Are You Ready to Buy a Water Filter for Your Home? How To Make The Right Choice - Part Two
Mid range water filtering ideas for your home step you up into water on demand instead of the 'fill your own' water pitcher designs.
Filtered water on demand is much more convenient than having to continually refill water filter pitchers.
If you read part one of this series you read about filtering options costing under $100.
If you are willing to spent a little more money, under sink water filters allow for a deeper cleaning of the water due to the significantly larger filter cartridges that can fit under the sink.
The questions for your purchase decisions are: 1) How much filtration do you want to accomplish? Under sink filters come in 'stages'.
Each stage representing a different or additional filter type.
There are a few different options for these units.
This is especially true if you have a disposal and dishwasher which take up much of the under sink space.
Since each 'stage' is a new canister of one kind or another, when you increase filtration, you must increase space as well.
If you are after ultra purification with RO filters you will need to add space for a pressure reserve tank which can be also as big as the filtration unit itself.
Reverse Osmosis water is produced at a very slow drip which is too slow for a direct connection to a faucet.
For this reason you will need room under your sink for the 4 - 5 gallon pressure tank.
The biggest problem with RO is wasted water from production.
Most units use 2-4 gallons to create one gallon of purified water.
Look at the manufacturers claims before you purchase if this is a problem for you.
There are a few zero waste brands out there, but they are much more expensive as they require an electric pump to create better working pressure for the RO filter.
These upper end filters come with a polish filter that will add some minerals back into the water.
Purified is rough to taste because all of the impurities have been removed.
The water is more aggressive and many people do not like that feel in their mouths.
Polished water with a small amount of minerals added back in is much smoother because the water molecules are not looking for a partner to attach to.
If you are willing to spend the $200 to $300 these units require you will be very satisfied with the results.
Even if the impurities in tap water don't bother you, you and your family will be amazed by the taste of filtered water.
Good tasting water leads to drinking more water which is healthier for your body and your wallet.
Filtered water on demand is much more convenient than having to continually refill water filter pitchers.
If you read part one of this series you read about filtering options costing under $100.
If you are willing to spent a little more money, under sink water filters allow for a deeper cleaning of the water due to the significantly larger filter cartridges that can fit under the sink.
The questions for your purchase decisions are: 1) How much filtration do you want to accomplish? Under sink filters come in 'stages'.
Each stage representing a different or additional filter type.
There are a few different options for these units.
- Spun wound or melt blown fibers for sediment, sand and silt.
- Carbon for organics and harsh chemicals such as chlorine.
- Reverse osmosis filters for ultra purification.
- Post filters to added taste and polishing of the water.
- You can add just about any other media filter to these canisters if your budget and water condition allows.
This is especially true if you have a disposal and dishwasher which take up much of the under sink space.
Since each 'stage' is a new canister of one kind or another, when you increase filtration, you must increase space as well.
If you are after ultra purification with RO filters you will need to add space for a pressure reserve tank which can be also as big as the filtration unit itself.
Reverse Osmosis water is produced at a very slow drip which is too slow for a direct connection to a faucet.
For this reason you will need room under your sink for the 4 - 5 gallon pressure tank.
The biggest problem with RO is wasted water from production.
Most units use 2-4 gallons to create one gallon of purified water.
Look at the manufacturers claims before you purchase if this is a problem for you.
There are a few zero waste brands out there, but they are much more expensive as they require an electric pump to create better working pressure for the RO filter.
These upper end filters come with a polish filter that will add some minerals back into the water.
Purified is rough to taste because all of the impurities have been removed.
The water is more aggressive and many people do not like that feel in their mouths.
Polished water with a small amount of minerals added back in is much smoother because the water molecules are not looking for a partner to attach to.
If you are willing to spend the $200 to $300 these units require you will be very satisfied with the results.
Even if the impurities in tap water don't bother you, you and your family will be amazed by the taste of filtered water.
Good tasting water leads to drinking more water which is healthier for your body and your wallet.