To promote wellness in your home, it’s essential to provide clean, safe drinking water for your household. Whether your water comes from a municipal source or a well on your property, it’s helpful to have the water tested. You’ll be able to select from various water filters for your home to purify your tap water.
Home drinking water sometimes contains contaminants, including physical, chemical, biological, and radiological pollutants. Contaminated water can cause gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders. Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the immunocompromised are most susceptible to these issues. To keep your family safe, there are a variety of water filters to choose from.
Types of Home Water Filters
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Reverse osmosis uses the process of forcing water through a semipermeable member. The membrane blocks contaminants from flowing into your drinking water. Reverse osmosis purifies water of protozoa, bacteria, viruses, and common chemical pollutants.
Distillation
Distillation occurs when water is heated to its boiling point. The water vapor is then condensed and collected in a reservoir. Distillation removes protozoa, bacteria, viruses, and most common chemical contaminants.
Ultraviolet (UV) Treatment
This type of water purification uses ultraviolet light to kill viruses and bacteria in water. The ultraviolet treatment is most commonly used in conjunction with other filters to remove sediment and other contaminants.
Activated Carbon Water Filters for Your Home
Activated carbon filters are the most popular type of filters used in households. They are commonly available in countertop filtration systems and pitcher filters. Activated carbon filters remove sediment and chlorine to make your drinking water taste clean and fresh.
Water Softeners
Water softeners are installed in homes to reduce the hardness of water caused by calcium and magnesium in the water supply: these filter iron, manganese, heavy metals, and some chemicals. However, water softeners will not remove protozoa, bacteria, or viruses.
Different types of water filters can be used together to offer complete protection from contaminants. It is essential first to identify the pollutants present in your water. Then, you can make an informed decision about the best filter for your family.
Prudent Home Inspections offers inspections to customers in the Washington DC area. If you’re buying or selling a home, contact us to request our services.