water that is unfiltered. When you incorporate these systems into your home, you can expect to have water that’s pure and clean. That means it does not have the buildup of material in it that creates that off-taste.
Simply, if you put the water through a filtration system, it is likely to taste better. That can significantly improve not just every glass of water you drink but also the overall taste of any food you prepare using this water.
Boosting Your Immune System
While investing in water filtration systems does not necessarily make your water super healthy for you, if you are taking in chemicals and other minerals that are dangerous to you, investing in these systems can greatly improve your overall health and well-being.
If you have a family member that has a compromised immune system for any reason, they are at a higher risk of illness brought on by exposure to chemicals like chlorine. This can hamper their health. Sometimes you may not even realize it is the water supply until you add a filtration system that shows you exactly how different clean water can be for you.
This can be important in many situations, especially for those who have a compromised immune system, significant allergies, asthma, and digestive problems. A high-quality filtration system can significantly improve your health in these cases.
Protect the Plumbing System in Your Home
Yet another opportunity to see improvement when you invest in water filtration systems is in safeguarding your home’s plumbing. One of the most common reasons that people struggle with plumbing is the build-up of scale and sediment in their lines, which occurs as a result of chemicals and materials passing through these lines.
If you have corroded pipes and sediment that builds up within them, that puts pressure on your entire plumbing system, causing an increased risk of leaks and failures throughout it. You are likely to save money on these types of plumbing repairs when you have water filtration systems.
When to Call for Help with Your Water
If you are unsure if water filtration systems are a good fit for you, contact a plumber and let them know what you are experiencing. It is very common for people to find they have a wide range of concerns present they did not know about until they had an inspection and water test from their plumber.
There are some situations where you want to be sure you contact a plumber right away for help with improving water quality. This includes in situations such as the following:
- There is a funny smell coming from your water. This is very important if you have noticed a change in the smell of your water. It could be the presence of algae, sulfur, chlorine, or iron that is causing this.
- There is discoloration in your water supply. If you have any type of discoloration or clouding in your water supply, it is essential to have a plumber out to determine what is occurring. Water filtration systems help to remove the particles causing this discoloration, making it better for you.
- You’ve had your water tested, and it has a high level of contaminants in it. In these situations, you will want to focus on your family’s health. Even though you may want the water department to help you, you can get the most confidence from installing your own water filtration systems for your home.
- You’re spending a lot of money on bottled water. Some people use bottled water so they can take it with them easily. For others, though, it is necessary to ensure good quality water that tastes normal. You can stop spending money on bottled water when you invest in these water systems, though.
- There are any structural concerns with your plumbing system that could put your water supply at risk at some point in the future. A filtration system can help minimize that risk to you.
In any situation where you are concerned about the health of your home’s water supply, contact a plumber to find out if investing in filtration for your home is a wise decision. If so, you will learn about the wide range of solutions available to help you.
Which Type of System Is Best for You?
To determine which water filtration systems are the best options for your home, it pays to have a licensed plumber come to you to inspect your water and offer suggestions. This type of consultation is critical to knowing if your home would benefit from the investment of these systems as well as which type can work the best for you. There are a few different styles that could be helpful depending on your situation.
Water Filters
The water filter is one of the most straightforward options. With it, you are able to drink water that has passed through a filter system that removes most of the chemicals and minerals from it, giving you the clean water you want and need. Water filtration systems like this can work best for those who want a more affordable solution. They can be as complex or simplistic as you want them to be.
For example, some systems have numerous filters that water must pass through before it comes out of the faucet. This will remove color, iron, odor, and turbidity from the water. This is a common option with a range of filter qualities available to you.
Reverse Osmosis Systems
Another one of the options in water filtration systems is reverse osmosis water filtration. This particular form requires water pressure that forces the water supply to go through a semi-permeable membrane. As that happens, the membrane and any materials are removed from the water. This is a good option for those that know they have a significant amount of chemical or mineral buildup in their system and want to remove as much of it as possible.
Whole House Water Filtration
There are some water filtration systems in which you will just place the filters near the water faucets you use for drinking or cooking with. Then, there are whole-house water filtration options, which help to remove as much of the material from your water supply throughout the home as possible. This solution helps you to get the clean water you want for every space in your home.
Which Solution Is Best for You?
You do not have to know the answer to this question just yet. What you should do is invest in an appointment to have a professional come to your home or place of business to obtain a water sample. This will help determine what type of minerals, bacteria, or chemicals are in the water that could be putting you and your family at risk. Once that is done, then you can get more insight into the type of filtration system best suited for your situation.
When you follow this path and receive a formal consultation, you know you are buying the type of filtration system that is worth your investment and not overspending where you do not need to or will not benefit from in the long term.
How to Get Started with Filtration
Even if you are not sure if you should invest in it yet, contact our team to learn more about water filtration systems. Our team at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth will provide a consultation to discuss your risks and the opportunities available to help you to improve your water quality. Protect your health and that of your family by improving the water quality that you drink.
See our most recent blog on this topic here.