Why It’s Important to Install a Whole House Water Filter
Across the United States, tap water is generally considered safe to consume. This is because state and federal regulations require a certain level of quality for the water being pumped into American homes. Municipal water treatment facilities remove contaminants and treat the water with chlorine, fluoride, or other chemicals to ensure it’s clean enough to meet safety standards.
However, municipal water can still contain pollutants by the time it reaches a home’s tap. This can be because some municipalities don’t treat for every contaminant or the water picks up contaminants downstream of the treatment plant due to aging infrastructure or lead pipes. Even well water can contain pollutants such as silt, arsenic, pesticides, and heavy metals.
As a last line of defense against water-borne pollutants, many homeowners install a whole-home water filter. This article will explain how these systems work, their benefits, and how to tell if your home needs one!
What Does a Home Water Filtration System Do?
There are several different types of water filtration systems on the market. Some are better at capturing certain contaminants than others. For instance, ultraviolet filters use UV light to neutralize microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, but they can’t capture chemicals or heavy metals.
On the other hand, an activated charcoal filter can remove heavy metals (like lead) and chemicals (such as chlorine) but cannot stop microbes. The more sophisticated whole-house water filtration systems generally feature multiple filters, such as a pre-filter, a primary filter, and a post-filter, so every contaminant is accounted for.
Some homeowners may even want a whole-house water filter for safer, cleaner tap water, as well as a point-of-use reverse osmosis system for ultra-clean drinking water.
Reverse osmosis filters force water through a semi-permeable membrane capable of capturing virtually any contaminant—which is why they’re most often used for drinking water. However, they tend to use a lot of water and aren’t always practical for whole-home filtration.
Benefits of Installing a Whole-Home Water Filter
Some homeowners may opt for a basic pitcher filter or single point-of-use faucet filter for their drinking water alone. While this is not bad, homeowners can reap many more benefits by installing a whole-home water filtration system.
The benefits of whole-house water filter installation include:
- Safe, clean, better-tasting drinking water.
- No more strange odors or flavors in the tap water (such as chlorine or rotten egg smells).
- Food cooked in the tap water will taste better.
- Healthier skin and hair – the filter can remove hard water minerals that dry out the skin and damage the hair.
- Longer-lasting plumbing fixtures and appliances – no more mineral deposits or heavy metals damaging valves or clogging pipes!
- Saves money on bottled water.
- Greater peace of mind from knowing that all of the home’s water is healthy and pollutant-free!
How to Tell if a Home Needs a Water Filtration System
There are several signs that a home’s water might contain contaminants or excessive levels of mineral content.
- The water tastes bad.
- The water smells bad.
- The water isn’t completely clear—discoloration, cloudiness, or visible particles all indicate contamination of some kind.
- Mineral scale on faucets and fixtures.
- Cloudy spots on dishes, glassware, or silverware.
- Dry, itchy skin or dry hair after bathing.
- Sudden, unexplained illnesses in the household could result from contaminated water.
If homeowners notice any of these signs, they should call a trusted plumber or their local municipal water authority to test the home’s water for purity. Depending on the nature and severity of the contamination, these professionals can advise homeowners on what type of water filtration system is best for their home!
About Zing Plumbing
For years, Zing Plumbing has been handling Tucson’s water filtration and plumbing needs with 5-star customer service and top-tier workmanship. Their licensed, insured, and pet-friendly plumbers always arrive on time in fully stocked trucks to get the job done right the first time. Zing offers transparent flat-rate pricing, 24/7 emergency service, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every job – so don’t hesitate to call them for water filtration system installation in Tucson, AZ!
