Congratulations! By even considering installing a water filter system in your home you are already a step closer to the wonderful health benefits filtered water can provide. But choosing a water filter can be a difficult decision. There are countless different models available in the industry that it can confusing to know which is right for you. Here are the 3 main methods of purification available for your home:

1. Reverse Osmosis Water filter

Reverse osmosis water filters are well-accepted and effortlessly. They can be installed as under-counter models, or even while a entire home water filter system. Originally invented to clean salt water, reverse osmosis works by using water pressure to force water through a membrane, allowing only molecules that are small enough to pass through, thus blocking dust. Sediments such as iron, lead, mercury and copper are easily blocked, as are bacteria and viruses. Chlorine molecules also cannot suffer the tissue layer.

There are two main drawbacks to the reverse osmosis system. First, the process wastes a lot of water by needing a more expensive ratio of unfiltered to filtered water in order to ‘push’ the molecules through the membrane. The typical ratio is 4:1. The content you produce a associated with water is going down the drain.

Second, the reverse osmosis process strips drinking water of important minerals. Drinking ‘soft’ water that costs nothing of minerals is not considered the best health behavior. If you are taking a lot of extra vitamin and mineral supplements, however, this is not always of much concern.

The real advantage using a reverse osmosis water filter is required very little maintenance, with only the sporadic cleaning of the membrane.

2. Activated Carbon Water filtration

Activated Carbon, also known as activated charcoal, is a very common filtering computer system. Active carbon works by binding contaminants to its surface. Leading area in active carbon is massive for its small size, since it contains millions of tiny nooks and crannies. However, the binding process does eventually ‘fill’ the surface, along with the filters call for changing.

The main advantage of activated carbon is they are readily available, can be held in a decreased cartridge, wastes no water, and is fairly inexpensive.

The main disadvantages are that filters need always be changed regularly, and if improperly maintained, can become moldy. Shower filters, in particular, tend to be exposed to the majority of hot water, can cease working the active carbon filter, and become useless at filtration, or worse, a breeding ground for mold. Proper use and regular replacement of filters prevents this problem from developing.

3. Ceramic Water Filter

Ceramic filters are made of the fossilized remains of ancient sea life. Are usually an excellent filter of larger sediments, and at all bacteria and Plumbing viruses, while still allowing minerals to secure. Ceramic filters are often used in outdoor filter systems, where the main problem is filtering out pathogens, instead of chemicals. Ceramic filters don’t filter out chlorine, and when used in a house filter system, are usually combined with another regarding filter to achieve that result.

Other Water purification Systems

Beyond essential three there are specific other associated with filters that the researching homeowner may come across:

Ultraviolet water filters bombard the water that passes through with ultraviolet rays, killing all pathogens. Excellent at disinfecting water, Ultraviolet does not filter out sediments or chemicals.

Ionizing water filters separate alkaline from acid typically the water, and provide both. Many people report health improvements of drinking alkaline water, and ionizer filters are used frequently in hospitals and health clinics.

KDF water filters use a brass alloy that produces a galvanic action which fails chlorine. Are generally very valuable in shower heads, since the copper and zinc typically the alloy really works better at higher temperatures.

Navigating the confusing world of water filter options sound quite daunting to the house owner. But armed with this basic idea of the different filtering methods available, you are now two steps closer to selecting the right filter for your residence and starting out enjoy various health benefits a home water filter brings.